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Indonesia is a land of immense beauty, awe-inspiring wonders and a fascinating culture. If you’re thinking of a getaway after months of being stuck indoors, this archipelago of 17,000 islands at the confluence of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea should be high on your bucket list of places to visit. Whether it’s natural beauty that you seek, manmade structures, water bodies, or a chance to meet the local wildlife, Indonesia has something for everyone. And each of these places is an Instagram post in itself. Keep your camera ready and gear up for a vacation of a lifetime.
Karang Beach is a smaller part of Sanur Beach along the south-eastern coast of Bali. The waters here are shallow and you can spend hours splashing around and taking fabulous sunset pictures. Enjoy an exceptionally relaxed stay in the seaside town of Sanur, away from the typical bustle of vibrant tourist places. No wonder this town is slowly becoming a favourite for tourists looking for a serene stay.
Ever climbed a waterfall? At Indonesia you can. Head to Kanto Lampo and get this wonderful experience. The waterfall’s gentle cascade and gradually sloping step formation makes for the perfect backdrop to take stunning pictures. Get ready for hundreds of likes on your Instagram post.
A visit to this UNESCO World Heritage site is a must when in Indonesia. The never-ending green spread, juxtaposed against the blue sky, makes it a breath-taking sight that you will wish to never leave. Whatever your photography skills, you could never go wrong with the lifetime photographic memories that you will create here.
Use this beautiful Balinese water temple as the perfect backdrop for an iconic Indonesian photograph. This temple, one of the over 20,000 in Bali, sits quietly on its spot on small islands and is surrounded by a placid lake. For those interested in history, this is one of Bali’s nine directional temples built to protect the island.
A lush-green forest is the perfect setting for this 80-meter tall Sekumpul Waterfall. It’s not one stream, but a cluster of 6 or 7 waterfalls that gush down from the rocks to offer a mesmerising view. It is a bit of a hike from the village of Sekumpul to get there, but believe us it is completely worth the effort.
Barely 25 kilometres from Ubud in Klungkung is this photographer’s dream destination. This manmade dam on the Tukad Unda River in Bali is a popular destination for locals, and you are likely to find numerous opportunities to get the perfect Instagrammable shot at the artificial waterfall here.
Yes, it resembles a dinosaur and thus it is fondly called so. Officially named Kelingking Beach, this beach will stop you in your tracks with its gentle waves, white sands and spectacular views. Do add this to your itinerary and give your Instagram followers something to get excited about.
As the name suggests, the coastline is a bit different from what you’d have come to expect of a beach. An eroded arch in the cliff side is what gives this place its name, and makes it a photographer’s delight. Capture the ocean as it swims inland through the arch, making it one of the most gorgeous places in Indonesia.
Shhh, let’s not talk much about this hidden beauty that quietly transforms into your private little pool at low tide. Angel’s Billabong is just a short walk from Broken Beach and once there, you can lose yourself in the clear calm waters, just allowing all your stress to swim away from you. And yes, you can capture the most stunning photographs while lazing here.
Indonesian folklore tells us that princesses once bathed in these beautiful waters while their future husbands, the sultans, hid in the towers and chose their bride from among the most beautiful woman. The former royal palace, garden, and home of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta, this is an 18th-century complex that will bowl you over with its simple beauty. Catch the reflection of the castle in the calm waters and share it with your followers.
Imagine a cave that supports an ancient forest within its hidden depths. But more than being famous for that, Jomblang Cave is better known for its ‘Heaven Light’ that bathes the cave’s entrance with beautiful sunbeams. The swirling dust dancing in the sunbeam simply begs to be captured.
Yes, it takes some effort to get there, but once you cross though a mossy canyon, you will be spellbound by the turquoise waters of the Madakaripura Waterfall. At 200 metres it is the tallest waterfall in Java and the second tallest in Indonesia. Dive into the plunge pool at its base and come up thoroughly invigorated.
Take a trip back in time, right up to the 8th and 9th centuries, at Borobudur Temple. One of Indonesia’s most visited tourist attraction, this site also holds the distinction of being the largest Buddhist monument in the world. You cannot imagine its beauty until you see it in real life. Capture some amazing photographs to take home the memory with you.
Head to the volcano at night to see electric blue fire flowing down the mountain slopes. Unlike what many believe, it’s not blue lava but escaping sulphuric gases that gives birth to this amazing phenomenon. Keep your camera ready and get fantastic shots of glowing blue flames that shoot up to 5 metres into the sky.
Nothing beats the view of a floating island rising out of clouds. Not a mythical land, but this is Mount Bromo, one of the top attractions in Indonesia. The land surrounding the mountain is often covered in soft clouds, and the entire landscape is incredibly picturesque. Keep your camera ready and snap amazing photographs at every turn as you walk towards the main viewpoint.
Would you like to head inside a volcano to view a lake? That’s what you will do when you set out to see the Kawah Putih White Crater Lake. The milky, electric blue waters and white sandy shore are inviting and make for gorgeous pictures but as the water is acidic, you can’t swim in it.
The most popular island of this beautiful archipelago is Wayag Island, just 10 kilometres north of the equator. Take an exhilarating 30 minute hike to the top of the island’s highest viewing point and treat yourself to the most iconic views of the surrounding bays. You can get incredible sunset views from this point, making the trip so worth it.
A thrilling confluence of blue waters and the sky is separated by stunning green island hills, at Padar Island. If you’re looking for the best of Indonesia, it is on the top of the iconic viewpoint sitting right at the end of the Padar Island Hike. Book yourself a seat in a liveaboard or take a boat tour from Labuan Bajo to reach this point in your Indonesian journey. The pictures that you will take back from here will last you a lifetime, as will the memories.
Yes, this is actually a pink beach and it is just one of a handful scattered across the world. Pink Beach, or Pantai Merah, on Komodo Island has to be on the list of a serious traveller and travel photographer. The island gets its pretty pink hues from the red shells of small marine organisms called Foraminifera. The shells wash ashore and mix with the lighter coloured typical sand to give the beach this gorgeous uniform pink appearance.
Imagine visiting Indonesia and not stopping by to say hello to the orang-utan. If you are willing to rough it out a bit, then do add Bukit Lawang to your Indonesian itinerary. Head deep into the jungles of northern Sumatra on safari walks to catch a glimpse of the orang-utan as well as its closer relatives, the baboons and Thomas leaf monkeys. Mind you, the place as rustic as it can get; a few bamboo-built longhouses and riverside teahouses is what actually adds to the charm of the place. You will find a photo opportunity waiting for you at every corner. And of course, getting a chance for a shot of the wildlife within will be insanely incredible, won’t it? A picture of the Sumatran tiger, anyone?
Which of these places will you visit on your vacation to Indonesia? How about all? Take your time and come back with a bag full of memories.
