Guide to Indonesia: Uncovering the secrets of this island paradise!
We’re betting that when you think of Indonesia the first thing that comes to mind is Bali right? Well, that’s no surprise really as Bali is one of the most sought-after luxury vacation destinations in the world and rightfully so! Now, while Bali is entirely deserving of this distinction thanks to its natural beauty, impressive temples and scrumptious food, there is much more to explore in Indonesia than just this one island and we’re here to help you discover as many incredible things as possible to do the next time you’re there!
An island nation through and through, Indonesia is, in fact, comprised of an astonishing 17000+ islands! Many of the islands boast stunning features such as misty volcanic mountains and pristine pink, white and black sand beaches in addition to exotic wildlife. Although tourism primarily happens only on a handful of the 600 populated islands, there is endless opportunity for adventure as many of the uninhabited islands can be reached by multi-day sailing tours as well.
As the Indonesian islands are strewn across both the Indian and Pacific Oceans and as inter-island travel by Indonesians are uncommon, noticeable differences in culture, religion and language have arisen over the years. For example, there are over 200 dialects spoken in Indonesia and a Balinese individual is about as likely to be able to converse with a Javanese person as they are with an American! Despite these differences though, the Indonesian people collectively share a sense of spirituality, kindness and hospitality providing a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors.
With so much to offer from lush forests, verdant rice fields, sparkling turquoise waters and colorful coral reefs to ancient temples and top-notch food, Indonesia is one tropical paradise that we know you just can’t afford to miss! Keep reading to uncover how to take your Indonesian vacation from great to EPIC!
Want even more adventurous travel inspiration? Check out our other favorite spots HERE!
What's the best way to get to Indonesia?
If you’re planning to go to Indonesia from anywhere in the USA, taking a flight is going be the best and quickest way to get there. There are transpacific cruises from the USA to certain parts of Asia, but a one-way trip typically takes around 25 days which, for many of us, would require more vacation time than we have! For those who don’t like flying or sailing, there is the interesting option of waiting for winter when the sea between North America and Russia freezes creating a bridge between continents then embarking on a hellishly long walk spanning several months to get to Asia. While doable this seems like a rather insane way to start a vacation but to each his own!
Flights options are numerous between the USA and Indonesia, but it is important to note that there are no direct, nonstop flights between these countries. Most flights involve at least one layover. In our case, we chose to travel to Indonesia by way of Singapore on the longest flight in world (more to come on this soon, we promise!) From Singapore, we were then able to take a 2.5-hour flight to Jakarta. We flew with AirAsia for this portion of our trip which we found to be overall pleasant and comfortable. AirAsia is a budget airline meaning that specific seat assignments must be paid for, and that snacks and beverages are available but at an extra cost. Don’t let this put you off flying with AirAsia though as this was one of the cheapest, and comfortable, flights that we’ve ever taken! Even after paying for extras like more baggage and meals!
AirAsia serves some of the best airline food we’ve ever tried. We highly recommend giving it a go as a portion of Nasi Lemak cost just 3 USD! These meals are not available without pre-order so make sure to add it on before you check in for your flight!
Although we can’t say for sure that our route is the absolute best way to get to Indonesia, we’re confident that it’s at least among the top 5 ways to get there. Not only did we get to Indonesia with minimal fuss and hassle, but we also got to explore Singapore on the way! What’s not to love about that?
Do you need a visa to visit Indonesia?
Yes, you do! Visitors entering Indonesia need to obtain a visa which can either be applied for in advance or filled out at the airport in arrival to Indonesia. For those not wanting to plan too far in advance or those who may not even be aware of the visa requirements, Indonesia offers something called a “visa on arrival” which is precisely what it sounds like. Travelers entering Indonesia can apply for, pay for and receive the visa approval immediately on arriving to any airport in the country. The visa does not require advance application, is good for 30 days and the primary requirement that must be met is ensuring that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival to Indonesia. Although being able to fill out the visa after landing is a godsend to many, there are downsides. For instance, we noticed long lines and more than a little confusion as visitors seemed unsure of where to go to fill out the forms and make payments for their visas.
On arrival to Bali or Jakarta, keep an eye out for booths accepting payment of visa on arrival fees. These are found before passport control and if you miss them, you’ll have to backtrack to pay the fees as this cannot be done at passport control.
Rather than deal with the hassle of figuring how to get a visa at the airport, we chose to apply for our visa online HERE. Filling out the application took about 15 mins and our approval was instantaneous. On arrival, we simply proceeded to passport control, showed our visa and were out of the airport in under 15 minutes!
USA passport holders who received their visa approval online can use the automatic passport control gates in Indonesia! No need to wait in line for an immigration officer to review your paperwork!
When is the best time to visit Indonesia?
High season for tourism in Indonesia extends throughout the summer months of June to September. Although popular with tourists all year long, Indonesia sees a massive increase in the number of tourists during these particular months. This means even more crowded roadways, restaurants, and points of interest. We suggest visiting in the shoulder months specifically May or September. Not only are these months still within the dry season, but there is also much less competition at popular tourist sites!
What’s the weather like in Indonesia?
Being a tropical country, Indonesia has a wet and dry season and we’re pretty sure you can guess which one would be best for a nice vacation! The dry season extends from April to October meaning that a good portion of the year is ideal for visiting Indonesia. Arriving during the dry season does not mean you’ll avoid all rain though. Indonesia’s climate is hot and humid making sudden rainfall a likelihood rather than a rarity. Don’t be disheartened though, the rain rarely lingers in the dry season and disappears about as quickly as it appears!
We traveled to Indonesia in May which is considered the start of the high season. For the most part, we experienced sunshine every morning and overcast skies most evenings. We never once got rained on although we’re pretty sure this was more luck than anything else! Honestly, we suggest just having good sunscreen AND an umbrella on hand as the weather really is just unpredictable!
Don’t rely on weather apps in Indonesia. The forecasts typically indicate rain daily but you’re about as apt to have sunshine as you are to have rain. Just treat your visit the same as any other beach vacation and be ready for changeable weather!
What's the most common spoken language in Indonesia?
As we’ve mentioned before, there are somewhere between 200-300 different languages spoken throughout the islands of Indonesia which should make it difficult for people from different islands to communicate with each other. However, this is not the case as, to unite the nation, an official language known as Bahasa, was selected and serves as the primary means of communication throughout Indonesia.
Bahasa is the main language taught in all schools in Indonesia. Other dialects are learned from community and family and are unique to each island.
