In 2007 a vast new wing was added to Indonesia's oldest museum, which is home to fabulous collections from Indonesia and Southeast Asia. Don't miss the abundant Chinese ceramics , Hindu-Buddhist sculptures , including the statue, Bhairava, more tha..

Covering more than 750km 2 of marshland and wooded ground in the southeast of Java, the park is the last preserve of the famous Javan Rhinoceros, which is heading for extinction, and of the impressive indigenous Bateng, thought to have been around s..

Take the marked path to the summit of Mt Gede (2 958m) to enjoy a stunning walk crowned with sublime views over the whole of the region. The walk takes you past the Blue Lake , whose blue-green waters stretch out in the middle of the jungle. After r..

The sultan's palace ( kraton ) was formerly surrounded by an ensemble of residential buildings equipped with gardens, stables and barracks to house staff and courtiers. The entire complex was enclosed by a wall with four openings. Today this district..

For almost a thousand years (from the 10C to 1815), this stunning site was hidden from the world by lava from Mt Merapi and the forest. It must be viewed from a vantage point such as the surrounding hills to appreciate its mandala layout, "na..

The various temples are spread about the huge quadrilateral divided into three concentric courtyards. In the centre stands the most sacred, domain of the main temples, dedicated to the Trimurti Trinity: around Candi Siva , the highest and holiest, s..

Incontestably the most beautiful and refined of the Prambanan temples, Candi Siva (47m high) boasts panel after panel of bas-reliefs , each more exquisite than the last. Note the typical motifs of lions and the tree of life mixed with half-man, half..

The best place to watch the sun coming up over the Tengger Caldera and its three volcanic cones is Gunung Penanjakan, the highest volcano on the site (2 770m), which stands at the northern edge of the caldera. After a short section crossing the sea..

Gunung Bromo, the last active volcano of the Tengger Caldera, is also the most famous, despite being the smallest (2 392m). Steep steps lead up to the crest of the caldera, an infernal mouth noisily wheezing out a thick white cloud smelling of sulphu..

Kawah Ijen volcano (2 148m) rises up out of the forest and coffee plantations that cover Ijen Plateau, making for an enchanting setting. The sight awaiting you at the crater (1hr on foot from Paltuding) is breathtaking: a lake with jade waters lies..

One of the country’s finest volcanic landscapes; at the centre of the 13km-wide caldeira (circle created by the collapse of an ancient volcano), in which lies a lake, rises the smoking cone of younger volcano Mount Batur . The routes climbing to t..

A breathtaking sight! At the centre of this giant rock circle rises the sombre cone of Mount Batur (1 717m), from where a wisp of smoke almost constantly emanates. On its desolate slopes may be discerned, in a subtle cameo of brown hues, the variou..

Getting to Batur’s main crater is easy enough, provided that the right equipment and clothing are used, and the climb is not attempted alone in the dark (selecting a guide can be tiresome, given their tenacious pestering...). Sunrise is the best time..

Fans of shadow theatre, the national art, can step backstage here to admire the finely crafted puppets made of leather ( wayang kulit ) or wood (flat wood wayang kelitik ), or rod puppets wayang golek ) that star in these dreamlike shows. While the..

In the heart of Taman Mini Park, the series of traditional pavilions (there are 33, one per province) give an insight into Indonesia's incredible architectural diversity. Designed like small art and craft museums, each one has folk dance shows.

Founded by the Dutch in 1817, these are among the most renowned botanic gardens in Southeast Asia, known to specialists the world over. The size of the collections (15 000 plant species, 5 000 types of orchid) reflects the conservation and research r..

Taman Nasional Gunung Halimun (40 000ha) encompasses the largest primary equatorial forest in Java. It is a sanctuary for the extremely rare Javan gibbon, long-tailed macaque, and over 130 species of bird. This vast forested area plays an essential..

Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Taman Nasional Gunung Gede Pangrango is named after two volcanoes. It covers 15 000ha of primary tropical rainforest: a fascinating environment where with every step you come across an indigenous plant or unusua..

Make your way up to the Dago teahouse perched above the city in the heart of one of the chic districts. From here you can enjoy a superb panoramic view over Bandung and its surroundings and set off on a lovely walk that takes you to a pretty waterf..

Although it hasn't erupted since 1969, the low-lying Tangkuban Perahu ("Capsized Boat") volcano is active. The smoke, bubbling pools and sulphur fumes give the impression of having reached the ends of the earth, even though the road leading..