Indonesia – Travel Guide
Indonesia is a beautiful and diverse destination, offering a unique culture and stunning natural beauty. Please don’t forget to explore the vibrant culture and breathtaking landscapes, from majestic mountains to lush jungles. Dive into the diverse underwater world, exploring stunning coral reefs and diverse marine life. Delight in the delicious cuisine, from the diverse regional dishes to local delicacies. Indonesia is a truly special destination, offering a unique mix of cultural heritage, rich history, pristine nature, and delicious cuisine. Undoubtedly, most tourists often dive into the adventure and discovery that awaits you.
All about Indonesia
Indonesia FAQ
What is Indonesia known for?
The spectacular country of Indonesia is famous for and made up of 5 large islands and over 17,000 others offshore including Raja Ampat Islands and the Derawan Archipelago, making island hopping being a big hit. Bali is the best island of them all, a simply idyllic location boasting pristine beaches and divine turquoise waters where snorkeling and diving are excellent. Divers flock to the islands for its world-class diving spots like Pulau Weh Hover where cute clownfish and giant whale sharks can be seen. The Komodo National Park is a big attraction where groups of sharks, dolphins, and manta rays swim.
The islands are famous for delicious and flavorful Indonesian cuisine and batik a method of colored designs on textiles and fabrics by dyeing them. Indonesia is of volcanic origin and displays several forms of breathtaking topography including volcanoes, beaches, mountains, and verdant area, it is a truly amazing place to explore. Trekking through the remote wilderness is a great adventure in Indonesia at places like Kerinci Seblat National Park where hikers can transverse through remote tropical jungles that lead to hidden waterfalls. Trekking up some of the mighty volcanoes is an option with Gunung Semeru java the highest peak and Gunung Rinjani the second highest. Surfs up in Indonesia with great surf breaks found all over the island with the world-famous Bali Ulu Watu. The wildlife of the islands is amazing with Orangutans, elephants, dragons, birds, and crocodiles being on the list of things to see. Java and Bali feature some magnificent ancient temples like Borobudur which is a simply breathtaking Buddhist complex.
What are the best places to visit in Indonesia?
Bali is known as the Island of Gods, beautiful and breathtaking filled with ancient temples and captivating beaches. Bali offers scenery like no other with emerald green rice terraces, towering mountains, limestone cliff lined coats and captivating jungles. World class diving and surfing are popular pastimes along with visiting mystical temples and shopping in vibrant traditional markets. Jakarta is the bustling capital city of Indonesia filled with interesting museums, beautiful cathed, sparkling palaces and pristine beaches. A diverse capital with a rich history and exciting nightlife along with world class shopping and delicious culinary delights.Lombok is simply paradise rimmed by idyllic white sand beaches and tranquil tropical turquoise waters, it is a magical place to visit. Island hopping to the famous offshore Gili Island, diving and snorkeling, hiking Mount Rinjani and surfing are some of the amazing activities offered on Lombok.
How many days should I spend in Indonesia?
We recommend 7-10 days based on what you want to see and do. We offer flexible vacation packages so you can select your number of nights in each city, desired hotel, and activities. We suggest a minimum of 3 nights in larger cities.
What is the best way to get around Indonesia?
By Boat: There are regular ferries available to reach Sumatra, Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara and Sulawesi which can be used to island-hop. The local ferries operate several times a week and some days on the hour. The vast network of ferries travels around the archipelago along with other water transport such as traditional wooden boats, speed boats, and luxury yachts. The main harbor on Bali is Benoa where passengers can reach all over the archipelago by ferry.
By Train: Trains in Indonesia are operated by PT. Kereta Api Indonesia with a network of tracks that run across Java and select provinces in Sumatra, the tracks will extend to Sulawesi and will feature 23 train stations from Makassar and Parepare. Trains offer five classes of service including economy, business, executive, priority, and luxury. There are overnight trains that operate from Jakarta and Yogyakarta with shorter routes from Surabaya and Yogyakarta. Train stations are centrally located and offer reliable schedules.
By Plane:Traveling across the different parts of Indonesia`s archipelago can be one of the quickest and most convenient ways to travel to other destinations. Plane travel can sometimes be the only way to reach other destinations and there are plenty of domestic flights available.