By now you probably have some pressing questions like: Do I need to learn some Bahasa and Does anyone speak English in Indonesia!? Well, as English is, in fact, commonly spoken in Indonesia, learning a few words of Bahasa can be helpful and will probably delight, and amuse the locals, however this is not an absolute necessity. While there were some instances where we had a small degree of difficulty explaining what we wanted in English, these occasions were few and far between. Additionally, navigating public spaces was easy as signs in English could be found almost everywhere. Truly, Indonesia is a country that highly values tourism and hospitality which is evident in the way that they spare no effort when it comes to making visitors feel at ease and this extends to language as well.
English is not formally taught in Indonesia. Most people learn to speak it through media exposure and contact with tourists therefore some oddities in speech are to be expected. That being said, everyone we were fortunate enough to interact with spoke English well and were patient with us in those rare moments of confusion. All we can say is that a little understanding and kindness paid dividends for us in Indonesia!
What’s the best way to get around Indonesia?
Regardless of where you’re planning to stay in Indonesia, transportation is really easy to find. Public transportation is available but can be limited and complicated hence most travelers seek other means of transport such as rental cars. Although it may seem like a good idea, we strongly suggest avoiding car or scooter rentals in Indonesia for several reasons. First, traffic in many Indonesian cities is intense and maneuvering around trucks, scooters and other vehicles sharing the small roads requires some serious skills and, dare we say, courage. We saw many a foreigner bandaged and limping around with injuries that were unmistakably the work of those devilish scooters! Second, there are tons of taxis and ride shares available at incredibly low costs so risking a wreck or worse, life and limb, by renting a vehicle is not worth it! Seriously, a fifteen-to-30-minute taxi ride cost us on average no more than 5-10 USD. If you truly must rent a car or scooter though, make sure to bring an international driver’s permit and maybe some rosary beads!
Most American credit card rental car insurance coverage does not extend to overseas rentals in foreign countries like Indonesia. When renting a car in Indonesia, insurance is not required but we suggest purchasing it anyway.
Now that we’ve hopefully swayed you to our point of view and you won’t be running out to rent a car or scooter anytime soon in Bali, you still need to know how to actually get around right? Well, there are several great options for transport in Indonesia. The first is by taxi, specifically Bluebird Taxi. Bluebird taxi is the official operator in Indonesia and, unlike, conventional taxis that require a phone call to make bookings or hailing from the curb, Bluebird taxi has an app that can be downloaded on your phone to schedule and pay for rides. The app provides details about routes and drivers so it’s easy to see where you’re going even if you’re unable to converse with the driver. We successfully used Bluebird to travel around Jakarta and found it to be reliable and safe.
Bluebird taxis are more readily available in Jakarta. They can be found in Bali and other islands but are fewer and harder to secure.
The second, and in our opinion, the best way to get around Indonesia is by Rideshare. Uber and Lyft do not operate in Indonesia however there are alternatives namely Grab and Gojek. Both Grab and Gojek work the same as Uber/Lyft. Simply download the app, enter payment information, request a ride and you’re on your way! Similar to their western counterparts, food and groceries can be ordered through these Rideshare apps as well. Rides were easy to secure on the go, even in some of the more remote areas in Bali, and we always felt comfortable and secure.
Ride shares cannot pick up in some popular areas in Bali due to local ordinances, however if you walk just a short distance from those areas, it’s easy to catch a ride.
For the most luxurious and best experience getting around Indonesia, hiring a private car and driver is the way to go. While this type of traveling can be hard on the budget in many places, it’s actually quite affordable in Indonesia. For instance, we hired a private car and English-speaking guide from BaliCab for 10 hours for just 35 USD on our arrival day in Bali. Honestly, we found this to be the best way to travel between our points of interest, especially for our long days of sightseeing!
Booking a private car and driver can be more affordable than taking a tour. The drivers are local and know the best off-the-beaten-path spots to make your day unique and fun!
What’s the best way to stay connected in Indonesia?
Cellular service and Wi-Fi were widely available in Indonesia, and we had no trouble connecting to local networks with our current T-Mobile phone plan. In fact, we had service everywhere from urban centers like Jakarta to the more isolated areas like Komodo National Park. There were a handful of very remote areas that we visited where we had no cellular service however all those places offered reliable Wi-Fi.
SIM cards are readily available for purchase at the different airports in Indonesia, are very affordable and are reliable so no need to worry if your American cellular plan does not work in Indonesia. Just remember to pack a SIM changing tool just in case!
What currency is used in Indonesia and are cashless payments accepted?
The official currency of Indonesia is the Rupiah or Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). As you might expect, using cash, namely Rupiahs, is the preferred form of payment in Indonesia. What you may not yet realize though is how large a wallet you need to carry around an average amount of Rupiahs! What do we mean by this? Well, Rupiahs come in big denominations with bills as large as a hundred thousand! Even more shocking? A hundred thousand Indonesian Rupiahs equate to around 6-7 USD! As cash is the best way to pay for small purchases and, in many cases, transportation, be prepared to walk around with millions in Rupiahs in your wallet! See what we mean now?
Make sure to exchange some of your bills for smaller denominations when able as most items and services are much cheaper than a hundred thousand Rupiahs. Oh, and small bills come in handy when you need to pay to use a public restroom.
So, what’s the best way to get cash? Once again, we recommend using an international debit card without foreign transaction fees to withdraw cash from a local ATM. There are money exchanges in every airport in Indonesia as well although these tend to have higher fees. We do want to caution you that ATM scamming is a common problem in Indonesia which means that not all ATMs are safe. The most secure ATMs are located at the airports and inside local banks so make sure to seek these out if you need cash. Avoid using ATMs in grocery stores and other highly trafficked areas as you may find yourself a victim of debit card fraud.
Make sure to use ATMs provided by local banks in Indonesia so that if you encounter any difficulties, such as the ATM swallowing your debit card, you can easily reach a customer service agent for assistance.
Alright, we’ve established that cash is favored but, as fun as it is to walk around with millions in your pocket, you might find it tedious after a while. After all, who wants to figure out change every time you buy a bottle of water that cost 17000 Rupiahs? Anyway, to avoid some of this hassle, you can use credit cards as they are accepted by most businesses including hotels, restaurants, grocery stores and even ride shares and some taxis. We did not notice use of Apple Pay, Ali Pay or Grab Cash throughout Indonesia. We should mention that although credit cards are widely accepted and you can mostly get by using them, you cannot entirely rely on them as some crucial things are cash only. For instance, fees to enter Komodo National Park and similar attractions require cash as does some more rural taxis. Plus, you can’t make an impromptu stop at a Warung or fruit stall without cash on hand and you definitely don’t want to miss out on such delicious opportunities!
