Top 13 Most Thrilling Adventures in Indonesia

If you are looking for some thrilling adventures when you holiday then Indonesia certainly won’t disappoint. There are a whole host of exciting activities in Indonesia that you can enjoy as part of a trip here that include fun filled days surfing, trekking up the side of a volcano, or coming face to face with all manner of fearsome tropical creatures like Komodo dragons. With that in mind, all you need to do is decide which of these Indonesia top things to do you want to check out first.

1. Scale Mount Batur

If you are starting your holiday in Bali then you may want to travel to Mount Batur and consider a trek to the summit which can be done as part of a tour and is one of the best adventure activities in Indonesia. This mountain is actually a volcano which stands at some 17,000 meters above sea levels and tours to the summit usually leave at around 3 am or 4 am in order to get you to the peak at 6 am in time for the spectacular sunrise as it breaks over the lip of the mountain. Mount Batur is also known for having a gorgeous lake in the centre which lets you look back at a mirror of the volcano and this is one of the most stunning natural spectacles in Bali and across wider Indonesia.

2. Enjoy the water sports at Nusa Dua

The island of Bali is known for being one of the best places to visit if you want to enjoy some outdoor activities, particularly if these happen to take place on the water. With that in mind, if you want to indulge in some thrilling water sports as part of your holiday then make sure you head to Nusa Dua which is a haven for different adrenaline packed activities. These include things such as jet skiing across the calm seas for which this part of the island is famous, or you can also try paragliding where you will be pulled behind a boat and can float in the air and take in the best views across Bali. If you want something little more fast paced then you can also try jet packing which includes being strapped into a jet pack which pumps water through its jets and then lifts you up into the air so you can hover over the sea and whizz around at your leisure.

3. White water rafting on Ayung River

For one of the top thrilling adventures in Indonesia, consider white water rafting down the scenic Ayung River in Bali. There are a number of different tours you can take here which will take you down these amazing white water rapids and you will float through the Ayung Gorge which is truly a memorable spot in Bali. As you paddle down the river and zoom over the white water you will get the chance to check out the beautiful local scenery all around you including lush rice paddies and dainty local villages which are worth the trip alone.

4. Dive at Nusa Lembongan

Indonesia is covered in islands so many of the best activities in Indonesia are based around water sports such as diving. To that end, one of the best places to get in the water is off the coast of Nusa Lembongan which is an island located off the coast of Bali. This island is also a world away from the hectic tourist spots in places like Kuta, so you can come here and dive without having to compete with too many crowds. Some of the highlights of a trip here include the pristine waters which mean that visibility is excellent and you can enjoy swimming around and searching for things like colorful turtle and graceful sting rays.

5. Go zip lining at Bali Treetop Adventure Park

Anyone who wants to get their adrenalin pumping in Bali needs to head to the Bali Treetop Adventure Park which is where you can enjoy a huge number of rides that will see you swinging through the forest in no time. The park is suitable for young children from the age of 4 all the way up to adults, so all the family will find something to enjoy here. The park is made up of a number of different routes which are based in the trees and you can go zip lining through the jungle canopy, or you can also walk across nets and ride on swings. If you have a head for heights then this is one fun filled afternoon that is not to be missed when you are in Bali.

6. Trek with the orang utans at Bukit Lawang

If you are looking for trekking adventures in Indonesia then look no further than Bukit Lawang on the island of Sumatra. This is the entrance to the larger Gunung Leuser National Park which is also the home of a number of wild orang utans which roam freely here and were all rescued from poachers or trafficking. You can sign up for a variety of tours here which will take you through the jungle and you can trek into the park for a few hours, or choose a tour that lasts several days and that lets you camp overnight in the forest.

7. Go surfing in Nias

Many people think that you can only surf in Bali in Indonesia but actually one of the best places to get out on the ocean waves is in Nias which located in Sumatra. This part of the country is known by surfing aficionados across the globe and there are some fantastic waves here which are perfect for intermediate and experienced surfers. As well as the surfing scene and the relaxed vibes that you will find on this island, you can also enjoy the unique culture here which features famous ceremonies such as stone jumping which is considered a rite of passage for many locals and visitors alike.

8. Take a speed boat ride at Lake Toba

Anyone who is traveling to Sumatra should make sure not to miss a trip to the charming Lake Toba off the itinerary. This body of water had the claim to fame of being the largest crater lake in the world and would have been formed as the result of a massive volcanic eruption. Nowadays you can rent a high speed boat here and whizz about on the surface of the glassy lake so that you can take in all the natural beauty of this area which is already being heralded in Indonesia as ‘The New Bali’. There are also a number of tours that you can take here which will take you around the main island in Lake Toba which is known as Samosir and you can visit sights such as the looming tombs of former Batak kings who would have ruled over this area.

9. Scale Mount Ijen

Mount Ijen is located on the island of Java and if you want to try trekking adventures in Indonesia then this is one of the best, although not one of the most well known. Mount Ijen consists of a volcano which is filled with a massive crater lake that is made up of acid and many tours will take you up here at night. The reason for this is so that you can see the flames that dance on the surface of the lake which are blue in colour and which are the result of sulfuric acid bubbling up from the water and catching in the moonlight.

10. Climb Mount Bromo

One of the most famous peaks in Indonesia is Mount Bromo which is located on the island of Java and is another one of the country’s mountains that is an active volcano. This means that this is one of the top thrilling adventures in Indonesia and the volcano is said to be a dedication to the god Brahma who is an important deity in the Hindu faith. You can scale the volcano as part of a tour when it is not erupting and these usually start in the early morning so that you can take in the amazing views and sunrise which breaks over the surrounding countryside.

11. Meet the dragons at Komodo National Park

One of the most famous Indonesia top things to do is a trip to visit the dragons that live on the island of Komodo in Flores. The dragons are all located inside the Komodo National Park and although they sound fearsome they are actually not fire breathing beasts but large lizards. That said however, their saliva is known to be toxic so you will need to join an organized tour to see them in their natural habitat with a local guide to make sure that you don’t get bitten.

12. Trek to the lakes of Kelimutu

Kelimutu us the name of a volcano in Flores, which is one of the many volcanoes dotted around Indonesia. The reason to make the trip here however is for the chance to check out the gorgeous lakes which are located inside the volcano, as each one has a different hue. The lakes are green, blue, and red respectively and the reason for the difference in color is down to the mixture of gasses that bubble beneath the surface of the water. You can join a tour which will take you out to the lakes and if you are looking for even more of an adventure then you can even sleep here overnight and wake up early to watch the sun rise over the lip of the crater.

13. Try muck diving in Lembeh

Indonesia has a wealth of great spots if you want to go diving, but one of the best if you are looking for something a little different is the Lembeh Strait off the coast of Sulawesi. This is a far less visited part of the country but it is more than worth making the trip to experience the amazing muck diving on offer. This lets you swim in the warm seas and check out all the natural sediment on the bottom of the ocean which is a haven for marine life such as scuttling crabs and shy shrimp. If you like macro photography then this is certainly not to be missed and you may even spot sharks, turtles, and dugong here.

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There is no shortage of fantastic adventure activities in Indonesia, so if you are looking for something of an adrenalin rush then this is one of the best places to find it in Southeast Asia. One of the great joys of this part of the region is that there are just so many thrilling adventures on offer in Indonesia, so all you need to do is pick whether you want volcanoes, churning seas or trekking activities and then go out there and have some fun.