Indonesia - Everything You Need To Know Before You Go

Indonesia is the ultimate travel destination. It’s packed with culture, diverse and otherworldly nature, ancient temples, unique animals, friendly people, delicious food and it’s safe and affordable to travel. Indonesia has some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, waterfalls and sunsets, as well as volcanoes, jungles and lush green rice terraces. And it has some of the best surfing and scuba diving in the world. Indonesia really is the full package.

Indonesia is located along the ancient maritime Silk Road trading route between the Far East, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe, which resulted in a complex cultural mix and diverse religious influences. And it’s also a former Dutch colony.

MY EXPERIENCE

As a solo female traveler, I traveled Indonesia for a few weeks and I just barely scratched the surface of what Indonesia has to offer. I visited the arts and culture city of Yogyakarta, the ancient Borobodur, and the orangutans in Bukit Lawang in Sumatra; I hiked Bromo and Ijen volcanoes, and then I had a few days left for chill time in Ubud in Bali, Gili Trawangan and Lombok. Indonesia is an incredibly diverse and beautiful country and I LOVED it. It’s very high on my travel list to go back and explore more in depth.

BEFORE YOU GO

FREE VISA ON ARRIVAL

Citizens of 169 countries can receive a free 30-day visa upon arrival. Fines for overstaying are 300,000IDR ($21US) per day.

PROOF OF ONWARD TRAVEL

You need proof of onward travel, however you’ll rarely be asked to show it. Unlike the popular traveler circuit in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos, Indonesia is an archipelago so it shares very few land borders with neighbouring countries. I didn’t have proof of exit when I landed in Medan in Indonesia; I only had proof of my flight home from Bangkok in 3 weeks, so Indonesia wouldn’t allow me to clear customs until I booked a flight out.

This can all depend on how the person stamping your passport feels that day because I met many travelers in Indonesia who weren’t asked any questions or for proof of exit. Since the Indonesia incident, I use Best Onward Ticket where you can rent a flight ticket for $12US for proof of onward travel. And since using this, I’ve never had to prove my onward travel, so I think of it as insurance.

TAKE DUKORAL

It’s an over-the-counter oral vaccine that protects you from traveler’s diarrhea for 3 months. This means you can enjoy street food, at discretion, without ruining your trip. I always take Dukoral and indulge in street food and fresh fruit. And I accidentally ate undercooked chicken satay in Malaysia and I was fine.

GET TRAVEL INSURANCE

Travel insurance is an absolute must for all international travel. It offers a lot more than just medical protection- it covers you if your baggage is delayed or lost, if you need to return home for a family emergency, or if something gets stolen or breaks. And if you do get seriously ill or injured, it can save you thousands of dollars.

I use and recommend World Nomads for travel insurance. They’re an affordable and reputable company and you can buy and renew an insurance policy quickly and easily online. As a Canadian, I find their policies cover a lot more than the other insurance companies in Canada and at a cheaper rate.

BE AWARE OF MAJOR HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

Outside of Bali, be aware of important Islamic holidays in Indonesia, like Ramadan and Eid al-Adha.

In Bali, be aware of Nyepi which is the Balinese New Year and “day of silence”. No one is allowed on the beaches or streets, and the airport in Bali is closed. It’s only one day and the date changes every year. Also be aware of Galungan, which is a 10 day long celebration and it happens twice a year in Bali. These dates also change every year. For more holidays and festivals in Bali, see here.

WHEN TO GO

INDONESIA’S SEASONS ARE THE OPPOSITE TO THE REST OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

The dry season is April to October and the wet season is November to March. I traveled Indonesia in February during the rainy season and I nearly left early because almost everything kept getting spoiled with rain.

Contemplating my existence at the top of Bromo, one of Indonesia’s iconic sights, because I couldn’t even see it. It was raining, foggy, cold and miserable.

THE MOUNTAINS ARE COLD

While you can expect hot and humid weather in most of the country year round, some of the mountains can get down to single digit temperatures (in Celcius) in the mornings and nights.

COMMUNICATION

There are 700 languages spoken in Indonesia, but the main language is Bahasa Indonesia, which is very similar to Malay. It uses roman alphabet (thanks to the Dutch), so it’s possible to read and understand a little because some words are similar to English.