Using credit cards in Indonesia may be convenient but that convenience comes at a cost as many credit card transactions include an additional 2% fee!
Is it safe to travel in Indonesia?
Being a country that deeply values tourism and populated by a people who collectively believe in good will and karma, Indonesia is by no means a scary place to travel to. Whether we were walking along a volcano on a crowded mountain or walking through a deserted rice field in the dark, we felt safe. In the busy market areas, no one one tried to hustle us or force products on us. That being said, there are risks to traveling in any foreign country. As we mentioned previously, ATM skimming is common so take extra care to obscure card information when withdrawing cash and avoid using ATMs in any public space. And, as always, we recommend checking the US Department of State Travel Advisory website before your trip,
Should you drink the tap water in Indonesia?
Definitely do NOT drink tap water in Indonesia. Even Indonesians won’t risk drinking tap water! With the hot climate and a questionable purification and water management system, it’s unwise to consume tap water as you may be exposing yourself to a plethora of bacteria and parasites. Distilled water is readily available, cheap and is your gastrointestinal tract’s best friend in Indonesia. Most restaurants use distilled water to make ice and drinks, so it is safe to have a cocktail here and there however, we encourage you to use your judgement and ask if you’re unsure what you’re being served in an establishment. We also want to point out that various travel advisories recommend going as far as washing fruits with bottled water and even using bottled water to brush your teeth! We’re pleased to report that, despite our hectic schedule, we managed to follow these guidelines and did avoid any major catastrophes.
All hotels provide distilled water for guests, so you don’t need to purchase tons of bottled water. It’s a good idea to bring a refillable water bottle so that you can fill up as much as you need to while still cutting down on plastic use!
What’s the food like in Indonesia?
Delicious! But with dishes of such exotic names as Bakso, Nasi Lemak, Gado-gado and Ayam Goreng comprising most menus, you may find yourself well and truly intimidated the first time you sit down to a meal in Indonesia. Now, we admit that we just told you that learning to speak Bahasa isn’t necessary before you visit, but surely you recall us mentioning that knowing a few words here and there couldn’t hurt. Well, these are the words that we were referring to! We can assure you that even though these dishes may sound completely unlike anything you’ve ever eaten before, many actually refer to foods that we’re positive you’ve tried before. For example, Nasi Goreng simply means fried rice with Nasi meaning rice and Goreng meaning fried. Having learned this when we refer to Ayam Goreng you’ll be thinking “ah something fried!” And you’ll be right as Ayam Goreng means fried chicken, a dish that many of us Americans have at once a week! There’s plenty to love when it comes to Indonesian cooking so check back HERE later for details on all the dishes you don’t want to miss when you’re in Indonesia!
We would be remiss if, in speaking of food, we didn’t address the famous Bali Belly. If you’re not familiar, Bali Belly is essentially another fancy way of saying traveler’s diarrhea. Bali Belly happens as a result of bacteria being introduced to the body either by poor sanitation when handling food or by consuming undercooked foods, foods that are not hot enough, peeled fruits, fresh salads or drinking tap water. To avoid this trip-derailing fiasco, make sure that your food is steaming hot when served to you, eat fruits with a rind or fruits that you peel yourself and avoid buffets when possible! Finally, although we won’t tell you to avoid the ridiculously cheap, yet delicious local restaurants known as Warungs, we caution you to select ones known for serving piping hot food.
Jakarta
Located on the island of Java, Jakarta is the capital city and largest commercial center of Indonesia. As Java is the most densely populated island in Indonesia and as much of that population resides in Jakarta, we were not surprised by the traffic and general bustling that we encountered in the city. What did shock us though was the degree of air pollution that we witnessed. The perpetual smog over the city and subsequent faded sunlight lent a certain drab eeriness to the city that, we freely admit, we were more than happy to escape by taking day drips outside the city. Despite this though, Jakarta is a remarkable city where measures are being taken to promote cleaner air and healthier living and although geared more towards business than recreation, Jakarta nevertheless is a gateway to some rather incredible sights on the island of Java making it totally worth a visit.
Where to stay in Jakarta
For the best possible experience while in Jakarta, consider booking a hotel in Central Jakarta. While there was much to choose from when it came to hotels in this area, we ultimately decided on an Airbnb apartment in Menteng Park aptly named the Menteng Park Apartments. Located close to the city center and within walking distance of convenience stores and restaurants, the high-rise apartment was well equipped, clean and beautifully decorated. The grounds were well maintained and secured by a guard and gates, adding an extra layer of safety. Although we would not have been disappointed by a stay at a luxury hotel like the Westin whose rates were much cheaper in Jakarta than they would be in other parts of the world, we found our Airbnb apartment to be a much better deal with gorgeous high-rise views, an infinity pool and fully equipped kitchen and all this for half the price of a hotel.
Tours leaving from central Jakarta offer pickups from Menteng Park Apartments thanks to its ideal location. Additionally, the Menteng Park apartments are relatively close by to several of the mall/apartment combo buildings that Jakarta is known for.
Top things to do in and around Jakarta
Take a stroll around the National Monument
Located in Merdeka Square where many of the Indonesian government buildings can be found, the National Monument, a 137-meter-tall obelisk topped by an enormous bronze flame, houses the first flag flown in Indonesia after the proclamation of independence. The monument, also known as Monas, is surrounded by well-manicured gardens and wide walking paths to make exploration fun. When you’re done exploring the grounds, make sure to buy tickets to the museum where you can see the first flag flown in Indonesia after Independence and the observation deck to catch lovely skyline views of the city.
Monas is open everyday except for Mondays. Visiting hours vary from day to day so be sure to check HERE for the most up to date information when planning your trip!
See Taman Mini Indonesia Indah
A cultural recreational park, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah houses more than twenty pavilions, each showcasing the different aspects of life in Indonesia’s many provinces. In addition to the opportunity to explore traditional Indonesian clothes, architecture and performances, the park also has cable cars, museums and even a theater! Plan to spend at least half a day here the next time you’re in Jakarta!
Take a cable car ride!
We are specifically speaking of Gondola Ancol Cable Car on which you can take an exhilarating 20-minute ride for just around 3 USD. Just hop on and enjoy the panoramic views of Jakarta and the surrounding waters!
