Ijen Crater
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Ijen is an active (albeit quiet) volcano in East Java, and the Ijen Crater is its turquoise sulfur lake near the summit. Its mineral purity and surrounding volcano walls provide a surreal sight, especially at night, when the combustion of sulfuric gasses emerges as what’s known as the “blue fire” lighting up the sky. Ijen Crater is the biggest crater lake in Java. The sulfur crater lake lies between a natural dam of deeply etched rock. It is 200 meters deep and contains about 36million cubic meters of steaming acid water, shrouded in a smelling swirling sulfur cloud. Inside the crater, the different colors and sizes of stones are found. Indeed the crater of Ijen is beautiful garden of stone as well.
Raja Ampat
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Southeast Asia meets the South Pacific in this exotic archipelago, located off the west coast of New Guinea in far eastern Indonesia. Considered one of the world's top dive spots, Raja Ampat is home to largely untouched coral reefs that are teeming with biodiversity. Though scientists are still studying the ecosystem, the WWF counts more than 1,300 species of coral reef fish and five species of rare and endangered sea turtles among the wealth of sea creatures. You don’t even have to descend underwater to be awe-inspired, as the view of tiny scattered islands in the clear blue ocean is unforgettable.
Bromo
©Kyaw Win Hlaing/Sony World Photography Awards 2018
At 2,392 meters high, Mount Bromo is not amongst the tallest of Indonesia's mountains but its stunning beauty lies in its incredible setting. Located some 4 hours drive from Surabaya, the capital city of East Java, Mount Bromo is part of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park that covers a massive area of 800 square km. This active volcano puts on a show every morning, when the glorious sun rises with the backdrop of the magnificent cone. Tourists can observe Bromo from the nearby Pananjakan, then head to Bromo itself and witness the beauty of its boiling crater.
Komodo Island
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Komodo Island named from the famous lizard living on it is the biggest island of the Komodo National Park with 390 km2. Mostly inhabited by the ancient Komodo dragons, Komodo Island is an otherworldly place that shouldn’t be missed, considering its abundant population of the ancient species found only in five islands in Indonesia. Not only loved by the dragons, the stunning island is also cherished by tourists for its magnificent scenery, lush greenery and expansive, pristine coastlines. Two of the most famous spot of Komodo National Park are situated on Komodo, Pink beach and Gili Lawa Darat.
Dieng Plateau
©Jimmy McIntyre/Flickr
Located on the heights of the Dieng Volcanic Complex in Central Java, the Dieng Plateau isn’t only cherished for the magnificent, unrestricted view of the cities and fields below and the volcanoes nearby. The lofty volcanic plateau of Dieng (Abode of the Gods), a fertile landscape laced with terraced potato and tobacco fields, is home to some of the oldest Hindu architecture in Java. More than 400 temples, most dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, originally covered this 2000m-high plain, but they were abandoned and forgotten and only rediscovered in 1856 by the archaeologist Van Kinsbergen.
Bunaken National Park
©Mindmaker
Bunaken National Park consists of 5 small islands; Bunaken, Manado Tua, Siladen, Montehage and Nain. Only really known to the discerning scuba community and vacationing locals visiting at weekends, the marine park is home to crystal clear waters and some of Indonesia’s most famous dive sites. The Bunaken National Park is located at the heart of the Coral Triangle. The marine biodiversity is extraordinary, with more than 300 types of coral and 3000 species of fish, abundant sponges and phenomenally colorful life on vertical walls.
Mount Rinjani
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The mighty Rinjani mountain of Gunung Rinjani is a massive volcano that towers over the island of Lombok. A climb to the top is one of the most exhilarating experiences you can have in Indonesia. At 3,726 meters tall, Gunung Rinjani is the second-highest mountain in Indonesia. It reserves its beauty for the most adventurous tourists. At its summit, Mount Rinjani has a stunning crater as blue as the sea. The caldera was formed by eruptions and is considered sacred by locals, so many religious rituals are performed there.
Flores
About 400 kilometers east of Bali, lies the unusual island of Flores, which is totally different from its neighbors, both ecologically and religiously. The small island in East Nusa Tenggara has the whole package: breath-taking nature, flourishing wildlife and exotic culture. The Wae Rebo Village, with its iconic traditional houses, and the Kelimutu Lake are among the most popular destinations on the island. Named ‘Flowers’ by Portuguese colonialists, who were awestruck by its lush jungles, and white sand beaches, the island is considered the jewel of Indonesia and is fast-becoming a tourism hotspot.
Ora Beach (Pantai Ora)
This remote beach in Seram Island, Maluku, is known for its tranquil clear water that hides wonderful coral reefs and exotic fish. Mountains surround the pristine beach, which now houses seafront resorts from which to directly plunge into the translucent water. This is heaven on earth. As far as we can see, the charm of the beauty of the beach is worth aligned with other beautiful beaches like Boracay beach in the Philippines or the Bora-Bora in the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the magnificent sightseeing, another charm of this beach is taken from marine life. The coral reefs on the beach is diverse and colorful as well as the fishes. Because the water is so clear, we can see the coral and fish that directly swimming under the water.
Wakatobi National Park
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, the park includes four main islands, with historical ruins, old villages and various ancient traditions. Wakatobi is widely recognized as having the highest number of reef and fish species in the world. The islands are also famous as the largest barrier reef in Indonesia. Here can be found fringing, atolls and barrier reefs and offer more than 50 spectacular dive sites easily accessible from the major islands. This is the habitat of large and small fish species, the playground of dolphins, turtles and even whales. Wakatobi alone is said to have 942 fish species and 750 coral reef species from a total of 850 of world's collection.