MOST LOCALS YOU ENCOUNTER AS A TOURIST SPEAK ENOUGH ENGLISH

A lack of English is very rarely a problem.

LEARN A FEW PHRASES IN THE LOCAL LANGUAGE

Hello = halo

Thank you = terima kasih

GET A LOCAL SIM CARD

They’re dirt cheap, you’re connected almost everywhere and you don’t have to rely on the sometimes crappy or obsolete wi-fi in rural and jungle areas. Make sure your phone is unlocked before you leave.

Bukit lawang sumatra Indonesia — The jungle town of Bukit Lawang in Sumatra

THE COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE

INDONESIA IS A COUNTRY OF CONTRASTS

Jakarta is a mega metropolis and one of the world’s largest cities, while there are dozens of uncontacted tribes living in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Street art Yogyakarta — Street art in Yogyakarta, the arts and culture city

BALI IS THE EXCEPTION TO THE RULE OF INDONESIA

There’s a lot more to Indonesia than Bali. Bali is only one very small island out of over 17,500 islands in Indonesia and the rest of the country is nothing like Bali. Bali is very small, very touristy, very westernized and it’s Balinese Hindu. The rest of Indonesia is the complete opposite of all those things and it’s Islamic and conservative.

INDONESIA HAS THE WORLD’S LARGEST MUSLIM POPULATION

Indonesia has an Islamic majority, however, there are also a few regions with a Christian majority.

It’s also the 4th most populated country in world (after China, India and the US) at 273 million people. And the island of Java is the most populous island in the world.

IT’S HOME TO THE WORLD’S SEXIEST GINGERS (THE ORANGUTANS)

There are only two islands in the world where you can see orangutans and both of these islands are part of Indonesia- Sumatra and Borneo (you can also see the orangutans in Malaysian Borneo as well). See what it’s like visiting orangutans on a jungle trek in Sumatra.

orangutan bukit lawang sumatra indonesia

THE TEMPLES ARE STUNNING

Indonesia is full of beautiful, ancient temples.

Borobodur – the largest Buddhist temple in the world

Prambanan – the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia

The many beautiful temples in Bali and more.

Gunung Kawi Bali indonesia — Gunung Kawi in Bali

INDONESIA IS VOLCANO LAND

It has 127 active volcanoes and you can even hike some of them. Some popular active volcanoes to hike are Ijen, Bromo, Batur, Kelimutu, Rinjani. And Merapi erupts and causes destruction on a regular basis, yet it’s still popular to hike. You can also visit the beautiful Lake Toba in Sumatra, which is world’s largest volcanic lake.

See what it’s like to hike Ijen and see the Blue Fire.

IT’S ONE OF THE BEST PLACES IN THE WORLD FOR SCUBA DIVING

There are great diving sports in Komodo, the Derawan Islands in Borneo, Bali, Raja Ampat, Pulau Weh and more.

AND ALSO ONE OF THE BEST FOR SURFING

You’re spoiled for choice with surfing spots on this archipelago, with Java, Bali, Lombok and more.

THE JUNGLES HAVE REALLY UNIQUE ANIMALS

Like rhinos, orangutans, tigers, elephants (please do not ride them because it’s animal cruelty), leopards and….

YOU CAN MEET A REAL DRAGON

Komodo dragons are a major attraction on the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Flores. They grow up to 3m/10ft and 136kg/300lb. However, while attacks on humans are rare, an attack can be fatal due to their very sharp and venomous bite.

MANY LOCALS WILL ASK TO TAKE YOUR PHOTO

Especially if you have light hair and light eyes. And sometimes they take pictures without asking. A lot of Indonesians are tourists in their own country and many of them are from non-touristy areas, so they’ve never seen foreigners before. However, this will most certainly not happen in places like Bali where many locals are sick of tourists.

Hiding from all the locals asking to take my photo at Prambanan temple

GET USED TO SQUAT TOILETS

Squat toilets aren’t everywhere, but they can’t be avoided in certain places, especially in rural areas and on bus routes.

