Indonesia
Destination Guide
How to use my destination guides
My destination guides are organised in two main sections:
Overview
This will help you to decide if this is a location for you, and if so, where you may want to spend your time. For larger countries, I also provide additional overviews of different regions, states and territories.
Specific Recommendations
Here I list specific things to see and do. For each, I provide star ratings so that you can easily see how good, unique and adventurous each place is. This means that you can easily pick out where sounds right for you!
Photos note: All of the photos you see on my website are taken by me or of me!
Overview
I found writing an overview of Indonesia extremely difficult because it is so vast and diverse, with countless islands, peoples and cultures. Despite the challenge, I’ll do my best to give an honest overview of the country and what you can expect from it. This includes the famous tourist island of Bali, which is one of the most famous tourist spots, as well as many other lesser-known locations.
Firstly, Indonesia is massive, it is the world’s 15th largest nation by land area (1,904,500km2), made up of an estimated 17,000 islands, 278 million people and with over 700 languages. The modern-day borders of Indonesia were drawn by the Dutch, as it was formerly a Dutch colony called the Dutch East Indies. Indonesia gained its independence in 1945.
Despite being so far from Arabia, Indonesia is a predominantly muslim country. Not only this, but it is the country with the largest population of muslims in the world, with Islam being brought to the islands by seafaring traders from muslim population areas. You will find varying degrees of strictness (for want of a better or, should I say, a real word) and this will vary from town to town and island to island. From what I saw though, they weren’t overly strict anywhere. Bali, which is frequently visited, is popular because its people there are; despite being surrounded by muslim islands, they are predominantly a hybrid of Hindu-Buddhist faiths. Like in Thailand (another predominantly Buddhist country), I found them very open-minded, relaxed and easy-going. I believe this is a large reason why Bali in particular, is a tourist destination.
Although many tourists don’t visit there, you will find the majority of the local population of the large islands of Java and Sumatra in the west. Jakarta, the nation’s capital, is located in the west of Java and is home to an estimated 11 million people.
As I say, it’s incredibly hard to give an overview of such a large and diverse country, but I’ve done my best. You can find some more information below including a breakdown for each of the major areas.
The Language
Many people in tourist areas speak at least some English and in touristy spots like Bali, people are either fluent or not far off it. Obviously, however, the country is massive, with over 17,000 islands and over 700 languages. Some islands, such as Bali, speak Balinese; however, most learn their common language, which is relatively simple and easy to pick up for westerners which is called Bahasa Indonesia (Bahasa meaning language). You will also find it incredibly similar to Bahasa Malaysia, which is used in neighbouring Malaysia.
Economy and Safety
Indonesia is cheap! Most places are very safe. The people are lovely and friendly, so you’ll have a great time. Take more care when visiting the less-touristy islands, as this will vary from place-to-place and culture to culture. There were pirates operating off Borneo when I was there, so be aware and take advice from locals and other travellers as well as government websites.
Travel Ease
The more-visited islands like Java, Lombok, Bali, etc., are accessible by plane and by island-hopping on ferries. As for smaller islands its on a case-by-case basis.
The Beaches
They’re mostly good! I have personally seen better in other countries, as they can have litter or sometimes not-so-friendly stray dogs on them, but they’re still nice, especially away from the more touristy areas.
Wildlife and biodiversity
It’s incredible, given its warm weather and waters, you’ll find plenty of weird and wonderful land and marine life, including animals which I have never heard of or seen before. I personally felt some of the marine life was better than what I saw in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia in parts. I loved swimming with whale sharks and manta rays here. A little known-fact is that the animal and biodiversity vary massively across Indonesia because there are a number of tectonic plate boundaries across the country, meaning that some trees and animals are descendants of those which have originated in Australia and others from Asia.
The Cities
I have been to larger settlements in Indonesia, but nothing that I would describe as a city. Given that the islands of Java and Sumatra are the most densely populated, that is where most of the major cities are found, including the capital city, Jakarta. I’m sorry that I haven’t visited Jakarta yet or other major Indonesian cities, so I can’t comment (yet). I know that places like Jakarta don’t have loads of tourists compared with neighbouring countries’ cities because you have more famous cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, etc. nearby.
The People
The people I met were lovely! Obviously, each island has its own culture and traditions, so this could vary – I noticed a difference from Bali to Lombok, for example, two islands only a short distance apart: the former has a lot of tourists and its own Balinese culture and religion. Lombok has a different culture and a majority muslim population. Although I found the people equally pleasant and nice on both islands, I found that people in Bali were more ‘smiley’ for one of a better word and seemed happier and more welcoming. In contrast, however, Lombok was cleaner, less chaotic and better maintained, so it depends on what vibe you want.
Indonesia subregions
I have grouped parts of Indonesia together so that you can get a flavour of some of the main areas. Groupings are as follows:
- Sumatra
- Java
- Bali
- Lombok Strait Islands
- Lombok
- Komodo Islands
- Flores / East Nusa Tenggara
- Indonesian Borneo
- Indonesian Papua
- Other Islands
Sumatra
Sumatra is Indonesia’s third-largest island and most populous being home to around 47 million people. It is very large and in the west of the archipelago with its western-most point being further west than Thailand and Malaysia and due south of Burma (Mayanmar). It is famous for its incredible nature and wildlife. Although I haven’t been here I have spent some time in Malaysian Borneo (which occupies the north of the island of Borneo), which is also famous for its nature. Some people I met along the way said that they preferred the nature in Sumatra to Malaysian Borneo, which makes me think it’s worth checking out! There are also some larger towns and cities located on the island.
Java
Java is Indonesia’s 5th largest island and very highly populated being home to around 140 million people as the nation’s capital, Jakarta. Despite its high population however it has some incredible mountains, waterfalls and volcanoes so keep an open mind. Java gets relatively few foreigner visitors besides those who want to see the Capital, Jakarta so you may be a bit of a rarity or asked for photographs on occasion. The rail network on the island is also efficient, well-run and affordable. You won’t find tonnes of hostels and vibes similar to much of the rest of SE Asia here as given that there are fewer tourists but to me, that’s the appeal. The island has an amazing mix of city life, nature and wild adventures.
Bali
See also…
Here, I provide an overview of the island of Bali. If you plan visit Bali, however, then as a minimum I recommend that you also read Lombok Straight Islands’ and Lombok as these islands are, in my opinion, nicer and are incredibly easy to get to. You can also access eastern Java and the Komodo Islands, Flores, etc., without much difficulty either.
Bali
My review of Bali has to be brutally honest; I am not a fan. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t hate Bali and it has a lot of good things about it, but to me it is the single most overhyped destination in the world which I have ever seen. Let me explain. Before I went to Bali, I had met people who had only ever told me good things about it: a tropical island with lovely people, incredible beaches, a beautiful culture and nature; when I landed, I was disappointed. Don’t get me wrong I knew Bali would be touristy but when you arrive at the airport you are greeted by a horde of people trying to get you to come into their taxi (and when I see a horde I mean more than I have ever seen for such a small place by far) – I recommend you use the Grab app which is like Uber but for SE Asia – drivers here will tell you they are on Grab but ignore them, book it yourself on the airport wifi then walk to the grab stand which isn’t far from the exit. What people don’t tell you about Bali (check it out on Google Maps for yourself) is that the island’s principal city, Denpasar, occupies around one-third of the island’s area. The air quality is bad with people burning crops and rubbish near roadsides and lots of scooters pumping out not-so-clean emissions. It’s incredibly busy and hectic. When you speak to people about Bali, they talk of places like Kuta, Ubud and Canggu – in reality, although these were no doubt smaller, beautiful towns 40 years ago, they have now been swallowed up by the sprawl that is Denpasar. Some places like Ubud are slightly quieter, but they are still busy and for me, not relaxing. Bali was the first place I visited in Asia, so I could ease into the continent as I knew it would be touristy. I arrived and spent 2 weeks on the island of Bali itself, trying to find out why people loved it so much. I felt like I must be missing something or some place on the island that made it so famous. After spending two weeks there and exploring the island, I came to the conclusion that it is overrated. It was only after leaving Bali and meeting other backpackers in SE that I met so many others who had the same opinion as me. I think much of the reason why tourists go to Bali is because of its legacy reputation. I can imagine 40 years ago this island would be paradise: amazing people, good food, good weather, surfing, beautiful marine life, but now frankly its overdeveloper, overpopulated by tourists, a bit dirty and just not great. The Balinese culture and people are incredible; however, they are incredibly friendly, kind and welcoming. One beautiful thing which these people do is that everyone makes offerings for good karma at the start of the day, typically in the form of leaving flower boxes and often putting things in their cars if they are taxi drivers. This does make the place look beautiful.
Allow me to give you more context on why I’m not a fan of the island of Bali:
- It’s densely populated and not that relaxing. There are some quieter areas in the north of the island, but it’s still highly populated. There are lots of scooters polluting the air, combined with locals burning rubbish and crops.
- There’s lots of traffic, so it’s not very relaxing.
- The beaches are dirty – I found there was a lot of rubbish (trash) lying around, and the beaches and the water off them were not clean – don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t as bad as the worst parts of north India, but it’s still not pleasant.
- Stray dogs – Like with much of Asia, there are stray dogs. The locals believe that westerners keeping dogs locked up in a house or kept on a lead (leash) is cruel when they should be free, which I understand. Although…. The dogs are frankly mangey and some can be, to a degree, feral. The locals communally look after the dogs and feed them, but it’s nowhere near the care a western owner would give to their own personal dog. During the day, they are strolling around individually and are docile; although one walked into a hostel I was staying in and seemed friendly, so much so that I thought there may live there, then proceeded to try and bite me on the hand! At night, however, these things roam around in packs and become wolf-like. I remember relaxing with friends on the beach in Canggu, surrounded by wild dogs yapping and threatening to bite us; it was so severe that we left the beach.
- The water around the island also isn’t the cleanest.
- Some things are bad value for money. I found accommodation to be well priced, but many other things, from food to haircuts, while they are not expensive compared to Western prices, they are significantly more expensive than in other places of similar levels of development in SE Asia that I have been to. Many places cater to foreigners with western cuisine, which makes it more expensive, but I personally think you get better value and a better time elsewhere in SE Asia.
