Bali

The countries’ most famous island, Bali is located to the west of Java in the Lesser Sunda Islands. It is famous for its spectacular rice terraces, fragrant food, stunning shores, and a galore of history and tradition.

With its elegant temples, endless coastline, some of the world’s best coral reefs, waterfalls, and resorts, Bali blends leisure and adventure impeccably. A dizzying mixture of spiritual rebirth and hard-partying all into one,  Bali is where people from all over the globe come to forget themselves.

The island possesses some of the best sundowns and dawns, enough to delight and tempt you into never leaving this place. Home to the coral reefs of Tulamben, the mountain peaks of Kintamani, the beaches and scenic routes of Seminyak and Kuta, with old temples and ancestral village life of Ubud, Bali’s grace is tremendous, as are its possibilities for entertainment.

Places to visit:  Mount Batur, Ulu Watu, Tanah lot, Nusa Penida Island, etc.

“A melting pot of differences.”

Jakarta

The capital city, Jakarta is also the nation’s political, cultural,  and economic center. Stroll through Kota Baru, or Jakarta’s Old Town, where colonial Dutch building remains protected as they stood as the times before Indonesia’s liberation.

Take in the exciting sights and smells of Glodok, Jakarta’s well-known Chinatown area, before going towards central Jakarta to marvel at MONAS, Indonesia’s National Monument to its freedom strife.

Fall in appreciation with the  Kepualan Seribu or thousands of islands, one of Indonesia’s various hyped seashore getaways, and mislay yourselves in the natural white sand beaches. The city offers much to any visitor and alongside the well-known views of the city lies the ultra-modern plazas and its busy nightlife scene.

The sprawling landscape of Jakarta, with its crowds, its crazy traffic, and the absolute speed of life in the city may surprise some travelers at the first spectacle. But under this rather busy outside, Jakarta is a city filled with fascinating contrasts of the modern, traditional, rich, and the common. It is a diverse mix of various Asian and South-East Asian cultures, Dutch and Islamic connections, and pipes them all into a beautiful set of variations.

With a wide variety of activities and the best nightlife in all of South-East Asia, Jakarta is an adventure for the culturally unique and brave traveler.

Places to visit: Grand Indonesia Mall, Merdeka Square, National Monument of Indonesia, etc.

Komodo Island

The Island has been named as one of the new seven natural miracles of the world. Komodo Island, along with Rinca and the other islands that include Komodo National Park, is one of the only few places in the world where one sees Komodo dragons out of bondage.

Apart from this, the island has sheltered 25 different endangered species of the animal kingdom. The island is populated by around 2000 people whose livelihood is dependent on fishing and goat breeding to offer as prey to the giant lizard.

There are a limited number of accommodation choices accessible and those that are range from moderate to very basic. Komodo Island is comprised of the Komodo National Park which also contains the other two islands of Padar and Rinca.

Ubud

Known to be the religious place of Bali, Ubud’s quiet and understated nature is contrary to the intense, hard-partying lifestyle that has come to define Kuta and Seminyak. First introduced to the people in the Julia Roberts film ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, Ubud is a picturesque town of professionals and is viewed as the arts and craft all the galleries and designers’ workshops in the town and nearby communities. Ubud seeps charm and old-world culture and offers guests the quintessential classical Balinese adventures.

Ubud’s laid-back and leisurely-paced way of living immediately grows on guests. The world-famous Jatiluwih rice gardens and their peaceful and verdant fields, the number of temples scattered in and around Ubud, and the falls that dot the scenery ensure that there is something for everyone looking for a Bali experience outside the typical Bali holiday.

Ubud is also famous for the many art studios and workshops they convoy and offers the perfect place for tourists looking to buy real Balinese art or those that want to discover how to create it by themselves.

Nusa Penida

The hidden treasure of the country, Nusa Penida is the most fascinating of the three Nusa Islands and is nearly less traveled. Positioned in the Klungkung region, it is a little off the coasts of Bali.

During this season, the island is comparatively dry and is fairly suited for ventures like surfing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. Even after having these features, Nusa Penida is largely left unexplored and is anticipating tourists to travel this fascinating destination. Natural white sand beaches like Atuh and Nusa Penida beach attract tourists from throughout the world.

Nusa Penida is larger than its two associate islands, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan, with a growing tourist infrastructure. The variety of cliff formations, as well as the number of Hindu temples on this island, makes it more charming than its sisters.

Known for protecting the jeopardized bird Bali Starling, this island’s famous attractions are the Crystal Bay sand beach and sunset panorama. Boats constantly move from mainland Bali to the three Nusa Islands, Nusa Penida being the last halt.

Manado

The capital of North Sulawesi in Indonesia, Manado is the second-largest city in the area best known for being home to the Ban Hin Kiong temple, which assumes great importance during the Chinese New Year celebrations, and for its beautiful maritime biodiversity.

Being one of the lesser-known but culturally rich sites in Indonesia, Manado remains a popular tourist fascination for its authenticity as a small place on an island between Minahasa Highlands and Pulau Bunaken. The mountains and the historical standing of Manado as one of the most significant ports for the Spice trade make it a must-visit destination for most backpackers and adventurers.

Tourists visit the city for the beautiful Bunaken Island with its upward reefs, also famously known as the “hanging walls” and the Tangkoko Nature Reserve. Lined with shores and cultural displays, Manado offers well-built resorts or special villas as a home during one’s visit to the city.

Places to visit:  Tuna Waterfall, Malalayang Beach, Waruga, Ban Hin Kiong Temple, etc.

Yogyakarta

Positioned in Central Java, Yogyakarta, or Jogjakarta, is one of Indonesia’s most significant literary, cultural and intellectual hubs, and is the beating heart of Indonesian custom. A quick flight away from the capital Jakarta, Jogja or Yogya, as it is often abbreviated to, is readily accessible from other main tourist destinations around the region such as Bali.

Prambanan’s temple is closely located to the world’s largest Buddhist temple, Borobudur, which also marks the nature of the region as a multicultural mecca, as Jogja is a predominantly Muslim community.

Established in the 8th century as the capital of the Medang Kingdom, Jogja evolved into the locus of Indonesia’s rich and diverse heritage and became symbolic of the country’s multicultural excellence and modernity.

Yogyakarta was instrumental in Indonesia’s independence struggle and became the epicenter for radical thought upon Dutch colonialism. As a result, the city was granted exceptional status to still be ruled by a monarchy in light of its contribution to the freedom struggle.

Indonesia is known for its wide category of culinary delights and nowhere is this more obvious than in Yogyakarta. Small stalls selling street food cram into every cell and cranny, selling all sorts of mouth-watering delicious and savory Javanese enjoyments and is sure to please any foodie that comes to here.

Places to visit: Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, Jomblang caves, etc.