BYOTP (BRING YOUR OWN TOILET PAPER)

Most public toilets don’t supply toilet paper (they use a “bum gun” or a bucket of water instead), so it’s a good idea to carry a little with you. They often don’t supply soap either, so also carry hand sanitizer. But you can’t flush the toilet paper because the pipes can’t handle it, so there is usually a garbage where you can dispose of it.

GET USED TO A LOT OF GARBAGE AND A LACK OF RECYCLING

It’s easy to forget that the education and dealing with garbage responsibly, recycling and caring for the environment are expensive.

CULTURE AND ETIQUETTE

YOU MUST REMOVE YOUR SHOES BEFORE ENTERING A HOME OR TEMPLE

As well as some accommodation, guesthouses and restaurants. Shoes are considered very dirty because they carry bacteria, like E. coli. However, sometimes your shoes go missing or a dog eats them (I’ve had both happen a few times). For this reason, I recommend carrying your shoes inside with you. It’s helpful to wear shoes or sandals that are easy to slip off and on.

FEET ARE NOT A VIBE

Feet are also considered very dirty. Never show the soles of your feet while you’re sitting.

THE LEFT HAND IS CONSIDERED UNCLEAN

The left hand is typically used in the washroom and therefore considered unclean. Use your right hand for paying and eating.

SAVING FACE

Indonesians are incredibly friendly, warm and welcoming people and they highly value harmonious social interactions. Avoid getting visibly angry, raising your voice or getting into an argument as it will cause embarrassment. Keep your cool and smile during interactions.

AVOID SHOWING AFFECTION IN PUBLIC

Indonesia is conservative, so hugging and kissing in public is extremely taboo.

TIPPING

Some tipping has become more common for westerners in Indonesia, especially in the tourist hot spots like Bali. Nicer restaurants add a 10% service charge to the bill, but if it’s not included, feel free to leave a few coins or up to 10%. It’s not expected, but it is appreciated. You can also tip a little to hotel staff, tour guides and for spa service providers. Hand the tip directly to the person who you want to tip.

WHAT TO WEAR

INDONESIA IS CONSERVATIVE

When you think of Indonesia, you likely think of Bali and beaches and bikinis, but Indonesian culture is conservative. Outside of Bali, it’s not mandatory to cover up (unless you’re in a religious place), but you’ll feel more comfortable and it’s more respectful if you do.

DON’T WALK AROUND IN A BIKINI OR WITHOUT A SHIRT

Unless you’re at the beach.

YOU MUST DRESS MODESTLY AT TEMPLES

Men and women must have their shoulders and knees covered while visiting temples. At the popular temples, you can often borrow or rent a covering. You can also buy a cheap, lightweight scarf in Indonesia.

MOST OF INDONESIA IS VERY HOT AND HUMID

Which means you’ll be sweaty pretty much all the time. So this can make dressing modestly difficult. Try to wear loose, breathable clothing.

GETTING AROUND

Getting from A to B in Indonesia can be a very long ordeal. Get ready to exercise your patience.

CHEAP FLIGHTS

This is the easiest and most efficient way to get around Indonesia. However, Indonesia is notorious for plane crashes and it has a history of airlines that were blacklisted (until recently) from flying over US and EU air space. So keep this in mind while booking cheap domestic flights on less reputable airlines. Garuda is the best airline in Indonesia.

BUS

Many remote places are only reachable by road, so this is where buses come in. Get ready for few direct buses, very long bus rides and bad roads. This is why travel by road can take a very long time.

BOAT

With 17,500+ islands, it would be very surprising if you could avoid a boat trip on your Indonesia adventure.

TRAIN

On the island of Java.

BAJAJ

Bajaj is a tuktuk, which is the quintessential Southeast Asian method of passenger transport. Basically, it’s a small carriage attached to the back of a motorcycle.

OJEK

Which is a motorcycle taxi.

MOTORBIKE

Motorbikes are everywhere because this is how locals get around. It’s difficult to explore Indonesia without driving or riding on the back of a motorbike at some point.

Bromo Indonesia

USE THE GRAB APP WITHIN CITIES

It’s the Asian form of Uber and you can choose a car or motorbike to pick you up. Get the app here and download and set it up before you leave for your trip. It’s safe, easy and reliable because you don’t have to haggle on a price and the driver can’t get lost.

