Buckle up, because this country doesn't really do “one-size-fits-all.” Indonesia holidays are more of a greatest hits album of Earth’s coolest features.
Komodo National Park
Home to real-life dragons (sort of) and coral gardens that will ruin other dive spots for you. Tucked between the islands of Flores and Sumbawa in eastern Indonesia, Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site made up of over 29 volcanic islands, both big and small - and home to the world’s largest living lizard, the Komodo dragon. But there’s more to Komodo than just dragons. This park is a paradise for divers, trekkers, and those of us prone to gasping loudly at breathtaking nature. Above the waterline: sun-bleached hills, pink sand beaches, and hiking trails that lead to panoramic, soul-stirring views. Below it: coral reefs, manta rays, sea turtles, and psychedelic schools of fish doing synchronized swimming routines just for you.
Borobudur & Prambanan Temples
Ancient, mystical, and very photogenic. Imagine a giant stone mandala rising from the mist at sunrise, a puzzle of lava rock, symmetry, and serenity. That’s Borobudur. Located in Central Java, just outside the charming town of Magelang, it's the largest Buddhist temple in the world, and one of the most spellbinding religious monuments on Earth. Now, drive about 40 km east of Borobudur, and you'll time-travel to an entirely different universe - Prambanan, a towering cluster of stone spires dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer). Go early and dress respectfully.
Mount Bromo & Mount Rinjani
Volcanoes that make you work for your sunrise. Mount Bromo isn’t Indonesia’s tallest volcano, but it’s arguably the most famous - thanks to its otherworldly setting. The landscape is insane: imagine standing on the edge of a vast volcanic sand sea, with Bromo’s smouldering crater rising in the middle like a dragon’s breath, surrounded by taller siblings like Mount Semeru puffing away in the distance. Mount Rinjani, on the other hand, is Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, towering at 3,726 meters. Smack dab in Lombok’s north, east of Bali, its massive caldera has the jaw-dropping Segara Anak crater lake inside it, and in the middle of the lake? A baby volcano, Gunung Barujari, casually growing like a tiny villain plotting world domination.
Ubud & the rice terraces
Tucked into the jungle-covered hills of central Bali, Ubud is the opposite of beach clubs and Bintangs. It’s Bali’s cultural capital, home to traditional dance, crafts, temples, and a thriving artist community. Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, an ancient jungle temple complex that just happens to be full of cheeky macaques, stroll the Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunrise (green hills, birdsong, and zero stress), and catch a Kecak fire dance performance at Uluwatu. Bali’s landscape is full of rice terraces, but the Tegalalang Rice Terraces, just north of Ubud, are the headliners - the terraces ripple down the hills like green amphitheatres, changing colour and mood with the light. You can walk the narrow ridges, swing over the paddies (on the famous “Bali Swing” if you dare), or just sip kopi luwak in a cliffside café while admiring the view.