- The Instagram crowd. This island attracts people who are there for a good photo; many of the photos you see of Bali are not real. They are heavily edited. The most famous example being a photo of some stone gates with a beautiful still lake in front of it, with a reflection making for an amazing couples photo. What they don’t tell you is that the queue takes hours and when you get there, there is the stone gate, but no lake, it’s just a mirror placed below the camera, so it looks like that (thankfully, I avoided this). Also, do you want to swim with dolphins? You’ll be strapped to a boat with another 10 boats jostling around you, chasing them too; it feels more like a dolphin chase than getting involved in nature. Don’t believe anything you see on Instagram, especially in Bali!
- The drinking culture – If you are under 25 and want to go out partying every night, drinking and chasing the opposite sex, Bali may well be for you! I had a few nights out here in Canggu and enjoyed it for a night or two, but if you stay longer, you’ll be sucked into it. Also, if you do party here, you’ll be with other foreigners and no locals, so just FYI, if you want to mingle with locals, this isn’t the place to do it (get yourself to the Philippines instead, where they speak English and have wicked humour if you want to party with locals in SE Asia!). If you’re not into this, then Bali likely isn’t for you.
- It’s famous for Bali Belly (pretty much everyone who homes here gets a bad stomach at some point. By the way, me saying ‘a bad stomach’ puts it mildly, by this, I mean you will be shitting through the eye of the needle for 2-3 days while potentially also vomiting, and you will be sapped of all energy. I’m guessing there are a number of bugs going around that westerners aren’t used to, I avoid the water more than the food if you go there, don’t take ice in your drink, only drink bottled water, don’t even risk trying to brush your teeth with their water – I think that’s what got me, I saw a very healthy-looking German guy in my hostel brushing his teeth with the stuff and then thought I’d risk it since I’d gone a week in Bali and been fine, within a few hours I realised the error of my ways!
I appreciate that the above list comes across as a winging rant, but I wanted to say it to show you my experience and manage your expectations if you do go. I enjoyed my time there at points because the locals are nice and I was with good friends, but to me, it’s overcrowded, has too many tourists, and there are plenty of other better places to go to.
My photos above show you what the nicer sides of Bali look like, although I, like everyone else, was trying to get a nice angle, so much of what you will see is without the large numbers of tourists. Many of the towns, particularly in the south of Bali, look more like my final photograph with roads jammed with scooters, traffic and noise, nothing like as relaxing as I had envisaged!
That being said, Bali does have many good things about it, such as:
- Although it’s more pricey than much of SE Asia, it’s still cheap. It’s also very westernised, so you can live like a king/queen on a budget with western comforts like western food, wifi, etc., which is why a lot of digital nomads choose to spend time here.
- There are also cheap flights to Australia, so if you’re en route there, I’d encourage you to stop off in Bali en route if the flights are cheap (although I would recommend heading to the Lombok Strait Islands (see below) pretty quickly.
- It’s famous for yoga courses with different types of yoga. I know plenty of people who come here to train to be yoga instructors. Like I say, it is busy though, so if you want a more ‘authentic’ yoga training, you could just go to India, but if you want a specific type of yoga like aerial yoga, maybe you’re better off here.
- If you want to party and drink with other foreigners somewhere a bit cheaper than home, this could be a good option. I found Canggu to be the best place for this. To me, though, it gets a bit old after a couple of days, but I am a more outdoorsy person. Also, there are ladyboys here, so lads, if you do see some locals giving you the eye, you may be in for a surprise later on if you have your beer goggles on!
- I really enjoyed the diving off Amed Beach in the north of the island and it was a good place for my first scuba dive.
- Grab (the Uber of SE Asia) bikes are really fun. Unlike Uber in Western countries, where you can select just cars, here you can also rent scooters, where you quickly and cheaply jump on the back with a local who drives you through the traffic. It’s great fun! If you are going to rent a scooter and drive yourself, please wear a helmet. The roads are busy, and frankly, it’s not worth it. Also, I’ve not heard great things about the wait times in the hospitals there, so play it safe.
If you have friends going to Bali, by all means, go with them. I was in good company and had a great time with my friends because of them. If you are solo travelling, though and are a bit more like me, outdoorsy and wanting to get away from the really touristic places, then I would say don’t spend long there.
In the east of Bali, there are cheap, quick, regular ferries which take you to the much nicer (in my opinion) Lombok Strait Islands (see more below).
Lombok Straight Islands
There are several amazing islands in the Lombok Strait, which is located east of Bali and which separates Bali from Lombok; a similarly sized island around 35 km (22 miles) to the east. I booked a ferry online and took a boat from Sanur, which feels like an airport. It’s very well organised and has a huge number of tourists going through it with multiple gates. There are also other ports going east, such as at Padang Bai and Serangan, so be sure you check your ticket first (you’re also best off booking online).
There are two groups of islands:
- ‘The Nusas’, as I will call them. These are two main islands which you can visit: Nusa Penida (larger) and Nusa Lembongan (smaller). More info. below.
- The Gili islands. They are comprised of three small islands (from west to east): Gili Trawangan (typically just called ‘Gili ‘T’’), Gili Meno and Gili Air. More info. below.
