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Indonesia travel guide

Indonesia travel guide: Bali, the islands, and the wider archipelago

Indonesia is the world’s largest island nation – 17,000 islands across three time zones. We cover Bali in depth; the rest of the archipelago (Java, Sumatra, Komodo, Flores, Sulawesi) deserves your second trip.

Destinations we cover in Indonesia

BaliGuide · When to go · Itinerary · Budget

Country overview

Indonesia is tropical-monsoon. Bali’s dry season May-October is the sweet spot. Visa on arrival (~$35) or 60-day pre-arranged visa. New tourist tax (150,000 IDR / $10) on Bali arrival.

Language: Bahasa Indonesia + 700+ local languages. English common in Bali tourist areas; less elsewhere.
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). ATMs widely available; small denominations useful.
Best time to visit: May-October for Bali dry season. April and November are sweet shoulder months. Wet season (Nov-March) has lower prices and afternoon-only rain.
Trip highlights: Bali’s Ubud rice terraces + Uluwatu cliffs + Canggu surf + traditional Hindu culture + tropical island week-long stay.