Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest island state in the world, consisting of 17 thousand islands, some of which are nameless. The country is located on both sides of the equator. Here, coral reefs, tropical forests and swamps have been preserved in their original form, volcanoes erupt, and only here can orangutans live in the forests.

Why go to the country

People come to Indonesia for vacations – it is considered that here are some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, excellent diving and the largest ocean waves throughout the year, which is most appreciated by surfers. Many tourists are attracted by the pristine nature and ancient temples, all of which are in abundance in the country.

The main thing about the country

• Indonesia has three time zones: in the west the difference with Moscow is +4 hours, in the central part +5 hours, in the east +6 hours.
• The official name of the country is the Republic of Indonesia, the capital is Jakarta. Currently, the capital is moving to the city of Nusantara.
• The official language is Indonesian. Chinese, Javanese and English are also spoken in the country.
• The country is located in Southeast Asia, on the Sunda Islands. It borders on land with Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and New Timor. It is washed by the waters of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
• The climate is tropical and humid. The average annual air temperature fluctuates around 30 °C. During the day, the air warms up to 38 °C.
• Most of Indonesia is flat, but most islands have mountain formations with active volcanoes. Two-thirds of the territory is covered by swamp forests.
• More than 85% of the population professes Islam.

When to go

Most of the territory is characterized by alternating rainy (October to April) and dry (May to September) seasons. The level of solar radiation is high, when planning a trip we recommend taking sunscreen with SPF 50+. According to many tourists, the heat and humidity are quite easy to bear.

You can also take rubber swimming shoes with you to avoid hurting your feet on the corals.

If you are planning a beach holiday, it is better to go in the dry season. Surfers can come at any time, but many of them prefer the rainy season.

Holidays and non-working days:

January 1, August 17, December 25, as well as religious holidays, the exact dates of which change every year.

Currency

The national currency is the Indonesian rupiah. You can exchange money for local currency at banks, the airport, hotels, and exchange offices. The most favorable rate is offered at banks, the least favorable at street exchange offices. We recommend taking US dollars and euros with you for exchange. Beware of street money changers, they can slip you counterfeit bills or simply steal some of your money.

Large hotels and restaurants accept credit cards and US dollars. Otherwise, you should have rupees with you. 

Prices

The cost of a room in a mid-range hotel in the capital is between 40 and 50 US dollars per night. Lunch for two in a mid-range restaurant will cost about 25 US dollars.

Prices are valid for October 2023.

Resorts

Each large island can be considered a resort, but the main resort area of ​​Indonesia is considered to be Bali , and the majority of vacationers go there. Bali as a tourist destination ranks second in the world after Sydney, and several Indonesian hotels are included in the top 100 best hotels in the world.

The island is washed on one side by the Indian Ocean, on the other by the Bali Sea. The resort is famous for its beaches, luxury hotels, excellent service. The most famous resort areas are:

• Nusa Dua. The beaches are protected from the ocean waves by a natural reef. Honeymooners and families with children like to come here. It is famous for its well-kept beaches and natural landscapes. You can swim during low tide.
• Tanjung Benoa. Most of the hotels operate on the all-inclusive system. The beaches are sandy and calm, but there are also water sports available. The resort is known for its inexpensive accommodations.
• Jimbaran. Considered an exclusive resort. Jimbaran beaches are chosen for photo shoots and wedding ceremonies. People also come here specifically to dine during sunset.
• Uluwatu. Also famous for its beaches, where many come specifically to take photos. Here is also the Uluwatu Temple, the most famous landmark of the island.
• Kuta. A vibrant, crowded resort with an active nightlife. Popular with surfers. Many are attracted here by affordable prices for vacations.
• Sanur. One of the most popular resort areas of Bali with clean sandy beaches and a calm ocean.

Other islands are interesting from an educational point of view and are not always suitable for a quiet holiday. In particular, the west coast of Sumatra is famous for its ocean waves and is very popular with surfers, and the island of New Guinea is known for its isolation from the world and eternal jungle.

Beaches

Without a doubt, the best beaches are in Bali, but other islands also have places that are ideal for a relaxing holiday. All sandy beaches are characterized by pristine cleanliness and perfectly clear water.

Which beaches can you visit:

• Pink Beach, Komodo. The sands are actually pink. The beach is protected by a coral reef, so it is interesting for divers. Here you can also see the infamous Komodo dragons living in their natural habitat.
• Bingin Beach, Bali. Secluded, with several small cafes and restaurants nearby.
• Tanjung, Benoa This beach has another name – Sunset Beach, because here you can watch spectacular sunsets.
• Ngurtafur, Warbal – Maluku. It is a sandy strip bordered by water on both sides. It is considered one of the most secluded and amazing places in Indonesia. You can get here only by charter boat.
• Senggii, Lombok. Quite a popular place for tourists for a beach holiday. There is also a coral reef here.
• Beaches of Derawan Island. One of the cleanest places in Indonesia. Dolphins, coconut crabs and sea turtles live here. Coastal coral reefs attract divers from all over the world. Each beach in Indonesia is unique and attractive to tourists in its own way.

