Bali
With its alluring mix of beaches, volcanoes, temples, stunning scenery, artistic and cultural wealth, the island has long been the jewel in the Indonesian tourism crown. Nail is the enclave of a unique and colorful form of Hinduism, and of its thousands of temples Besakih, Tanah Lot and Uluwatu are the three most impressive. The festivals celebrated at all these shrines are a colorful and vibrant celebration of the devout traditional lifestyle that has drawn tourists to the island for decades most visitors also go to the southern beach resorts Kuta, a heady, hedonistic mix of hotels, shops, restaurants and nightlife, but there are plenty of quieter resorts around the coast, and a few secluded spots remain for total relaxation. Those interested in art, crafts, music and dance usually head for Ubud, a cool, laid-back town with galleries, studios, performances and classes galore and plenty of local walks among the rice-terraces to engage the more energetic. The still smoking Gunung Batur, in the volcanic centre of the island, is a popular climb, usually done in the pitch dark so as to arrive at the top in time to admire the glowing sunrise.
Gunung Bromo
The obligatory sunrise views of this mountain in east Java, with the peak and its equally stunning neighbours rising from an almost otherworldly sea of sand, are simply spell binding. There are also plenty of wails to enjoy in this cool, attractive region.
Borobudur
Java’s number-one tourist attraction, this colossal, multi-tiered temple is the world’s largest Buddhist stupa. Over a thousand years old, the temple, though now ruined, is still surprisingly evocative, with over three thousand reliefs detailing scenes from everyday life and the path followed by the soul to enlightenment, along with ancient tales illustrated the journey.
Lake Toba
In northern Sumatra, this is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake. Its central island, Samosir, is the heartland of the Toba Batak people and offers great scenery, trekking and relaxation, with the option of visiting megalithic stone complexes, local villages and hot springs.
Orangutans
The animals at the orangutan rehabilitation centre at Bukit Lawang in Sumatra are arguably the most famous example of Indonesia’s wildlife. The centre aims to reintroduce into the wild orangutans that have been rescued from captivity; visitors here are welcome to watch the twice-daily feeding sessions.
Komodo Dragons
An apparent throwback to the age of dinosaurs, these creatures, actually the world’s largest lizards, live on Komodo in Nusa Tenggara, the chain of islands stretching between Bali and West Papua. The largest ever recorded was more than 3m long and weighed in at 150kg, though most of the dragons aren’t quite so enormous.