You get ferries easily between the islands to suit your route; be it from Bali to the Nusa Islands, Gili Islands, Lombok or back to Bali. You can skip islands out and pretty much do any combination you want, as far as I found. After booking my ferry from Bali to Nusa Lembongan to catch up with a friend of mine, I booked my subsequent ferries through the hostels I stayed at, and I presume hotel staff would be happy to do the same for you.
I stayed on Nusa Lembongan and really enjoyed it. I didn’t visit the island of Nusa Penida, but those I met said they enjoyed staying on Lembongan more. I really liked this island and it was more of the Bali that I had envisaged. It was quieter: I easily rented a scooter from my hostel and bounced around the island, easily exploring it in an afternoon and watched the sunset at some cliffs with some cool people from my hostel. I also did a snorkelling excursion, which was one of the best I’ve ever done, including getting to see and swim with manta rays (more info under my specific recommendations section). There aren’t loads to do here, though, so 2 or 3 days tops is more than enough.
From the Nusas, you can go straight to Lombok (like I did) or stop off at the Gilis. The main reputation of the islands is that Gili ‘T’ is the party island and there is a Mad Monkey hostel there which caters for heavy drinkers if you’re into that sort of thing. The central island, Gili Meno is far less visited and I have only met one person who stayed there. It sounds like the most chilled of the three, although Gili Air is the most famous for relaxing. In general, the reputation is: Gili T for partying, Gili Air for relaxing, and Gili Meno is to be skipped. It’s up to you though, hoping between islands is cheap and easy, so you can be spontaneous, follow your friends and the vibe depending on what appeals to you.
After visiting the Lombok Strait Islands, I would strongly recommend heading to Lombok, mainly because you can do an epic four day boat trip from here to Flores, which was one of my favourite travelling memories of all time!
Lombok
Lombok is a cool island. Many people prefer it to Bali and say it was how Bali was 20+ years ago, as it has a far smaller population. In many ways, it’s different to Bali despite being so close and a similar size. Lombok, like much of the rest of Indonesia, is a predominantly Muslim island, unlike Bali, which is a Hindu-Buddhist hybrid. I preferred the people on Bali as I found them more smiley and welcoming; however, Lombok is also very safe and the people are still friendly. The island’s capital Mataram, is far better planned than Denpesar being much cleaner and with very few tourists. Most tourists stay in Kuta in the south of Lombok (not to be confused with Kuta in Bali when you are booking things like accommodation – be sure to double check!).
A lot of people love staying in Kuta Lombok and spend a lot of time there, though for me, as much as I enjoyed it, there are better places. I think three days in Lombok is plenty to be honest, unless you want to climb the island’s volcano (Mount Rinjani) or do a lot of surfing (although I prefer surfing in other places as you need a boat to tow you out to the surf in Kuta, which is a pain and there are still quite a lot of people. The best thing I did on Lombok was to visit the zoo, but more on that under my specific recommendations, it’s definitely a must-see though and is close to the ferry terminal where ferries come in from Bali and the Lombok Strait Islands, so you can do it the same day you arrive, then head to Kuta. The best thing to do, though, is to undertake the multi-day boat trips from Lombok to Flores (AKA East Nusa Tenggara on Google Maps); it’s incredible!
Komodo Islands
Famous for being home to the awesome Komodo Dragon! Visiting these islands is typically part of an organised tour to preserve the wildlife and ensure people’s safety. I visited on a boat trip which departed from Lombok and terminated in Badjo, Flores.
Flores (East Nusa Tenggara)
When in Indonesia, you will find everyone calls the island Flores; however, if you are a fan of Google Maps like you, you will find the island not precisely labelled despite being massive. On Google Maps, it shows as East Nusa Tenggara, which is the administrative territory of Indonesia and which includes Flores and many other islands. I took a boat trip from Lombok to Flores (which also goes in reverse) and drops you in the west of Flores in Badjo, which is a beautiful town.
My visa was ending shortly after I arrived in Flores, so I didn’t get to explore much, but it looks incredible and I have heard good things. There are far fewer tourists here, though, than on the islands closer to Bali.
Indonesian Borneo
I have spent a good amount of time in Malaysian Borneo in the north of the island; however, I haven’t visited Indonesian Borneo. I hear that it is a great place for wildlife lovers, which makes sense if it is akin to the north of the island.
Indonesian Papua
I haven’t visited here, but it looks beautiful with incredible landscapes. Check travel advice before visiting; there are reports in recent years of foreigners being kidnapped and worse due to conflicts between separatists and the central government.
Other Islands
Like I said in my overview, Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands and 278 million people! It is massive and infrastructure levels vary from island to island. Despite spending a month in Indonesia, I have barely scratched the surface and I think it’s got loads of travelling potential, especially in the more remote areas where you can observe local languages and cultures, which vary from island to island. Also, the wildlife on land and, of course, in the sea is amazing. As Indonesia spans between the continents of Asia and Oceania, there is a range of animal and plant life. I’d love to go back and explore more of this country and update this blog accordingly!
