Surfing
The Indonesian archipelago is one of the world’s top surfing
destinations. The best time to surf is from April to September
with the best waves generally found on islands facing south and
southwest, including Bali, Flores, Java, Lombok, Sumatra, Sumba
and Sumbawa. Some well-known surfing beaches, such as Ulu Watu
on Bali, tend to get overcrowded, but organized trips to isolated
areas are widely available. Surf camps such as those at Cempi
Bay (Sumbawa) or Lagundri Bay (Nias) offer basic accommodation
and simple food. Windsurfing is particularly popular on Bintan
Island and Sanur and Nusa Dua beaches on Bali.
Diving
There are approximately 80,000km (50,000 miles) of coastline,
reputed to contain 15 per cent of the world’s coral reefs.
In spite of the obvious opportunities, Indonesia’s diving
industry is still relatively young, though the number of companies
offering courses and excursions is rising rapidly.
On Java island, the best diving is on the west coast, where three
volcanic islands mark the remains of the Krakatoa volcano
(which last erupted in 1883). Bali’s tourist stronghold
in the Kuta, Nusa Dua and Suar triangle offers
easy and moderate diving, with easily accessible reefs. Tours
to more remote (and less busy) areas are available. On the northern
tip of Sulawesi island, the Taman Nasional Laut Bunaken Manado
Tua is a national marine reserve with particularly steep coral
walls; international air connections to the island facilitate
access. Further north, the lesser-known Sanggihe-Talaud and
Togian islands are reached by live-aboard dive boats. In
the south, Take Bone Rate is the world’s third-largest
atoll, while the Tukang Besi islands have feat
ured
extensively in the films by the French underwater explorer Jacques
Cousteau. Nusa Tenggara’s most popular sites are the three
Gili islands near Lombok, whose calm shallow waters are
ideal for beginners. Maluku consists of approximately 1000
islands and has only recently been discovered as a top diving
destination. Southeast of Ambon, the Bandana islands are
accessible by air and offer a number of sites suitable for beginners
and experienced divers. The major resort in the Sumatra and Riau
islands is Bintan, easily accessible from Singapore. The clearest
and most colorful dive sites are in Pulau Sikuai off the
Padang coast (western Sumatra) and Pulau Weh off Banda Aceh
(northern Sumatra). Irian Jaya also offers good diving around
the famous Mapia Atoll (where dolphins and killer whales
can sometimes be spotted) and the waters of Cenderawasih Bay
off the western end of Bird’s Head peninsula.
Climbing
The island of Sumatra is perhaps the best location. Gunung
Padang, near the island’s capital, Padang, is a small
black basalt cliff reached via a river-paddling trip followed
by a trek through rainforest. Further inland, Bukittinggi offers
challenging cliffs overlooking rice paddies. The dramatic canyon
rocks in nearby Harau National Park are still largely unexplored
and should only be attempted by experienced climbers.
Caving
Indonesia’s most accessible caves are on the island of Java
and include Luweng Jaran, stretching over 20km (125 miles)
beneath the Gunung Seuw mountain range; Gua Barat, which
has the longest underground river system in the southern hemisphere;
and Gombong, whose stone towers rise spectacularly to some
40m (132ft) above sea level. On Kalimantan island, Mangkalihat
offers a rarely visited underground world of giant limestone
corridors. Even less explored are the isolated caves near Wamena
on the remote Bird’s Head peninsula in Irian Jaya.
Sailing
The majority of companies offering whitewater rafting are located
in Bali, where several rivers – including the Ayung, Balian,
Telega, Ubaya and Unda – are commercially rafted. Spectacular
rapids can also be found on the Citartik River (western Java),
the Sadan River (Sulawesi) and the Alas River (Sumatra). Rapids
are generally at their strongest between November and March. River
tours up the great Mahakam River on the island of Kalimantan,
which is dissected by a network of rivers running from the mountainous
interior to the coasts, are billed as a trip into the ‘heart
of darkness’. Starting from the port city Samarinda, such
tours last for several days (with onboard accommodation available)
and continue deep into the upper jungle reaches, where tribal
communities have largely preserved their traditions.
Trekking
Indonesia has some 120 active volcanoes and numerous volcano treks
are possible: on Java island, popular volcanic destinations include
Krakatoa (reached by a five-hour boat trip followed by
a 30-minute climb), Mount Bromo (the most visited of Indonesia’s
volcanoes) and Kawah Ijen (whose crater is filled by a
turquoise-blue lake). Those preferring dormant volcanoes may head
to Gunung Agung in Bali (known as the ‘Navel of the
World’), Gunung Rinjani on Lombok island (which has
hot springs at the top and is revered for its mystical qualities)
and Keli Mutu on Nusa Tenggara Barat (whose crater contains
three spectacular mineral lakes). For jungle trekking through
the Indonesian rainforest, the islands of Irian Jaya, Kalimantan
and Sumatra offer the most remote and untouched terrain. The best
trails include trips to Bukit Barisan National Park, a
remote and beautiful peninsula in Sumatra (with routes leading
through tropical rainforest onto a beach inhabited by turtles);
the Muller Mountain on Kalimantan (with a trail following
the traditional jungle route used by the native Iban people);
and Lake Habbema on Irian Jaya (a week-long trek to remote
villages and mountains).
Ecotourism
Having been criticized in the past for the destruction of large
areas of its rainforest through forest exploitation, the Indonesian
government is now keen to encourage an environmentally friendly
tourism policy. The growing trend for back-to-nature holidays
means that numerous types of eco-tours are available. In the Tukangbeshi
archipelago near Sulawesi, tourists have the opportunity to participate
in coral reef preservation projects by helping to collect scientific
data.
