Lake Toba in
Sumatra, Indonesia, is the world's largest volcanic lake, and also one of the
best places in Asia to chill out for a few days or longer. There may not be an abundance
of things to do at Lake Toba, but the atmosphere is so pleasant that you
probably won't even notice! Motorbike or private car is the best way to visit
several small sites in one day.
Pulau Samosir, a
newly formed island inside the lake, is blessed with great scenery, friendly
locals, and a pleasant vibe.
Bali is one of the
world’s most popular island destinations and one which consistently wins travel
awards. The varied landscape, rugged coastlines, tropical beaches, lush rice
terraces and volcanic hillsides all provide a picturesque backdrop to its
colorful, deeply spiritual and unique Hindu culture. The combination of
friendly people, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality and
spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali the unrivaled
number one tourist attraction in Indonesia.
Borobudur Located 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Yogyakarta on Java, the Borobudur is the one of the most famous Buddhist temple in the world. The Borobudur was built over a period of some 75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an estimated 2 million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia.
The Komodo National Park is a national park located within the Lesser Sunda Islands that includes the three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rincah, and 26 smaller ones. The park is named after the Komodo Dragon, the world’s largest living reptile that can reach 3 meters or more in length and weigh over 70kg. Although Komodo dragons eat mostly carcass of dead animals, they are formidable predators and will also hunt prey including birds, and mammals. Attacks against humans are very rare.
Gili Islands
Lombok’s most popular tourist destination, the
Gili Islands are an archipelago of three small islands: Gili Trawangan,
Gili Meno and Gili Air. The islands are very relaxed and laid-back, with
countless little beachside cafes still playing reggae and no cars or motorbikes
to disturb the peace. Note that the name “Gili Islands” is rather redundant as
gili simply means “small island” in Sasak and there are many other islands
around the coast of Lombok with Gili in their names.
Activities:
Horseback riding, Scuba diving
Torajaland
Torajaland (Tana Toraja) is a highland region
of South Sulawesi, home of the Toraja people. Torajans are famous for their
massive peaked-roof houses known as tongkonan and spectacular but gruesome
funeral rites. After a person’s death, the body is kept – often for several
years – until the actual funeral ceremony which can last for several days. The
deceased is then finally buried in a small cave or in a hollow tree.
Bunaken
Located at the north of the island of Sulawesi,Bunaken is one
of Indonesia’s most famous dive and snorkeling areas. The island is part of the
Bunaken Marine Park where you can see more than 70% of all fish species that
live in the western Pacific ocean. The best time for diving in Bunaken is
between the months of April and November.
Gunung Bromo is an active volcano and part of
the Tengger massif, in East Java. At 2,329 meters (7,641 feet) it is not the
highest peak of the massif, but it is the most well known. The area is one of
the most visited tourist attractions in Indonesia and Java. The top of the
volcano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white
smoke. It is surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand. The overall
effect is unsettlingly unearthly.
The Baliem Valley in the highlands of Western
New Guinea offers a glimpse into what was recently a stone-age world. The
valley was not known to the outside world until 1938 when an aerial
reconnaissance flight southwards from Hollandia (now Jayapura) discovered a
large agricultural population. Wamena is the starting point for most visitors
who come nowadays to marvel at the mountain views, roaring rivers, tribal
villages and at the tough but sweet spirit of the warm Dani people.
The Tanjung Puting National Park is located on
the island of Borneo in the Indonesian province of Central Kalimantan. The park
is a popular ecotourism destination, with many local tour companies offering
multi-day boat tours to view wildlife and visit the research centers. Wildlife
include gibbons, macaques, clouded leopards, sun bears, pythons, crocodiles and
– most famously – orangutans. Unfortunately the park is heavily threatened by
illegal logging and forest clearing for agricultural uses.