Overview Summary
Indonesia is an incredible place to visit. Whether you want an easy tourist life in Bali and the surrounding islands or a more extreme adventure on a remote island and everything in between, Indonesia has you covered. I found the people welcoming, prices affordable and plenty of choices for great activities. With great landscapes, wildlife and weather its a great destination for a range of travellers. Its location also means that Indonesia can be easily accessed from other south east Asian countries or Australia, and it can be a great stopping off point for those moving from Asia to Australia and New Zealand too.
Specific Recommendations
How to interpret my specific recommendations
My specific recommendations are listed below. Firstly, you will find: its name, a quick link to locate and save it to your Google Maps, and for some, a photo. The photos, if present, like all those on this page, have either been taken by me or feature me in them. If you save the location to your Google Maps, I suggest that you add a note on there too, to remind you that you heard about it here. A good way to do this is by copying my website link into the location description. This way, you can check back here nearer the time of your visit to jog your memory as to what is there. I use Google Maps to plan all of my trips and, when used to its full potential, it is incredible! If you haven’t already, check out my blog post on how I use Google Maps to revolutionise my travels!
I provide a description of each location, as well as a duration estimate for how long you may want to spend at that location, to help with your planning.
I also provide star ratings for three categories.
Andy Argo
My overall rating
Worth seeing if you’re passing
Worth a detour if you have time
A must see!
Adventure
The level of exertion and danger involved
Easy to access, low risk and no strenuous exercise required
Some exercise is required, such as hiking. Some risks, such as bad weather, uneven ground, steep edges, etc.
Involves more exercise, greater danger or both. Examples include diving or scrambling up mountains, where experience is required.
Uniqueness
How well known and unique a destination is
A well-known destination or one that is not overly unique. I have listed restaurants in this category as food is everywhere.
Somewhat unknown or unique
Very unique
Some other points to note are:
- I like a bit of danger and history, so you may find that my ‘Andy Argo’ star ratings are sometimes (but not always) a little biased in favour of these types of locations.
- On my ‘Andy Argo’ stars, if I have given something one star, it’s good and worth doing. Having one star doesn’t mean it’s bad; it’s still high praise, as I only include the crème de la crème on this list!
- My duration recommendations are based on what I think is the minimum amount of time you would want to spend there. I always recommend being spontaneous when travelling and changing plans depending on your circumstances, how you feel, and following advice from locals. Remember you’re there to enjoy it, so don’t feel rushed and stressed, you’re on holiday!
- In a small handful of instances, I have included somewhere I have been with zero Andy Argo stars. I have done this a handful of times for very touristy places. These are locations which I have been to and which are sufficiently famous that I think people would wonder why they aren’t on the list, but which, in my opinion, don’t make the cut and are overrated (sorry).
- I have been to the vast majority of these recommendations; however, sometimes I include several locations which I haven’t been to for the following reasons:
- A friend of mine has been there and has highly recommended it to me.
- Internet searches suggest it sounds noteworthy enough to include.
Disclaimer – I am not responsible for your safety or enjoyment at any of these locations. Everything I have recommended here is based on my experience and opinion. I may have recommended places I visited years ago or, as mentioned previously, a handful which I have had recommended to me. Do your own research before visiting any attractions to ensure that you think you will enjoy them and that they are sufficiently safe. My recommended duration times are also estimates based on my opinion; do your own further research and plan accordingly. I have recommended places which I think people will like, but it is all based on my opinion; I may love something that you hate. Be sure to have sufficient travel insurance and make your own judgments. Check weather forecasts and consult reputable local guidance before visiting anywhere you seek to visit. For more adventurous activities, ensure that you are physically and mentally prepared and that you have the right supervision, equipment, and training for the activity. Long story short, use some common sense and don’t sue me, I’m broke enough already. Happy travels, Andy
Specific Recommendations
I have broken down my specific recommendations here similarly to in my overview.
Bali
See also: Lombok Strait Islands & Lombok recommendations as a minimum. I would also recommend looking at my recommendations for eastern Java, the Komodo Islands and Flores, which can also be reached from here with relative ease.
Canggu
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: District
Recommended Duration: 2 days+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
I spent some time here; you’ll either love it or hate it. Like the rest of Bali its a bit dirty and overrated, but I think it’s the best place to party on Bali island itself. There are restaurants serving western food, also lots of Yoga retreats, etc., and it’s a short walk to the beach.
If you are a party person or a western yoga person (if you want hardcore, obviously go to India). It’s fun for a few days, hotels/homestays are nice and it basically offers western life somewhere hotter and cheaper. At night, people drink and work their way down to the beach to party there.
In Canggu’s defence, it can be a good place to relax if you need some western comforts somewhere cheap and it’s a good place to do nothing – provided you want to do nothing in a town and not somewhere more beautiful or scenic. It’s not ‘Indonesia cheap’ as everywhere here has inflated prices to cater to Westerners. Also ,I got some horrendous ‘Bali belly’ here (don’t drink any water or have any ice in your drink in Bali, pretty sure it’s largely the water that messes with foreigners’ stomachs).
This part of town has a reputation for being full of drunk Aussies and one-night-stand hookups. Also, if you like to party with locals, this isn’t the place to do it, it’s very much a ‘tourist colony’ although locals do run the hotels and homestays, which are really nice and great for some r&r.
