Indonesia Top Things To Do
The best surf spots are in Bali, Flores, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Sumba and Sumbawa. Some well-known surfing beaches, such as Ulu Watu on Bali, tend to get overcrowded, and are for very experienced surfers, but organised trips to isolated areas are widely available.
Diving
Indonesia's coastline is reputed to contain 15% of the world's coral reefs. Bunaken National Park and Lembeh Strait, both in North Sulawesi, are magnificent. Beginners can even go wreck-diving to Tulamben Wreck off east Bali.
Ujong Kulon National Park
Trek or paddle in a dugout canoe through Ujong Kulon National Park at the extreme south western tip of Java in search of the elusive Java rhino.
Mahakam River
Take a tour up the great Mahakam River in Kalimantan, Borneo (www.visitborneo.com), which is dissected by a network of rivers running from the mountainous interior to the coasts. Starting from the port city Samarinda, such tours continue deep into the upper jungle reaches, where tribal communities have largely preserved their traditions.
Volcanoes
Trek up an active volcano: on Java island, hike Mount Bromo, (the most visited of Indonesia's volcanoes) and Kawah Ijen crater lake (www.central-java-tourism.com). Take a boat trip to view Krakatoa located between Java and Sumatra.
More volcanoes
Dormant volcanoes include Gunung Agung in Bali, Gunung Rinjani on Lombok island (www.lomboksumbawa.com) and Keli Mutu on Nusa Tenggara Barat (www.ntb.go.id), which has lakes with different coloured waters.
Rainforest
Jungle trek through the Indonesian rainforest - Irian Jaya, Kalimantan and Sumatra offer the most remote and untouched terrain. The best trails include trips to Bukit Barisan National Park, a remote and beautiful peninsula in Sumatra and the Muller Mountain in Kalimantan.
Komodo and Rinca islands
Take a boat to Komodo and Rinca islands in search of the world's largest lizard, the Komodo Dragon. But don't get too close as their bite can be fatal.
Orang-utans
Visit and give your support to the rehabilitation centres on Sumatra and Kalimantan that rescue orphaned, injured and captive orang-utans and return them to their habitat.
Tsunami Museum
This museum, in the province of Aceh (one of the areas worst hit by the 2004 tsunami), is an educational centre that will also be able to serve as an emergency disaster shelter in case the area is hit by a tsunami again.
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