Indonesia is a fantastic year-round destination, full of places to see and things to do, whether you’re looking to bliss out on beaches, scuba dive around reef-fringed isles or explore ancient monuments and rainforest. While its bigger hitters, like Bali and Borneo, are hugely rewarding, it’s well worth venturing further afield.
And plotting an adventure in Southeast Asia’s largest country has never been easier, thanks to Singapore Airlines’ extensive flight network. The airline’s connections are bolstered by the flights offered by Scoot, its low-cost sister airline. This wallet-friendly option makes Indonesian island-hopping holidays a breeze.
Take a few days to enjoy’s Bali’s jaw-dropping scenery and rich cultural heritage
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Did you know that Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands? It is, in fact, the world’s largest archipelagic state and is an incredible destination for those who love venturing off the beaten path. Bali, served by 42 weekly Singapore Airlines flights from Singapore, is a great place to start. It is Indonesia’s most visited island for a reason, whether you’re in the mood for a beach holiday on soft-sand beaches or an island exploration around emerald rice paddies and the forested slopes of Mount Batur, there is so much to see and do.
The island of Lombok is easily accessible from Bali; it’s a 45-minute flight from Denpasar or you can fly direct from Singapore, and Scoot has four flights a week with a flight time of under three hours. Spend a few days on this laid-back isle, beach hopping and hiking through the wildlife-filled Rinjani National Park, with its backdrop of thundering waterfalls (including the towering Sendang Gile Waterfall whose waters, locals believe, can cure minor ailments).
Lombok is easily reached from Denpasar in Bali, or direct from Singapore
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The star of the show is Mount Rinjani, topping out at 3,726m. Sign up for a summit trek and you’ll pass through forested valleys and volcanic plateaus.
If you prefer culture over calderas, consider flying to one of Indonesia’s lesser-known cities. Makassar is the largest city on Sulawesi island and served by three Singapore Airlines flights a week from Singapore. There’s plenty to see here including a 17th-century fort and the Amirul Mukminin Mosque, which is open to all.
The city is a great base for explorations further afield, including tours into Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park with its wind-blasted karst formations and rainbow-hued butterflies. Manado, in Sulawesi’s north, attracts divers who come to experience the array of marine life found in the protected waters around Manado Tua island.
The island of Sumatra is another magnet for divers, who flock to islets such as Pulau Weh, which is surrounded by coral gardens. It also has plenty to dazzle above the water too with must-see places such as Medan. Famous for its blend of European and Islamic architecture, Sumatra’s largest city is known for its incredible street food – be sure to try lontong, delicious banana leaf-wrapped rice cakes.
The coral gardens at Pulau Weh in Sumatra are popular with divers
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When it comes to cultural gems and natural beauty, you can’t beat Java. Singapore Airlines flies daily to the Indonesian capital Jakarta and Scoot operates six flights a week to the Javan city of Yogyakarta.
This heritage hotspot is filled with reminders of its former regal status, including its spectacular royal palace (known locally as a kraton), comprising a maze of pavilions and courtyards built in 1755 and 1756. At its heart is the Bangsal Kencana (Golden Pavilion), with its ornate marble floor and teak columns. As with most Indonesian islands, there are numerous reasons to venture off the beaten path. Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist structure, is just 40 km north of Yogyakarta.
Head to Java to visit Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist structure at Yogyakarta
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Keep an eye out for the beautiful carvings, including the fearsome beasts guarding the main temple. The strange-looking creatures have bulging eyes and oversized snouts, and legend has it that stonemasons wanted the statues to resemble lions. But, as they were not native to Indonesia, a certain amount of guesswork was involved.
However, there’s no shortage of other big cats in Indonesia: the island of Borneo is home to Sunda clouded leopards and marbled cats. While many visitors to Indonesia’s part of this rugged island head for its biodiverse rainforests, its coastline is well worth adding to your travels too.
Catch a glimpse of Sunda clouded leopards and marbled cats in Borneo
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Stay in the Indonesian city of Balikpapan, on Borneo’s eastern coastline, and you’ll be close to both gorgeous beaches and forests. Hop from the palm-fringed Manggar Segara Sari Beach into the Wain River Protected Forest, home to honey bears, so called because of their comically long tongues, which they use to probe bees’ nests. Just one of many wonders a journey around Indonesia will reveal.
How to get there
It’s easy to explore Indonesia with Singapore Airlines operating several flights a day to Denpasar Bali, Surabaya, Jakarta and Medan, while low-cost carrier Scoot has regular flights from Singapore to Lombok, Yogyakarta, Balikpapan, Makassar, Manado and Kertajati.
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