With 300 ethnic groups that inhabit 6,000 islands among 17,508 islands, Indonesia is beautifully united in diversity. Most of these groups own their distinctive indigenous languages and unique dialects. Though the majority of the local inhabitants are Muslim, five other religions are likewise practiced throughout the country in close proximity and harmony. Hence, multicultural is the best word to characterize Indonesia in general, and we strongly suggest that travellers immerse themselves in this multicultural community. Most likely, the most well-known unique culture is that of the Balinese A real treat to see the various ceremonies and processions which take place on this unique island daily, a living culture which is very welcoming to anyone interested to explore it.
As an archipelago nation, two thirds of Indonesia consists of vast oceans. Big and small islands of which each of their landscapes are unique, are scattered around from the west to the east. This explains why Indonesia is the second country with the longest coastal line after Canada. These vast coastlines and underwater world are home to a large variety of marine life, of which some only found in the archipelago, a real treat to explore. Further, located in the most active seismic region in the world, the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia is a home for over 100 rumbling volcanoes all over the archipelago of which many can be visited. Next to volcanos, underwater world and beaches, Indonesia also is home to vast rainforest, savanna’s and much more of nature’s wonders.
Blessed with two seasons, Indonesia is a year-around destination. Located on the equator, the weather is mainly sunny and can reach temperatures of up to 35 Celsius. Although by some seen as negative, the rainy season in the archipelago is perfect to get a bit of cool air during a walk to temples or a trek in the rainforest. Luckily, the rainy season merely means it rains short periods of time but heavy and tropical rains, a real experience! While during the dry season, bright blue sky will greet all travellers during their activities. Hence, all in all, Indonesia can be visited throughout the year and promises warm temperatures and sunny skies.
Time & Date : GMT +8
The rupiah (Rp) is the official currency of Indonesia. Issued and controlled by the Bank of Indonesia, the ISO 4217 currency code for the Indonesian rupiah is IDR. The name “rupiah” is derived from the Hindustani word rupiya (रुपीया), ultimately from Sanskrit rupya (रूप्य; wrought silver). Informally, Indonesians also use the word “perak” (‘silver’ in Indonesian) in referring to rupiah. The rupiah is subdivided into 100 sen, although inflation has rendered all coins and banknotes denominated in sen obsolete.
The Riau islands and the Indonesian half of New Guinea (Irian Barat) had their own variants of the rupiah in the past, but these were subsumed into the national rupiah in 1964 and 1971 respectively (see Riau rupiah and West Irian rupiah).
More than 700 living languages are spoken in Indonesia. Most belong to the Austronesian language family, with a few Papuan languages also spoken. The official language is Indonesian (locally known as Bahasa Indonesia), a variant of Malay, which was used in the archipelago, borrowing heavily from local languages of Indonesia such as Javanese, Sundanese and Minangkabau. The Indonesian language is primarily used in commerce, administration, education and the media, but most Indonesians speak other languages, such as Javanese, as their first language. Most books printed in Indonesia are written in the Indonesian language.
Since Indonesia recognises only a single official language, other languages are not recognised either at the national level or the regional level, thus making Javanese the most widely spoken language without official status, with Sundanese the second in the list (excluding Chinese dialects).
When buying your travel insurance, always check the small print – some policies specifically exclude ‘dangerous activities’, which could be anything from scuba diving to horse riding. You should check whether the medical coverage is on a pay first, claim later basis and, more importantly, ensure that your medical coverage includes the cost of medical evacuation.
Free visa on arrival available for many countries, many others eligible for a paid visa on arrival. Few countries require a Visa before arrival. For details, please check with us.
Aceh – Sultan Iskandarmuda Airport (BTJ)
Batam – Hang Nadim Airport (BTH)
Padang – Minangkabau Airport (PDG)
Palembang – Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II Airport (PLM)
Pekanbaru – Sultan Syarif Kasim II Airport (PKU)
Tanjung Pinang – Raja Haji Fisabillillah Airport (TNJ)
Medan – Kuala Namu Airport (KNO)
Jakarta – Soekarno Hatta Airport (CGK); Halim Perdanakusuma Airport (HLP)
Bandung – Husein Sastranegara Airport (BDO)
Semarang – Achmad Yani Airport (SRG)
Surakarta – Adisumarmo Airport (SOC)
Yogyakarta – Adi Sucipto Airport (JOG)
Surabaya – Juanda Airport (SUB)
Balikpapan – Sultan Aji Mahmud Sulaiman Airport (BPN)
Tarakan – Juwata Airport (TRK)
Makassar – Sultan Hasanuddin Airport (UPG)
Manado – Sam Ratulangi Airport (MDC)
Lesser Sunda Islands
Bali – Ngurai Rai International Airport (DPS)
Lombok – Lombok Praya Airport (LOP)
Currency: Indonesian Rupee
Population: 261.1 million
Official languages: Indonesian