Top Tourist Destinations In Indonesia

When it comes to the best holiday destinations in Indonesia, the only problem you will really have is narrowing it down according to your schedule, budget and individual tastes. This country is known for its fantastic natural attractions and the list of tourist places in Indonesia grows longer every day as the tourist infrastructure improves and people venture off the beaten track to some of the prettiest places in this part of Southeast Asia. Whether you want a family vacation, a lazy holiday, an adventure packed tripped, or a diving retreat, then you are sure to find it here, and with some 17,000 islands to choose from, there is truly something for everyone in Indonesia.

Here are the top tourist destinations in Indonesia...

For a family vacation

Sanur

Sanur on the island of Bali is one of the most famous places in Indonesia for a family vacation. This part of Bali is known for not having large waves, so families with children can swim here safely without having to worry about surfers in the area. There is also a walkway that skirts along the beachfront which is paved and means that you can walk the length of Sanur and take in all the sights even if you have children in a push chair. As well as the beach there are a number of resorts here which have family activities, and even if you aren’t traveling with younger guests you can also enjoy a range of water sports activities here such as paragliding and jet skiing.

Yogyakarta

The fascinating city of Yogyakarta on the island of Java is also another great pick if you are traveling with a family or group. This is known as one of the main cultural and artistic hubs in Indonesia and this means that you can enjoy a range of activities here such as batik making. To add to the fun you can also get out of the city and check out places such as zoos on the outskirts of Yogyakarta, or you can also travel to the neighboring rivers and beaches that skirt the city and go swimming or kayaking.

Gili Trawangan

The Gili Islands are located off the coast of Lombok and offer you a great family holiday if you want to hop over from Bali, which is fairly easy as you can take either a fast or a slow ferry across. Gili Trawangan is the largest island of this chain but it doesn’t have any paved roads and there are no cars here which make it a great place for children who can zoom around on bicycles and cycle around the island. Other great spots on the island include the cute turtle sanctuary which younger visitors are sure to love, or you can spend time swimming in the crystal clear seas here.

Jakarta

The capital city of Indonesia is a place that many people pass through on their way to somewhere else, but if you are traveling with younger visitors as part of a family holiday then you may want to linger a little longer. Jakarta is packed full of activities for children to enjoy such as Taman Mini Indonesia Indah which has 26 zones that showcase model houses of the 26 provinces of Indonesia and you can also visit a number of theme parks here. One of the most famous of these is located at Ancol on the outskirts of Jakarta which is the home of Ancol Jakarta Bay City. This has a large beach areas as well as a variety of swimming pools that make the perfect place to cool off on a hot afternoon. Also a hit with children within the complex is Sea World which is a large aquarium as well as a dedicated water park with slides and rides.

For adventurous souls

Flores

If you want to get off the beaten track in Indonesia then a good pick is the island of Flores which is the next island across from Lombok. This island is far less visited than many of the others in Indonesia and you can spend time doing activities such as trekking up volcanoes like Kelimutu to check out the gorgeous crater lakes for which it is famous. Flores is also home to Komodo Island which is known for its breathtaking Komodo dragons which are located inside a national park so this is also a great spot if you want to go trekking.

Pulau Weh

Pulau Weh is not a spot that many visitors to Indonesia ever get to visit which is a shame as this is one of the most relaxing places in the country. Pulau Weh is located in Sumatra and you will need to travel to Banda Aceh before getting a ferry across to the island. Once here however you can kick back and relax and the top activities here include swimming in the azure seas, diving, or just sprawling on the sand and topping up your tan, far from the usual tourists crowds.

Papua

Papua Province is known for being one of the most remote travel destinations in Indonesia but also one of the most interesting places in the country. This part of Indonesia has the claim to fame of having some of the biggest areas of pristine rainforest in the world, so if you like trekking then this is a great choice. You can also check out spectacular tribal art in the caves around Papua, and there is also the chance to hop between the different islands here in fishing boats and explore different local villages and a range of hidden diving opportunities.

For diving

Lembeh

When it comes to diving one of the best spots in Indonesia is the Lembeh Strait which lies off the coast of Sulawesi and is the place to come if you like muck diving. There are a range of dive spots here which all face islands off the coast and you can diving amongst wrecks as well as enjoy steep walls that are covered in colorful coral gardens. As this part of the country is known for its muck diving, you can also check out a range of marine creatures on the sea floor and this is a top spot for macro photography enthusiasts.

Nusa Penida

Many people in Bali flock to the Nusa Islands which are considered one of the best holiday destinations in Indonesia if you like diving. Many people opt for Nusa Lembongan which is the largest island, but if you want something a little quieter then you need to head for Nusa Penida. This island is smaller and far less developed, but it also has pristine azure seas and you can spend time here swimming, snorkeling or diving, and there is a high chance of seeing manta rays, turtles and even the odd whale shark.

Raja Ampat

Raja Ampat means ‘Four Kings’ in Indonesian and is part of West Papua, but it is also known for being one of the best diving spots in the world. The issue however is that many people have never heard of it, so you are likely to have much of the sea to yourself as the crowds head to other more famous spots. The beaches here back on to pristine jungle and the seas are known for their eclectic marine life including colourful fish, turtles and sharks. You will also find more than 500 different kinds of coral here, and you can go swimming, snorkelling or diving here to get up close to the amazing species of aquatic creatures in this part of the world.

Maluku

If you want to get off the beaten track and also get in a spot of diving at the same time then you may want to think about heading to the province of Maluku and traveling to Ambon. Here you will find a number of islands which are known for their diving and you can also dive directly off the coast of Ambon if you want to stay closer to the main island. This part of Indonesia is known for being a top spot if you want to indulge in some muck diving or macro photography and the seas here are full of colourful fish and sharks. Another great highlight of diving in Ambon is the chance to check out the coral gardens for which this part of the country is famous and some of these can grow to a height of some four meters.

For a lazy holiday

Seminyak

If you are looking for a chilled out holiday in Indonesia then one of the most relaxing places is of course the island of Bali. One of the man hubs in Seminyak, and although it may be a favorite with the tourist crowds, you will not have to look far if you want to relax and unwind. This part of the island is covered in bars and restaurants, and it also has the highest concentration of spas in Bali. This means that you can spend time on the beach here and go for a leisurely swim followed by a spa session and then a decadent dinner with cocktails, all without ever having left Seminyak.

Ubud

One of the most famous places if you want to relax in Indonesia is Ubud. This region of Bali is known for being one of the most serene spots on the island and for this reason it makes a great escape if you just want to chill out and enjoy yourself. This is also known as the top yoga spot in Bali and you will find yoga studios all over town which offer everything from drop-in one hour sessions to full retreats which last for several days and will help you relax, unwind and fully detox if you have been overindulging too much as part of your holiday.

Lake Toba

The idyllic Lake Toba is located on the island of Sumatra and you can fly direct to the lake thanks to the newly opened airport at Silangit or you can fly to neighbouring Medan and then travel five hours overland. This is a great place to get away from it all as the lake sees far fewer tourists than other spots such as Bali and you can spend time relaxing on Samosir or you can take a soothing boat ride over the glassy surface of the water. Swimming in the lake is also a popular activity and you can hire an inner tube here and then float around without a care in the world.

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Whatever kind of holiday you have in mind, the sheer size of Indonesia means that you will have a wide selection of different kinds of trip to choose from. This is also one of the more unique destinations in Southeast Asia as it offers something for everyone, so you can easily visit the archipelago alone, or as part of a couple, group or family, and still find a huge amount to entertain you once you are here.