Indonesia

Indonesia is a territory where some of the earliest people on the planet lived. The settlement began approximately 45 thousand years ago. Then there were large waves of migration from continental Asia. States began to form in the 1st-3rd centuries AD. In the Middle Ages, the largest were Srivijaya (7th-13th centuries) and Majapahit (13th-16th centuries). In the first half of the 16th century, European penetration began. The Netherlands won the struggle for Indonesian territory, and at the beginning of the 20th century, almost all the lands were united under the Dutch flag. In 1945, Indonesia became independent after three years of Japanese occupation. The acquisition of sovereignty was accompanied by a struggle with Dutch troops, because the Netherlands wanted to continue to control these territories, but the island state won.

Tourists buy tours to Indonesia to enjoy the rich cultural and historical heritage, attend colorful ceremonies and festivals, relax in paradise Bali and the exotic black sand coast of Sumatra, admire the pristine nature and see the palaces of the island of Java. To see all this, you just need to find and select a tour online to Indonesia, and colorful adventures await you!

Some official data

Capital: Jakarta.

Official language: Indonesian.

Currency: Indonesian Rupiah.

Religion: Islam.

Search and selection of tours online: reasons to buy a tour, a trip to Indonesia

Tourism development in Indonesia began back when the country was a colony of the Netherlands. And in the independent country, inbound tourism has been seriously engaged since 1987. Today, this sphere brings a lot of income to the state budget. Tourists are attracted to buy a tour to Indonesia by chic beaches, incredible nature, a wealth of excursion programs and local color.

Some of the reasons to visit this island country include:

• Desired by all Bali. Many dream of visiting this sunny island to relax on the white beaches, swim in the azure ocean and enjoy the beautiful landscapes: the vastness of rice terraces, the grandeur of volcanic mountain peaks, the tenderness of emerald tropical forests.
• Unique temple architecture. There are amazing religious buildings of different religions here. Brobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It was built in the 9th century AD. It is a four-sided giant pyramid with 10 levels, which depict a model of the Buddhist world. Among the main Hindu attractions is the Prambanan temple complex, dedicated to Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma. Its bas-reliefs tell about the structure of Hinduism. Islamic religious architecture was strongly influenced by Buddhist and Hindu traditions, so ancient mosques adopted many elements of the buildings of these religions. This created an amazing mix.
• Tropical nature , which is one of the main attractions of Indonesia. Bright green landscapes, blue ocean, snow-white beaches, thickets of mangrove forests are pleasing to the eye. We recommend visiting the Monkey Forest to meet the funny long-tailed Balinese macaques. In the national parks you can enjoy a variety of landscapes: from active volcanoes in Bromo Tengger Semeru to rare plant species in Sumatra. In Ujung Kulon you can meet the Javan one-horned rhinoceros, on the island of Komodo - a giant monitor lizard. You can explore the vibrant underwater world in the Karimunjawa Marine Reserve.
• One of the most expensive types of coffee in the world . The variety of the main morning drink grown here is called kopi luwak. The peculiarity of its creation is that the beans of the coffee tree pass through the digestive system of musangs - small cute animals of the viverrid family - after which the beans are collected, washed and processed until fully cooked. The result is a very special taste of the famous drink.

Going on a weekend tour to Indonesia, you will be able to see many exciting places, try local dishes, immerse yourself in the culture of the country and enjoy unity with nature. There is also an option to simply relax by the ocean, spending time on equipped beaches and admiring the endless seascapes. 

✔️ Types of entertainment by region

Indonesia is made up of many islands, the number of which is constantly changing, but is in the region of 18 thousand. Because of this number, many remain nameless.

• Bali is the most famous and tourist island of the country. People from all over the world come here to relax, work, and often stay here to live. This has contributed to the creation of an amazing atmosphere in which different nations, religions, professions, and worldviews coexist. And all this is seasoned with sincere friendliness and tranquility. Here you can visit the meeting places of representatives of different teachings and try their methods of enlightenment, sunbathe on heavenly beaches, see bright green rice terraces and walk through tropical forests.
• The most important sights of temple architecture are located in Java .
• Sumatra is famous for its black beaches and a large number of national parks with rare species of animals and plants.

