The Indonesia beyond Bali
As we step off the air-conditioned bus into a sun-drenched village we are immediately greeted by two things known well to Indonesia; its 30-degree heat and a group of smiling youngsters, viewing us with both curiosity and awe. Their faces make you feel invited, if you have been to Bali you are no stranger to the friendliness of its people but getting off the beaten track in the North of Sulawesi, is a whole different ball game.
At the end of April, I was invited by the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia to embark on a one-week adventure with a bunch of fellow travel writers.
We squashed 7 cities into 8 days, ran on little sleep, indulged in pristine waters, made life long friends and tapped into unspoilt sights.
Being half Indonesian, the fact that I had only been to Bali (before this trip) really annoys me. I am so grateful I can now share the true beauty my heritage has to offer. Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands making it the largest archipelago in the world.
Of the 17,000 islands, over 8,000 are inhabited, it consists of more than four hundred volcanoes, is home to astonishing biodiversity, and has the kindness humans ever! Culturally fascinating with a rich diversity of religion, temples, traditional music, rituals and ways of life, changing drastically from each island. Come with me and explore the Indonesia beyond Bali.
RELATED: 10 Amazing Things to do in Sulawesi
The Indonesia beyond Bali
Nusa Islands
These neighbouring islands just off the Bali coast are definitely one of the best places to visit in Indonesia. Spend your days exploring by scooter, driving over the yellow bridge between Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan and visit all the amazing beaches.
About a 10-minute boat trip away you will find the famous Nusa Penida, which is home to one of the world’s most impressive cliff views ‘Keling King’ which you would have seen all over Instagram. Hot tip: try and spot a Manta Ray that swims off the shores.
Komodo & Flores
Komodo Island, part of the Lesser Sunda chain of Indonesian islands, famous for the Komodo dragon. The Komodo National Park covers the entire region and is home to more than 4,000 dragons, and made up of a mix of savannah, open grassland and tropical forests. Flores lies east of Komodo Island and west of Lembata Island. Its biggest appeal is the amazing Padar Island!
Grab your hiking shoes and being the summit to the peaks of Padar island for the most beautiful sight and one of the best things to do in Indonesia! The trek to the top only takes around 30 mins but the views are out of this world!
Yogyakarta
When planning what to do in Indonesia don’t look past Yogyakarta! Yogyakarta is a city located in the southern region of Java known for its traditional arts and cultural heritage. Your Yogyakarta Itinerary should include a visit to the ancients temples like Borobudur and Prambanan. This region is also located at the foot of the active Merapi volcano!
Mount Bromo
Also located on the island of Java, Mount Bromo is one of Indonesia’s most scenic places to visit which involves getting up in the middle of the night to hike to the summit for a stunning sunrise!
A few hours away is Mount Ijen the world’s largest highly acidic crater lake, it is also known for the mysterious blue flames that it produces making it one of the best places to visit in Indonesia. The views after the sun come up are really something! I recommend organising a tour, a lot of Indonesia is quite rural and not really built for tourism yet. This is both the charm and hindrance.
Raja Ampat
The Raja Ampat Islands are an Indonesian archipelago off the north-west tip of Bird’s Head Peninsula in West Papua. Comprising hundreds of jungle-covered islands, Raja Ampat is known for its beaches and coral reefs rich with marine life making it one of the best places to visit in Indonesia.
Raja Ampat liveaboards are a great option for both budget and luxury travellers as they take the stress out of organising the little details.
Manado, North Sulawesi
1.4748° N, 124.8421° E
Tondano Lake
Tondano Lake, the largest lake in North Sulawesi, sits 600 metres above sea level. It covers an impressive 4,278 hectares and with its lush vegetation and mystical mountain backdrop, it makes for a spectacular lunch stop. The lake, situated by the village of Remboken is around 30 km from Manado. Enjoy the local caught fish at one of the many food stalls and restaurants surrounding the lake.
Hill of Love
Bukit Kasih or Hill Of Love is located in the Minahasa Regency of North Sulawesi. On arrival, we were greeted by a mob of men with their owls wanting photos, thank goodness none of the group acknowledged this poor attempt at tourism. This sulphuric hill spans over 2435 steps to the top, and with active sulphur that has eroded parts of the track, the walk is eerie, to say the least.
This highland is called the Hill of Love because it is where people from different religions can gather and worship their own faith symbol in peaceful harmony. There are five houses of worship: a Catholic Church, a Christian church, a temple, a mosque and Hindu temple.
