Indonesia travel advice
Komodo dragons
Philip Beale, from our supplier, Pioneer Expeditions, shares his Indonesia travel advice:
“You could argue that the Komodo National Park it is a tourist hotspot, but that takes nothing away from how incredible seeing Komodo dragons is; it has to be slightly controlled and managed because Komodo dragons are amazing, but they’re not cute, they’re killers. Although the dragons are happy to sit around and be watched, you have to have a guide there to make sure you’re watching them safely and you will definitely see them – in that way, it’s not an experience where you feel lucky when you do, but your heartbeat rises and it’s very exciting nonetheless.”
“You could argue that the Komodo National Park it is a tourist hotspot, but that takes nothing away from how incredible seeing Komodo dragons is; it has to be slightly controlled and managed because Komodo dragons are amazing, but they’re not cute, they’re killers. Although the dragons are happy to sit around and be watched, you have to have a guide there to make sure you’re watching them safely and you will definitely see them – in that way, it’s not an experience where you feel lucky when you do, but your heartbeat rises and it’s very exciting nonetheless.”
Our Indonesia Holidays
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Discover our 4 favourite Indonesia islands in 3 just weeks!
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£2058
21 days
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Komodo and Flores holiday in Indonesia
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£4105
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inc UK flights
Kayaking holiday in Indonesia, Komodo Dragon expedition
Sea kayaking to some of the most remote beaches on earth
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Bali untouched, 12 day tour
Discover rural Bali, far from the bright lights of Kuta.
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£855
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Sumatra 14 day tour in Indonesia
Explore remote rainforests and watch cheeky orangutans play
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Bali holidays, rice terraces & beaches
Discover Bali’s emerald rice paddies & tiny castaway islands
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Bali adventure holiday
Warm people ornate customs and welcoming culture
From
£656 to £820
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Sulawesi and Borneo snorkel safari
Small group snorkel safari to N.Sulawesi and Borneo.
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Indonesia holiday, Volcanoes and temples
Explore Central Indonesia's ancient temples and smoldering volcanoes
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£2349 to £2809
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Highlights of Indonesia small group tour
Prepare to be dazzled by incredible Indonesia
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£2147 to £2335
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Cultural holiday in Indonesia
Traditional culture, stunning scenery and unusual wildlife
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£2345
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Tailor made holiday in Bali, Off the beaten track
Cultural heritage, rainforest & beach relaxation in Bali
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£1250
14 days
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Raja Ampat diving project, Indonesia
Dive and conserve the stunning coral reefs of Raja Ampat
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£1095 to £3450
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Bali cycling holiday in Indonesia
Discover the real Bali on a cycling trip
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£922 to £1065
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North Sulawesi and Raja Ampat snorkel safari
Group adventure snorkel and land safari to Indonesia
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Camp Leakey and Tanjung Puting NP tour, 4 days
Sail downriver to the Orangutan Sanctuary at Camp Leakey
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£650
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Indonesia family holiday
A perfect holiday for adventurous families.
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£2470 to £2529
16 days
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Dive in Komodo and Flores Land Adventure
15 day world class reef diving with beautiful land excursion
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£2895
15 days
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Java and Bali holiday in Indonesia
An adventurous trip but the journey is well worth it.
From
£1592 to £2330
14 days
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Teach English in Indonesia
Teach English in the stunning island of Mandeh.
From
US $880 to US $1980
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Bali holiday, Ubud & Tandjung Sari
Discover Ubud and enjoy a week relaxing on the beach.
