Indonesia
Sports and adventures
Here we present the sports activities that we believe are a must try.
On the Sport page you will find the technical data sheets of the sporting activities.
Get inspired and then contact me to design your custom itinerary. I’ll prepare a travel plan that reflects your wishes and your desire for adventure.
Diving: the underwater life and the very special ecosystem of Indonesia make it one of the best diving destinations in the world. Raja Ampat is home to some of the most pristine coral reefs in Indonesia; in the Moluccas you can see corals, leopard sharks, sea eagles, turtles and dugongs, schools of barracudas and jackfish; in Bunaken it is not uncommon to spot black and white tip sharks, sea eagles, Napoleon fish, Nautilus and huge clams; Giant manta rays, blue-ringed octopuses, sunfish, pygmy seahorses and, occasionally, the peaceful whale shark can be spotted in Komodo National Park; and then there are thousands of other spots where diving will be an unforgettable experience.
Trekking and biking: ascent to Mount Rijani, the trails on Komodo island, sunrise on Mount Batur in Bali, volcanoes, forest, … are just some of the most beautiful trails to do by foot or by bike in Indonesia, for their extraordinary beauty but also for the uniqueness that these places represent.
SUP, Kayak and Canoe: I recommend the islands of Raja Ampat, where you can paddle between karst formations and lagoons; Bali, with its beautiful unspoiled beaches; the area of the Komodo National Park where you will have the chance to see the famous Komodo dragons up close; for white water enthusiasts there is the Asahan River, 150 km long with beautiful rapids and high volumes of water, especially at the beginning of the dry season.
Climbing: in Indonesia there are several rocks to enjoy climbing, suitable for all levels of difficulty.
Surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing: Indonesia is one of the most popular destinations for surfing, thanks to its waves, but you can find flat spots here too: the islands of Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumatra and Sulawesi, are the most popular destinations. famous for kiting.
Rafting: it’s one of the most popular activities in Bali and allows you to discover a wonderful landscape away from roads, cars and traffic. Rafting in Bali is considered easy because most of the rapids are classified as class 1 and 2, only some of grade 3. In the rainy season, however, when the rivers have a greater flow of water, it can reach grade 4.
Experiences
Here are some of the unique and exciting experiences you could live in this destination:
Picnic in the forest: having lunch in the shade of giant trees, with the background of the forest and waterfalls is a unique emotion.
Bath under the waterfalls: a dip after a walk cannot be denied to anyone, and then a shower under a waterfall.
Komodo visit to see the “dragons”: the Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, in addition to protecting Indonesian dragons, it also protects other rare species, such as whale sharks, giant manta rays and sunfish.
Yoga and Meditation: Bali seems to have the best centers and offers the possibility of practicing different types of yoga for any level of experience.
Sleeping in the jungle: it’s a truly exciting experience and can be enjoyed in accommodation of any type and level, from huts to super-luxury hotels. Not to be missed.
Playing (but not too much) with monkeys: Ubud Monkey Forest, is a nature reserve where visitors can observe their daily activities at close range, such as mating, fighting and caring for their young and even they can even sit next to the monkeys along the park’s paths.
Swing in the Jungle: It’s one of the most instagrammable attractions in Bali. There are several, in one you will even be harnessed because it’s very high. Fun and great to enjoy the jungle and rice paddy views.
Balloon: a unique point of view on a breathtaking landscape
Climb the volcano at sunrise: seeing the sunrise or sunset from the top of a volcano, with the colors and views that the Indonesian islands offer, is absolutely not to be missed.
Balinese massage: a little relaxation is what you need after an intense day of sport and what better than having it done by those who practically invented them?
What to see
Indonesia offers wonderful natural locations that are absolutely worth visiting, but also cities and archaeological areas not to be missed. Here you have some:
Bali: this island is known for its beaches, surf breaks, diving sites and resorts of all kinds, but it’s the essence of Bali that makes it something more.
Lombok: is an island with deserted beaches and peaceful countryside, dominated by the spectacular volcano of Mount Rinjani. It is not yet overrun by tourists, indeed, in some places there is a certain indifference towards them. The only drawback is a not simple socio-political situation.
Sumatra: is a tropical destination, with gigantic rivers, dense rainforests, mangroves, the jungle in the hinterland, brightly colored flowers and unusual fauna. It is worth reaching it for a boat trip.
Java: characterized by architectural wonders such as Borobudur and Prambanan left by the Indo-Buddhist empires. Subsequent cultures incorporated the evidence of previous civilizations, making Java a cultural center of different historical and religious traditions.
Flores: Here you can swim in pristine lakes and waterfalls, immerse yourself in one of 50 spectacular dive sites, go kayaking between steep shores and mangrove shores, explore mysterious caves and be warmly welcomed by the people of the island in their rituals, dances and everyday life.
Moluccas: you know the famous exclamation of arm wrestling “For the Saracche of the Moluccas”? Here, it is they, the Moluccas.
They are famous, among other things, for the production of spices.
Jakarta: is the capital, located in the north-western part of Java. Traditionally it is divided into Arab, Chinese, Malay and Dutch quarters. A tour of the capital can start from the port, in the morning, with the colorful Pasar Ikan, the fish market, and then continue with the old town of Batavia, with its streets and period houses, the church of Gereja Sion and the numerous museums. In the Jalan Surabaya Market you can find samurai swords, handicrafts and all kinds of souvenirs
Food and Wine
Indonesian cuisine is very much characterized by many regional cuisines, based on indigenous cultures and foreign influences. Here are some of the dishes that I suggest you try area by area in Indonesia.
