Planning a travel adventure through the Indonesian Archipelago can be overwhelming! Where to start and where to end. What to do and what not. Don’t fret. Get in on the one side and out on the other side. In between, grab as many adventures as possible!
Indonesia, eloquently known as Zamrud Khatulistiwa (“Emerald of the Equator”), is a vast country spanning over 1.9 million square kilometres – the world’s 14th largest country in terms of land area. Come along as we explore this archipelago of over 17,500 islands.
Known for its active volcanoes, deserted beaches, colourful tribes, remote villages, ancient ruins, and wildlife in dense jungles, we start in the historic town of Yogyakarta with its 9th-century temples; we then visit Borobudur Temple, the Dieng Plateau, and the islands of Bali, Lombok, the Gilis, and Flores.
Thinking about Indonesia evokes visions of active volcanoes, deserted beaches, colourful tribes and their festivals, remote villages, ancient ruins, and wildlife in dense jungles facing the rapid destruction of their habitat. Sounds like another country qualified to be promoted under the slogan of “Many Countries in One”. While this slogan may be well-founded, this “one country” is surely not surveyed in one single visit, unless you are spending months on end.
Indonesia is vast, and that’s an understatement. Spanning over 1.9 million square kilometres, it is the world’s 14th largest country in terms of land area. Also referred to as the “Indonesian Archipelago”, it consists of over 17,500 officially listed islands, of which 16,056 island names have now been verified by a United Nations working group referred to as the UN Group of Experts on Geographical Names (UNGEGN). That sure is a lot of named islands to visit, let alone the yet unnamed islands!
Among the larger islands are Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan (part of Borneo Island), Sulawesi, and West Papua. Many of the smaller islands that are popular among travellers are Flores, Bali, Komodo, Lombok, and a few others. When it comes to intrepid travel across Indonesia, the sky is the limit. The adventures are endless and the opportunities to discover the undiscovered are almost uncountable!
For travellers who have never set foot in this vast and diverse country with a population of over 261 million people, it is tough to recommend the ideal starting point. Let’s start with a few of the highlights, and in the future, we will talk about the islands hardly ever visited by travellers. Welcome to the Indonesian islands of Bali, Lombok, the Gili Islands, the islands of Flores, Komodo, Padar, Rinca, and the central region of Java Island.
Let me take you on a brief tour around some of Indonesia’s greatest destinations:
1) Sacred Ruins of Yogyakarta, Java Island
2) Vesak Day Festival at Borobudur Temple, Java Island
8) Orangutans of Borneo & Sumatra
9) 10 Great Travel Experiences in Indonesia
Blog post and photos by Peter who has been travelling almost full-time since 2005 and has been to over 122 countries. He visited several countries, such as Japan, more than 20 times. Peter is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of GlobeRovers Magazine, an independent travel magazine focused on intrepid destinations.