Welcome to wonderful Indonesia and its more than 17,000 islands. This archipelagic country in Southeast Asia is home to the komodo dragon and Bali, one of the most visited islands in the world.With its diverse ethnics, languages and religions, the “Emerald of the Equator” (Zamrud Khatulistiwa) has a little of something for everyone. From its iconic temples to its incredible natural wonders including its wildlife, lush forests and beaches, you’ll definitely be surprised at every turn.

Fast Facts

Languages: Bahasa Indonesia

Currency: Indonesian Rupiah

Visa

The nationalities of ASEAN member countries are allowed to enter Indonesia without a visa. Besides those nationalities, visa exemption is valid for several nationalities of Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Morocco, Macau SAR and Hong Kong SAR. Citizens of these countries can enter and stay in Indonesia up to 30 days.

However, there are some countries that require Visa on Arrival (VoA). VoA can be filed by foreigners at the airports and ports that have been determined before. The visa is valid for business travel, international seminars, transit to go to another country, tourism and some other reasons for a brief visit. VoA is valid for 64 nationalities.

How to Get There

There are more than 27 international airports in Indonesia. The most popular international airports are Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) in Jakarta, Juanda International Airport (SUB) in Surabaya and Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) in Makassar.

Getting Around

Indonesia has lots of public transportation types, some areas even have the unique one that can not be found elsewhere. Plane is a reliable transportation to travel from one island or city to another in Indonesia.

As an archipelago, Indonesia is separated by oceans. To reach the island, you can use a boat or ship. Sea transportation in Indonesia is managed by PT. PELNI (Persero).

Meanwhile, the bus is a common type of ground transportation in Indonesia. You can find the bus almost in every city of Indonesia. Travellers can also get taxis in parts of Indonesia. The taxis are not always be metered, sometimes the drivers will negotiate for the fare.

Another ground transport is the train. Train is a jam-free transportation. It can only be found in the two islands of Java and Sumatra because only those islands have suitable conditions for the railway.

Angkutan kota (angkot) has different names from one region to another such as bemo, minibus, taxi and pete-pete. In some cities like Padang, angkot is decorated with various additional accessories to get more passengers

Other types of transport include ojek sepeda motor, a motorcycle taxi where the fees are subject to the distance your destination. Andong, meanwhile, is a wooden wagon and pulled by horses. Just like angkot, andong also has unique names in some areas like wagon and cikar. Lastly, pedicab does not use any fuel but is paddled by the drivers.

Things to Do in Indonesia

Whether you’re visiting Indonesia for its beaches, national parks, tasty cuisine, or colourful markets, there’s a wide range of activities you can do and attractions to see. Bali is beauty that is worth a visit. As ‘The Heaven on Earth’, this island has breathtaking panoramas from the underwater marine life to the onshore. The influence of Hinduism is very strong here. Bali has lots of temples and cultural attractions that be held at certain occasions.

Meanwhile, Komodo Island is a member of Komodo National Park along with other islands around. In 1986, the park was listed as one of the world heritage sites by UNESCO. In 2011, the island won a prestigious award as a member of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Not only seeing the komodo in their natural habitat, you can also enjoy other activities such as diving and snorkeling. Komodo Island has an extraordinary beauty both onshore and underwater nature. The island also has Pink Beach. This is one of seven beaches in the world with pink sand.

Another breathtaking destination in Indonesia is Lombok. It is famous for its Trio Gili, three beautiful islands named Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. Mount Rinjani, the third highest mountain in Indonesia, is located here. Standing on the peak will make you feel like being on a rug made of clouds.

Jayawijaya is the one and only peak in Indonesia that has the eternal snow. The mountain itself has an elevation of more than 5,000 meters above sea level and listed as a member of the Seven Summits.

As an archipelagic country, Indonesia has many beautiful underwater attractions. One of the remarkable underwater attractions is Bunaken Marine Park. Known as one of the best dive sites in the world, you will be amazed by the superb view of the various types of coral reefs and other marine life such as fish and colorful seaweed. You can also go to Raja Ampat for its group of islands is famous for island hopping, diving, snorkeling and surfing. Besides those activities, you also can visit Sauwandarek, a tourist village that the natives make and sell woven hats for a living.

Located in Central Java, Borobudur Temple known as a worldwide recognized cultural heritage. There are more than 500 statues of Buddha in this temple complex. Borobudur temple was buried by volcanic ash from the eruption of Merapi Mountain. Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles found this historic site in 1814.

Where to Stay in Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the places in Southeast Asia that has super affordable accommodations. Imagine getting a villa of your own in Bali for a price of a mid-range hotel elsewhere. The international hotels and high-rise accommodations are mostly found in major cities like Jakarta.

When you go to the other islands like Java or Sumatra, home stays, villas, and guest houses are more common.

Nightlife in Indonesia

Like other countries in Southeast Asia, nightlife in Indonesia is fun and vibrant. Whether you’re in the city to dance the night away at one of its hip clubs or in one of the beaches enjoying a more laid-back ambiance, Indonesians surely can show you how to party.

But Indonesia nightlife is not just the typical after dark parties in nightclubs and bars, there are also numerous cultural performances you can enjoy. You can also go to one of the many karaoke joints where you can belt out the latest songs or some nice throwbacks.

Indonesia Travel Tips