When travellers take cheap flights to Indonesia, their final destination is, more often than not, Bali, but there is so much to explore, beyond the beaches.
Diversity is the key word in describing Indonesia - in its landscapes, cultures and cuisines. There are 17,000 islands in this archipelago, however, only about 9,000 are inhabited. Of these, the most populous are Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan (Borneo), Bali, Papua and Maluku. Indonesia's 491 ethnic groups speak 567 different dialects and while most Indonesians are Muslim, there are Christians, Buddhists and Hindus too, and their major holidays are celebrated country-wide.
Indonesia has one of the longest coastlines in the world. Its beaches are fabled, its dive sites glorious and its swells legendary. Its mountains are smoking, sometimes literally. There are about 130 active volcanoes. The national parks are treasures. There are 50, six of which are World-Heritage listed. Komodo National Park is home to the ancient komodo dragon, Mount Leuser National Park home to the Sumatra Orang-Utan.
Jakarta is the capital, a vibrant, bustling and sprawling city with fantastic shopping and a hip-and-happening nightlife. Here, Mangga Dua, a celebrated shopping district, contrasts with the old-world, old-industry Old Dutch Port, the soaring, gold-topped National Monument with the crumbling Old Town.
Yogyakarta is the second-most visited destination in Indonesia (after Bali). It's the cultural hub, an university town and the gateway to the World-Heritage-listed temples of Borobudur and Prambanan. It's also the sultanate of Hamengkubuwono and the No. 1 must-see attraction is the sultan's palace.