Bunaken Island
Bunaken Island is located in the bay of Manado in northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Its main attraction is the incredible marine life. We took a ferry from the Harbour Marina port which took around 40 minutes. The translucent waters of the Bunaken seas allow for fantastic snorkelling, just be aware of the incredible albeit a tad scary cliff drop on the edge of the coral reef then plunges down more than 25 metres.
Tangkoko Nature Reserve
The Tangkoko Nature Reserve is a flora and fauna conservation area on Mount Tangkoko in the district of Bitung in the province of North Sulawesi, about one hour’s drive from Manado. The reserve is attractive for its unique wildlife, in particular, the Black Macaques.
Bonus: just on the other side of this jungle is Black Sand beach. We caught the last glimpse of light, perfect way to end the day!
Where to stay in Manado?
We stayed at the Mercure Manado Tateli Beach Resort, a 30-minute drive from Manado City and around 45 minutes from the airport. The grounds are beautiful, with exotic palm trees framing a huge lagoon-style pool or enjoy a game of tennis followed by a relaxing sauna. Loved the lobby at this hotel with its massive seat swings, the breakfast was decent also! Downside? It’s wifi, I had to sit at my door to access it.
Palu, Central Sulawesi
0.9003° S, 119.8780° E
Talise Beach
Unfortunately, our flight was delayed for a few hours and we missed out on some planned activities in Palu. We arrived just in time to see the sunset over Talise Beach, a bunch of locals were around which made the experience all that more authentic. I love that side of travel that allows you to engage in a local community! It’s all about the people <3
We were welcomed by a maze of palm trees that lead to powdery white shores, pristine water, and rickety beach bungalows. Tanjung Karang Pantai (Beach) is located 40 minutes from Palu, it’s a great escape from the uninspired city life. We began our morning with a spot of snorkelling and Bintangs at 10 am, it was pure bliss!
Where to stay in Palu?
Strategically located in the centre of Palu, Hotel Santika Palu is just a 15-minute drive from Palu Airport. The rooms were clean and equipped with all the necessary amenities- the wifi even worked in my room! The hotel houses an outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre and full buffet breakfast.
Only a 10-minute drive from Talise Beach, make sure you venture down to see the sunset.
Ambon, Maluku
3.6554° S, 128.1908° E
Namalatu Beach
We arrived at, Namalatu beach and were greeted by a bunch of school students, dressed in traditional performance clothes, an open-air stage, and a stunning backdrop. We took in the scenery and then sat back and watched a magical performance called the Sahureka-reka! We ended the morning with fresh young coconuts and selfies with the gorgeous children.
A beach with the perfect combination of coral and sand, located within just 30-minutes south of Ambon.
Ilmi Eco Tours will help to organise an experience like this, one which you won’t regret.
Ambon City
Ambon, the capital of MalukuIsland is one of the largest cities in Eastern Indonesia. We began our city tour with Ilmi Eco Tours, I can not recommend them enough! They looked after us during our time in Ambon and made sure everything was perfect!
Some highlights were:
-Ambon War Cemetery
-Peace Gong
-View from the top
Saparua Island
We took a speedboat from our hotel and arrived at Haria Village Port. On arrival, we were greeted with a swarm of men casually observing our arrival.
We were first taken to Fort Duurstede & little museum and then wandered the traditional markets. With its friendly population, pretty villages, plentiful historical relics, stunning beaches and fine coral reefs, Saparua Island made for the perfect last day. I was hesitant to mention this spot as don’t want to spoil the untouched beauty of this secret island! Another island worth a visit is Pulau Macan from Jakarta, you can do a day trip as it only takes 2 hours from the mainland in a yacht.
Liang Beach
After a day of exploring Saparua Island, we were taken to Liang Beach or White Sand Beach to see a traditional performance of sorts. The “Bamboo Gila” appropriately translates to Crazy Bamboo, and it is one of the strangest things I have witnessed. 7 or 8 men hold a piece of bamboo in their arms whilst being waved with a light flame. An enchanting ritual that still confuses me 😛
Where to stay in Ambon?
The centre of Ambon City is 30 minutes’ drive away, while Pattimura Airport is a 40-minute drive from the property. Offering stunning views of Natsepa Beach and the ocean, The Natsepa Resort and Conference Center definitely offers good first impressions!
My room was nice and spacious with a private balcony. The hotel boasts an outdoor pool, restaurant and a spa. The private beach was definitely the highlight! I wasn’t impressed with the lack of wifi, or my terrible room service experience!
I was a guest of Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia, but as always my opinions, photos and ideas remain my own!
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I am in awesome. Simply beautiful and have added this to my travel list.
http://www.majeang.com
All of your photos are gorgeous. I’ve never been to Indonesia, but I really want to go. It looks so peaceful and beautiful.
