When most travellers picture Indonesia it is the stunning beaches of Bali that first spring to mind although the country has much more to offer than its most popular holiday isle. As a country that is both rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty Indonesia truly packs in a punch in terms of touristic value and one needs to look beyond its most hyped beach Mecca to find the heart of the country’s identity and engaging holiday possibilities.
Home to more than 17,000 islands Bali is not the only game in town when discovering Indonesia as the country is one of the largest and most diverse holiday hotspots in Southeast Asia. When it comes to the capital Jakarta some of the most interesting reasons to explore the city include Kota Tua or Old town Batavia as well as other heritage sites the likes of Jembatan Kota Intan and Pasar Baru which are easily accessible to visitors based in Citadines Rasuna Jakarta or other well-situated service apartments in Jakarta.
As it applies to natural wonders, Indonesia is home to more than 166 volcanoes, more than any other country in the globe and visitors can explore these steamy mountains and tour craters in venues such as the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and Lombok’s Mount Rinjani while the Ijen Crater is an equally well known hotspot. As the world’s most expansive archipelago island holiday options in Indonesia go well beyond Bali with less congested and more tranquil beach Meccas the likes of Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, and Maluku available to beach lovers in search of paradise isles. Nature lovers should also visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites the likes of Ujung Kulon National Park and witness the wealth of wildlife and flora occupying Indonesia’s verdant rainforests the likes of Kerinci Seblat National Park and Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park.
The ancient site of Borobudur which is deemed the bigger Buddhist structure in the globe is another great reason to tour Indonesia in addition to the country’s popularity as a surfing Mecca. Top surfing locations include Mentawai Islands and Nusa Lembongan.
Caleb Falcon is a travel writer who specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers. Google+
