The Indonesian archipelago has long been a favorite for budget travelers, almost to the point of becoming a cliche. There is a reason that the place is so popular though and there are a lot of merits to including the region on any major trip. Once you look past the raging party towns and Australian kids on spring break, Indonesia has a lot to offer any traveler.
Plenty of people backpack Europe and South America – with good reason too, but in my opinion nowhere in the world is more backpacker-friendly than Indonesia. The combination of vivid cultures, fascinating foods and cheap prices make it the ultimate for backpacker living and a must for anyone planning an extended trip.
Here’s why Indonesia beats out everyone else:
Food to die for
Really, Indonesian food is the number one reason (and could justifiably be the only reason you need) for scheduling a visit to the far east. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that it’s possibly the best food in the entire world. From the street snacks in Yogyakarta to Bandung banquets to Balinese curry, there is a lifetime’s worth of deliciousness to sample. Nowhere else in the world can you find cuisine that compares to the diverse, vibrant, colorful, and flavorful food found here.
Budget-friendly
Most backpackers have to work hard to make their money stretch as much as possible. In many places in Indonesia the pressure is off, particularly in cities like Bali and Lombok, where you can easily get by on $15 a day on most days. For backpackers and those traveling around the world, that cheaper cost of travel means you can travel longer. The same funds that might cover a month in Europe might stretch for several months there. And when it’s cheaper to eat out than to even try to cook, you can fully embrace and enjoy your visit without having to stress too much about your wallet.
Ease of travel
While traveling in Europe and Australia can be pricey, Indonesia is one of the easiest and cheapest places to travel in the world. Scores of budget airlines and well established bus and train networks make it easy to around, often for just a few bucks.
Technology-friendly
Whether you are a blogger or just need to keep in touch with the folks at home, this area of the world is heavenly for flash-packers. Nearly all guesthouses and hostels have wifi and it’s fast and (mostly) reliable. This is great compared to other backpacker destinations like Australia or South America, where wi-fi can be slow, expensive, or non-existent.
Perfect beaches
Some of the most beautiful beaches in the world are in Indonesia, and since the beach season never ends, you can live in a state of perpetual summer. Year round you can go snorkeling or scuba diving in the crystal waters off of Derawan islands, Kei Islands or Taka Bonerate Islands, or just relax in a beachside hammock and remember all your friends suffering through winter back home.
Major metropolises
If you love the craziness of big cities, Indonesia has some of the craziest. Exciting and fast-moving cities like Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Bandung, and Makasar offer a dose of adrenaline every time you step out your door. Visiting many of these places is a unique mash up of old and new Indonesia, with futuristic sky scrapers around the corner from ancient temples, modern life against a backdrop of history and tradition. It’s this dichotomy that makes the cities here so special and intriguing.
Deep history
This was the stomping ground of some of the oldest civilizations of the world, from the Borobudur to the Prambanan to the Sukuh and the Besakih. A lot of these ancient societies left beautiful structures and relics behind – you can visit the Bawomataluo of Nias, explore the Waruga Burial Complex, or gaze at thousands of perfectly maintained ancient temples throughout the region. This country also has a lot of modern history worth exploring, equally epic although not has pleasant.
Rich culture
Culturally, Indonesia is far too vivid and diverse to sum up in any one paragraph. There are so many different traditions, languages, lifestyles, fashions, beliefs and customs to immerse yourself in and explore, all within a relatively big geographic area. Many Indonesia cultures work very hard to maintain their historical rituals and practices, even as modernity sweeps through the area, so finding opportunities to learn about the culture first-hand is never difficult.
Plentiful parties
Partying obviously isn’t all there is to Indonesia, but there definitely are plenty of opportunities to have raucous drunken fun. Many of the cities on the popular tourists routes will have bars and activities that cater to the young and reckless (see: Legian, Bali). The Gili islands in particular are popular for their party island like Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Gili Air, and Gili Kondo. Then of course there is the queen of all the backpacker parties: tickets to the moon. For those who want to let loose a little on their travels, Indonesia is a cheap and easy destination to escape from real life for a while.
Solitude
On the flip side, although there are areas just crawling with other travelers, there are still many places to explore away from the crowds. One has only to step a couple of feet off of the backpacker trail or away from the hostel to discover unique un-touristy places that have yet to be changed by tourism.
The people
Perhaps the most memorable part of a visit to this area of the world is the smiling, open, and happy people you encounter. Even though Indonesia have gone through some rough times in modern years, there seems to be an optimistic feeling most everywhere you go. Most visitors who spend a significant amount of time in the area will have at least one moving story of being invited to dinner during ruwat in Piji or taking part in a Balinese wedding reception, or maybe just a really interesting conversation with a delman driver in Sumbawa.
Things are changing fast
All over the world, but in Indonesia particularly, things are changing rapidly every day. A population explosion, an influx of new technology and foreign influence, and renegotiations of government mean that the culture and physical landscape is constantly evolving. This may be for the better or for the worst but one thing is for sure: Indonesia you visit now will be very different than the one you’ll see ten years from now.
SECURITY?
This is the great unknown of Indonesian travel. Following the Bali bombings of 2002 and 2005 many tourists are understandably wary of visiting.
At the time of writing, the Australian and New Zealand governments are warning against travel because of fears of repercussions following the execution of the Bali bombers.
On the other hand, more than 5m tourists visited Indonesia last year without serious incident. I didn't see anything to concern me about either terrorism or crime during my visit, but that does not mean dangers do not exist.
Happy Traveling!
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