Indonesia Holidays

Indonesia holidays span volcanic peaks and pink-sand beaches, ancient Hindu temples and world-class surf breaks, jungle retreats and some of the most affordable luxury on the planet. Most people start with Bali - and most people immediately start planning their next trip before they've even left.

Holidays to Indonesia highlights

• Bali - the main event. Beaches, temples, beach clubs, rice terraces and jungle wellness all on the same island, within easy reach of each other

• Ubud - Bali's cultural and spiritual heart, up in the hills. Yoga, art markets, traditional ceremonies and rice-terrace views that belong on a postcard

• Komodo National Park - the only place on earth where you can watch Komodo dragons in the wild, plus some of the best diving in Southeast Asia and the famous pink-sand beach

• The Gili Islands - three tiny car-free islands off the coast of Lombok, white sand, turquoise water and a hammock-on-the-beach pace of life that's hard to leave

• Mount Batur sunrise - a pre-dawn volcano hike that ends with breakfast cooked in the ground steam and one of the most spectacular views in Southeast Asia

• The food - nasi goreng, satay, babi guling, bebek betutu. Warung street food for dead cheap, Michelin-level dining for a fraction of what it costs at home

Good to Know

• It's enormous - Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago. Don't try to island-hop everything in one trip; pick your base and do it properly

• Your money goes a long way - private pool villas, hour-long spa treatments, fresh seafood on the beach. Indonesia is one of the best-value long-haul destinations on earth

• Bali is just the start - it's the most visited island for good reason, but Lombok, the Gilis and Komodo are genuinely worth building a longer trip around if you've got the time

Local Lingo

Bahasa Indonesia is the national language spoken across all 17,000 islands - and unlike most Asian languages, it's genuinely easy to pick up. No tones, no complex script, and English is widely spoken in tourist areas anyway. A few phrases worth knowing:

• Selamat datang - welcome. You'll see and hear this everywhere, and using it back earns an immediate grin.

• Permisi - excuse me. Essential for navigating busy markets and temple courtyards without being that tourist.

• Tolong - please. Polite, simple and very useful when pointing at things in a warung you can't name.

• Tidak apa-apa - no problem / it's okay. One of the most useful phrases in the language, and one locals use constantly.

• Berapa harga? - how much is it? The fuller version of "Berapa?" that works better in shops and markets.

• Enak sekali - very delicious. A step up from just "enak" that will genuinely delight anyone who just cooked for you.

Where to Stay on your holidays to Indonesia 2026/2027

• Bali - the headline act. Beaches, temples, surf, wellness, culture and nightlife all coexist on one island in a way that shouldn't work but absolutely does. Most Indonesia holidays start and end here, and that's not a bad thing.

• Ubud - up in the Balinese hills and a world apart from the south coast. Jungle villas, rice terraces, traditional Kecak dance performances and a wellness scene that's the real deal. Best paired with a few nights on the coast for the classic Bali fortnight.

Top hotels for your Indonesia holidays

Bali is where the majority of our hotels sit, covering everything from all-inclusive beachfront resorts in Nusa Dua to private pool villas in Seminyak and jungle retreats in Ubud. Here are some of the top picks across different styles of stay:

For families

• SOL by Melia Benoa Bali All-Inclusive - private beach, kids' splash zone, swim-up bar and watersports next door. All-inclusive done properly.

• Grand Mirage Resort Thalasso Spa - family favourite with a mini waterpark, multiple restaurants and a beachfront location in Nusa Dua.

• Bali Tropic Resort & Spa - direct beach access, dedicated kids' pool and more activities than the kiddos can get through in a week.

For couples

• The Seminyak Beach Resort and Spa - beachfront in Seminyak's best stretch, private beach access and sunset dinners on the sand.

• Double-Six Luxury Hotel Seminyak - rooftop infinity pool, butler service and one of the most stylish addresses on the south coast.

For luxury lovers

• Paradisus by Melia Bali - a whopper of a resort with a waterpark, multiple pools, spa and nightlife on the doorstep.

• MERUSAKA Nusa Dua - three-tier infinity pools, private villas with plunge pools and the calm Nusa Dua beach a few steps away.

Ubud retreats

• The Garcia Ubud - boutique luxury with private pools and unique dining in the hills above Ubud.

• Kenran Resort Ubud - peaceful jungle retreat with a spa, valley views and a genuinely restorative atmosphere.

What are the best beaches in Indonesia?

Indonesia's beaches range from the buzzing resort strips of south Bali to dramatic, barely-touched coves on the Bukit Peninsula, pink-sand shores in Komodo and the car-free island paradise of the Gilis. Here are the ones worth knowing about beyond Bali's main resort beaches:

• Padang Padang Beach, Bali - tucked beneath the Bukit Peninsula cliffs and reached via a narrow staircase carved through the rock. A tiny, dramatic cove with crystal-clear water and reef surf just offshore.

