Mount Bromo
Gunung Bromo is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java. At 2,329 meters it is not the highest peak of the massif, but it is the most well known. The area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Indonesia and Java. The top of the volcano has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white smoke. It is surrounded by the Sea of Sand of fine volcanic sand. The overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly.
Dieng Plateau
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. Centuries ago, the Javanese established the location as a sacred place and built hundreds of temples there, eight of which still stand now.
Borobudur
Located 40 km (25 miles) northwest of Yogyakarta on Java, the Borobudur is the one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world. The Borobudur was built over a period of some 75 years in the 8th and 9th centuries by the kingdom of Sailendra, out of an estimated 2 million blocks of stone. It was abandoned in the 14th century for reasons that still remain a mystery and for centuries lay hidden in the jungle under layers of volcanic ash. Today it is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia.
Komodo Island
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.
Lake Toba
Lake Toba on the island of Sumatra is an immense volcanic lake about 100 kilometers long and 30 kilometers wide. Formed by a gigantic volcanic eruption some 70,000 years ago, it is the largest resurgent caldera on Earth. Genetic estimates suggest that there were only a few thousand humans that survived the catastrophe. The island in the middle – Pulau Samosir – is the largest island within an island and contains two lakes. Besides visiting “a lake on an island within a lake on an island” tourist also come here to kick back and relax and swim in the volcanically warmed waters.
Flores
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.
Bunaken
Located at the north of the island of Sulawesi, Bunaken is one of Indonesia’s most famous dive and snorkeling areas. The island is part of the Bunaken Marine Park where you can see more than 70% of all fish species that live in the western Pacific ocean. The best time for diving in Bunaken is between the months of April and November.