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An update from Evaneos

Best places to visit in Indonesia

A volcanic archipelago consisting of 13,466 islands, 6,000 of which are inhabited, the most populous Muslim country in the world offers the visitor a safe environment and a range of attractions and activities to suit all tastes. What can you expect from a trip to Indonesia? Temples inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage on the island of Java; vibrant, lively festivals and a Hindu ambiance and atmosphere on Bali; pristine beaches on Lombok; impressively majestic lakes on Sumatra; Komodo dragons on the island that shares their name; the deep, dense forests of Kalimantan on the islands of Borneo and Sulawesi, and, located at the very edge of the archipelago, Papua New Guinea.

Religion is much in evidence across the whole archipelago and plays an important role in everyday life. Be respectful towards local customs and take pleasure in accepting Muslim and Hindu hospitality and this will enable to get a better sense of the different religious strands that underpin life in this country. Visiting Indonesia therefore demands deliberate choices and proper organisation. There is no need to panic however: the reviews provided by Evaneos' travellers will guide you in this.

Let's head first to Java. Jakarta is basically nothing more than a sprawling capital city; so head instead to Yogyakarta, where you will have the opportunity to see a Wayang Kulit show, a form of Indonesian shadow puppetry, contemplate the Mount Merapi volcano or the magical Mount Bromo, or descend into the crater of Ijen in search of the damned of the earth, who are obliged to carry many pounds of sulphur on their backs. Visit the Buddhist temples of Borobudur and the Hindu temples of Prambanan, and, if you happen to find the equatorial temperatures suffocating, head to Malang, which is famous for its cool climate.

Or perhaps you would prefer a stay on the Island of the Gods, Bali, for the opportunity to visit Ubud, a primary centre of Hindu culture and the island's culinary capital. Or how about a trip to Sidemen, a village that sits surrounded by rice fields, or even a spot of scuba diving at Pemuteran?

Hop across by boat to Lombok, which is a new destination not yet affected by mass tourism. Climb up to the summit of Rinjani, the secret volcano, spend some time enjoying yourself on Gili Meno, or do a spot of surfing at Kuta Lombok, which is still just a fishing village.

To get even further off the beaten track, head off to Flores and explore the crater lakes of the Kelimutu volcano, or spend some time visiting the islands of Komodo and Rinca. And if you have the time, don't miss the opportunity to tour North Sumatra with an English-speaking guide, or take a flight tour over Kalimantan and its primeval forests.

Gaëtan MOLENE
Sanur is a calm, family orientated seaside resort on the east coast of Bali and a great base from which to visit the south and east of the island.
Lombok is an Indonesian island located to the east of Bali.
Munduk (Indonesia)
Munduk
4.5/5
Munduk, a nature lover's paradise!
Teggallalang is a peaceful village which has become a noisy jam-packed tourist centre because of its rice paddy terraces. But it has to be said they are one of the most beautiful in the country. 
Tirta Gangga is a small village in the east of Bali in which the Water Palace is found, a collection of ponds surrounded by gardens, built in the 50s by the inheritor of the kingdom of Karangasem.
Padangbai (Indonesia)
Padangbai
4.3/5
A harbour town that, despite its charm and activities, is often overlooked or ignored by tourists. It tends to attract divers and solo travellers. 
City located in the centre of Java island in Indonesia.
Amed (Indonesia)
Amed
4/5
A stop known to divers, Amed is a small pleasant town in which to spend a few days and relax to the sound of the guitar.
Arcopodo is nestled in a surrealist landscape, close to the summit of the Semeru volcano, on the island of Java,
A little village by Bratan Lake, to the north of Bali, Bedugal is home to a temple as well as a resort and aquatic park.
Pura Besakih, or the Mother Temple, is the biggest Hindu temple on Bali. It is in a wonderful setting, 1,000 metres up the sides of Mount Agung, with 23 temples spread over 6 terraces.
Batubulan is a village situated between Ubud and Denpassar, on the island of Bali. The village is renowned for its stone cutting and for the pieces of sculpture created there.
Pura Luhur Batukaru is one of Bali's temples. Situated at the foot of the Batukaru Volcano, it's got an enchanting atmosphere.
Borneo (Indonesia)
Borneo
4/5
4/5ths of Borneo island belong to Indonesia and the rest to Malaysia and Brunei.
Bukit (Indonesia)
Bukit
4/5
The Bukit Peninsula lies in Bali's extreme south and is famous for its cliffs and the long beaches they stand looking out over.
Dieng is a volcanic plateau in the centre of Java, which is made up of several craters in a caldera.
Gianyar is a town located east of Ubud. The town is clean and has quite a lot of flowers but there is not much to see there.
Gilimanuk is on the east side of Bali and mostly known because it is the departure port for Java.
On Java Island, between two giants, the Gunung Semeru and the Kopolo volcanoes, lies Kali Mati.
Kelimutu's three crater lakes are on Flores Island. They are at an altitude of 1,600 metres.
Komodo (Indonesia)
Komodo
4/5
Komodo island is located between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores and is known for its fauna, its spotless beaches and its coral.
Kumai River brings water, the source of life, to the adjacent jungle zone. It is also a good way to throw yourself into the life of the wild.
Lake Tamblingan is the smallest of Mount Bratan's lakes.
Pura Lempuyang is the second of Bali's nine directional temples. It in fact consists of seven temples constructed on Mount Lempuyang.
Liukan Island, a completely disconnecting experience, is a small-sized island located in Indonesia with the quickest link to it being a 15 minute boat ride.
Mengwi (Indonesia)
Mengwi
4/5
Mengwi is a village on Bali in Indonesia. It is famous for the temple of Taman Ayun.
Nusa Lembongan, between beach and mangrove.
A little island off Bali that is unknown to most tourists (and all the better for it!) If you want something off the beaten path, where you can meet the local population but also go diving, then this is for you. 
Pasir Putih beach is a well known place in Java, on the Probolinggo coast.
Pupuan (Indonesia)
Pupuan
4/5
In the world-famous island of Bali, you find Pupuan, a landscape that is green and idyllic.

Best time to visit Indonesia

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