Visit Central Park
Did we mention that Jakarta has its own Central Park? Well, in case we didn’t, they do have a central park and its as different from New York’s Central Park as day is from night! As we mentioned before, Jakarta is famous for combining buildings which, honestly, is a great idea when you have a small space and a large population to house! Jakarta’s Central Park is actually a mall located central Jakarta and is a perfect example what it means to be a multi-use building. Home to a casino resort, a shopping mall, a theater and three apartment buildings, you’ll run out of time before you ever run out of things to do in this incredible building!
Visit a Volcano
Although Jakarta has its fair share of fun activities that’ll keep you busy for at least a few days, the true beauty of Java lies outside the city where the blue skies and brilliant sunshine can finally be seen once again! As exploring the countryside was high priority for us, we booked a rather comprehensive tour that took us from Jakarta into West Java and to an active volcano! Our tour operator, Ekaputra Tours, picked us up from Menteng Park Apartments and we embarked on an eye-opening 3-hour drive to Subang, a local village en-route to the volcano. If we were amazed at the degree of smog we saw in Jakarta, we were rendered speechless by just how much worse the smog became as we left the city. During the initial portion of our drive, we passed through a city where a vehicle manufacturing plant was located and where the smog increased a thousand-fold. Gone were even those rare glimpses of sky and the filtered sunlight that we could sometimes see in central Jakarta. All were replaced by a dense cloud surrounding us, reducing visibility drastically. Thankfully, we drove through and out of the smog in under 15 minutes and, from that point onward, made our way into cleaner and more vibrant country.
Our first stop on the tour was Pasar Buah Lembang, a fruit market comprised of individual stalls lining the road into Subang. At first, this stop appeared to be no more than a small fruit stand but on closer inspection we noticed almost a mile or more of stalls extending along the main road. Despite being a short stop, we were treated to some of the delicious local fruit including the famed honey pineapple, purple dragon fruit, longan and snake fruit!
Exercise caution when consuming cut fruit that is not handled properly as this can lead to GI illness. This doesn’t mean you can’t try the local fruit though, simply request fruits with peel and rinse them yourself before consuming.
Moving on from the fruit stalls, we made our way deeper into Subang where we stopped at the local rice terraces. We took a surprisingly difficult 20-minute walk through the rice field during which our balance and depth perception skills were truly put to the test. If you know anything about rice fields, then you know that they’re typically very wet as controlled flooding is done to properly grow the rice. To be able to walk between the rows of rice, one must balance on narrow ledges of earth while avoiding a sure-to-be disastrous fall into the pools of water to either side of said ledge. Fortunately, the sugar boost we got from the fruit stop gave us that extra something we needed to keep us from any real catastrophes as we walked the tightrope through the field.
A good pair of waterproof hiking shoes is highly recommended if you’re planning a rice field walk.
From the rice terraces, we made our way to the Malabar tea plantation where we were able to stroll between the rows of trees while taking spectacular pictures. We sampled the local tea at a roadside stand from which we had unobstructed views of the tea plantation.
A short drive from the tea plantation later, we arrived to Tangkuban Perahu, the main focus of our tour. As with most popular points of interest, there were lots of tourists and vendors milling around the entrance to viewpoints however the crowds thinned out as we made our way along the scenic trail overlooking the volcano. From our vantage point, we had a sublime view of the crater and its sulfur pits and steaming cracks. We were fortunate to catch moments of sunshine and capitalized on those brief moment by taking hundreds of pictures of course! As we were making our way back to the parking area from the crater’s edge, mist and clouds rolled in completely obscuring all views of the crater, so be forewarned; you may arrive to this stop and not be able to see anything!
This stop is excellent for souvenir shopping. We were able to get personalized and unique souvenirs here that were not to be found anywhere else in Indonesia! Vendors tend to be persistent here but are polite and fun to haggle with!
Despite all the fruits and teas we’d consumed earlier, we were nevertheless more than a little happy when we stopped in the town of Lembang to sample traditional Sundanese cuisine for lunch. Not only was the restaurant splendid with its traditional décor, but they also served us the best Nasi Goreng that we had in our entire time in Indonesia!
Leaving the restaurant, we made a stop at a coffee plantation where the somewhat unnerving process of making the prized Indonesian Luwak Coffee was illustrated. Although we personally declined the coffee as we’re not coffee lovers ourselves, many in our group found it delightful. Several gift boxes of coffee later, we headed for our final stop of the day: Ciator Hot Springs.
Arriving to the hot springs, we immediately noted the change in atmosphere as we were clearly leaving behind the small town and entering a theme-park like resort and hot springs area. Entering the admission turnstiles, we were treated to lush landscaping and cobbled pathways. A short walk later we came upon three distinct and elaborate hot springs. One large enough to swim in, one with a waterfall for those looking to mix it up a little and a smaller pool for those just wanting a good foot soaking. Being that this was approaching the 10th hour of the tour, most of us did not feel the draw to undress and hop in but everyone was in the mood for a good foot-soaking in the soothing waters. Honestly, lazily swirling our weary legs in the hot water while we ate ice-cream was one of the best moments of our tour!
The hot springs are in the mountains and the air was a lot cooler making indulging in the hot springs much more fun than you might imagine. To the ladies visiting the hot springs, we suggest bringing a modest swimsuit. It’s not a requirement however everyone in the hot springs were dressed very conservatively and, as they say, when in Rome…!
Bali
As a sought-after destination for special celebrations, whether it’s a honeymoon or an anniversary, and known for its exceptional hospitality and unique experiences, it’s no wonder that Bali is the most famous of Indonesia’s islands. Knowing this, we’re ashamed to admit that arrived at Bali with a bit of a negative attitude, expecting to find it overrun by tourists and mostly hype with little substance. Little did we realize that we were about to be completely won over first by Bali’s culture and beauty then by the warm and friendly people we met there. Suffice it to say that we now know that Bali is much more than the hype and, in fact, is one of the few places in the world where everyone can have an experience designed just for them!
Where to stay in Bali
Many people will advise you that it doesn’t really matter where you stay in Bali as there’s always something to do and, although this is technically true, there is a caveat: traffic is horrendous! With bumper-to-bumper traffic on all the major roadways, it can take hours to travel short distances even in off season times. Such congestion often means that visiting points of interest that are as close as 10-15 miles away from your lodging will take an entire day! For this reason, we suggest picking out your points of interest first and your hotel second so that you can strategize how best to accomplish seeing everything you want to. Following this line of reasoning, we decided to stay first in the town of Ubud to explore the mountains then, later on in our trip, in the town of Uluwatu to enjoy the beach!