Note: Like much of Bali, when people mention Changgu, it is effectively part of the capital and main city, Denpasar, since most settlements on the island have grown into one so don’t go here expecting it to be a quaint little village! (Maybe 40 years ago it was but definitely not now).
Ubud
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: District
Recommended Duration: 2 days+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Probably one of the better places on Bali, like many places here, it’s famous for Western girls going to learn how to do Yoga and eat smoothie bowls. To me, like Bali in general, it isn’t ‘real’ travelling as it’s very westernised and made to cater to westerners.
That being said, Ubud is probably the best place to stay on Bali for Bali life, but to me, unless you’re doing a Yoga course, I wouldn’t hang around for too long. If you love it here, I think it’s probably because you haven’t travelled anywhere better in Asia (which is pretty much anywhere – get yourself to Thailand instead – sorry Bali). Like I say, though, if you’re keen to stay on the island of Bali, this is the best place in my opinion.
Note: Like much of Bali, when people mention Ubud, it is effectively part of the capital and main city, Denpasar, since most settlements on the island have grown into one so don’t go here expecting it to be a quaint little village! (Maybe 40 years ago it was, but definitely not now).
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Wildlife
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
It’s ok, a bit overhyped, you can see monkeys in loads of parts of the world and it is a tourist trap – that being said, it’s worth going to if you’re in Bali. It’s a great place for people to watch to see how stupid people are around them, getting stuff stolen by monkeys – be careful if you push your luck, they can bite you too. If you aren’t used to seeing monkeys, it’s worth it and even if you are, go to see Darwinism in action – like I say, it’s great for a bit of people watching!
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Temple
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Nice temple by a lake, good and relaxing.
Banyumala Waterfall
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Waterfall
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Big waterfall innit…
Aling-Aling Waterfall
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Waterfall, swimming and activities
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
This was one of my favourite things to do in Bali and is something which is actually rare and good to do! It was really fun! It’s a series of waterfalls, and it’s basically God’s water park!
Some waterfalls you can slide down and others you can jump off and they vary in height, so you can choose what height suits you depending on how brave you feel. They make you pay for a guide, which is a way of getting the locals’ money, but it’s not expensive and they take some good photos for you. Be warned, some of the plunge pools are a bit shallow, so tuck your legs up on impact and send your shorter friends first to scope it out and report back!
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Coastal town with diving
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
This is a great place to do scuba diving. There are some shipwrecks off the coast and it starts shallow and goes deeper. There’s loads of marine life here and it’s a great place to go if you are a beginner or a pro; there really is something for everyone.
Also, because the wrecks and marine life are so close to shore, you don’t even need a boat to get out there, you can literally swim right from the shore. If you like diving, the north shore of Bali has plenty of good sites and shipwrecks.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Temple and gardens
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Garden with stone temple-like monuments, stepping stones in ponds with fish, etc. Its a beautiful place, but it was ruined when I went by the sheer volume of tourists. I’m trying to live in the moment and walk across the stepping stones, looking at the fish.
Given the volume of Instagram-obsessed people though, you’ll find you’re waiting 30 seconds on a good day per stepping stone before you can move forwards while every man and his dog takes the perfect Instagram photo. It was so busy with tourists that my friends didn’t even venture inside. It’s beautiful, but if you want to go, try and go early, maybe to dodge the crowds; otherwise, it’s probably not worth it.
Secret Temple
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Temple
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Located in the east of the island I am not even sure of the name of this temple. My friends and I were driving around on Scooters and saw this down a side road. It was a beautiful temple with no tourists, a good place to relax, meditate, whatever you like in the sun. We just wandered in and relaxed there and it was free, apologies in advance if you get there and it turns out that you aren’t allowed to do that but nobody told us we couldn’t.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Water palace
Recommended Duration: 3 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
This was one of the better things I saw in Bali, it’s touristy but big enough so that it’s not so bad and it is really beautiful.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Temple
Recommended Duration: 4 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
This place was really worth it for me. I got lucky and was here during a festival, which was awesome to see, surprisingly not many tourists too! Really cool place and architecture. We got a guide (I think it may be mandatory from memory), but it is worth having a guide as they can talk you through the local beliefs and meditation.
Mt. Batur
Category: Volcano
Recommended Duration: N/A
Andy visited?: No
Description
There is a volcano on the island called Mt. Batur. Indonesia is famous for volcanoes and it has loads of awesome ones all over its many islands. True, I didn’t do this one, but from what I’ve heard, there are far better ones to do. elsewhere. I’ve only included it becuase its wellknown, but it doesn’t make the official cut for this list.
Lombok Strait Islands
Manta Rays
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Marine life, snorkelling, diving
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Incredible! Yes, it can be busy and touristy, but in my opinion, it was still definitely worthwhile. I chose to snorkel there, which was really cheap. There were a lot of people there, but still, you’ve got great odds of seeing several mantarays, how epic is that!
Your snorkelling experience will be better if you are good at holding your breath and diving down to get a better view of the animals. If you opt for snorkelling, I recommend that you have your mask ready (spit in it so it doesn’t fog up) and as soon as someone says there’s a manta ray, hoy (throw) yourself into that water pronto before the rest of the throng. If you want to view manta rays without as many crowds around and with more time, then I have heard great things about scuba diving with them.