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£1968
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Highlights of Indonesia holiday
Take in the highlights of 3 of Indonesia's beautiful islands
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Bali and Lombok honeymoon
Rice raddies, remote villages and sleeping under the stars
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£1298
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Bali, Flores and Komodo holiday, Indonesia
A wildlife lovers paradise
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£1760 to £2489
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inc UK flights
Sumatra 12 day tour, Indonesia
Discover the dramatic scenery, wildlife & culture of Sumatra
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£1337
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Indonesia snorkelling holiday, Bali & Komodo
Group adventure snorkel and land safari to Bali and Komodo
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£2795
14 days
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Bali and Java holiday in Indonesia
Discover the best of Java and Bali
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£1895 to £2540
16 days
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Angsana Bintan luxury beach resort, Indonesia
Welcome to The Island Life
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SGD215 to SGD525
per accommodation per night (sleeps 2)
Dealing with begging
Alan Wilson, from our supplier Ecolodges Indonesia, shares his Indonesia travel advice:“You will be confronted by local beggars across Indonesia, but please do not give them money as this will encourage the practice. It’s also advisable not to give gifts to individuals in villages as this will help prevent turning the local people and, in particular, the children of Indonesia into beggars who are often found in the city. If you would like to take gifts for villages, it’s best that they’re distributed via a community leader. Items like exercise books and pens, and sporting goods are much more useful and appreciated, than trinkets, such as balloons or sweets.”
Avoiding overcrowded beaches
Philip Beale, from our supplier, Pioneer Expeditions, shares his advice on avoiding overcrowded beaches: “There are some very touristy beach scenes in Bali and some areas are all about beer drinking, loud music and very large crowds. Likewise, at certain times of year, the Gili Islands can get very overcrowded and have been victims of pollution because of this. In both Bali and the Gili Islands, however, there are wonderful spots too and it is possible to have a really nice beach holiday avoiding the overdeveloped and overcommercialised areas – research thoroughly and ask your tour operator for advice on where to go.”Advice on what to pack
Alan Wilson, from our supplier Ecolodges Indonesia, shares his advice on what to pack:“Pack lightly and remember your rainwear! Warmer clothes are needed for cool evenings and upland areas, and dressing in layers works best, so lightweight, long sleeved casual and modest clothing is recommended. It is regarded inappropriate to wear brief clothes anywhere other than the beach, pool or at sports facilities, and women should observe the Muslim dress code that requires shoulders and legs to be kept covered. Good walking shoes are essential, and mosquitoes are drawn to dark colours, so khaki, camel, bone or similar are preferable colours to wear.”
Our top Indonesia Holiday
Indonesia highlights holiday
Discover our 4 favourite Indonesia islands in 3 just weeks!
From
£2058
21 days
ex flights
Tailor made:
Everything is tweak-able, giving you the freedom to build a unique and personal trip for your chosen date. Upgrade your accommodation for all - or just part - of your trip, slow down the pace with few extra nights here and there or add a few more active adventures along the way.
Everything is tweak-able, giving you the freedom to build a unique and personal trip for your chosen date. Upgrade your accommodation for all - or just part - of your trip, slow down the pace with few extra nights here and there or add a few more active adventures along the way.
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Indonesia or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
Health & safety
HEALTH
SAFETY
Tips from our travellers in Indonesia
At Responsible Travel, we think the best people to advise our travellers are often... other travellers. They always return from our tours with packing tips, weather reports, ideas about what to do - and opinions about what not to.
We have selected some of the most useful Indonesia travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
We have selected some of the most useful Indonesia travel advice that our guests have provided over the years to help you make the very most of your holiday - and the space inside your suitcase.
Move around as I did to see the real Bali and its people. Go off the beaten track into the mountains and explore all the small villages.
– Michelle Alix
“Bring a lightweight poncho, some good binoculars, and extra strength mosquito repellent.” - Jillian Woodford
“Kayaking is hard work if you're a novice and the wind is against you, but the whole trip is well worth the aching arms. Just book it.” - Liz Calton
“Pack light, you need virtually nothing, and if you are female make sure you are not menstruating otherwise you won't be allowed to visit the Komodo dragons which would be terribly disappointing.” - Sally Jackson
“Just decide what kind of holiday you want – I'd recommend a mixture of busy and remote to get a good idea of the culture.” - Christina Lloyd
“Kayaking is hard work if you're a novice and the wind is against you, but the whole trip is well worth the aching arms. Just book it.” - Liz Calton
“Pack light, you need virtually nothing, and if you are female make sure you are not menstruating otherwise you won't be allowed to visit the Komodo dragons which would be terribly disappointing.” - Sally Jackson
“Just decide what kind of holiday you want – I'd recommend a mixture of busy and remote to get a good idea of the culture.” - Christina Lloyd
Bring modest clothes to wear in the temples and small villages- shirts that cover your shoulders and shorts that are just above the knee or lower. Bring a flashlight for any mountain hiking!
