I never traveled or really thought about Indonesia… But this week, I found a video I really enjoyed [see my post on Facebook April 23]. Everything looks inspiring: Scenic landcapes, people with big smiles, fauna, stunning lights…Indonesia has become one of my top travel destination list !

“Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world comprising 17,504 tropical islands fringed with white sandy beaches, many still uninhabited and a number even still unnamed”.  When we say Indonesia, one shall first think about Bali, but so many other places are worthwile to explore in this area!  I just wanted to share 2 great places that look like a Must destination when backpacking to Java.

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park

David O’Connor, one of the RootsTraveler Facebook fan, shared his favorite spot: Mount Bromo, an active volcanic area East of Java, located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. You can hike the Sand Sea desert walking or horse riding ponies, and get on top of the mount Bromo at early morning to witness the natural beauty of a fascinating sunrise.

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park covers a massive area of 800 square kilometres in the centre of East Java. For anyone with an interest in volcanoes, a visit to the park is a must. This is the largest volcanic region in the province. Visit the park and see the plumes of smoke coming from Mt. Semeru, an active volcano which rises 3676 meters above sea level.

Read full article with great tips here (www.indonesia.travel)

If you can plan your trip in November, make sure you go to Bromo during the annual Kasada festival, when the local Tenggerese come to throw offerings of vegetables, chickens and money into the crater of the volcano. Read this testimonial from this great travelers blog aroundthisworld.com:

4:00AM – The jarring alarm wakes us from our slumber. We force ourselves to get dressed and eat breakfast, despite the darkness. Our 4WD tour departs at 4:30am and we’re on our way thought the hazy fog towards the Bromo volcano. Out of sheer luck, we happened to be visiting on the biggest day of the year for the local Tenggerese people, when they come to the volcano to make their yearly sacrifices as part of the festival of Yadnya Kasada.

Read full article here (www.aroundthisworld.com)

For travelers who are seeking hiking adventure, you can climb Mount Semeru, the highest peak in Java (3 days).

This mountain, also known as the Great Mountain, is regarded by Hindus as the most sacred mountain of all. Getting to the peak is a tough three day trek. Mt Semeru is one of the most active volcanoes on Java and regularly explodes. These gases and belching lava make Semeru dangerous, so stay well away from the vent.

More information here (www.indonesia.travel)

Ujung Kulon National Park

This park is a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1991, located in the extreme soutwestern tip of Java, and encompasses the natural reserve of Krakatoa. Imagine deep blue water and fascinating white sand beaches…

Today, Ujung Kulon National Park is a must-see among backpackers and a refuge for dwindling populations of the Javan rhino and tiger. And while a lack of funding preserves the park’s wilderness, the tangled jungles, climactic electrical storms and a lurking fear of the volcano’s wrath keep many locals away from the exquisite scenery.

Read full article here (from www.nationalgeographic.com)

I like the following blog of Kirsten Bos, Start Backpacking.com. She went to Ujung Kulon National Park and gives some feedback:

You can enjoy the rapid rivers, white beaches and relax in the thermal springs. If you’re done of all the animal spotting at land you can snorkel in the blue see along the coast and check out the coral riff below. You can also go deeper into the water and dive. Or just throw out your fishing rod and catch a nice fish.

Because there are no civilians here, nature just goes its way. You’ll see trees like you’ve never seen them before and animals which can’t be found anywhere in the world.

Full testimonial here (from startbackpacking.wordpress.com)

Indonesia and Java have so many national parks / beautiful islands… it is hard to pretend where you should travel to. Anyway, it is definitely another destination I have on my backpacking bucketlist!!

What about you? Have you been to Indonesia? Did you enjoyed? Is it a country you wish/plan to visit one day?

Please vote at the top of this post and then share your own experience in the comments at the bottom!