Using a maps app such as Google or Apple Maps to measure distances between points of interest before arrival to your destination is a huge time saver. This type of planning can be the difference between seeing everything or missing out on some things on your to-do list! Just make sure to add an additional 40 minutes or so to the estimated time to at least account for some of the traffic you’ll likely face.
Ubud
Ubud is one of Bali’s most popular towns. Why? Well even though we can’t say for sure, we suspect that the green mountains, lush jungle, playful monkey and cooler temperatures may have something to do with it. Located about 1 to 1.5 hours away from Denpasar airport, what struck us the most about Ubud was just how different it was and just how much more there was to do there compared to other areas of Bali. Many of the nature activities and high adrenaline activities all seem centered around Ubud, making it the perfect place to stay in Bali especially if you really want to limit your time in traffic!
We chose Villa Kalisat, located about 20 minutes outside of the city center for our stay in Ubud. Situated higher up in the mountains, Villa Kalisat set itself apart from other resorts with its cliffside location and access to a river and semi-secret swimming hole. Even more remarkable than the location was the discovery that Villa Kalisat was built within a local Balinese family compound giving guests a rare glimpse of what family life is like in Bali. The resort exuded peacefulness and, to some degree, exclusivity due to having only 7 rooms. On arrival to Villa Kalisat, we were charmed to find a personalized welcome home note written to us on a blackboard. Check in was smooth and we were then given a tour of the property while our bags were deposited in our room.
We were assigned the Waterfall room which was located at the lowest point along the cliffside. Although a bit of a challenge to get to owing to the number of stairs and lack of an elevator, we would not trade our room in for any other on the property. Not only was the room large, inviting and well-appointed, we also had numerous lounging areas inside and out. The outdoor lounging areas overlooked the falls, river and swimming hole and we could hear the rushing waters of the falls from our bed! When we could tear ourselves away from our fabulous room, we were invited to make use of the two pools and other outdoor areas whenever we pleased. While there was much to love about Villa Kalisat, the thing we enjoyed most about this resort was the fact that staying there felt very much like coming home to friends and family!
Villa Kalisat is all about meeting the needs of the guest, like arranging airport transport or getting laundry done, so if there’s something you need, don’t be afraid to ask! We should also mention that most of your requests will likely be fulfilled by the family in the compound who are friendly and enjoy chatting with guest so don’t be a stranger when you’re out and about!
Uluwatu
Having thoroughly enjoyed the charms of the Ubud mountains, we moved to Uluwatu for our final days in Bali. Located closer to Denpasar than Ubud, only 20-30 minutes from the airport, Uluwatu is more coastal with plenty of golden sand and green waters to satisfy even the most nit-picky of beachgoers. Once again, we were spoiled for choices when it came to hotels but did manage to settle on one extra unique hotel. We chose the Bubble Hotel Nyang Nyang located on Nyang Nyang beach.
Although there many unique hotels to choose from in Bali, many have only a handful of rooms so make sure to book at least 1-2 months in advance if you’ve got your heart set on a place.
Exactly, as it sounds, the Bubble Hotel is comprised of some 5-10 transparent, individual bubbles, each situated beachfront within their own yards. Each “room” or bubble featured a king-sized bed, a vanity with toiletries and, can you believe it, air conditioning!! The fenced yard around each bubble had an open-air bathroom, a covered gazebo, a small pool or spa tub and a swing overlooking the ocean. If you’re looking for beachfront luxury, serenity, and romance far away from the crowds then we can’t recommend the bubble hotel enough!
We should mention that the peace and calm of the Bubble Hotel does come at a price, so to speak. As the hotel is located at a rather remote section of Nyang Nyang beach, getting there is a bit involved. First, guests need to check in at a different location, leave behind any largish bags then hop on a scooter driven by a receptionist for a death-defying 5-minute, steep downhill ride. Once at the bottom of the hill, guests are met by a security guard who will then accompany them for a 15-minute walk through the extremely soft sand to their Bubble room. All-in-all the journey from reception to our bubble to around 30 minutes. As we had dinner scheduled elsewhere, we needed to make a return trip to the reception area to await ride share pickup. To get back to the reception area, we needed to message the receptionist, walk back across the sand then take the insane scooter ride back up the hill. Honestly, the bubble hotel offers a menu of varied services including having food delivered to your bubble. We suggest doing what we weren’t smart enough to do by ordering what you want and staying put at your bubble to enjoy the incredible scenery and one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
Nyang Nyang beach is a surfer’s beach with strong winds and currents so if you’re not a surfer, avoid getting in the water. We suggest getting the bubble that comes with a little infinity pool so that you can take a relaxing dip while still enjoying the ocean views.
Top things to do in Bali
Take a temple tour!
As going to temple, dedicating one’s self to worship and leading a generally spiritual life is an integral part of Balinese culture, it should come as no surprise that there are tons of amazing temples to explore throughout the island. In fact, Bali is known as the island of 1000 temples! From Ubud, we took an all-day temple tour and visited three incredibly beautiful and equally different temples.
Consider booking an all-inclusive temple tour as most temples have entrance fees and this will save you having to stand in line to buy tickets as your guide will do it for you!
Tanah Lot
The first stop on our tour was Tanah Lot, an outcropping of rock jutting into the Indian Ocean. Built on the rock is a 16th century temple, known as Pura Tanah Lot. This ancient Hindu temple is dedicated to the gods of the sea and literally sits within the ocean where mighty waves crash against its foundation. During low tide, visitors can buy tickets to cross the rocky shore to the temple. Passage to the temple is not available during high tide as anyone crossing is at risk of being swept away by the waves.
Tanah Lot temple is very popular at sunset and can become extremely crowded. For this reason, we made this our first stop of the day so that we could avoid the streams of tourists and subsequent jockeying for the best pictures that we would undoubtedly face with a sunset visit. What we simply loved about Tanah Lot was the fact that we were able to see multiple temples at just this one stop! Although it’s pretty hard to miss, we nevertheless want to call your attention to Batu Bolong, another striking temple sitting atop a rock jutting into the ocean, and which is located at the same complex at Tanah Lot.
Bring a change of clothes and water shoes if you plan to cross to Tanah Lot. It’s considered sacred to take a dip in the waters surrounding the temple.
