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With more than 17,000 islands, 6,000 of them are inhabited. Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world. About 240 million people live in this fourth most populous country in the world — after China, India, and the USA — and by far the largest country in Southeast Asia. 

 

Having numerous beautiful places is what makes this country a wonderful place to visit. A magical blend of culture, people, nature, activities, weather, culinary delights, nightlife, and beautiful accommodation. Indonesia has various magnificent scenery from the untouched beaches, mountains, lakes, and many more pleasing destinations as well as the magnificent city skylines throughout the country. When you desire to see the entire beauty of Indonesia, one time visit will never be enough to embrace its wonders. 

Here are the 10 top destinations in Indonesia that you must visit to see the real Indonesia. 

 

• Bali

  

Bali offers all kinds of traveling excitement for worldwide visitors. This island is known for its forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches, and coral reefs. The island is home to religious sites such as the cliffside Uluwatu Temple. To the south, the beachside city of Kuta has lively bars, while Seminyak, Sanur, and Nusa Dua are popular resort towns.

 

There are so many things to do in Bali, it will amaze you. If you are a new visitor then you will definitely come back for more. Bali is a rare place that is both deeply spiritual and fun. Bali is more than just beach, sun, and party. Here you can explore world-class animal parks, incredible nature, traditional villages, marine life, fascinating temples. 

 

 

 

 

 

• Yogyakarta

 Yogyakarta, together with its twin city Surakarta (Solo), is the cradle of civilization on Java. This city was the seat of power that produced the magnificent temples of Borobudur and Prambanan in the 8th and 9th centuries and the new powerful Mataram kingdom of the 16th and 17th centuries.

 

 

Yogyakarta was known for the slogan “Jogja The Neverending Asia“ for its endless appeals. Today, it is also renowned as “ Jogja Istimewa “, a tagline that elaborates its special values.

Chasing sunrise in famous temples like Prambanan and Borobudur in the neighboring town of Magelang, are only some of the many more ways to never get bored in this relatively small yet bustling city. 

 

 

 

• Komodo Island

Komodo island, part of the Lesser Sunda chain of Indonesian islands, is the rugged habitat of the 3m-long Komodo dragon monitor lizard. Komodo National Park covers the entire region and is home to more than 4,000 dragons, and is made up of rusty-red volcanic hills, savannah and forests. Its surrounding waters of seagrass beds, mangrove shrublands, and coral reefs are famous for diving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Bromo 

Mount Bromo is an active Somma volcano and part of the Tengger mountains, in East Java, Indonesia. At 2,329 meters it is not the highest peak of the massif, but the most famous. The area is one of the most visited tourist destinations in East Java, and the volcano is included in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. It is surrounded by Sea of Sand.

 

For local residents, Mount Bromo is believed to be a sacred mountain. Every year the Tenggerese hold a Yadnya Kasada ceremony. This ceremony takes place at a temple under the foot of Mount Bromo and continues to the top of Bromo. The ceremony is held from midnight to early morning during the full moon around the 14th or 15th of the month Kasada (tenth) of the Javanese calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

• Gili Island

The Gili Islands are a group of 3 tiny islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air – in Indonesia, near the coast of northwest Lombok Island. Characterized by sandy beaches fringed with palm trees, they're known for their coral reefs just offshore. On the smallest island of Gili Meno, sea turtles swim at Turtle Point. At Gili Trawangan, the largest island, a sunken ship sits at Wreck Point near Mentigi Beach.

 

The Gili Islands are known for their fantastic visibility, gorgeous coral reefs, and diverse marine wildlife. You can literally go swimming right off the beaches of Gili Trawangan where you can see a few turtles. 

 

One most famous beaches and also known as the romantic escape called Gili Meno. It's the smallest and quietest of the other Gili Beaches. It has white sand, scattered with squat trees and fringed with crystal clear water. 

 

 

 

• Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat, or the Four Kings, is an archipelago located off the northwest tip of Bird's Head Peninsula on the island of New Guinea, in Indonesia's West Papua province. It comprises over 1,500 small islands, cays, and shoals surrounding the four main islands.

 

The name Raja Ampat, which means “The Four Kings”, comes from a local myth that tells a story of a woman who came across seven eggs. Out of the seven, four hatched and became kings that occupied four of Raja Ampat’s biggest islands—Batanta, Salawati, Waigeo and Misool.

 

The Raja Ampat archipelago straddles the Equator and forms part of the Coral Triangle which contains the richest marine biodiversity on earth.

 

 

 

 

 

• Lombok

 With divine beaches, the majestic Mt Rinjani and spectacular marine life to discover, the island of Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara has no shortage of attractions both in and out of the water. Lombok Island is separated by the Lombok strait from Bali Island in the west and by Alas strait in the east from Sumbawa Island. 

 

The Sasak people are the dominant ethnic group living in this island, which also consist of 5 regions: North Lombok, Central Lombok, East Lombok, West Lombok and Mataram city, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara.

 

Here you can also visit the traditional villages and join the locals of Sasak tribe to experience their daily life in the weaving village of Sade and Rambitan. You may learn a thing or two from the wonderful women with meticulous weaving skills that produces fine quality textiles.

 

 

 

 

 

• Bintan Island

 

Bintan Island is part of Indonesia's Riau Archipelago, a short boat ride from the city of Singapore. Bintan is the perfect heavenly getaway for leisure and adventure seekers. Best known for its high-end resorts, world-class golf courses, and magnificent coastal beauty. The northeastern Trikora strip is a less-developed coastline. 

 

With many alluring qualities, there are several attractions in Bintan that might capture your interest. The stunning Bintan Resorts is one of the chief tourist attractions in Bintan. Located on the northern tip of the island, this spectacular resort stretches along the sandy white coast of South China Sea. 

 

You can also visit Penyengat Island, This Island was once the epicenter of the Malay Riau-Lingga empire. An interesting blend of Javanese and Dutch architecture. Another well-known landmark in this island is the astonishing Sultan of Riau Grand Mosque, which was built using a mixture of egg white and lime as cement.

 

 

 

• Flores Island

Flores is one of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Islands. It lies east of Komodo Island and west of Lembata Island. The west coast port town of Labuan Bajo is a gateway to Komodo National Park, known for its carnivorous Komodo dragons and waters teeming with sea life, including manta rays and turtles. 

 

If you are keen to learn about local cultures, spend your time in Flores' local villages. Flores has a famous village called Wae Rebo, which local people called a village above the clouds due to its location on top of a mountain in Manggarai Regency.

 

Flores also has other villages that are as exotic as Wae Rebo. For instance, there are megalithic villages such as Bena Village in Ngada Regency, an 800-year-old Wologai Village in Detusoko District of Ende, and Wolojita Village, also in Ende – which is famous for the mummy of its elders.

 

 

 

 

 

• Bangka Belitung

 

The Bangka Belitung Islands (Indonesian: Kepulauan Bangka Belitung) is a province of Indonesia. Situated off the southeastern coast of Sumatra, the province comprises two main islands, Bangka and Belitung and numerous smaller ones. Bangka Belitung is bordered by the Bangka Strait to the west, the Natuna Sea to the north, the Java Sea is to the south and the Karimata Strait to the east. 

 

Although not as popular as Bali or Lombok, Belitung is blessed with some of the best beaches of the country. The sand is soft and as white as palm sugar, and some even argue that the sand here is even whiter than that in Bali. Belitung is also surrounded by more than 100 small islands. Almost all of them are decorated with white sand and granite rocks, and only a few are inhabited. 

 

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