Overview
From Andrew Harper
This vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands stretches across the equator between the Asian and Australian continental plates, hence its dramatic volcanic landscapes. The world's largest Muslim-majority nation comprises more than 300 ethnic groups and also boasts the greatest biodiversity on the globe after Brazil. Indonesia is a world unto itself, but a single Hindu island continues to hold sway over the Western imagination.
A single Hindu island, Bali, continues to hold sway over the Western imagination. Bali remains a magical destination, although the south of the island is now excessively commercialized. A stay in one of the secluded escapes in the central highlands surrounding Ubud is mandatory: Amandari overlooks the dramatic Ayung River Gorge; while nearby Como Shambhala Estate is set amid hundreds of glittering rice terraces. Closer to the ocean, the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay is an excellent option for those arriving or departing from nearby Denpasar. Visitors with extra time might consider a trip to the inspiring temple of Borobudur in Central Java, where an Aman property is nearby.
CLIMATE: Tropical rainfall year-round. Bali is wettest from November-March.
TIME: 12 hours ahead of New York (EST).
CURRENCY: Rupiah (IDR). Fluctuating rate valued at IDR8,970 = US$1.00 as of January 2012. Note: Our suggested hotels quote rates in US$.
U.S. EMBASSY: Jakarta, Tel. 21-3435-9000. Consulates: Surabaya, Tel. 31-295-6400; Bali, Tel. 361-233-605.
DIRECT DIAL CODES: To phone hotels in Indonesia, dial 011 (international access) + 62 (Indonesia code) + city code and local numbers in listings.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Passport (valid for six months beyond end of stay) and visa. Visit travel.state.gov, and for travelers’ health information, cdc.gov
GENERAL INFORMATION: Visit indonesia.travel before your trip.
Hotels
All recommended hotels in Indonesia
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Amandari Exotic and captivating sanctuary in dramatic highlands setting overlooking Ayung River Gorge near fascinating artists’ village of Ubud. |
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Amankila Distinctive luxury resort descending tropical hillside to a beachfront bluff above Badung Strait, in a conservative eastern regency seldom seen by Western tourists. |
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Amanusa Refined resort set on a knoll overlooking the Bali Golf & Country Club, 20 minutes south of Denpasar airport. |
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COMO Shambhala Estate Astonishingly lavish health retreat in a setting of supreme natural beauty, overlooking the deepest and most spectacular section of the Ayung River Gorge, 15 minutes by car from the highland town of Ubud. |
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Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan Sophisticated and creatively designed hideaway nestled along the banks of the Ayung River amid a sloping palmstudded forest and terraced rice paddies, 10 minutes down the gorge from Amandari. |
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Amanjiwo Serenely exotic resort cloister looking out to heroic and mystical Borobudur (the largest Buddhist monument in the world) in verdant rural heartland of Central Java, an hour from Yogyakarta. |
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The Dharmawangsa Unique and beautifully appointed 100-room Rosewood boutique hotel in peaceful Kebayoran Baru residential neighborhood, 15 minutes from the chaotic downtown Central Business District. |
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Amanwana Unique first-class wilderness retreat secluded off north coast of Sumbawa on jungly island (designated as official nature reserve), an hour by floatplane east of Bali. |