THE FOOD AND DRINKS

The food varies by region and has indigenous, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern influences. You can expect a ton of flavor and spices, coconut milk, and rice and noodle dishes. Bali is a food mecca with delicious fresh island food, lots of healthy and vegan options, and western influences.

INDONESIAN FOOD AND DRINKS TO TRY

Nasi Goreng – Indonesia’s national dish of fried rice

Beef Rendang – Beef cooked in coconut milk and flavorful spices (and one of my faves!)

Satay – BBQ meat on a stick (usually chicken) and covered in a tasty peanut sauce

Gado-Gado – A variety of vegetables in a peanut sauce, and served with fried tempeh, potato and a hard-boiled egg. Tempeh is made from fermented soybeans and it has a nutty flavor.

Nasi Uduk – Coconut rice cooked with fragrant spices and served with a variety of sides like fried chicken, sambal (spicy sauce), an egg, cucumber, peanuts and rice crackers. It’s similar to nasi lemak in Malaysia.

The fruit – Indonesia has all the freshest and ripest mango, watermelon and pineapple you could ever want. But it also has a ton of fruits you’ve likely never heard of like jackfruit (my fave!), dragon fruit, durian, mangosteen, longan, rambutan and many more.

Borneo gets even more extra with its alien fruit selection. This is where you’ll find the best and most unique fruit in Southeast Asia. Some people travel to Borneo purely for the fruit. You’ll find chempedak and terap, which are close relatives of jackfruit (and two of my favorites), as well as many different kinds of durian and much more. See here for more unique Bornean fruits.

You can also try the yummy tropical fruit in juice and smoothie form.

Kopi (Coffee) – As one of the world’s top coffee exporters, coffee is a big deal in Indonesia.

A type of famous coffee only found in Indonesia is called kopi luwak, which is also known as “cat poop coffee”. Kopi luwak is collected from the droppings of a wild cat-like animal called the luwak (also known as the Asian palm civet). They’re known to eat the best and most ripe coffee cherries, but they can’t digest the stones (which are the coffee beans) so they poop them out. Their digestive enzymes help remove some of the acidity, which creates a smoother tasting coffee. The beans are collected, cleaned and roasted to produce the most expensive coffee in the world, which can cost $100-600US per kilo. However, if you’re still interested in trying this coffee after hearing this, if you’re against animal cruelty, you should avoid it because the animals are kept in cages and in appalling conditions.

Due to Islam, alcohol is less prevalent outside of the Bali area.

ACCOMMODATION

You can stay at hostels and guesthouses for a few dollars a night or you can ball out and spend hundreds of dollars to stay at fancy boutique jungle hotels in Bali. And there’s everything in between.

MONEY AND COSTS

RUPIAH IS THE CURRENCY

The abbreviations are Rp and IDR and $1US = 14,000Rp. It’s easy for all the extra zeros to throw you off, so be mindful of payment and getting proper change back.

YOU CAN TRAVEL INDONESIA ON ANY BUDGET

Indonesia is very affordable to travel. You can travel for as little as $25-$30US per day as a budget traveler by staying at hostels and guesthouses. However, on a super tight budget, you can get by on $15US per day.

ATMS HAVE A LOW WITHDRAWAL AMOUNT

Many ATMs have a maximum withdrawal of 1,250,000Rp ($89US), but if you’re lucky you can find one that’s 3,000,00Rp ($213US). However, you can make multiple withdrawal transactions of up to 6,000,000Rp ($426US). However, if you don’t have a bank card that doesn’t charge high withdrawal fees, the fees can add up quickly.

IT’S A CASH-BASED ECONOMY

Credit cards and bank cards aren’t used for most day-to-day transactions, so you’ll rarely be able to use them, aside from at nicer hotels and restaurants.

BARGAINING IS LIFE

Indonesia operates on bargaining. Get an idea of how much things should cost and bargain fairly. A few extra coins is nothing to you, but everything to a vendor. Make sure you “save face” during bargaining transactions.

STAYING SAFE AND COMMON SCAMS

Indonesia is a pretty safe country to travel. Your biggest safety concerns would be natural disasters, like a volcano eruption, and petty crime, like pickpocketing.

