Arriving from Praya, visitors are greeted by a splendid coastal view. The road then drops to Selongblanak , a fishing village sited on a huge sweeping expanse of sand, before heading east towards the hills and to beaches ideal for surfing: beyond th..

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.

One of the most famous volcanoes in the world lies 50km from the west coast. An exceptionally powerful eruption in 1883 provoked a tsunami that devastated the adjacent coasts A caldera was formed and today three islands exist: Lang, Rakata and Sertun..

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..

Clinging to the slope of a superb gorge whose sides have been sculpted into paddy fields, Ciwidey ( 25km south of Bandung ) is famous for its blacksmiths. From here the road disappears into the forest and 10km on a road to the left leads up to Kaw..

One of Java's most active volcanoes, with an easily accessible crater (2 622m) at Samarang. When it erupted in 1772 it killed 3 000 people and it last stirred as recently as 2002. It is a 30min walk through bubbling pools, smoke and sulphur deposits ..

Despite its placid appearance, the Galunggang (2 201m) has a fiery temper. From time to time the volcano likes to shake up the peaceful torpor of the surrounding countryside. Even though the eruption of 1982 was not as violent as that of 1822 (4 000 ..

The dense jungle of Taman Nasional Pangandaran that covers the tip of the peninsula offers the chance to see macaques, kijang deer, hornbills, gibbons and maybe even the spectacular rafflesia patura , a giant flower. A recreational area has been add..

Without a doubt one of Java's most interesting museums. The collection includes Dong-Son bronzes from East Indonesia, megalithic statues from Wonosari and opulent bronze Hindu goddesses (10C-12C). The art of Majapahit (East Java) is represented wit..

After Imogiri and its royal necropolis, head for another place of pilgrimage, the coastal village of Parangtritis , realm of the goddess Nyai Loro Kidul, protector of the sultan's line. The beach is popular, but strong currents make swimming dange..

The most active volcano in Indonesia is also its most sacred: one of the two poles of the symbolic axis that joins it to the Indian Ocean and underpins the architecture of the palace of Yogyakarta. Standing at 2 914m above sea level and covered with ..

Well preserved and unique, this is the most interesting of the candis on the Dieng Plateau, with its architecture typical of Northern India: a wide projecting front porch and a pyramidal superstructure with horseshoe niches.

Approximately 110km of spectacular roads with stunning views over the surrounding volcanoes separate the Dieng Plateau from the Gedong Songo site. The omnipresent volcanoes (Sumbing, Sundoro, Merbabu and Lawu) loom on the horizon, around temples risi..

Built in 800 by King Indra, Candi Mendut can be recognised by its cubic shape (its roof, most probably stupa -shaped, was never completed). The stairs and external walls are decorated with low reliefs and bodhisattva. But the main interest of the te..

The epic Ramayana story is recounted on the outer wall of Candi Brahma . The statue of this god to whom temples are rarely dedicated in India occupies the sanctuary's only chamber; it is also the case of the statue of Visnu in the twin temple, Ca..