– Christina Colley
“You need to be relatively fit, however, there is not pressure to participate in any of the activities. Accommodation and transport can be very basic, but add to the whole experience. Take ear plugs!” - Tracey Lawrence
“Don't be put off going in the rainy season. Maybe we were just lucky but we didn't get too much rain and travelling in the low season meant that the national parks and other tourist attractions were very quiet - apparently places like Tanjung Puting can get very busy in high season.” - Kathryn White
“Expect to get away from it all and try new experiences. Explore the surrounding area on foot.” - Adrian Helen
“You just have to open yourself up and be willing to take it all in. The local people can offer you so much. Be willing to speak with them and learn about their lives.” - Ruth Hanson
“Don't be put off going in the rainy season. Maybe we were just lucky but we didn't get too much rain and travelling in the low season meant that the national parks and other tourist attractions were very quiet - apparently places like Tanjung Puting can get very busy in high season.” - Kathryn White
“Expect to get away from it all and try new experiences. Explore the surrounding area on foot.” - Adrian Helen
“You just have to open yourself up and be willing to take it all in. The local people can offer you so much. Be willing to speak with them and learn about their lives.” - Ruth Hanson
More about Indonesia
Depending on where you’d ideally like to visit: Bali, Flores or Sumatra, for starters, will essentially dictate the best time to go to Indonesia which is why our temperature & rainfall chart covers all bases, especially when added to our month by month guide, supplier advice and our cultural picks from the Indonesia calendar.
Our Indonesia travel guide aims to point responsible travellers in the right direction when it comes to what we rate & what we don’t as well as all the information you need on food, shopping & people to assist in your quest to discover Indonesia like a local.
Make the most of your time in Indonesia by using our interactive map of highlights featuring everywhere from Kalimantan and Sulawesi to Java, Komodo and Lombok, to help you decide where to go in Indonesia.
If you’re looking for our top activities in Indonesia then you’ve certainly come to the right place as from a kayak into the jungle, to a tour of the temples, and a chance to explore the road less travelled as you enter the dragon, this is just the tip of the misty mountain when it comes to finding things to do in Indonesia.
If you’re getting into Game of Thrones or can’t forget Smaug from The Hobbit, there’s only one thing to do – set sail on a Komodo dragon tour.
Sea kayaking in the Komodo Islands is a chance to be immersed in nature, paddling your way to remote corners of this beautiful national park, camping on beaches and sleeping under the stars.
Don’t be put off travelling in Indonesia with kids in favour of more familiar stomping grounds as there are loads of activities for families including hiking around volcanoes in Lombok, horseback riding in Barat National Park and grabbing a snorkel, mask and flippers to explore underwater off the beautiful beaches of Bali.
If you’re looking to travel right in Indonesia then you’ll need to weigh up development vs poverty, find out more about the problem with palm oil and research what you can do to help when it comes to animal rights, especially where the plight of the orangutan is concerned.
All our Indonesia guides. Find all of our Indonesia guides in one place, for particular places in Indonesia such as Bali, Borneo or Raja Ampat. Or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of Indonesia holidays we offer such as orangutan watching.
protection
Photo credits: [Page banner: Jean-Marie Hullot] [Komodo dragons: Bryn Pinzgauer]
[Health & Safety: Sebastian Staines]
[Michelle Alix Quote: Paolo Nicolello]
[Christina Colley Quote: CEphoto, Uwe Aranas]
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