Goa Gajah Bali — Goa Gajah temple in Bali

USE YOUR COMMON SENSE

A lot of crime and accidents happen due to letting your guard down (pickpocketing) or being a little too carefree on vacation and letting go of your common sense. There are far fewer rules in Indonesia, which has major pros and cons. For example, just because something doesn’t have a sign saying that it’s unsafe to enter or climb, does NOT mean that it’s safe.

BEWARE OF YOUR PHONE, CAMERA AND PURSE AROUND PASSING MOTORCYCLISTS

Drive-by snatchings can happen. Carry a purse with a cross-body strap to keep your purse in front of you and guard your things from pickpockets. This also goes for exploring busy places like markets and busy tourist hot spots.

THE SUN IS EXTREMELY STRONG

Indonesia lies on the equator which makes the sun intensely strong, so wear sunscreen. It’s also extremely hot and humid so you will sweat A LOT, so you need to stay hydrated. Consider packing or buying electrolytes and drinking fresh coconut water to help replenish your electrolytes. This is especially vital if you’re drinking and partying.

“THERE’S NO BUS GOING THERE” SCAM

A taxi driver will tell you that the bus you want to take is no longer running that day, so you’ll take his overpriced private taxi instead. This happens A LOT. The touts get incredibly exhausting because you have to deal with them so often, but keep in mind that they don’t represent the Indonesian people. Most Indonesians are really warm and friendly people.

Also, one of Indonesia’s top exports is oil which means fuel is extremely cheap, so don’t let anyone tell you their rate of transport is expensive due to the high cost of fuel.

THE DEATH PENALTY FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

You’re not exempt if you’re a foreigner. And they make this loud and clear at the arrivals at the airports in Jakarta and Bali with a huge sign that says “Welcome to Indonesia. Death Penalty for Drug Traffickers!”. However, even buying drugs can be a problem because the police are corrupt so the dealers sometimes rat you out to the cops. This is common in the party areas in Bali, like Denpasar and Kuta.

Even if you’re not touching drugs, make sure you watch your bags at airports and on trains, boats and buses.

THE POLICE ARE CORRUPT

Every country has corruption and Indonesia is no exception. Police see tourists as an easy way to make extra money through bribes. They will make up things that you’re doing wrong so they can demand a “fine”. This is very common when you have rented a scooter because they will pull you over and give you a fine if you don’t have an international drivers license. However, I met a couple who was motorbiking around Southeast Asia who said this scam kept happening until the guy attached a GoPro to his helmet.

MOTORBIKE ACCIDENTS

You will inevitably see many travelers covered in serious, massive scabbing and skin loss due to motorbike accidents. But motorbikes are the preferred method of transport in Indonesia, so it’s difficult to avoid riding one. Anyone can rent and drive a scooter in Indonesia, so you also have to be careful around other drivers. Always make sure you wear a helmet.

Also consider:

Do you have travel insurance that covers treatment and a hospital stay?
Do you have an international drivers license that covers riding motorbikes in a foreign country?
Does your travel insurance cover an accident on a motorbike in Indonesia?

DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER

Stick to filtered or bottled water.

MONKEYS

Sure, monkeys are cute, but they can be sinister and vicious as hell, as well as carry rabies and steal your belongings (including your bag and phone). So keep this in mind when you think they’re cute and want to pet, feed and take selfies with them. Do not eat around monkeys as they can become aggressive and they will steal your food.

For a lot more important tips on staying safe while traveling Indonesia, see HOW TO STAY SAFE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA.

FEMALE TRAVELERS

As a solo female traveler who traveled Indonesia, I can confidently say that it’s a safe place for solo female travelers. Sure, there are some annoying/obnoxious/creepy men, but those are literally found in every country in the world. Dress modestly to avoid extra unwanted attention.

LGBTQA TRAVELERS

BE CAUTIOUS AND DISCREET

Homosexuality is legal nationwide, except for residents in the province of Aceh, the city of Pariaman in West Sumatra, and for muslims in the city of Palembang in South Sumatra. However, even where it is legal, it’s very taboo, people from the LGBTQA community don’t have equal rights and same-sex relationships are not recognized. Bali is a little more gay-friendly.