✔️ Climate and seasons

The weather in Indonesia is characterized by a subtropical and tropical climate. The temperature is at +26-35 °C all year round. During the wet season, it is better not to go hiking or diving.

✔️ Currency

The national currency of the country is the Indonesian rupiah . To exchange currency, you can visit a bank, a special point or a market. However, the rate at the latter is not favorable. You can also exchange bills at hotels and street exchangers PVA Berizin. They have a state license, so there is no need to worry. In large tourist areas, you can pay with dollars and euros. Cards of the main international payment systems are accepted by large banks, hotels, shops, and in tourist regions, you can pay with credit cards almost everywhere.

✔️ Major holidays

The country has celebrations associated with state events, secular events, but the largest number of holidays falls on the religious calendar. The country is loyal to all believers, so there are many celebrations of different religions. Many of them are large-scale and colorful events with ancient traditions, which are interesting to watch.

Some important public holidays:

• April 21 is Kartini Day , dedicated to the woman who fought for gender equality and began opening schools for girls.
• August 17 is Independence Day , marking liberation from Dutch rule.
• October 28 is Youth Pledge Day , an important event on the path to gaining the country's sovereignty, when at a congress of young people an oath was given to one nation, one homeland, one language.

Interesting cultural and religious events: 

• Arts Festival on the island of Bali . It takes place in the cozy town of Denpasar. During the festival, creative life is in full swing here, groups from all over the country gather, and there are also foreign artists. The festival program includes theatrical performances, colorful parades, fiery dances, interesting exhibitions of folk crafts, exciting competitions and much more.
• Galungan is an important period for Hindus, signifying the victory of good forces over evil. It lasts 10 days. During this period, believers visit temples, make sacrifices, and worship the spirits of their ancestors. They also offer creativity as a gift to the gods: plays, music and dance performances by local troupes and groups. Interesting events take place on the streets and in front of temples.
• Hari Vesak is a Buddhist festival dedicated to the three main events in the life of Buddha: birth, enlightenment and death, which means a complete transition to nirvana. The most magnificent events take place in the Borobudur temple complex. Believers pray, decorate sacred buildings with flowers and candles, perform ancient rituals. And after the main religious events, theatrical and musical performances take place, which tell about Buddhist philosophy and show different stages of the life of Buddha.
• Lebarana is a Muslim holiday that marks the end of Ramadan, the fasting period. It lasts for several days, with believers visiting their loved ones, throwing lavish feasts, and visiting mosques. In Indonesia, this is not only a home celebration. This holiday is also celebrated on the streets: musicians perform, concerts are held, shows, parades, and various competitions are held, and fireworks are set off in the evening.

✔️ Medicine

To visit Indonesia, you will need to take out an insurance policy. This is necessary in any case, since there is always a risk of an unpleasant health situation, and free medicine in the country is poorly developed. Therefore, to be calm about your life and wallet, it is better to take out insurance.

✔️ Useful tips

Having learned all the necessary information about the traditions and rules of conduct in the country you are flying to, you will make your trip much more enjoyable. Also, at the preparation stage, immersion in the local color will already begin, which will allow you to get more vivid impressions of the trip.

• There are coral reefs near many beaches, so you should bring aqua shoes to avoid hurting your feet.
• Sunbathing naked and topless is prohibited. It is also not recommended to wear too revealing clothes.
• Do not contact street money changers, as you may run into scammers.
• In a restaurant, it is customary to leave a tip of 5-10% of the total amount. For other staff, the amount of the reward is at your discretion. In large establishments, tips are often included in the bill.
• Smoking is prohibited in public places in the capital. This includes restaurants, hotels, schools, offices, airports, transport and the street. The punishment is very serious - imprisonment for 6 months or a huge fine.
• Don't point your finger at people, it's indecent. Never touch an Indonesian's head, as this part of the body is considered sacred. The left hand, on the other hand, is unclean, so you can't take anything with it, much less greet them.
• If there is a person sitting next to you on the ground, remaining standing next to him would be disrespectful.
• When entering a temple, you must wear a sarong - a traditional garment that covers the bare parts of the body. You can rent it right at the temple. You must also take off your shoes when entering religious buildings.
• Here they eat only with the right hand and without cutlery. Tourists in restaurants, of course, are given cutlery, but you should not change hands.
• You can rent a car only if you have an international driving license and a passport.