Indonesia
This country is a great destination with an abundance of attractions and natural scenery to explore.
It is made up of over 17,000 islands and offers an eclectic variety of sightseeing, wildlife viewing, cultural experiences and more!
It is very budget friendly with a community of possibly the nicest and most hospitable people in the world.
Here you will find information and pictures from the following locations:
BALI
This is a great choice for an inexpensive vacation destination as many resorts are located right on the beach and offer amazing (and affordable) accommodations.
Get out of the city to explore endless rice fields, active volcanoes and breathtaking waterfalls.
Additionally, there are a plethora of temples, located in scenery ranging from coastal bluffs to lush green forests.
There is always something going on in Bali, at all hours of the day and night!
GETTING THERE:
The closest airport to Bali is Denpasar (DPS) and best fares on flights can be found here.
PLACES TO STAY:
Find great deals on hotels here.
Traveling on a budget? Hostels provide a unique experience with extraordinary savings.
GETTING AROUND:
The best method of transportation would be via rental car, motor bike or public transit.
Please be aware that Bali has a large amount of traffic and if you are not comfortable or familiar with riding a bike then it is advised to use a car instead.
THINGS TO DO:
Get Your Guide or explore more options with Trip Advisor
JAKARTA
More of a typical "city" there is still plenty to see and many local attractions.
GETTING THERE:
Fly directly into Jakarta (CKG) with the best prices on flights here.
PLACES TO STAY:
Find great deals on hotels here.
Traveling on a budget? Hostels provide a unique experience with extraordinary savings.
GETTING AROUND:
The best method of transportation would be via rental car, motor bike or public transit.
Please be aware that Jakarta has a large amount of traffic and if you are not comfortable or familiar with riding a bike then it is advised to use a car instead.
THINGS TO DO:
Get Your Guide or explore more options with Trip Advisor
JAVA
This is a great destination to really immerse yourself in the ancient Indonesian culture.
Borobudur is the world's tallest Buddhist monument, built during the 9th century but has since been restored as it was buried under a layer of soil, volcanic ash and vegetation for centuries.
This is an incredible site to walk around, with many fine details throughout a structurally sound masterpiece.
P.S. It's very hot!
THINGS TO DO:
KOMODO ISLAND
The name says it all - this island is full of Komodo Dragons, the largest and one of the most venomous lizards on the planet.
Averaging 150 lbs, this is not a creature you want to mess around with.
They can detect blood from miles away and for this reason, anyone with an open wound or women who are menstruating will be prohibited from entering the island for risk of attack.
GETTING THERE:
The quickest route to reach this island is to fly from Jakarta (CKG) or Bali (DPS) to the island of Labuhan Bajo (LBJ).
From there, the only way to reach Komodo Island is via watercraft.
Find the best prices on flights here.
PLACES TO STAY:
Accommodations are not available on the island itself, therefore lodging also needs to be booked in Labuhan Bajo.
Find great deals on hotels here.
Traveling on a budget? Hostels provide a unique experience with extraordinary savings.
GETTING AROUND:
Komodo Island is a very small village and must be explored by foot.
THINGS TO DO:
Get Your Guide or explore more options with Trip Advisor
LOMBOK
A smaller community but still a strong cultural presence within the city.
This location also offers many nature excursions that can be found below.
GETTING THERE:
The easiest way to get to Lombok (LOP) would be on a flight from Bali (DPS).
You may also take a ferry, but transit time alone is 4-5 hours.
Find the best prices on flights here.
PLACES TO STAY:
Find great deals on hotels here.
Traveling on a budget? Hostels provide a unique experience with extraordinary savings.
GETTING AROUND:
The best method of transportation would be via car hire, motor bike or public transit (bemos - a small mini-van).
Please be aware that Lombok has a large amount of traffic and if you are not comfortable or familiar with riding a bike then it is advised to use a car instead.
THINGS TO DO:
Get Your Guide or explore more options with Trip Advisor
PROBOLINGGO
Home of Mt. Bromo, an active volcano.
GETTING THERE:
Probolinggo is located on the island of Java, with the closest airport being Malang (MLG).
Although longer travel time, a bus or train can also be taken from other larger cities such as Jakarta or Semarang.
To check for the best prices on flights, click here.
PLACES TO STAY:
Find great deals on hotels here.
Traveling on a budget? Hostels provide a unique experience with extraordinary savings.
GETTING AROUND:
The best method of transportation will be local car hire or an angkot (mini-bus taxi).
THINGS TO DO:
Get Your Guide or explore more options with Trip Advisor
SEMARANG
A great city to soak in the culture and see different crafting workshops in process.
GETTING THERE:
Fly directly into Semarang (SRG) or travel via public transit from one of the neighboring cities.
To check for the best prices on flights, click here.
PLACES TO STAY:
Find great deals on hotels here.
Traveling on a budget? Hostels provide a unique experience with extraordinary savings.
GETTING AROUND:
The best method of transportation will be local transit either via taxi or train.
THINGS TO DO:
Get Your Guide or explore more options with Trip Advisor
This is a commercial port, with a large central market.
Although there may be a lot going on in the "city," everything calms down once inside the smaller, village-type communities.
One thing that definitely stands out is that no matter where you go, locals are always excited to see tourists and get excited if you want to take their picture.
The last 2 images were taken of the solar eclipse that occurred while sailing the Makassar Strait on March 8, 2016.
If you have never witnessed the totality of an eclipse, it is a very exciting, humbling and rewarding experience that everyone should have at least once in their lifetime!
GETTING THERE:
Ujung Pundang is located on the island of Sulawesi and can only be accessed either via plane or by taking a ferry from Surabaya.
Additionally, you may take a bus or train from Jakarta to Surabaya.
To check the best rates on flights, click here and search using the airport code "UPG."
PLACES TO STAY:
Find great deals on hotels here.
GETTING AROUND:
The best method of transportation would be via car hire, or public transit (referred to as pete-petes - a converted mini-bus).
THINGS TO DO: