Best time to visit in Indonesia

May to September, for dry skies

Places to visit in Indonesia

• The geometric perfection of the Buddhist stupa at Borobudur.

• Shadow puppetry, batik dyeing and other ancient arts in Yogyakarta.

• Death rituals straight out of Indiana Jones in the other-worldly Tana Toraja.

• Beach bums, rice terraces and tiered temples on touristy but sublime Bali.

• Views over a primordial landscape of steaming volcanoes from the top of Gunung Bromo.

Top things to do in Indonesia

• Soak up the tropical vibe on the gorgeous Gili Islands.

• Catch the perfect wave at Ulu Watu, Bali’s surfing mecca.

• Descend into a kaleidoscope of colour at dive sites throughout the islands.

• Trek to timeless Dani villages in Papua’s Baliem Valley.

• Meet the old man of the forest – the enigmatic orangutan – in Tanjung Puting National Park.

Discover Indonesia

• Read Ayu Utami’s Saman, a novel of gender taboos, political repression and religious intolerance

• Listen to the unmistakable sound of gamelan – the traditional orchestra of Java, Bali and Lombok.

• Watch arthouse cinema, Indonesian-style, in the layered films of Garin Nugroho

• Eat the ubiquitous nasi goreng (fried rice), or rich and spicy rendang (beef cooked slowly with roasted coconut and lemongrass).

• Drink kopi (coffee) or, if you feel brave, ‘civet coffee’ made from beans retrieved from the droppings of civet cats.

Indonesia Highlights

Coffee beans, palm plantations, Suharto, blissful island beaches, active volcanoes, legendary surf breaks, gamelan orchestras, Komodo dragons, shadow puppets

One word for Indonesia Tourism

Tidak apa-apa (No problem)