Top 5 All-Time Favorite Tourist Places in Indonesia

Indonesia is one of the best tourist places in the world. It was earlier known as the Dutch East Indies or Netherlands East Indies. It got its official name after its Independence from the Netherlands in 1945. Its name is believed to be derived from the Greek where indos, which means ‘India’ and nesos, which means ‘island’ which together gave rise to the name ‘Indonesia’. The language spoken by the people of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia which is also their national language. Indonesia is found in the transitional zone between two major faunal regions of the world. That is Oriental region of Asia in the west and the Australian region and New Guinea in the east. So there are many Asian animals found here such as orangutans, tapirs, rhinoceroses, tigers, and elephants. The animals related to Australian fauna include birds like birds of paradise, cockatoos, and, marsupials like bandicoots. Some of the world’s endangered animals are found in this region including the Sumatran Tiger, Sumatran Rhinoceros, the Komodo Dragon, the anoa (the smallest buffalo in the world), sea turtles, etc.

Best Tourist Places in Indonesia

Indonesia is a place that you must visit for its beautiful islands, world heritage sites, and temples and to savour their authentic cuisines. Some of the best places to visit in Indonesia are: -

• Bali
• Java
• Maluku
• Papua
• Sulawesi

Bali

On your Bali sightseeing tour, you will get to do some amazing things to enjoy your vacation to the fullest and take away memories for a lifetime. Here you can take part in Ayung River Rafting, Tanah Lot Sunset Tour,  visit Bali Safari And Marine Park, and trek on Mount Batur to see the sunrise among other things. The Kecak dance in Bali might take you by surprise. It is a traditional musical drama that is derived from the legend of Legong and Barong. Also known as the fire dance Kecak dance depicts the story of a never-ending battle between good and evil. You can watch it on the temple grounds of Puri Dalem Taman Kaja or Tanah Lot temple. The Indonesia tour package gives you access to the world's top island destination. It is home to some of the most attractive tourist spots in Indonesia. Such as Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple which is a famous Balinese sea temple made to protect Bali from evil spirits. Another famous site is the Ubud’s Monkey Forest. Tourists visit this place to see the Balinese Macaques. Ubud is a creative and cultural hub and one of the best places to stay in Bali to experience traditional Balinese culture.

Java

Java also known as Djawa in Indonesia is a place that you need to visit for its authentic food and culture. It is surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Java Sea. Also, 4 out of 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites are located in Java which include Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple, Sangiran Early Man Site, and Ujung Kulon National Park. It generally has a hot and humid climate and its rainy season lasts from November to March. So, it is ideal to travel here before the rainy season starts. It also has an international airport so it is easy to start your Indonesia trip from Yogyakarta in Java. You should visit Java for its beautiful waterfalls and the largest Hindu complex in Indonesia in Yogyakarta in Java. You can also get to experience the delicious cuisine of Indonesia such as Nasi Pecel which is cooked with vegetables and peanut sauce. You need to visit this place in Indonesia for its Javanese cuisine. Their taste is slightly sweeter due to the usage of coconut, sweet soy sauce and palm sugar (kepac manis and gula jawa). You can try dishes such as Tempeh or fermented soybeans.

Maluku

Maluku is home to some of the world’s hidden paradises yet to be discovered. It consists of pristine beaches, idyllic tropical beaches, stunning underwater, volcanic mountains, centuries-old forts, and lush forests. Maluku also known as Spice Island is nestled between the islands of Sulawesi and Papua. Adventurous travellers looking for places to visit in Indonesia would love the Manusela National Park. Here they can find numerous endemic species of birds. Besides this, Ora Beach is an interesting place where you can stay in houses that float above water and go sightseeing at historical sites like Fort Amsterdam, Fort Belgica, Fort Victoria, etc. Its historical sites are from the Dutch colonial era for example the Fort Duurstede. There are other beautiful islands around Maluku as well such as Banda Islands, Morotai Island, and Buru Island which is amazing for a seaside vacation. You may get to see a Leatherback Sea Turtle in this tourist place in Indonesia, Ngurtafur Beach. It is a rare sight to watch that you can not miss.

Papua

Papua is an amazing sightseeing spot in Indonesia with its extraordinary beauty and cultural richness. Located in the easternmost part of Indonesia, Papua is one of the best off-the-beaten-path adventure spots that attracts travellers from all across the world. It consists of towering mountains, dense rainforests, and scenic beaches. You can visit fascinating Sentani lakeside villages to experience the vibrant indigenous culture of the local tribes. Papua is one of the best tourist places in Indonesia where you will get to try some authentic Papuan specialities like papeda. It is a dish that has a thick, pudding-like consistency and is served with various side dishes i.e. fish or vegetables. Its other variant is papeda kuah kuning. It is a papeda served with yellow soup made with turmeric, coconut milk, and some spices. Another delicacy that Papua has to offer is ‘ikan asar’, it is a Jayapuran fish that is grilled in a different style for 4 - 5 hours to give the fish a savoury and crunchy texture. You can find this dish in Base-G Beach in Jayapura. This beach is a coastal paradise and one of the best places to visit in Indonesia with powdery white sand and clear turquoise water.  You can also go snorkelling here and relax on the beach.

Sulawesi

Sulawesi is the best place to visit in Indonesia to have an enthralling experience on your vacation. This area is divided into three ethnicities Bugis, Makassar, and Toraja. The most attractive spots to visit here include Losari Beach which is a non-sandy beach located in the city centre. Also, an amazing tourist place in Indonesia that you must visit is the Bira Cape where you can take part in activities such as diving and snorkelling. Sulawesi has a lot to offer with its Portuguese-style fortress, the Fort Rotterdam or the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park where you get to see waterfalls, caves, and a butterfly conservatory. Dishes without which your trip to Indonesia will be incomplete include the Pallu Basa, Coto Makassar, Nasu Palekko, or Barobbo. If you are travelling with your partner you can get an Indonesia tour package for a couple and add Sulawesi to your plan.

To find hotels in Bali you can pick famous tourist spots like Bali or the capital city of Indonesia that is Jakarta to get access to most places to visit in the country.