Attractions

Indonesia has a huge number of ancient temples and natural attractions. When visiting any of them, we recommend using the services of guides who know exactly what time is best to go to see everything and at the same time not to violate national traditions.

The list of the most visited attractions includes:

• The Prambanan temple complex on the island of Java. It is a medieval complex that includes half-ruined Hindu and Buddhist temples. Some of the buildings were destroyed by earthquakes, and some of the bas-reliefs with Buddhist scenes and images of animals and birds were restored.
• Monkey Forest in Ubud, Bali. Indonesians consider this forest sacred, as they treat monkeys with great respect. The forest is home to macaques, who freely come out to tourists.
• Hot springs Banjar, Bali. They are considered to be healing, as the water has a light massaging and toning effect. There are always a lot of people here. According to Indonesians, the water in the spring cures many diseases.
• Jati Luwi Rice Terraces. Under government control, as the number of tourists wishing to visit the area has increased significantly in the last 50 years. Remarkably, rice is grown here in the same way as hundreds of years ago.
• Krakatau Volcano. It is located in the Sunda Gulf, between the islands of Java and Sumatra. The volcano is active. Local residents are prohibited from settling near the volcano, and tourists are prohibited from approaching it closer than one and a half kilometers.
• Java Island. There are many temples and volcanoes here. Numerous waterfalls and national parks also attract tourists.

Also among the main attractions of the country are Munduk Waterfall (Bali), Borobudur Temple (Java), Pura Tanah Lot Temple (Bali), Tirtagangga Water Palace (Bali), Bunaken National Park (Sulawesi) and much more.

Entertainment

Indonesia is considered the best place in the world for surfers (according to the Australian magazine Tracks). The most popular beaches are on the islands of Lombok (ranked first on the list), Java, Bali, Sumatra, Sumbawa. The ideal infrastructure for surfers is created in Bali, on other islands it leaves much to be desired.

Also, active recreation lovers are offered rafting – mainly in Bali. In this case, you can choose a route on calm water or with obstacles – waterfalls, rapids, a difficult riverbed.

The best diving is considered to be in the Limbe Strait in northern Sulawesi, where right off the coast you can encounter rare representatives of marine fauna – scorpionfish, giant frogfish, harlequin shrimp.

Trekking enthusiasts are offered ascents to volcanoes, including active ones. We recommend assessing your own strength and the natural environment, as Indonesia is considered one of the most dangerous seismological zones in the world. Cliff jumping, jumping from cliffs into the sea, is also available for extreme sports enthusiasts.

Nightlife in resort areas is rich. Restaurants, night clubs, inexpensive cafes are open.

Kitchen

National Indonesian cuisine was formed under the influence of Chinese, Dutch and Portuguese traditions. The basis of most dishes is white unleavened rice, fish, seafood and various sauces. Local food is unusual in taste for Europeans, as Indonesians use a huge number of local spices, as well as milk and coconut pulp.

What you can and should try:

• Sate are small kebabs made from rabbit, poultry, beef, and scallops. Sate made from bull testicles is especially popular among the male population.
• Nasi goreng is fried rice served with chicken, fish, and any vegetables. It is served everywhere, including in fashionable restaurants.
• Soto soup. Prepared with pork or beef broth (depending on the place of preparation) with the addition of rice vermicelli, cabbage, bean sprouts, lemongrass and garlic.
• Gado-gado is a traditional Indonesian vegetable salad with nut sauce. When ordering, be sure to explain to the chef how spicy you want the salad to be.
• Rendang is a spicy meat dish with chili peppers, made from lamb or beef. It is prepared throughout Indonesia.
• Mee Ayam is a noodle dish with fried chicken that has a sweet and salty taste. It is one of the most common dishes in Indonesia.
• Tongseng is a beef or lamb stew with curry and lots of other spices and garlic. The taste is creamy and spicy.

Desserts include fruits, including exotic ones, and sweet pastries made from rice flour with various fillings.

Souvenirs

Popular world brands are represented in large shopping centers of Jakarta – Taman Anggrek Mall and Plaza Indonesia. But tourists prefer to bring products with national flavor from Indonesia.

Of particular interest are:

• natural cosmetics based on essential and coconut oils – scrubs, creams, shampoos;
• clothing and jewelry in ethnic style – harem pants, skirts, dresses, bags;
• cotton sarong scarves – they are sold everywhere, they are usually tied on the head or used as capes;
• python skin products – to avoid fakes, we recommend buying at the Ubud markets or in large stores in Jakarta;
• silver jewelry – massive earrings, rings, bracelets with embossing;
• souvenirs – usually wooden figurines of gods;
• fruits – only durian and coconut cannot be exported.

