Go beyond Bali and discover more of Indonesia

09 October 2023

We love the island paradise of Bali, but it's easy to forget that Bali sits among approximately 17,000 islands in the archipelago of Indonesia. One of the best ways to discover this endlessly fascinating and hugely varied country, is with one of our favourite partners, Intrepid, who we hand-picked for being all about experience-rich, immersive travel that takes you to the heart of every destination. With its small groups (around 8-10 people) and local leaders, Intrepid gives you the most authentic experience possible.

We’ve shared our top recommendations for things to see and do in Indonesia beyond Bali.

Go beyond Bali and discover more of Indonesia

Java

West of Bali, this volcano-dotted island is home to Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, and more than half the country’s population. Jakarta itself is hectic but intoxicating, with must-sees including the National Museum, Kota Tua (old town) with its Dutch Colonial buildings, and Chinatown. Then there’s Yogyakarta with its UNESCO-listed 10th-century Hindu temple of Prambanan Temple and the chance to watch the epic Ramayana ballet in action. Here you can also visit the nearby Candi Borobudur, the largest Buddhist structure in the world, and take village tours that teach you all about Java’s local tumpangsari farming system and traditional gamelan music.

Lombok

On the other side of Bali from Java, this is a tropical escape known for blissful beaches and excellent snorkelling in Sanur, the pristine Gili Islands, and laidback Labuan Pandan on the east coast. But Lombok also oozes culture and gives you the chance to immerse yourself in rural communities to find out all about the fascinating Sasak culture. Some passionate locals run fantastic tours that include pottery villages, as well as the chance to sample some of the island’s delicious cuisine.

Sumatra and Kalimantan

These are bucket-list destinations for the wildlife lovers among us. Venture to Indonesia’s rugged, steamy wilderness of Sumatra to see endangered species including orangutan, Sumatran tiger, rhino, and elephant in Gunung Leuser National Park. Other unmissable things to do in Sumatra are hiking up the active volcano, Mount Sibayak, for glorious views, and meeting friendly, colourfully dressed Christian Batak people at Lake Toba.

There are more orangutans to be found in Kalimantan, the Indonesian part of Borneo, and you can also find out how conservation efforts by local communities have helped them to continue to thrive in their natural jungle habitat.

The Intrepid Foundation

The Indonesian arm of this Certified B Corporation is based in Bali, where it helps protect the coral reef. It works to support Intrepid’s carefully chosen partners by supplying them with local knowledge and on-the-ground teams to create solutions to issues, supported by donations, fundraisers, events, and emergency appeals.

Trips to Indonesia directly support The Intrepid Foundation’s partner, the Coral Triangle Center, helping to expand their coral restoration project as well as to support their educational outreach activities for local schools in Nusa Penida. The Coral Triangle Center is an independent, non-profit organisation promoting marine biodiversity and the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources of the Coral Triangle – made up of part of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.

To book your Indonesia holiday, call your Travel Counsellor today. We can also customise your trip with pre- or post-tour breaks or other add-ons.

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