Indonesia
Seventeen thousand islands, a hundred volcanoes, and a different language and ceremony in every valley.
Indonesia is large enough to function like its own continent. The country spans more than three time zones and includes the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Borneo (Kalimantan), Sulawesi, the Lesser Sundas, the Moluccas, and West Papua. Most travellers concentrate on a small slice — Bali plus one or two side trips — but the country rewards an unhurried run across multiple islands by domestic flight, ferry, and overnight bus. The food, the dance, and the architecture all change at every island border.
Cities & Regions
When to Go
The dry season runs roughly May to September across most of the country — this is the high season for Bali, Java, and the Lesser Sundas. The wet season is November through March, and brings short hard tropical downpours rather than constant rain (afternoons are often the wet hours, mornings the dry). Raja Ampat has its own pattern: October to April for the calmest seas, with a popular liveaboard window in November. The shoulder months — April, May, October — are the sweet spot for fewer crowds and reliable weather.