Taman Ayun Temple
Another showstopper, the Taman Ayun temple was built in the 17th century and later pronounced a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its beauty. Architecturally stunning, the temple is comprised of several tiered shrines and sits within a cultural complex with plenty more to explore than just the temple itself.
Arriving to this second stop on our tour, we were astonished at the varied-height shrines and spent significant time taking in the outer and inner courts, cultural displays and even spent a short time watching a brief film on the history of the temple.
The shrines, although frequently used for religious functions, are not open to the public and therefore cannot be entered. Don’t worry though, there are tons of opportunities for fantastic pictures!
Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
Perhaps the most iconic of Bali’s temples, Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, more commonly known as the floating temple, is an absolute must-see. Surrounded by gorgeous, manicured gardens and situated amidst mountains on the shores of the serene Lake Beratan, this shrine serves as a stellar example of the beauty that can be achieved when there is harmony between architecture and nature.
We arrived at the Floating Temple in the mid to late afternoon and were treated to sunny skies and a lake so still that the temple did appear to float upon it! By the time of our arrival, throngs of people could be seen everywhere. Despite this, we were able to snap our photos, enjoy our walk around the nearby gardens and marvel at the views of singular beauty of the lake and shrine combined.
This temple is located a good distance away from Ubud and Denpasar so it’s a good idea to plan some other stops enroute to the temple such as the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. Note also that while visitors cannot enter Floating Temple itself.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces are some of the largest and most beautiful rice fields in Indonesia. The terraces employ an ancient irrigation system known as Subak which is a network of canals that bring water to the rice fields from the mountains, and which is a leading reason why the terraces are world renowned.
Some assert that there’s an ideal time to visit the rice terraces such as in the morning hours and no later than April. Well, we visited in the early afternoon in late May and experienced dry, warm weather and ample sunshine. And matter-of-factly speaking, the terraces are so vibrant that they pop even beneath a gray sky so try not to worry too much about such particulars. Visitors are welcome to walk into the rice fields to a certain point to explore and take photos. If you’d like to spend more time in the fields, there are guided trekking tours of the terraces just make sure to come prepared with waterproof shoes!
Check out Gong Jatiluwih, a delicious buffet restaurant overlooking the rice terraces. If you want more of the amazing views but hiking through challenging terrain, isn’t you cup of tea then you can grab lunch here or one of the other nearby restaurants while you enjoy views with a lot less hassle!
Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary
Also known as the Ubud Monkey Forest, this sanctuary is both a nature reserve as well as a temple complex. There are several temples, worship spaces and even a cemetery located within the park. The Monkey Forest is home to some 1200+ long-tailed macaques who can freely come and go from the sanctuary particularly as the sanctuary is connected directly to the town of Ubud.
To enter the Monkey Forest, we checked in at the reception area where we paid a small fee. We were then asked to store away all our valuables, read instructions on what to do within the park and get rid of our water bottles as the monkeys like snatching those almost as much as jewelry. We then followed a cobbled walkway that meandered through the park, taking care to admire the monkeys without getting too closer or doing something crazy like making eye contact! We’re pleased to say that even though we found it a little harrowing at times, we were largely ignored by the monkeys, thankfully, and made it through without incident. Fortunately for us, the only monkey-business that we saw was a macaque trying to steal a gentleman’s glasses!
Although there is paid luggage storage at the ticketing area of Monkey Forest, the lines can get long so consider just leaving your valuables locked in your vehicle or elsewhere before entering the park. Also, the monkeys at Monkey Forest are reportedly less aggressive as compared to other sanctuaries around the island, just something to keep in mind when you’re choosing where to go!
Ubud Palace
In the center of Ubud is the Ubud Palace, the seat if the Ubud Royal Family. The palace is free to enter and explore and houses intricate carvings and artwork. A visit here is quick but meaningful as visitors can explore at their own pace.
Check out the two-story, Ubud art market when you’re in the area. It’s in walking distance of the palace.
GWK Cultural Park
Located about 15 minutes away from the Denpasar airport, the GWK Cultural Park features an enormous, 400-foot-tall statue that can be seen from air when flying into Bali. The statue, known as the Garuda Wisnu Kencana, is inspired by Hindu mythology and is the focal point of the GWK park.
To enter the park, we took a free shuttle to the ticketing area. We then selected and paid for our tickets and began a short walk through the park. In addition to the truly majestic GWK statue, we explored several other gigantic, yet meticulously detailed statues scattered throughout the park, caught a performance showcasing Indonesian historical dress and dance, and had lunch at a restaurant within GWK park that had a lovely birds-eye views of Bali.
If walking moderate distances at a slow place is not an issue for you, we recommend that you avoid purchasing a ticket that includes the shuttle to the GWK statue. Although faster than walking, the shuttle bypasses some amazing sites and takes some of the fun and spontaneity out of the experience. Also consider not buying a ticket with food included as there are several restaurant options and you don’t want to be relegated to just a buffet!
Uluwatu Temple & Kecak Fire and Dance Show
Dramatically perched on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, the Uluwatu temple is famous for two things: sunset and the mesmerizing Kecak fire dance. Two performances of the Kecak fire and dance show are held daily, one at 6pm and one at 7pm daily. We’ll let you know now; it is virtually impossible to get tickets to the 6pm show. In fact, visitors camp out in front of the ticketing office for hours before the show to be able to secure these tickets. Why? To witness the incredible dance and sunset together!
If the day is overcast, then simply buy tickets to the 7pm Kecak show and don’t waste time standing in line as the performance is the same and there won’t be a sunset to see anyway!
Not wanting to fight the lines, we bought tickets to the 7pm Kecak show. Although less popular than the 6pm show, the 7pm show was nevertheless sold out by the time of our arrival so make sure to call and secure you tickets ahead of time via their WEBSITE. Once in the temple, we were given sarongs to wear then directed to line up outside the amphitheater. We were then ushered in and crowded together on concrete stadium style seating. The Kecak dance began shortly after and was, for all intents and purposes, a musical without words that depicted the story of God Ram and Goddess Shinta (aka Ram and Sita) as told by the Ramayana (ancient Hindu text). The ornate dress and deliberate performances done to the backdrop of harmonious grunting was a rather intense and engaging spectacle.
