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Holidayco.co.uk specialises in cheap indonesian holidays, package holidays and late deals to a huge number of destinations. Find out more about Indonesia in our guide below.

Holidays in Indonesia

Indonesia is made up of many large and small islands; there are so many that the exact number is not known. This, the world's largest archipelago, is thought to contain over 17,500 islands scattered across a strip of sea about 5200km long.

There are five main islands and 30 distinct groups of smaller islands. Some areas are very remote and undeveloped. Around 6000 of the islands are inhabited, and between them they make up the population of the world's 4 th-largest nation.

Indonesia is subdivided into 27 provinces and many special territories. Each region has its own unique characteristics. Almost 600 different languages and dialects are spoken by the various ethnic and regional groups within Indonesia. English is widely spoken as a second language, with some Dutch and a little French in some areas.

Indonesia has been inhabited for hundreds of thousands of years, and more recently has been influenced by Indian, English and Dutch cultures as well as neighbouring civilizations. It is an Islamic country with religious freedom enshrined in its constitution.

Different regions have widely different customs. There are long traditions of art and culture in most areas, creating massive diversity in art, dance and social customs.

The most popular holiday destination in Indonesia is Bali, though many other areas receive large numbers of visitors every year. Most international visitors arrive via Bali, Jakarta or Medan and transfer to their final destination using regional air transport. Air services run between the regional capitals and smaller airports throughout the islands.

Indonesia is hot and humid, so light clothing is normal. However, long trousers are expected for men and revealing clothing is not really acceptable for women, other than at the beach. A jacket and tie may be expected for dinner or formal occasions and something warmer is a good idea if you are visiting a highland area.

Indonesia Facts At A Glance

Area: Total: 1,826,440 km 2, Sumatra 473,606 km 2, Kalimantan 539,400 km 2, Sulawesi 189,216 km 2, Irian Jaya 421,981 km 2, Java 132,1887 km 2.

Climate: Tropical, humid, cooler in the highlands

Terrain: Long coastlines and large inland areas with varied terrain

Population: 241 Million

Languages: Hundreds. English is widely spoken.

Currency: Rupiah

Time Zone: GMT +7 hours (Sumarta & Java), +8 hours (Central Indonesia), +9 hours (Irian Jaya)

International Dialling Code: +62, Bali +361, Jakarta +21

Food and Drink

Throughout most of Indonesia, rice is the staple foodstuff, though some regions have traditionally used different staples including sweet potatoes and corn. Steamed rice is the basis for many meals, served with side dishes of meat and vegetables and often a glass of tea.

Being the world's largest island cluster, it is hardly surprising that fish and seafood are also traditional foods in Indonesia. Fish dishes are common. Fish is served smoked, dried, salted and fresh in many dishes.

Cuisine varies from region to region, though coconuts and spices are common in most areas. West Sumarta and North Sulawesi are particularly known for hot chilli dishes. Javanese cuisine is less frightening and tends to appeal to a less specialised palate.

Padang restaurants are common in West Sumatra. Padang-style food is very hot and spicy. Beef is popular on Sumatra, while pork is only eaten in certain areas since most of Indonesia is Islamic. Chinese restaurants do serve pork, and can be found in most areas. Japanese and Korean restaurants are also not uncommon.

Although Indonesia is an Islamic country, there are several local beers available as well as rice wine called Brem.

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Places to visit

Most visitors will come to the great urban centres of Kuala Lumpur or Penang. Kuala Lumpur, the capital, offers the bright lights of a big modern city, with theatres, restaurants and night life to enjoy, plus the chance to go shopping in pleasant surroundings.

Among the shopping experiences on offer is the Central Market in Kuala Lumpur, which is both a market and a cultural centre. The market is popular for its handicrafts including Batik fabrics, glass blowing and pewter work. You can watch the craftsmen at work in many cases, or enjoy other attractions such as dance and art classes, shadow-puppet plays and fortune telling. For a more modern shopping experience the Central Square complex is close by with its cinemas and fast food restaurants.

Kuala Lumpur has a long history which awaits discovery as you explore. There are old mosques alongside ultra modern office buildings and museums dedicated to a range of fascinating subjects including space exploration and, not far from the city, the National Science Centre.

The region around Kuala Lumpur also boasts a number of excellent parks and gardens. These include the National Zoo, the Lake Gardens and the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), which is located about an hour’s drive from the city in Kepong. Close to the city lie the Batu Caves, where a Hindu temple is sculpted from natural limestone. On the climb up to the temple (nearly 300 steps) you will be all but mugged by monkeys wanting you to feed them. More accessible is the Museum Cave with its religious paintings.

All this contrasts with the manic energy of Chinatown and the pulse of ultra-modern business in huge skyscrapers including the gigantic Petronas Towers.

Penang Island, some 370km from Kuala Lumpur, was the site of the first British settlement in Malaysia. The island’s capital, Georgetown, is often referred to as Penang, and is a popular holiday destination. Georgetown is more traditional than Kuala Lumpur, retaining much of the flavour of the colonial years.

Chinatown in Georgetown is alive with frenetic activity. Other attractions include historic remains of bygone eras such as the fort built by the British to defend the settlement. Today, Fort Cornwallis houses an open-air amphitheatre and shops as well as a historical centre.

The city also has many fine temples, mosques and churches plus gardens and parks. It makes an excellent base for exploring the area. Bendera Hill offers spectacular views of the island and is reached via a 50-year-old cable railway.

Things to do

Indonesia offers a wealth of cultural experiences. Whatever region you visit will have its own music, dance and drama. Traditional dances range from graceful religious performances to lively folk dances. Theatre is also very varied, and often involves puppets of several different kinds.

The islands are home to an incredible variety of wildlife, some of it obviously descended from Australian ancestors and some derived from Asian roots. Among the species you can observe wild or in reserves are komodo lizards, orang-utans, the one-horned rhinoceros, tigers and an array of plant life from tiny orchids to giant Rafflesia flowers.

Indonesia is full of historical sites dating from various periods in its history. Buddhist and Hindu temples, mosques and churches are there to explore alongside palaces, fortresses and the graves of national heroes.

Most large urban areas have extensive shopping facilities. Prices are fixed in supermarkets and department stores but bargaining is usual in smaller shops.

Sports fans can take part in popular local sports such as golf, badminton, soccer and table tennis, or watch a display of one of the forms of Silat, an Indonesian family of martial arts. At certain times bull and ram fights are stages, plus bull races.

Many hotels have swimming pools and at the coast watersports are available including diving, sailing and windsurfing. Divers can explore the coral reefs with their exotic plants, fish and other marine creatures, or explore the wrecks of World War II warships sunk in the region.

Most regions have a range of museums, nature reserves and other attractions unique to the area. There are museums of culture and art, history, and a geological museum containing the skull of a 500,000 year old inhabitant of the region. Permits are needed to visit some of the nature reserves, which are deliberately undeveloped to avoid damaging their flora and fauna. Exploring a reserve on foot or horseback is an undertaking for the serious nature-lover but well worth the effort.

Less strenuous is a visit to a Pekarangan, the traditional Indonesian private garden. These usually contain fruit trees and bamboo. Slightly different is a Pelataran, the private garden of a member of the social elite. These more resemble the traditional Eastern gardens. Botanic gardens exist in some areas. The most famous is 60km south of Jakarta. It was constructed in the 1800s with the help of British experts from Kew, and boasts a fine array of exotic flora.