A Quick Intro to Indonesia

Mention Indonesia and most people automatically think of Bali, but there’s so much more to the country than that.

The five largest islands are Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi, and New Guinea, but there are over 17,500 Indonesian islands scattered between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

As you can imagine, you could spend months exploring Indonesia and still not feel like you’ve covered everything. With idyllic beaches, world-class surf breaks, impressive volcanoes and chaotic cities, it’s no wonder Indonesia attracts millions of tourists from all over the world.

Many first-time visitors to Indonesia tend to head straight to Bali, the Gili Islands or Lombok but I’d suggest trying to get off the beaten track and discovering some less touristy places.

Bucket-list worthy highlights include meeting wild orangutans in Sumatra, visiting Borobudur Buddhist temple in Central Java, observing the komodo dragons on Komodo Island and diving in Raja Ampat. If you’re a surfer, the Mentawai Islands have some epic surf breaks and are becoming increasingly popular for surf retreats.

The majority of Indonesia is Muslim but the island of Bali is predominantly Hindu and has its own unique culture. If you do plan on visiting, I’ve created an ultimate guide to Bali that contains everything you need to know to plan your visit. If you’re worried that Bali is over-touristed, check out Sumba, Nusa Penida and Sumbawa.