I have always wanted to go to Indonesia. Your photos are breathtaking! I would absolutely love to visit someday!
Thank you for sharing another part of the world, gorgeous scenes 🙂
Your pictures are beautiful, Bali is a total show off. I love that everyone is so friendly, I wish the US was that way.
I like the one place you mentioned has a place for all types to come and worship. I love the inclusion.
What an amazing experience. Your photos are absolutely stunning, and i bet they still don;t do the places justice. I have never swam in such blue waters. I really wish I had the means to travel more often, and to such exotic places.
I had no idea there was so much to do in Indonesia. That nature reserve sounds like it would be fun to visit.
This is awesome what an experience! You have such beautiful photos, I would love to see such a gorgeous place myself!
What a beautiful country! I could definitely chill out there and relax for DAYS! I had no idea it was so pretty in Indonesia!
This looks like such a beautiful place to visit, what lovely photos. I love that you shared beyond Bali!
Excellent post and one we were so pleased to share with you. For all of its manicness, it remains an epic trip.
Fabulous post! This would be a dream vacation for me. I love all your photos and how you geo located the locations you visited.
So many beautiful spots!
Wow! Beautiful place! I have never been to Indonesia and did not know about all these places. BTW, I’ve had peanuts from heaps like this one here 🙂
Wow I love your post! I have never been to Indonesia, but have always wanted to visit. I dislike the hype of Bali as I believe and you have just proved, that there is so much more to it than Bali.
Lennae xxx
http://www.lennaesworld.com
This was indeed an amazing trip to Indonesia. It looks like a wonderful time and such a treat to see 7 cities in 8 days. I would love to go on a trip like this some day. These are such amazing photos and I love the beaches. Thanks so much for sharing your experience.
I had no idea there was so much to do in Indonesia! Such beautiful beaches and lovely pictures, thank you for sharing it!
I’ve never really been too interested in traveling to this part of the world, but after reading your post, I’m definitely thinking about it! What a beautiful place!!!
I know a few people who have been to Bali recently. These photos are absolutely stunning – I hope to travel there one day.
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful post and pictures. Looks like a place I would love to see someday.
It looks like such a lovey and beautiful place. They scenes are breathtaking. I would love to travel to Indonesia sometime in the future.
There really is so much to see beyond Bail, and it is so beautiful. Gorgeous photos.
Thanks for commenting Majean! Im glad its added to your list, my goal is always to inspire more travel 🙂 Love and light xx
Thanks Alli! It is so wonderful and there is so much to see and do, ive barely touched the surface!
Thanks Robin, each time I go someone I seem to get a little bit better with photography! Hope you get to visit some day! Love and light x
My absolute pleasure 🙂 Thanks for commenting 🙂 x
Thanks for commenting Mimi! I love travelling and finding those cultures where everyone is friendly! I found when I was in Turkey people were also very friendly! xx
It was truely magical, i am so humbled to be able to experience such beauty and wonder! I hope one day you get to experience turquoise waters! x
And that was only 2 islands Pam! Theres 17,000 +! So crazy, so much untouched secrets! x
Thanks for commenting and for your kind words Jeanine! xx
Days and days and days! When I go back, i want go much slower! 8 cities in 8 days is too much haha! But amazing none the less!
Thanks Brandy! I think because I always go to bali I wanted to highlight the BEYOND! x
Thanks Paula you gorgeous person! I loved you were the first person i ran into ha- you made me feel at ease!
Believe me you have 🙂 x
Your photos are amazing! Indonesia looks like a beautiful place. Plus it looks like its filled with tons of awesome food!
Gorgeous photos Kayla. They tell the story (and your story) perfectly. Such a great read.
Thank you so much for this post! So far I’ve only been to the islands of Bali and Lombok in Indonesia but really want to go back to Indonesia to explore further! There are just too many beautiful things there to see, I’ve already got some great ideas now from this post!
So many beautiful spots!
Fantastic post!! These are all great suggested spots. Will pin!
Killer post! Bunaken Islands looks like a winner to us ?
Indonesia is so beautiful and there is so much to explore especially for the nature lovers. Those azure beaches and gorgeous islands just cant take eyes off them. Hope to visit soon 🙂
Indonesia is truly an amazing country and there is so much to see. I spent many years living in Indonesia. I did manage to travel quite a bit around the country, but even then, I’ve only scratched the surface because truly there is so much to see. Bunaken Island looks incredible!!! and Tanjung Karang looks like pure bliss.
Indonesia has so much to do and see. True that some destinations like Bali are overly popular now, and often tourists tend to miss the others. So, great you put up this post.