West Sumatra Itinerary- planning a trip in one of the most exotic areas in Southeast Asia
Updated October 2026: This itinerary has been reviewed to reflect important changes in West Sumatra’s travel conditions. Mount Marapi is […]

Capital: Jakarta
Area: 1 904 569 km2
Population: 270 203 917
Official languages: Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
Other spoken languages: more than 700 local languages, most prominent- Javanese, Sundanese, Malay, Batak, Minangkabau, Madurese, Buginese, Ambon, Papua languages and more; foreign languages: English, Dutch
Ethnic groups: Javanese, Sundanese, Malay, Batak, Betawi, Minangkabau, Buginese, Balinese and more Austronesian peoples, Melanesians
Currency: IDR (Indonesian Rupiah) (1 USD = 14,342.35 IDR; 1 EUR = 15,877.70 IDR)
Basic facts: Unitary presidential republic, part of ASEAN.
Travel tips:
1. Indonesia is the largest island country in the world, established on the largest archipelago on Earth.
2. Indonesia is located on both sides of the Equator, so the climate and geographical zone is mainly equatorial, with equatorial rainforests and warm seas with rich marine wildlife.
3. Indonesia is located on the “Ring of Fire”, between the Pacific and the Indian oceans, with about 400 volcanoes. 130 of them are active.
4. Indonesia is the culturaly most diverse country in the world, with more than 700 local ethnic groups and languages. Its motto is “Unity in Diversity”.
5. Indonesia is famous for Bali Island. Bali is prominent for its culture and tourism, but there are many more unique islands, although not so popular, like Sumatra, Java, Nias, Lombok, Komodo, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Maluku Islands, Raja Ampat, Papua and more.
10 best destinations in Indonesia:
Updated October 2026: This itinerary has been reviewed to reflect important changes in West Sumatra’s travel conditions. Mount Marapi is […]
Updated October 2026: This guide has been reviewed to reflect current Mentawai surf charter arrangements. Some of the featured vessels
Updated October 2026: This guide has been reviewed to reflect changes in accommodation options and surfing arrangements across the Mentawai
Updated October 2026: The Mentawai surf camp options described in this guide have been reviewed, including resort operations and available
Updated October 2026: This guide combines our experience in the Mentawai Islands in August 2023 with additional geographical and practical