• Gili Islands - three small car-free islands off the north-west coast of Lombok, each with its own character. White sand, turquoise water and a pace of life that makes even a long weekend feel like a proper reset.

• Pink Beach, Komodo - one of only a handful of pink-sand beaches in the world, sitting inside Komodo National Park. The colour comes from red coral fragments in the white sand, and the snorkelling just offshore is some of the best in Southeast Asia.

Indonesia Holidays 2026 & 2027 Travel Guide

Things to do in Indonesia for Families

• Waterbom Bali - consistently ranked one of Asia's best waterparks and a guaranteed full day out right in the middle of Kuta. Book online in advance for cheaper entry and to skip the queues, and go early to claim the good spots before the crowds arrive.

• Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud - hundreds of macaques roaming free through an ancient jungle temple complex. Younger kids absolutely love it - just don't take food in; the monkeys are opportunists, and they will find it.

• Bali Safari & Marine Park - a proper full-day family outing near Gianyar with safari bus rides, animal feeding sessions and a waterpark on site for when the safari energy runs out. Worth booking as a combined ticket for the best value.

• Nusa Dua beach days - the reef-protected beaches of Nusa Dua are some of the calmest and most swimmable in Bali, making them the go-to family base. Watersports, paddleboarding and glass-bottom boat trips are all available directly from the beach.

Things to do in Indonesia for Couples

• Sunrise hike up Mount Batur - a 2am pickup, a two-hour climb up an active volcano in the dark, and then sunrise over Lake Batur with breakfast cooked in the natural ground steam at the top. One of those experiences you'll be talking about for years.

• Uluwatu at sunset with the Kecak fire dance - the clifftop temple at the southern tip of Bali at golden hour, followed by a torchlit fire dance performance with the Indian Ocean crashing 70 metres below. The island's most cinematic evening by a considerable distance.

• Jimbaran seafood grills - fresh catch bought from the morning fish market and grilled on the beach, served on plastic chairs in the sand as the sun goes down. The bill for two is well under €35, and it's one of those simple Bali rituals that somehow becomes a highlight of your couples' holiday.

• Couple's spa day in Ubud - full-day wellness packages with yoga, Balinese massage and lunch from about €45 a head. Ubud has some of Asia's best holistic spa programmes, and the jungle-villa setting makes even a half-day feel like a proper reset.

Things to do in Indonesia for groups

• Beach clubs in Seminyak - Potato Head and Finns are the two headline acts, with daybeds, DJs, cocktails and sunset sessions that run from lunchtime into the evening. Reservations are worth making in July and August when they fill up fast.

• Surf lessons in Kuta or Canggu - around €18 for a two-hour group lesson with the board included, and the instructors will genuinely have most people standing up before the session ends. Kuta is better for complete beginners, Canggu for anyone who's had a lesson or two before.

• Private villa with a chef - six or eight people in a villa with a pool and a private cook often works out cheaper per head than a hotel room, and the group dinners end up being the best part of the trip. Most villa management companies can arrange a chef for a full week.

• White-water rafting the Ayung River - a half-day out near Ubud on grade 2-3 rapids through jungle gorges, fine for beginners and a reliable group bonding moment. Most operators include hotel transfers, equipment and lunch in the price.

Things to do in Indonesia for Foodies

• Warung meals - small family-run roadside kitchens with plastic chairs, no English menu and bills that make you check twice. Nasi goreng, mie goreng and satay are the warung staples, and finding your favourite spot becomes a genuine daily ritual.

• Babi guling in Ubud - Bali's signature suckling pig, slow-roasted over coconut husks with a spice paste rubbed under the skin. Ibu Oka in Ubud is the famous address and genuinely lives up to the reputation- arrive early before it sells out.

• Seminyak dining - the strip around Seminyak and Petitenget has some of Asia's best mid-range and high-end restaurants. Sarong, Merah Putih and Mama San are all worth booking ahead for a proper night out that won't cost anything like what the same meal would at home.

• Cooking class in the Itria Valley or Ubud - half-day sessions learning a four or five-course Balinese menu from scratch, including the spice pastes that make everything taste the way it does. You eat what you make for lunch, and the skills actually translate when you get home.

Places to go on Indonesia holidays

• Bali - the main event. Beaches, temples, surf, wellness and nightlife all on one island. Most Indonesia holidays start here, and most people immediately start planning their return.

• Ubud - Bali's cultural heart up in the hills. Rice terraces, temple ceremonies and a wellness scene that's the genuine article.
  

Other Places to Explore in Southeast Asia

• Thailand - incredible beaches, world-class street food and a warmth and welcome that keeps people coming back year after year.

• Malaysia - a brilliant mix of tropical beaches, rainforest and one of Asia's great food cities in Kuala Lumpur.

• Vietnam - dramatic landscapes, rich history and a food culture that punches well above its weight from north to south.

• Singapore - compact, endlessly efficient and one of the world's great food destinations. A natural stopover that deserves a few extra days in its own right.