At markets and in small shops you need to bargain; sometimes you can knock the price down by 2-3 times.

Transport

To protect yourself from theft and other unwanted incidents, we recommend taking a taxi. The cost of a ride ranges from 2 to 5 US dollars, the cars are equipped with air conditioning, and the drivers can speak English. You can ride in motor rickshaws, cycle rickshaws, but when paying, you should be careful, they usually try to take more money from foreigners than from locals.

Public transport in the country is not developed. In large cities, there are several bus lines, but they are usually used by low-income citizens.

Safety

In Indonesia, great attention is paid to the safety of foreign citizens, as there is a fairly high risk of terrorist threats here. Upon entry into the country, luggage is thoroughly checked, and, if necessary, a personal search is carried out. In places of mass gathering of people, at the entrance to shopping centers and other visited sites, there are security posts and frames with metal detectors.

The level of street crime against foreign citizens (including theft, murder, robbery) is significant. The exception is the central area of ​​Jakarta and the streets adjacent to it. Foreigners are officially allowed to travel to all regions of Indonesia, but we especially do not recommend visiting hard-to-reach areas of the islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi, the province of Aceh and the western part of the island of Guinea. When in the country, you must be careful and attentive, do not carry large sums of money, do not walk around the city at night and do not go beyond the safe areas of Jakarta and other large cities.

Medicine

The sanitary and epidemiological situation in the country is generally satisfactory. A vaccination certificate is not required to enter the country, but we recommend getting vaccinated against hepatitis A and typhoid fever.

At the same time, it is necessary to follow a number of rules:

• do not drink tap water, wash fruits and vegetables;
• do not order dishes in cafes and restaurants that contain raw vegetables and fruits, as well as water with ice;
• Do not buy food on the streets, as you can “catch” an intestinal infection.
• It is necessary to carry mosquito repellents (sprays and ointments) to protect yourself from mosquito bites that carry dengue fever and tropical diseases.

The level of medicine in Jakarta and other large cities is high. We recommend that you take out medical insurance in Russia, since the insurance system in Indonesia is in its infancy, and medical services are quite expensive here.

Customs regulations

The following items can be imported duty-free per person:

• 200 cigarettes, or 25 cigars, or 100 grams of tobacco – at the age of 18 years;
• 1 liter of any alcoholic beverage – from 21 years of age.

Any excess found is confiscated and destroyed on site.

Cash, travellers’ cheques and securities must be declared only if their amount exceeds US$7,200 (INR 100 million).

It is also necessary to pay attention to imported items – if their total value exceeds 500 US dollars per person, you will have to pay a duty of 40% of the excess amount. Special attention is paid to computer equipment in factory packaging during inspection.

Traditions

We recommend that you follow the norms and rules of conduct accepted in Muslim countries – do not smoke or drink alcohol on the street, women do not wear revealing and provocative clothing, and do not show their feelings in public places.

Internet

Mobile communications in the country are good, services are provided by local operators Telkomsel or XL AXIATA. You can buy a SIM card almost everywhere, they are sold without restrictions.

There are no problems with the Internet. Almost all restaurants and cafes provide free access to the Internet, but Wi-Fi is not available in all hotels. If this is a matter of principle, we recommend that you clarify the issue when booking.

Useful facts

• In large cities and resorts the voltage in the network is 220 V.
• In Indonesia, the European sockets we are accustomed to use are used.
• When crossing the road, special care should be taken.
• There are no official tips in the country, but it is customary to thank porters (5-10 thousand rupees), taxi drivers (about 20 thousand rupees), and hotel maids (1-2 thousand rupees).
• In Indonesia, a white person is a welcome guest. Be prepared for people to simply want to touch you.
• There is a huge gap between rich and poor in the country.

Local laws

Foreigners in Indonesia must maintain public order, obey laws, regulations and visa requirements. Otherwise, they may be fined, deported and banned from re-entering.

A common reason for deportation is illegal work and promoting one’s services on social networks. Locals look through tourists’ pages and look for those who illegally provide paid services on the island. You can even be deported for posting an ad looking for a neighbor for a villa.

There are known cases of deportation for insulting sacred places in Bali. It is important to remember that not only temples, but also volcanoes, waterfalls, and trees can be sacred to local residents. Before visiting a new place, it is better to study the information about it in detail. For example, you cannot touch the sacred trees of the island or take candid photos near them. A circular has been approved in Bali, which sets out the rules of conduct for tourists on the island. In addition to the prohibitions that concern sacred places, you cannot litter on the island, use plastic bags and plastic straws. A memo with the rules will be issued at the airport.

Another real reason for deportation is breaking the rules during the Day of Silence (Nyepi). This is a public holiday during which you are not allowed to go outside. All the rules apply to both locals and tourists.

Gambling is prohibited in Indonesia.