Indonesia is a huge archipelago made up of over 14,000 islands. The country is extremely diverse, known for its ´ring of fire´, a string of spectacular volcanoes across the islands, its dense tropical jungles rich with wildlife, pristine beaches and coral gardens. The vast country is also rich in history and culture as well as its natural beauty making Indonesia a wonderful destination both for a short-term holiday or an epic adventure of several months.

Bali

The tropical island of Bali in the Indonesian archipelago is so picturesque and spectacular it could almost be a picture postcard. It is one of the World´s most beautiful islands, famous for its incredible sunsets, pristine beaches, lush paddy fields and imposing volcanoes. It has been well established as a tourist destination for many years but still retains its charm and natural beauty.

Bali has a unique blend of modern tourist facilities and shopping malls that are seamlessly integrated with the island´s rich cultural and historical heritage. The people of Bali have preserved their culture and age-old customs. These traditions are reflected in day-to-day life and can be seen in the numerous ceremonies, festivals and the city´s distinct architecture. Bali is also home to some of the best surfing beaches in the world and attracts a large number of tourists from all across the world to its beautiful white sandy beaches and gentle seas.
For those more culturally inclined, a visit to some of the culture spots is highly recommended. These include a trip to Ubud, located high in the hills; the spectacular Mother Temple at Besakih; the ancient capital of Bali, Singaraja and the floating palace at Ujung near the idyllic beach area of Candi Dasa. In fact, Bali´s countryside offers breathtakingly picturesque scenery. From thick jungle, treks to rolling hillside rice terraces and the magnificent Kintamani Volcano, Bali offers you a chance to get up and close with Mother Nature.
After sunset, Bali acquires a completely new character and ambience. The streets get busy and the town wears a festive look. Entertainment and dining choices are many - you can enjoy a quiet romantic moonlit dinner by the seaside or watch the spectacular Balinese Fire Dance at one of the many venues around the island. For party lovers, Bali has a large number of world-class discos and nightclubs. For water enthusiasts, Bali offers a plethora of activities to choose from. Scuba diving, snorkelling and action packed day trips to Nusa Penida for beach sports and coral viewing are some of the recommended activities.
Being a truly international destination, restaurants in Bali are extremely cosmopolitan and relatively inexpensive. Here you can savour local delicacies like Nasi Goreng and Sate Campur as well as Chinese, Malaysian, Japanese, Italian/European Greek, Moroccan and even Mexican cuisine. Last but not least, one shouldn´t skip the local lobster and a wide variety of local fish delicacies.

Beyond Bali

Unspoilt Indonesia outside Bali, with its natural beauty, promises a real exciting experience. One can savour the unique traditions and mystical life of the Toraja in South Sulawesi, the impressive, traditional dance and houses of the Minahasa in North Sulawesi, the national orchid park in Bancea, the beautiful Poso Lake, nature waterfall and megalith culture in Central Sulawesi. Also, awaits the experience of an exciting river cruise and jungle adventure on the Mahakam River in Kalimantan, and the exotic Maluku Island. See also the Stone Age Villages of the natives with their unique way of life in Irian Jaya. In East Nusa Tenggara (Flores, Timor, Sumbawa etc) one can see the Giant Lizard Komodo, and the contrasting three colours of lake Kelimutu, megalith culture in Bajawa, and also other unique cultures/traditions of the people of Nias in North Sumatra and Java.

Bandung

Bandung, also known as the ´City of Flowers´, is the provincial capital of West Java and Indonesia´s third largest city. Bandung is located on a plateau in the scenic Parahyangan Mountains and offers a perfect gateway from the heat and hustle-bustle of the lowlands. Bandung´s pleasant climate and lush green surroundings make it a perfect holiday destination for people visiting Indonesia.
Places to visit include the Pasar Kota Kembang, a narrow street with shops and stalls on both sides - a perfect place for buying cheap clothes, belts, shoes and handbags. Also located in the vicinity is a shopping centre that specialises in textiles.
As the capital city of West Java, Bandung´s shops are stacked with products from all parts of the province. The famous Jeans Street is a perfect place to buy clothing, souvenirs and local handicraft. The Alun-Alun is also a shopping paradise and has many well-known shopping centres such as the Bandung Indah Plaza, one of the most upmarket shopping centres in Bandung. The famous flower market is located on Jalan Wastukencana and sells a wide range of flowers grown locally in the cool mountains that surround Bandung.
The Ciater Spa Resort located on the slopes of the majestic Tangkuban Perahu Mountains in the village of Ciater presents to tourists from all across the globe an unforgettable experience. The Spa has natural hot springs that will help you relax your body and mind. In fact, Ciater Spa Resort is the first and the only medical rehabilitation and recreation centre in Indonesia offering star-rated hotel service to support its medical facilities.

Jakarta

As a city of commerce like Singapore, Tokyo, Hamburg or New York, Jakarta sees plenty of visitors coming to the city for business purposes. With a high standard of meetings and convention facilities, the capital is one of the country´s top convention destinations. The city is home to a dynamic contrast between Western-style modern urban life-styles and traditional culture. Its rapid growth into a metropolitan city reflects the economic, political, social and industrial development of the nation. In recent years, Jakarta has expanded its facilities for visitors with multi-star luxury hotels, fine restaurants, exciting nightlife and modern shopping centres, as well as tourist attractions such as Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park), restored colonial period buildings, marine resorts in the Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands) and an extensive beach recreation complex.
Despite its status as a city of commerce, Jakarta also offers places of interest to explore. For those with an interest in history and culture, Jakarta History Museum, provides the background of Jakarta through displays of old maps and antiques including furniture and porcelain used by the Dutch rulers of Batavia, and a 16th century Portuguese cannon which stands just across the cobble stone square.
For golf aficionados, the city provides a choice of no less than 15 championship golf courses, several of which were designed by top designers such as Robert Trent Jf., Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. There are also tens of others in the city´s surrounding areas of Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi. All in all Jakarta is a great metropolitan experience, as well as being a gateway to the rich and diverse culture of not just Indonesia but also the whole of Southeast Asia.

Lombok

Bali´s lesser-known neighbour is well worth the visit. Excellent beaches and rugged mountainous landscapes in addition to the cultural attractions make Lombok an island, which is beginning to catch the eye of the tourists. Gunung Rinjani dominates the whole island and makes for a great trekking expedition. Popular sight-seeing destinations in Lombok include, the Gili Islands; Mataram, the main commercial area of Lombok; Senggigi Beach resort is popular with rich and wealthy; Gunung Rinjani is the highest mountain outside Irian Jaya, hot springs and spectacular views make it a rewarding experience.

Komodo and Rinea

The islands of Komodo and Rinca lie between Sumbawa and Flores and are usually seen as part of an island hopping boat trip. These rugged islands and one other are the only home to the Komodo dragon the last surviving dinosaur. Being at the top of the food chain on the islands has allowed the dragons to survive for millions of years undiscovered by humans until relatively recently. Komodo is the more famous and you a guaranteed of seeing the dragons up close. Rinca, however, is much better, and allows one to see the creatures in their natural habitat, and provides a much more authentic experience.

Flores

Probably the highlight of any trip to the Nusa Tenggara group of islands (Sumbawa to Timor) is Flores. Once again, the islands natural beauty is worth the journey alone with towering volcanoes, mountains, lakes and forests. Visits to traditional villages can be very rewarding with some fascinating customs and mixture of religions.