By Bus:Buses are the most popular form of public transport in Indonesia, there are thousands of them running all day, every day. Some of the top tourist attractions can only be reached via a bus such as Mount Bromo.
What is the currency of Indonesia?
The Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) abbreviated to Rp is the official currency in Indonesia. The airport, local banks, and indoor ATMs at banks are the best places to exchange or withdraw your money. For more detailed information, consult our guide by clicking here Tipping in Indonesia.
Do people speak English in Indonesia?
The official languages spoken in Indonesia is Indonesian or Balinese. English is a widely spoken language but may be the second language. Most Balinese people are bilingual or trilingual. We recommend you get a good English-Indonesian guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, thank you, excuse me and the numbers 1 -10.
Best time to visit Indonesia
Indonesia`s proximity to the equator results in a tropical monsoon climate, with mostly hot and humid 12-hour days. In the lowlands, temperatures average in the mid-80s during the day, while in the mountains they tend to be in the mid-70s and chilly at night.
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Weather
Bali is a tropical paradise. The dry season, from May – September, is often considered the best time to visit, with low humidity with a refreshing cool breeze in the air and surfing waves reaching their peak. The wet season, October – April, can see daily rain, but the sun always seems to find a way shine even if only part of the day. The rainiest time is between December and February. The higher mountain areas receive rain any time of the year.
Religious Holidays
Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist holidays are observed in Bali throughout the year with temples and villages each celebrating their own unique festivals with dances, decorations, offerings, and traditions. Nyepi, the day following the dark moon of the spring equinox, opens a new year of the Saka calendar and no one is allowed out in the streets, so guests must remain inside their hotel property and even airports are closed. The Bali Arts Festival, a month-long festival in June or July, highlights dances, music, and night markets.
Tipping in Indonesia
The questions “when?” and “how much?” can leave some travelers confused, as the practice varies. This guide attempts to cover most situations that you, as a tourist, will encounter. Hopefully using these “tips” will provide a smooth experience when interacting with locals in restaurants, bars, hotels, tour operators, and taxis.
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Tipping in Indonesia
Currency: Can I pay in U.S. dollars?
The Indonesian Rupia (IDR) abbreviated to Rp is the official currency in Indonesia. The airport, local banks and indoor ATMs at banks are the best places to exchange or withdraw your money. ATMs are risky in some places as they can be notorious for card scamming.
Restaurants, Cafes, and Bars: When should I tip? How much is customary?
There is a 10% service charge added to the bill in some restaurants, check your bill for this additional charge. You can always leave any extra change on top of this amount for your server. Generally adding up to 10 – 15% will be appreciated by the staff member who waited on you. Be sure to give the tip directly to your server, if it is left on the table chances are it will go into a tip jar and be shared with others.
Hotel Staff: Who should I tip?
Many hotels include a 21% service charge, which 10% of that is government mandated tax and normally the hotel staff does not receive any of the remaining 11%. It is not required but appreciated to leave a tip for the staff such as the bellman, concierge and cleaning staff.
Taxi Drivers: Should I tip?
There is no need to tip your taxi driver, all taxis are metered and the final cost shown is the amount you should pay. You can always round up the fare to the nearest Rp or leave the change with the driver, but this is not mandatory.
Tour Guides: Is a tip required?
Generally, a small gratuity is appreciated by tour guides as most guides have to share half the cost of a tour with the driver.
Miscellaneous: Is there anyone I should tip that I would not normally?
In Indonesia spa`s services are popular along with other activities such as river rafting or elephant rides where tipping is greatly appreciated, 15% of the total bill is recommended but not mandatory.
Final Thoughts:
Remember that it is perfectly okay to abstain, especially if you are not happy with the service provided. This is also true for hotel staff, however if you should encounter a problem with the service within the hotel, we highly recommend speaking with the manager.
When paying for services in cash (which we generally recommend for services other than your hotel) remember to take your receipt. This is important for two reasons; If you leave a tip on a credit card, the person providing the service may not always get it, and if there is a discrepancy it is important to have your receipt to settle it with the manager of the establishment and to prove that you paid for the service.
Top cities in Indonesia
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What to expect while traveling
