As a country which is made up of thousands of small islands, it is no surprise that much of the tourism activities in the area are associated with the sea. However, the thriving melting pot of tribes and ethnic backgrounds to be found across the country also means that the culture of Indonesia is very varied, and adds to the experience of the visitor. A holiday in Indonesia will usually be a step away from the traditional package holiday, and for many people the country benefits significantly from being more than the average destination.
Scuba Diving And Snorkeling
One of the most important aspects of tourism in Indonesia is that of scuba diving, with so many of the islands in the country being close to beautiful coral reefs that boast beautiful and colorful marine life. Many of the islands with a well developed tourist industry such as Bali have a well developed scuba diving industry that will cater to novices as well as more experienced divers. However, in the more remote islands such as in some of the Raja Ampat islands, divers will often have to explore by themselves or hire one of the locals as a guide.
For those lacking the confidence or the equipment for scuba diving, snorkeling is a pleasant alternative that involves staying much closer to the surface, but still offers a good view of the marine life.
Surfing
This is another of the most popular activities for visitors to Indonesia, and with many of the islands enjoying great surfing conditions the destinations can be as developed or as remote as the visitor would like. The island of Bali is one of the most popular locations for those looking for good surf, and along with the offshore island of Nusa Lembongan has over thirty five popular surfing locations to enjoy.
Another of the country’s most popular surfing sites is to be found on the island of East Java, where the G-land surf break was discovered in 1972. Today the bay that lies around a half day’s journey from Bali is another popular surfing destination.
Animal Spotting In Sumatra
Sumatra is one of the main islands that make up the country of Indonesia, but it is the mountainous region of the island that will be of particular interest to animal lovers. There are nine species of animals to be found on the island that are only to be found in Sumatra, and many of these are now critically endangered, including the Sumatran variants of the tiger, rhinoceros, elephant and orangutan. The three main national parks in which these species can be found are high on the list of natural places to visit within Indonesia.
White Water Rafting
Although the water sports industry in Indonesia is dominated by sports associated with the sea, there are also many companies offering white water rafting excursions along some of the exciting rivers in the country. Because of the established tourist industry on the island of Bali, there are several companies offering rafting trips, with the Balian river during high water periods offering particularly thrilling excursions.
For those wanting to combine rafting and animal spotting, it is also possible to arrange some rafting trips in Sumatra, where the river Alas offers grade three to four rapids while cutting through stunning deep gorges and primary rainforest.
Visit The Buddhist Temple At Borobudur
The temple complex at Borobudur is probably one of the most historic sites in Indonesia, and it is also somewhere the visitors really should visit to appreciate the sheer scale and ambition of this ninth century temple. The structure of the temple sees six large stone steps topped by three circular platforms on top of these, and it is the thousands of artistic stone carvings and the hundreds of Buddha statues that make this site unique. A visit to Borobudur is unlikely to be a peaceful one however, as it is the single most visited tourist attraction in the country.