With a mind-boggling number of 17,508 islands, the wonderful country of Indonesia is bound to have tonnes of beautiful secret spots lying around. In fact, even famous destinations such as Bali or Jakarta have a few gorgeous spots that are yet to be mainstream, just waiting for travellers to explore them.
Just like the famous Robert Frost poem we learnt in secondary school, sometimes the road not taken is the one we regret most not following.
So, forget overcrowded mainstream places, here are a few Indonesian attractions that are less travelled but will definitely make all the difference if you want to experience what the country has to offer!
1. Go cliff jumping in Nusa Lembongan, Denpasar-Bali
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An island southeast of Bali, Nusa Lembongan is part of a group of three islands which makes up the Nusa Penida district.
What to expect:
- A relatively small island at just 8km² in size, it is renowned for its marine life and coral reefs which are perfect for diving and snorkelling.
- South of the island lies the Dream Beach, dubbed as having the most beautiful sunset view amongst the nearby islands.
- The island is attracting more and more visitors each year, so it’s best to plan a visit fast before it becomes overcrowded!
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2. Be amazed at the spectacular pink sands of Tangsi Beach in Lombok
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Situated on Lombok’s far south-eastern shore, this naturally pink beach is one of only 10 pink sand beaches in the world!
What to expect:
- The pink tint is actually millions of dead red coral fragments brought up by the waves to the beach, which fused with the beach’s white sand, thus giving Tangsi Beach its spectacular natural look.
- Untouched by mass tourism due to its secluded location, this is the perfect destination for you to explore the awe-inspiring beauties of Lombok.
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3. Have a drink at gorgeous cafes in the Lembang mountains of Bandung
Source: Indonesia.travel
Lembang is a town village situated near the mountainous West Bandung. There are a few hidden cafes high up in the clouds there with spectacular views of the surrounding region such as:
D’Pakar Cafe Bandung
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Address: Jl. Dago Pakar Utara, Sekejolang.
Lereng Anteng Punclut
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Address: Jalan Baru Laksana No 75, Pagerwangi, Lembang.
Dusun Bambu
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Address: Jl. Kolonel Masturi Km.11.
4. Go surfing at Banda Aceh’s Lhoknga’s beach
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Situated just 20km off of Banda Aceh, this beach offers world class waves during the North East monsoon. With waves up to 2 metres high, it’s the perfect place for adventure junkies to get their surfs up!
What to expect:
- Gorgeous white sands, blue sparkling sea water and tall coconut trees which keep the beach cool.
- Not a fan of surfing? Then try out golfing at a nearby Golf Course or go fishing with the locals who readily welcome your presence.
- This is also the perfect place for couples as the sunset views and overall landscape makes for the perfect honeymoon!
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5. Explore the many unspoilt islands of Pulau Seribu nearby Jakarta
A chain of islands north of Jakarta’s coast, Pulau Seribu consists of a string of 342 islands stretching north into the Java Sea. Of the 342 islands, you can visit up to 45 of them which are primed for the arrival of tourists but are still relatively untouched.
Pulau Bidadari and Pulau Ayer are two of the more accessible islands within Pulau Seribu. They’re two of the most beautiful islands there too, as proven by these pictures below:
Pulau Bidadari
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Pulau Ayer
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Wait, that’s not all! Here are some other attractions to check out in Indonesia that are not too mainstream, yet:
Take a dip in the many spectacular waterfalls of Padang
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Visit the mythical Tinggi Raja white crater hot springs in Medan
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Stand in awe of the various canyons and rock formations in Pekan Baru’s Harau Valley
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Visit the vast tea plantation in Pagar Alam, Palembang
Source: Pohtektoes
Visit the Betang traditional houses in Pontianak
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Visit the ancient Hindu temple Candi Gedong Songo in Semarang
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Marvel at the three different sea water colours of Pantai Tiga Warna, Malang
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Walk through the Bantimurung Sky Bridge in Makassar
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Okay, how amazing are these places? I can definitely feel my wanderlust level rising up! What’s more, they’re all just a short trip away from Malaysia, which makes them all the more tempting.
A bigger plus point? AirAsia can fly us to all the major airports nearby these places starting from just RM49 for all in member fare while non-member fare starts from RM54.
Not sure about you but we definitely want to visit these places before they become too mainstream and overcrowded. Anyone want to join us for an Indonesian adventure? Don’t say we bojio 😛
For more information on available flights to Indonesia and other awesome deals from AirAsia, click here.