There are two fees that must be paid in order to see the Uluwatu dance: one for the show and one for the temple. You can pay for your show tickets online for the 7pm show however you need to pay the fee to enter the temple once you arrive there. Note that the Kecak Dance is also performed in other areas of Bali including in Ubud so you’ll have multiple opportunities to see it even if you don’t get a chance at the Uluwatu temple. In fact, one of our favorite restaurants, Sacred Rice, in Ubud offered free performances for guests every Wednesday during dinner!
Test your courage at Swing Heaven in Ubud!
Can we just agree that no Bali vacation would be complete without hopping on one of those gut-clenching swings that are now famous on social media? Well, whatever side of this issue you stand on, we can assure you that a visit to Swing Heaven is a must the next time you’re in Ubud. Now, we did pay a visit to Bali Swing, the original jungle swing in Ubud but were less than impressed by the grounds and the lines queuing up at each swing so we decided to drive 5 minutes down the road to Swing Heaven which we loved on sight! Magnificently manicured grounds, sturdy-appearing swings and hardly any lines had us signing the waivers and buckling in five minutes after our arrival.
For a flat rate that was a little cheaper than Bali Swing, Swing Heaven offered access to around 7 or so swings. After paying the fee and refusing dress rentals and the like, we received a stamp and were assigned a person to show us around. While many of the “swings” were really just for photos, there were at least two adrenaline swings, one of which we’re proud to say we were brave enough to tackle! We’re pleased to report that every safety precaution was taken, and that the equipment used at Swing Heaven seemed to be in excellent order. Despite being initially terrifying, we were disappointed when our time on the adrenaline swing actually came to an end! A few things that we did not love about Swing Heaven is that much of the experience is staged and that even, despite a relatively high price, we were only allowed to try each swing once and were not allowed to fully complete each swing as the attendants intervened to stop the swing after a just a few arcs. Now, although the staged thing is not great at first, we’re going through our pictures as we write this, and they are truly phenomenal, so we understand the value of this! And about the swing time, we suppose this is sort of ok given that wait times would be insurmountable if everyone was allowed to stay on the swings as long as they pleased. Oh, and we should mention that these issues are the same regardless of which company you choose for your adventure. Anyway, do we ultimately think that getting on a giant swing in Bali is worth it? Yes, we do, and we’d go back especially to ride that adrenaline swing again!
For extra glamorous photographs, dresses can be rented at all the jungle swing operators including Swing Heaven. Bathrooms for changing and make-up are provided and are very clean at least at Swing Heaven. As the employees at each swing have seriously good photography skills, taking the time to get dressed up is worth it to get some amazing pictures!
Although we didn’t make it there ourselves on this trip to Bali, we want to make mention of the Mason Elephant Park located in the Ubud area. This elephant park is a sanctuary where rescued elephants roam freely, and visitors are welcomed to interact with the animals in safe and fun ways. Make sure to buy your tickets online if you want to part take in special activities like bathing the elephants or helping prepare their food as these activities have scheduled times. If you’re interested in just roaming the park, then you can buy your tickets at the gate. Oh, the park also has a lodge in case you just can’t get enough of the elephants and want to stay a night or two!
Flores and Bidadari Islands: Gateway to Komodo National Park
Another of Indonesia’s fabulous islands, Flores Island is best recognized as the gateway to the famous Komodo National Park. The easiest way to get to Flores Island is by flight either from Jakarta or Bali. We took the flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo, a city on Flores Island, and arrived there in just an hour’s time. Labuan Bajo is a small but well-developed city with many hotels, a marina and lots of beaches.
If you decide to stay in Labuan Bajo, the Meruorah Komodo Labuan Bajo hotel is a good choice as it is located close to shopping, dining and the marina and has some rather spectacular views of the harbor. Given our relatively tight schedule, we didn’t spend much of our time on Flores Island however there are a good bit of fun things to do there for those with a more flexible itinerary including taking a dip in Rangko Cave, hiking to Cunca Wulang Waterfall or taking an overnight tour to Waerebo Village; a native village located high in the island’s mountains.
Flores Island is more conservative as compared to Bali and the reigning religion is Islam. Make sure to bring full coverage swimwear if you plan to go swimming while on Flores Island itself.
For our time in the area, we decided to stay on one of the many private island resorts just offshore from Flores Island. We chose Bidadari Island: home to a single resort known as the Angel Island Eco Resort. To get to the island, a shuttle boat operated by the hotel was assigned to pick us up at the harbor. We first boarded a small speed boat for a short ride to a large vessel anchored in deeper waters. We then transferred to a larger boat for a pleasant and very scenic 30-minute ride to Bidadari Island. As the small island did not have a dock, we disembarked in the shallow water then made our way on shore. From that point onward, everything we needed was taken care of by the hotel staff and this included carrying our luggage to our room.
The hotel offers airport pickup and shuttle to the harbor for those whose flights are arriving around the scheduled time for the boat pick up. There are only two scheduled shuttle boats serving the island daily, one leaving from Bidadari Island at 11am and one departing to Bidadari at 2pm. Anyone checking in needs to make sure to catch the 2pm ferry. Boats can be scheduled at other times of the day through reception however this will cost extra.
On arrival to the island, we were swiftly checked in then given a tour of the island which included several private standalone villas, an open-air restaurant, a private and a public beach and a beachfront library! We were then shown to our villa at which point we spent the first few minutes picking our jaws up off the floor. Evoking a very Caribbean feel, our villa featured tastefully painted green walls, vaulted wooden ceilings, every amenity you could imagine and an outdoor bathroom with two showers and even double sinks! Turn down service including treatments for mosquitoes was carried out nightly. None of the villas on the island were located beachfront however the walk to the beach was just 2-3 minutes from our villa.
The private beach itself was spectacular with calm, crystal clear blue waters and views of some of the islands leading into Komodo National Park. Loungers, umbrellas and kayaks were kept on the beach for ease of access and use by guest and did not need to be reserved. We have to admit that we did not do any paddling while there as we spent our time in the water chasing the baby blacktip reef sharks that kept coming close to shore!
Expectedly due to its remoteness, cellular service on Bidadari Island is almost nonexistent. Not to worry though, the villas have fast and reliable Wi-Fi.
As the island was not near to the mainland, everything a guest needed was provided by the resort and this included all our meals. Because of this, you may expect the resort to be all-inclusive, but it was not! All meals and drinks were a la carte except for water which was provided for free. Despite the monopoly though, the resort’s restaurant had a varied and large menu and the food, especially the local fare was delicious. To avoid the hassle of paying after each meal, the hotel started a tab for us which was super convenient and which we later paid at check out.
