Can you imagine what a country like Indonesia, which has more than 17000 islands has to offer?
The answer is EVERYTHING!
From exotic beaches, adventurous water sports, vibrant nightlife, fascinating tourist attractions, spellbinding sites to delectable cuisine, Indonesia has everything to make you drop your jaw!
30 Best Things To Do In Indonesia
Besides the surreal places to explore in Indonesia, you can also indulge in some adventurous and fun activities, which you can only experience in Indonesia. Scroll down to find out!
1. Floating Breakfast in a Private Pool
Bali is a popular tourist destination and has some phenomenal villas, resorts, and hotels that offer a private pool with a view of the valley. Another impressive hospitality feature at these accommodations includes a floating breakfast, wherein you can have an elaborate meal while relaxing in the pool.
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2. Sunrise over Borobudur Temple
This magnificent 9th-century Buddhist temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that attracts thousands of tourists from across the globe. Located in Java, Indonesia, this temple and its premises have a divine ambiance where you will feel blissful. The temple is a perfect place to witness the sunrise, which lights up the Borobudur temple like a star.
3. Practice the art of Batik
The local people of Indonesia wear batik clothes, and tourists can try their hands at making these beautiful batik patterns, which can be therapeutic. Indonesian Batik is a process of resist-wax dyeing that lets the artist color the fabric selectively, he may repeat the process to add more colors, and later remove the wax by putting the fabric in boiling water. You can learn this art and design a fabric for yourself on a trip to Indonesia.
4. Treat your Taste Buds with Indonesian Cuisine
You must not lose any opportunity to dig in into the elaborate Indonesian cuisine! The Indonesian platter is a fusion of scrumptious vegetarian and nonvegetarian dishes. Bakso (meatball soup), Bebek Goreng (fried duck), Pecel Lele (catfish), Coto Makassar (beef soup), Klepon (coconut rice balls), Babi Pangang (grilled pork) to many more tempting desserts and fiery dishes will leave you craving for more.
5. Experience the Devil’s Tear Bay
The waves here are crazy and can blow you away, both metaphorically and literally! Located in Nusa Lembongan island, the shoreline of this bay is a rough landscape full of cliffs and coves. The water hitting the cliff during high tide makes up for a divine ambiance all around. Experiencing the Devil's Tear Bay is one of the best things to do in Indonesia.
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6. Gear Up for Daring Surfing
The waves of Bali are waiting for you for a wild adventure. Get on the surfing board and accompany the waves in Padang, Medewi, Nusa Dua, and Canggu some of the best surfing spots in Bali.
7. Lake Toba Awaits You
Formed after a volcanic eruption, Lake Toba is the largest volcanic lake in the world. The breathtaking view of the lake and the lush green landscape around will make you skip a heartbeat. Don’t forget to swim and enjoy water sports!
8. Hike Mount Bromo
Located at a height of 2300 meters in East Java, Mount Bromo has its admirers across the world. Jeep tours and hiking are the two ways to reach the top of Mount Bromo, which is an active volcano! Yes, this makes the hiking and the jeep tour more interesting, doesn’t it? Hiking is majorly preferred by tourists as it’s not a difficult trek route plus it also comes with the opportunity to capture the scenic vistas on the way up!
9. Sekumpul Waterfall
Treat your eyes to a waterfall descending straight from heaven! Sekumpul waterfall in Bali is nestled in a bamboo forest that adds to its divine aura. The waterfall is a collection of 7 waterfalls falling from a different height in close proximity. Don’t forget to add this to your itinerary!
Credit : David Leiter
10. Wild Encounter with Komodo Dragons
For all the adventure enthusiasts, a wild encounter with Komodo Dragons will be a thrilling experience. Komodo Dragons are the largest lizard species on earth that grows up to 10 feet. Komodo National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site is home to these dangerous predators, and you can meet them there!
11. Caves Calling
Gong cave on Java island is an exotic natural wonder that never fails to captivate the attention of visitors. The cave has spellbinding stalactite (icicle-shaped hangs from the ceiling), and stalagmite (upward growing cliffs of minerals) that are must-watch.
Read More: Best Tourist Places To Visit In Indonesia
12. Off-Roading in Bandung
Indonesia is not all romantic, it’s also a place for daredevils! Here you can get behind the wheels of a vintage Land Rover jeep in Bandung and explore the roads and the topography of the area. The driver maneuvering through rough roads, sharp turns, bumps, cliffs, potholes, and muddy roads will be a memorable experience that will stay with you forever!
Also Read: 10 Mind Blowing Facts About Indonesia That Travellers Must Know
13. Climb an Active Volcano
Mount Merapi or Fire Mountain is 3000 meters above the sea and is an active volcano located between Java and Yogyakarta province in Indonesia. Tourists often opt for an off-roading jeep trip or hiking to enjoy the view from the top, which is magical.
14. A Paradise on Earth - Gili Island
At Gili Island, you can give your eyes, ears, and soul a break from the noise and sight of traffic! The locals of the island use bicycle, carts, or horses to commute, so if you are looking for a no-honking zone, then this is it! To arrive here, you have to get on a boat from Bali. Besides biking, you can also enjoy water sports, sunset, delectable cuisine, and nightlife.
15. Underwater Treasure Trove at Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat located in West Papua is a group of 4 exotic islands that are home to diverse marine life. You can go diving, snorkeling, skiing, fishing, and boating around the shore. Snorkeling here will be best things to do in Indonesia as you will get to witness unique coral reefs and many species of turtles and fish.