The Gudeg in Yogyakarta
It is a dish prepared with unripe iris, called gori boiled with palm sugar and coconut milk for several hours, traditional herbs and sometimes with eggs and chicken. To accompany these ingredients, rice and cowhide made soft by cooking. Gudeg has a sweetish flavor, sometimes made spicy by sauces.
The Lumpia of Semarang
It’s a shrimp and bamboo shoots roll, filled with dried shrimp, bamboo shoots, chicken or scampi. The roll can be fried, and is served with a sauce made from coconut sugar, shrimp, red pepper, water, white pepper, leek, and tapioca starch.
The Bandung timbel
It’s a dish cooked with fried or roasted chicken, tempeh, fried tofu and a slice of salt fish.
Pisang molen, on the other hand, is a pastry filled with banana and cheese, while es cendol is prepared with ground rice, palm sugar and coconut milk. Also try the Bandung yogurts, sold in two types, one more liquid and one more dense.
Jakarta’s street food
In the vibrant capital city of Jakarta, there are stalls selling food for virtually every meal of the day in every corner. You can buy a simple fried tofu but also the traditional Gudeg or Soto, a sort of vegetable soup, with chicken or mutton or pork with rice. Soto can be ayam, with chicken, or kambing, with mutton. The typical soto of Jakarta is the Soto Betawi, but there are different types according to the different regions.
At the local stalls we also recommend buying the famous satay, small pieces of chicken, pork, beef, lamb or goat (sometimes even fish), skewered on bamboo skewers which are grilled and then served with spicy condiments. You can also find the traditional Nasi goreng or Nasi Rawon, rice accompanied by a beef soup with kluwak nuts.
The Tintuan of Manado
The cuisine of Manado is characterized by the use of tasty herbs and rather spicy dishes.
For example, they cook a porridge, called Tintuan, a vegetarian dish, often served for breakfast.
Tintuan is a porridge that is served for breakfast.
It is made with rice and vegetables, including pumpkin, sweet potato, cassava, spinach, corn and other vegetables, flavored with garlic, chives, ginger, salt and bay leaf. It can be accompanied by salt fish or noodles.
The Lontong Sayur of Medan
You cannot pass through Medan without tasting the Lontong Sayur Medan, a dish to be eaten indifferently for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It consists of a vegetable soup with coconut milk, tofu, tempe, steamed rice in banana leaves, hard-boiled eggs, sambal, rendang and side dishes of your choice.
Makassar specialties
Among the dishes to taste in this city is Konro soup, a spiced soup containing beef and dark broth, enriched with flavorful spices, including coriander keluwal, nutmeg, cinnamon, tamarind, cloves, bay leaves and other spices. The soup is served with steamed rice, or rice cakes.
Another typical dish of the city is Coto Makassar, a variant of the Indonesian soto and composed of beef and various animal entrails, frequently accompanied by rice cakes.
Coto Makassar is a dish based on meat and various animal entrails.
You can also taste excellent fish and seafood dishes, caught fresh from the ocean.
Lapis Legit is a typical cake made with eggs, spices and butter.
The cake is made up of many eggs, Indonesian spices, plenty of butter, preferably Dutch. Each layer is cooked individually and then superimposed, up to 18 layers one on top of the other.
Satay is a very popular dish in Indonesia. The different cultures and ethnicities of the archipelago have come up with their own version of satay, which vary in the spices used, sauces and even in the method of preparing the skewer.
These are bites of marinated meat strung on bamboo skewers, which are cooked over a charcoal fire and then drizzled with savory sauces.
In Indonesia there are many variations of the Satay.
Sate lilit is a specialty of Bali, it is prepared with different types of meats, including chicken, pork, fish or even turtle. To these are added pieces of coconut, lime juice, coconut milk and scallions. The whole, chopped, is wrapped around the skewer and grilled over the fire.
When to go
What is the best time to visit Indonesia?
The climate changes from equatorial and sub-equatorial in the central-northern part, to a tropical climate in the islands of the far south.
In most of the islands, therefore, the climate is equatorial with high temperatures all year round, particularly intense and constant humidity and abundant rains throughout the seasons.
The seasons are actually not so defined, rather there are more or less rainy months, the driest ones are from May to September.
In the mountainous areas, almost volcanic, the rains double in intensity and quantity, here the wet season is present practically all year round and leaves no room for great truces.
In the southernmost area, the one most frequented by tourism, such as Jakacarta, Bali and the islands close to Australia, two seasons can be distinguished, a wetter one from November to May with heavy rains and a relatively dry and less rainy season from June. in October. Precipitation is greatly reduced especially in the islands closest to Australia.
I can conclude by saying that the best time for a trip to Indonesia is between May and October, even better between July and August.
What to pack
Of course, what to pack for a trip depends on what activities you will do and, above all, on the period when you go there.
Below we give you just a few indications on what absolutely must not be missing.
I generally recommend practical, sporty and informal clothing.
In this country with a temperate climate, the main clothing is light, summer.
Bring a jacket for the evening, a raincoat and / or an umbrella.
Don’t forget swimwear and sunscreen!!
Information
Continent: Asia
Capital: Jacarta
Language: Indonesian, English, Dutch, Javanese
Currency: IDR – Indonesian rupiah. You have less difficulty traveling with dollars (USD) than with euros
Power sockets and voltage: 220V/50Hz
For up-to-date and detailed information visit www.viaggiaresicuri.it
Some tips
Let yourself be carried away by the jovial and friendly atmosphere of the Indonesian population
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