Asia > Indonesia: Weather, Map, Costs and Travel Guide

There are strings of islands in the Indian Ocean, mosaics of cultures and religions, jungles with exuberant wildlife; everything is fascinating and dazzling in Indonesia.

Hindu Bali offers beautiful beaches, mountains and rice fields, villages and temples, and great surf spots for the surfers.

Jakarta is no longer the poverty stricken megalopolis despite the slums that remain. You can visit the old port of Sunda Kelapa and the National Museum, the Chicken Market Bridge or the Lapangan Banteng square.

In Sumatra you can choose between the famous Krakatoa gray volcano, Bukit Lawang with its orangutans, and the huge lake of Danau Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world.

The Lesser Sunda Islands are places of great interest: Beautiful beaches in Sumba, handicrafts in Lombok, the famous Komodo dragons, the beautiful and colourful lakes of Keli Metu in the volcanic island of Flores.

Finally, Celebes (Sulawesi) will fascinate you with stunning landscapes inhabited by extraordinary animals and with some exceptional diving sites.
Natural Resources and fascinating cultures make Indonesia a memorable destination, where dreams of adventures can come true like nowhere else.

You must have a passport and a 30-day visa.
You can get there by air via Singapore and land in Jakarta or Bali.

Once there, several airlines serve different areas. There are few trains, except in Java and Sumatra, but buses are very numerous though sometimes dilapidated! You can also rent a motorcycle if you feel up to riding on bumpy roads and tackling various obstacles...
The Indonesian Rupee is the currency in circulation. In 2011, €1 was equivalent to 15,000 rupees.
Living is fairly cheap: You can buy, at a ridiculous price, a simple dish based on rice at portable stalls, and lunch in small restaurants for €3. Regarding accommodation, you can find a hotel room for €6 and that of a luxury hotel for less than €50.
It is advisable to take treatment against malaria, except in Bali. Also, take into account that water and food can transmit hepatitis A, or diarrhea. Do not forget to include antiseptics in your first aid kit and a good sunscreen. Only drink boiled water, do not swim in rivers, and treat carefully any cuts, even the smallest.