Indonesia is what happens when 17,000-ish islands, hundreds of volcanoes, questionable infrastructure and absolutely no respect for your itinerary get thrown across the equator.
And holy shit, does it work.
Most people hear Indonesia and immediately think Bali.
That’s adorable.
Bali is the gateway drug. Keep going and Indonesia gets progressively more ridiculous. Java has volcanoes that roar like jet engines. Kawah Ijen lets you hike into an acidic crater in the middle of the night because apparently normal sightseeing wasn’t dangerous enough. Komodo has giant prehistoric lizards. Sumbawa has whale sharks. There are waterfalls hiding in jungles, pink beaches, ancient temples, manta rays, volcanic lakes and entire islands most tourists couldn’t identify on a map.
Indonesia routinely looks Photoshopped.
Getting to those places is where the fuckery begins.
Traffic can turn 30 kilometers into a meaningful life commitment. Ferries have an occasionally philosophical relationship with schedules. Roads can deteriorate into optimistic suggestions. Google Maps will confidently send you up a mountain, through someone’s village and possibly into agricultural infrastructure before announcing YOU HAVE ARRIVED.
No, Google. I absolutely fucking haven’t.
But that’s exactly why Indonesia keeps pulling me back.
It’s chaotic, humid, unpredictable, cheap, spectacularly beautiful and almost impossible to fully explore.
Come to Bali. Drink the smoothie bowl. Take the obligatory sunset photo.
Then get the fuck off Bali.
Because Bali is fantastic.
But Indonesia is fucking insane.
Top-Rated Volcano Tourism Destinations in Indonesia
Map of Indonesia
Destinations to Explore in Indonesia
Culture worth the detour
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Dark Places, Worse Stories
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Things That Might Bite
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Travel Guides
9EntriesLatest Volcano Tourism Destinations in Indonesia
Lewotobi Laki-Laki: The Volcano That Wants You Dead
Most volcanoes become tourist attractions. Lewotobi Laki-Laki became a disaster zone. Join me as I venture into the shadow of one of Indonesia’s most explosive volcanoes, walking through villages devastated by ashfall, lava bombs, and an eruption that changed thousands of lives forever. This is Lewotobi, uncensored.
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Lapindo Mud Volcano: Still Spewing Shit Since 2006
Nearly 20 years after burying villages and displacing thousands, Indonesia’s Lapindo Mud Volcano is still spewing. No crowds, no gift shop, and on my visit, not another tourist in sight. Just an ongoing disaster, an apocalyptic landscape, and one hell of a lesson in what happens when catastrophe refuses to end.
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Kawah Ijen: Nearly Died Twice, Finally Saw Blue Fire
Two trips, two brutal climbs and one spectacularly toxic volcano later, I finally descended into Kawah Ijen to see its infamous blue fire. Between the 3AM wake-up call, sulfur clouds that smell like Satan farted, 27 zillion tourists fighting for selfies and local miners hauling massive loads of sulfur up the crater on their shoulders, this might be the most badass thing I’ve ever done before breakfast.
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Mount Bromo: Apparently the Earth Has a Fucking Jet Engine
I went to Mount Bromo expecting Instagram hype and volcanic disappointment. Instead, I froze my ass off, chased sunrise through the fog, crossed a giant gray beach and climbed to the crater rim where the Earth sounded like a jet engine at full throttle.
Read moreExploring the Majestic Beauty of Mount Batur in Bali, Indonesia
Majestic sunrise, active volcano, and breathtaking vistas make Mount Batur a must-visit marvel in Bali’s highlands.
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Mount Merapi, Indonesia’s Fire Mountain
Experience the awe-inspiring power and natural beauty of Mount Merapi in Indonesia, as you embark on a thrilling adventure to witness its majestic volcanic landscapes and immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of the surrounding region.
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