16. Pink Beach
There are only seven pink beaches on the planet, and out of them, one is in Indonesia known as Pantai Merah. Find Komodo island on the map of Indonesia, and voila, here is the Pink Beach! The shore of this beach has light pink color sand, which when merged with the sparkling azure water looks phenomenal. The entire ambiance feels like a canvass that you can paint red with some memorable moments!
17. Liberty Wreck Bali
Another worth visiting tourist attraction is Liberty Wreck in Bali. The site is popular for a Japanese Torpedo that hit a ship on Tulamben shore. Today the wreck is home to unique coral reefs and fishes that make a diving experience memorable.
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18. Blue Flames at Sulfuric Lake Ijen
Indonesia is the place you can hike on active volcanoes and witness some awe-inspiring sites. Ijen, a crater lake is another phenomenal site, whose ambiance has sulfur deposits due to the burning of gases. This sulfur when reacts with the environmental gases produces blue flames which make for a surreal and stunning event, worth witnessing and capturing in the camera.
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19. Tamansari Water Castle
This 18th-century palace built by a Sultan is the finest specimen of Portuguese architecture featuring pools, underground tunnels, gardens, and numerous buildings.
20. Give Company to Jellyfish at Kakaban
Kakaban island is one of the two places on the planet where you can swim with stingless jellyfish. The island is a part of Derawan island in Kalimantan. Don’t forget to take pictures for your Instagram account!
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21. A Becak Ride is a Must
The scenic beauty of Indonesia can be well cherished on a ride on Becak. Becak is a three-wheeler that will take you on a sightseeing tour through the narrow lanes and the local markets, giving you a glimpse of local lifestyle, street food, and landmarks. Book a ride on a bright sunny morning or in the evening to enjoy the twilight breeze.
22. Seek the Scenic Vistas from Heritage & Culture
If you thought that Indonesia is only exotic beaches and magnificent volcanoes, then wait, it has more to amaze you! The rich culture and heritage, in the form of festivals and temples, are worth exploring. The beautiful sunrise at the Borobudur Temple (Buddhist Temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Central Java) is simply divine. Another temple with extraordinary architecture is the Prambanan temple (Hindu Temple in Yogyakarta) dedicated to the Trimurti: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Read More : Beaches In Indonesia
23. Are you in for an Adventure on Active Volcanoes?
Trekking, hiking, and camping in the mountains is a regular thing, but Indonesia has taken it a notch higher! If you wish to experience an adrenaline rush, then unleash your passion and trek on active volcanoes like Mount Bromo in Java, Mount Ijen in East Java, Mount Rinjani in Lombok, and Mount Kelimutu in East Nusa Tenggara.
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24. Dive Below the Horizon
Scuba diving and snorkeling on the beaches of Indonesia will take you to the unexplored aquatic world, whose beauty is beyond words! Raja Ampat Island, Togian Island, Banda Island, and Bali island have some great diving spots where you can capture coral reefs, unique aquatic animals, and breathtaking sites.
25. Get Ready for Wild Encounters
Time to stay alert because an Orangutan and a Komodo dragon might give you a spine-chilling vibe! Visit Komodo island to meet this largest, heaviest, and venomous predator the Komodo dragon, a dangerous lizard species. Orangutans are known to have 97% of the same DNA as humans! So, don’t you want to meet the closest relative of mankind in Kalimantan or Bukit Lawang in Indonesia?
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26. Slay your Water Sports Game Here
Surfing, swimming, skiing, parasailing, flyboarding, wakeboarding, and many more adventurous water sports are waiting for you at the beaches of Indonesia. Ayung River for rafting and destinations like Nusa Dua beach, Kuta Beach, Tanjung Benoa, Candi Dasa, Uluwatu Beach, and Menjangan Island are perfect to try daring water sports.
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27. Dive into the Largest Crater Lake
Ever heard of swimming in a volcanic crater? Yes, you can swim at Toba lake, a volcanic crater (crater - a bowl-shaped depression formed after a volcanic activity). Lake Toba is the world’s largest volcanic lake that is surrounded by a spectacular view of lush green mountains. You can also try kayaking at lake Toba and gaze at the immaculate beauty around you.
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28. Go Shopping
From international brands to local labels, you will find superior quality fabric, decor items, souvenirs, artifacts, and a lot more in the local markets. Don’t forget to buy the locally worn batik fabric and taste the street food while shopping!
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29. Relish the Indonesian Cuisine
Why should eyes have all the fun? It’s a vacation for your taste buds as well, so binge on some popular Indonesian dishes. Bakso (meatball noodle soup), Nasi Uduk (coconut milk cooked rice), Bakpao (meat buns), Siomay (dim sum), and Ikan Bakar (grilled fish) are a must-try.
30. Explore the Hidden Gems of Indonesia
Besides Bali, you can explore Papua Province, which is home to a beautiful rainforest and unique flora and fauna. Manado, a city in North Sulawesi, can be another halt in your itinerary. The city is popular for ancient Chinese temples, one of the tallest statues of Jesus Christ, and Christian churches that are worth exploring.
Wrapping up our list of things to do in Indonesia. Sign up for Adotrip’s newsletter for interesting information related to travel and tourism. Another star feature on Adotrip’s website is its AI-Driven Circuit Planner Tool that helps you plan a perfect itinerary. Don’t forget to visit Adotrip before any trip for exclusive tour packages and travel guides. Happy Traveling!
