Indonesia Holidays

A sprawling archipelago of 17,000 islands, a holiday in Indonesia is whatever you want it to be. Whether relaxing on sugar-soft, white beaches are your thing, exploring lush, untamed rainforest excites you, or spotting unique and impressive wildlife is more your vibe, this spectacular nation has all those things and an endless list of even more.

Exploring Indonesia is a never-ending myriad of colours, variety and history that intrigues and enchants; home to over 270 million people who speak more than 700 languages, it is culturally rich and wonderfully diverse, with each island offering a distinct feel of its very own. Home to gleaming modern cities and ancient temples, steaming volcanos and rich wildlife zones, vibrant rainforest and serene rice terraces, every day offers something new and exciting, something to delight and amaze, in a way that few other destinations can.

Glorious Nature

A year-round destination thanks to its setting on the equator, Indonesia’s islands are characterised by combinations of dramatic volcanic landscapes, life-filled rainforests, lush rice terraces and coastlines fringed with beautiful beaches, with sands ranging from black to pastel pink.

Within these natural panoramas live a whole host of wonderful creatures – you’ll find the legendary Komodo dragon among the beauty of Komodo National Park, orangutans in the forests of Borneo and Sumatra, and the tiny slow loris, native to Java, which is the only venomous primate in the world. The same is true under the water as Indonesia sits within the Coral Triangle, its waters a sanctuary for a rich kaleidoscope of colourful fish, corals and pelagic creatures like manta rays and whale sharks.

From sunrises overlooking gently smoking volcanic peaks (we strongly recommend Mount Bromo) to immersive rainforest experiences to quiet contemplation overlooking vibrant green rice paddies (Bali has some magical ones), Indonesia’s nature is a feast for the eyes and a balm for the soul.

Cultural Heritage

Reflecting centuries of history that featured indigenous peoples, traders, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam and a few European colonial powers, Indonesia’s culture is a fascinating conglomeration of influences. As each island’s experience was different, there are significant variations between them so as you explore further, you’ll get to discover more.

With traditional dances, music and handicrafts, colourful festivals and local ceremonies aplenty, the culture is wonderfully easy to experience, the locals always friendly, welcoming and willing to share their rituals and traditions. Religion, also, is deeply integrated into daily life, and is the source of many of Indonesia’s most unforgettable sights. Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple and the Hindu temples of Prambanan are just two examples of exquisite ancient architecture that offer atmospheric explorations.

Delicious Food

Hospitality is a central pillar of Indonesian society while food is a tasty way to experience heritage, so eating is the perfect way to not only fuel your adventures, but to gain meaningful insight into Indonesia’s culture. Naturally, traditional dishes reflect historical influences and local ingredients, so there is plenty of regional variation across islands making exploring food here a rich cultural journey.

Rice is the staple ingredient generally, usually accompanied by a variety of vegetables, meat and seafood. Then there are plenty of spices, popular ones being chili, turmeric, ginger and lemongrass, plus coconut milk and peanuts. Street food is a favoured way to eat with plenty of market and food stalls serving up fresh and delicious local treats – satay (grilled meat with peanut sauce), bakso (meatball soup), nasi goreng (fried rice) and pisang goreng (banana or plantain fritters) are all must try!