On the same boat trip tour as when I saw the manta rays, the boat stopped on the way back by a reef with a strong current and it was great. They get you out the boat and then drive the boat ahead while you are washed down the shore at some speed, then you drift back into the boat 10+ minutes later. It’s awesome, super chill and super fun! I highly recommend it! I’m sure if you ask around and try and ensure that your tour includes this too.
Devils Tears, Nusa Lembongan
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Coastal cliffs
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
This place makes for a nice sunset spot (it’s west-facing) and the waves crash onto the cliffs, it’s pretty great! I’d recommend when you arrive to get a scooter (if you feel confident) around the island then end up here for sunset before heading back.
Blue Lagoon, Nusa Lembongan
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Coastal view/ sunset spot
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
Nice rocky cove, it’s a good place to drive to on a scooter.
Nusa Penida
Category: Island
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida are right next to each other. Most of the best things to do are in the ocean, which you can typically do from either island. Despite Nusa Penida being the larger of the two islands, many people prefer the smaller adjacent island of Nusa Lembongan.
I went there to catch up with a friend and have since heard it is the better island of the two, although I admit I didn’t visit Nusa Penida for myself and I am basing this on word of mouth alone. Nusa Penida does have some famous beaches, but I hear some are for Instagramers and not scenic – you just go there to take a photo and that’s it. I don’t regret not going here at all. It sounds like it’s not worth doing Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida, but pick whichever feels right to you. I personally really liked Nusa Lembongan as it was small and easy to get around.
Gili Trawangan (‘Gili ‘T’’)
Category: Island
Recommended Duration: 2 days+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Collectively known as ‘The Gilis’ (pronounced ‘gill-ee-s’), these three small islands are easily accessible from ferry terminals in Bali and are just off the north-west coast of Lombok (a similar-sized island just east of Bali). They all have a good reputation. Gili ‘T’ has a reputation as being a bit more of a party island. The marine life is accessible from all islands and is famous.
Gili Meno
Category: Island
Recommended Duration: 4 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Collectively known as ‘The Gilis’ (pronounced ‘gill-ee-s’), these three small islands are easily accessible from ferry terminals in Bali and are just off the north-west coast of Lombok (a similar-sized island just east of Bali). They all have a good reputation.
Gili Meno is the quietest of the three islands; few people stay there, but people often visit on day trips (although it is possible to stay there). The marine life is accessible from all islands and is famous.
Gili Air
Category: Island
Recommended Duration: 2 days+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Collectively known as ‘The Gilis’ (pronounced ‘gill-ee-s’), these three small islands are easily accessible from ferry terminals in Bali and are just off the north-west coast of Lombok (a similar-sized island just east of Bali). They all have a good reputation.
Gili Air has a reputation for being the best island to relax on. The marine life is accessible from all islands and is famous.
Lombok
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Zoo
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
I love it here! It was a lucky find for me. I was staying in Kuta, Lombok in the south of the island, but drove back up to the ferry port in the north-west of Lombok. I went up there to pick up my swimming shorts, which had been sent to me after I had left them drying on the balcony of my hostel in Nusa Lembongan, only to lose them for good a few weeks later.
I stopped in here as I saw it was nearby and I didn’t want the drive across the island without seeing something over that side of it. Anyway, I digress. I stumbled across this zoo near the ferry terminal, so I thought I’d stop in. It was incredible!! Chances are that you’ll stay in Kuta in the south of the island, so it’s best to visit here when you get off the ferry to Lombok before you head down to Kuta. I was the only visitor there when I went and they had loads of animals I had never heard of before and definitely not seen! It was also really interactive and they let you feed a lot of the animals; there is nothing more satisfying than feeding a small Pygmy Hippo! It costs a little bit extra to buy food to feed the animals, but it was so worth it. I also paid a bit extra to play with an orangutan. Definitely visit this place if you find yourself in Lombok!
Mount Rinkani
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Volcano
Recommended Duration: 3 days, two nights
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Unfortunately, I didn’t do this as I was rushing to catch a boat trip I was more keen to do before my month-long visa ran out. Many people rave on about this, though and say it is one of the best things they have ever done. You have to take a guide and it takes 3 days, 2 nights. I have been told it’s a lot of loose scree slopes and hard work to hike up, but an incredible experience.
Boat trip to Flores via the Komodo Islands
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Boat trip
Recommended Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
This is one of the best things I’ve ever done on my travels! It’s nothing short of incredible with sights I will remember forever.
I got on the boat in Lombok and there were about 30 of us tourists from memory. You can book private rooms (I got told they are hot and not worth it; some couples who had those ended up on ‘on the deck’ with the rest of us because they said it was more pleasant). It takes you via loads of islands to Badjo, Flores. There are some incredible hikes there with stunning views, time to relax on the beach, partying at night, and learning how to backflip off the boat into the warm waters below. Also, we got to see Komodo dragons before docking. One night, we docked in the path of flying foxes (ginormous bats) as the sun set over beautiful mountains and greenery. Feeding monkeys and swimming with whale sharks (I say swimming, I got into the way of one while I sorted my goggles out and he pushed me along through the water). The whale sharks, people say is unethical as tour boats follow fishermen who feed them and there are so many tourists its like tourist soup as you’re swimming with whatever they’re feeding them. That being said, I’ve seen whale sharks and definitely don’t regret that, although there are other places in the world you can do it more ethically.