Even though planning our getaway to Bidadari Island was a little bit more complicated than the average hotel booking, our stay there was one of the most memorable of our time in Indonesia. Not only did we feel pampered, but we managed to leave the crowds behind and truly disconnect.
Credit cards can be used to pay for food, drinks, and other necessities while on Bidadari Island.
Komodo National Park
If you’re not familiar with it, Komodo National Park is a collection of islands scattered in the turquoise waters of Indonesia. And yes, it is home to the odd-looking and mildly terrifying Komodo Dragons! Each island possesses unique geographical features and wildlife and, together, they form a picturesque marine park offering visitors the opportunity to hike, play on pink sand or snorkel the beautiful coral reefs. The park can only be accessed by boat and there is an entrance fee that must be paid in cash with Indonesian Rupiahs.
Park entrance fees are typically collected by the captain of the boat then paid on arrival to the first island. Make sure to confirm what the fees will be for entering the park with your tour provider before departure as the amount can change and as the fees are often not included in the tour!
There are multiple ways to get to Komodo island by boat. The most popular is by taking a full day small group tour from Labuan Bajo. Such day tours take about 10-12 hours, make multiple stops in the park and are very affordable. The other option for a day tour to the park is to arrange for a private boat and guide with the help of your hotel. Of course, the private tours are more costly however the true value is in having the flexibility to choose where and how you’d like to spend your time in the park. If you’d like even more time in the park, then you can choose the most costly and luxurious tour option: a multi-day boat tour of the park. Such tours also depart from Labuan Bajo on larger boats and guest are provided with fully furnished cabins, all amenities and freshly prepared food while exploring the islands at a slower pace.
There are multi-day tours to Komodo National Park that depart from Bali for those interested in sailing the turquoise waters rather than flying to Flores Island!
To arrange our visit to Komodo National Park, we reached out to reception at the Angel Island Eco resort on Bidadari Island prior to arrival and they obligingly assisted us in scheduling a private, guided tour of the park. Working together with the local tour guides, our hotel arranged pick-up and drop-off , provided us with lunch and even opened the resort’s restaurant early to serve us breakfast before the tour!
Most boat tours leave from Labuan Bajo so if you’re staying on another island, you most likely will have to book a private tour or schedule an early boat transfer from your island to Labuan Bajo.
Leaving Bidadari Island, we enjoyed a scenic early morning ride to our first stop: Padar Island. While our guide paid the park fees, we began the hike up the main trail of the island that would take us to the views that is this island’s claim to fame. We won’t lie, the hike was all uphill and all in the hot Indonesian sun however this was made more tolerable by the cool morning breeze that felt better the higher we climbed. The trail began with wooden steps then transitioned to gravel and dirt. Steeper areas had protective handrails making it a safe and accessible climb for most. Although we got an early start, the trail was already somewhat crowded as several of the small group boats had arrived around the same time, presumably to get there before it got too hot. None if this detracted from the experience though as every step, we took revealed breathtaking views. From the summit, we had panoramic views of the park and of the three different colored beaches that graced Padar Island itself. To say that this was a stunning start to our day would be an understatement!
Make sure to bring a hat, sunscreen, and water. There’s no tree cover on this hike and you definitely don’t want to dehydrate at the first stop of the day!
Sad as we were to leave the amazing Padar Island views, we were thrilled to head to our next stop: the Pink Beach of Padar Island where we could simultaneously cool off in the gorgeous water and gape at the pretty pink sand. While the sand is magical to behold, there’s no real secret as to how it came to be as pieces of the bright red coral whose degradation imparts the color could be seen strewn across the beach. Now, we won’t lie to you: the sand is a beautiful pale pink and is a wonderful sight, especially as the blue/green water laps against it, but it is in no way as vibrant as many pictures we’ve seen splashed across the internet. As many things including time of day and angle of the sun can affect the vibrance of the Pink Beach, keeping an open mind and having realistic expectations will definitely curtail any disappointments and allow you to appreciate how truly lovely it is when you get to there.
There are several pink beaches in Indonesia including one on Komodo Island so you can easily make a day of just visiting these colorful beaches if you’re on a customizable tour!
A million pictures later, we finally wrapped up our Pink Beach lounging and moved on the namesake of the park, Komodo Island. Pulling up to the dock, our guide was careful to detail dos and don’ts while on the island, impressing on us the dangers of trying to chase down a Komodo dragon for a picture. Given that the animals freely roam the island and are not caged or in any way confined and seeing as the only treatment for a dragon bite involved being flown emergently to Bali for treatment, we took our guide at his word. With a healthy dose of fear keeping us on guard, we met up with a ranger working in the park who then took us on a short walk-bout on the island. As though we weren’t already on edge enough, our ranger pointed out that young dragons often climb trees, which added another layer of get-us-outta-here anxiety to the walk.
While Komodo island has a good population of dragons, it’s not guaranteed that visitors will see one, they are wild animals after all however we were lucky as we spotted two adults dragons and one young one on our short walk. And, of the 30 of us or so milling around on the hike, no one was chased or bitten. Frankly, the dragons we chanced upon were having a midday slumber under the trees and were unbothered by our presence so long as we kept our distance.
There are souvenir vendors on Komodo Island at the Ranger meeting points and entrance to the park. Don’t forget to grab your very own wooden Komodo Dragon before leaving. Souvenir prices here are higher so make sure to haggle!
Pleased to have encountered several Komodo Dragons without losing any fingers or toes, we then moved on to Taka Makassar, a sand bar located in Komodo National Park. White sand, glittering blue waters and several baby black-tip reef sharks later, we felt we had arrived to yet another pristine paradise. We docked here for lunch, general frolicking in the shallow waters and to take way too many photos of course!
High tide can make the sandbar appear smaller however the waters around and over the sandbar is shallow even during these times making Taka Makassar enjoyable no matter when you visit.
With the afternoon wearing on, we decided to move to Manta Point, a short distance away to see if we could spot any Manta Rays. The tide was too high for this however, so we left the area behind and headed to a snorkeling point near Komodo Island. Here, we drifted and enjoyed the calm waters whilst admiring the beautiful coral and colorful fish.
Tons of memories and a million pictures later, we left the incredible Komodo National Park and returned to Bidadari Island where we began preparations to return home. Despite feeling a certain sadness at leaving behind such a phenomenal place, the feeling was fleeting as we knew that we would someday soon be returning to Indonesia. After all, we still have more than 17000 islands, and likely just as many foods, to discover!