I also remember us all sleeping on the deck (in a relatively, the deck is open plan and covered with a proper roof) on roll mats, which is rough and ready but part of the fun, and I was woken by the boat rocking severely from side-to-side. Then one by one I saw others starting to sit up with the same realisation as me on their face…we were thrown onto this boat with no safety briefing despite being on a boat for 4 days; no knowledge of if/where any life jackets are or what to do if this boat sinks in the dark with us and all of our belonging on it! Another lad and I went up to take a look and the crew seemed relaxed, so I’m guessing it was just a rough patch of ocean (although the boat was a bit top-heavy by the look of its design), so we stayed up with the crew watching and enjoying the experience before going back to bed. It’s hard to put into words how much we did and how amazing it was. Some time on the boat relaxing between unforgettable adventures; best money spent ever!
Kuta, Lombok
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Costal town with surfing
Recommended Duration: 2 days+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
I spent a few days here. If you’re a party fan, there is a Mad Monkey hostel here (not my jam or my people), but I stayed at a more chilled hostel nearby with a pool, which I loved and made good friends there.
It is famous for surfing, but I didn’t like the surf, to be honest – you have to pay to get a boat out to the surf and there are a lot of people there. If you skipped Kuta, I wouldn’t blame you, to be honest, but it was a good place to relax while I waited for the boat tour. I wouldn’t recommend it if you don’t need to be here. Also, make sure when booking things, you get the correct Kuta! There is Kuta, Bali and Kuta, Lombok! I also stayed in Kuta, Bali: avoid, it’s a dive.
Komodo Islands
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Island and wildlife
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+ (as per your tour)
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
As I mentioned above under ‘Boat trip to Flores via the Komodo Islands’, I saw the Komodo Islands and Dragons on this boat trip. They’re cool to see, it’s a bit touristy, but come on – where else can you see those crazy creatures! The marine life in the area is amazing too.
Kanawa Island
Category: Island with marine life
Recommended Duration: 4 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
I had this island recommended to me for having amazing snorkelling and marine life.
Boat trip to Flores via the Komodo Islands
As described under Lombok recommendations.
Flores (East Nusa Tenggara)
Boat trip to Lombok via the Komodo Islands
I did this from Lombok to Flores, but you can do it in reverse. See my comments under the heading ‘Lombok’ for more information.
Adventure
Andy Argo
Uniqueness
Category: Coastal town
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: Yes
Description
I arrived here after my boat trip from Lombok. The town seemed lovely and somewhere I’d love to explore more of before heading into the interior of Flores. Unfortunately for me, a large, international diplomatic meeting was ongoing and all the accommodation was full up in the town, so I ended up booking a last-minute flight back to Bali that evening to avoid being homeless. Also, my visa was nearly up!
Waerebo Village
Add to Google Maps
Category: Traditional village
Recommended Duration: 3 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
I was keen to go here but wasn’t organised enough, it looks fun though and something I’d do if I go back that way again.
Sumatra
Bukit Lawang
Category: Traditional Village
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
I have heard this traditional village is a nice place to visit and not very touristy.
Ronggur Nihuta
Category: Island
Recommended Duration: 1 day+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
I have been told this island on a lake in Java is an outcrop of Christianity in what is otherwise a very Muslim country. There is also some Dutch history there. It definitely looks cool and worth checking out if you’re in the area.
Java
Borobudur Temple
Category: Temple
Recommended Duration: 4 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
This looks awesome and definitely worth visiting if you are in the area.
Prambanan Temple
Category: Temple
Recommended Duration: 3 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but my internet research suggests it may be worth visiting
Description
This looks awesome and definitely worth visiting if you are in the area.
Mount Bromo
Category: Volcano
Recommended Duration: 1 day
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Epic-looking volcano! Some photos do show it being quite busy in the area though.
Madakaripura Waterfall
Category: Waterfall
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Epic-looking waterfall!
Tumpak Sewu Waterfall
Category: Waterfall
Recommended Duration: 1 hour+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
Another epic-looking waterfall!
Ijen
Category: Volcano
Recommended Duration: 4 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
I was meant to travel here from Bali with friends – then Bali belly struck hard! My friends loved it though – the volcano is active and there is blue fire there and all sorts of cool stuff! It looks incredible and different to other volcanoes!
Red Island Beach
Category: Beach and surfing
Recommended Duration: 2 hours+
Andy visited?: No, but people have recommended it to me
Description
I have been told that this is a good beginner surfing beach!
Other Islands
For my other self-defined regions of Indonesia, Papua, Indonesia Borneo and ‘Other Islands’, I have no recommendations as of yet, but I will when I have visited in the future, so stay tuned!
I hope that you have found this free Destination Guide useful. It took a lot of time and travel for me to make this, so if you would like to show your thanks by sending a small donation, I would be very grateful. This can be done on my Support Me page. Thank you!
Happy travels!
Andy Argo
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Title image: West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia