Lengkuas Island

 Lengkuas Island

Where to Stay

Aside from public toilets with fairly limited fresh water, there are no facilities of any kind available on the island. While camping may be an option, keep in mind that the island does not have any source of fresh water. Therefore, you must bring enough supply of fresh water along with you with other logistics.

However, inns and other accommodation are available in the main tourist area at Tanjung Kelayang Beach.

Tips

The best time to visit Lengkuas Island is from March to November. During these months, the climate and waves are fairly friendly and perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

It is not advisable to visit the island from December to January, since waves are strong and tend to be dangerous.

Bring sufficient amount of food, water, and other logistics since there are no facilities or food stalls available on the island and no source of fresh water.

How to Get There

To reach Lengkuas Island you can rent a boat available at several beaches in Belitung such as at Tanjung Kelayang, Tanjung Binga, or Tanjung Tinggi.

From Tanjung Kelayang the boat trip will take approximately 20 minutes, while from Tanjung Binga or Tanjung Tinggi it will take about 30-45 minutes. Along the way you’ll be presented with fascinating sceneries of several small islands off the coast of Belitung.

The rate for the boat range between IDR350,000 to IDR500,00. As boats have a capacity of up to 10 persons, it is wise to share the boat with others to reduce costs.

Rico V. - XI MIA 1 - 30

Bunaken Marine Park

Bunaken Marine Park

Where to Stay

On the island you have a choice amongst a number of homestays, with rates starting at Rp40,000 for one person a day, including full board. Some of the dive operators on Bunaken are offering more upmarket accommodation that has running water.

You can also stay in the hotels in Manado and then book a daily package to Bunaken, usually leaving in the morning and returning in the late afternoon. See our Travel Directory for starred hotels in Manado (North Sulawesi --> Kota Manado)

What to Do

Most diving takes place near Bunaken and Manado Tua, because of the many excellent sites. The following are representative of  dive spots in the area.

Lekuan Walls (I, II, III)

This long wall at Bunaken is divided into three sites: the Lekuan I, II and III. Together they are the park's best. Steep walls are marked with deep crevices, sea fans and giant sponges. The shallows are filled with fishes. The wall, often protected from stronger currents, is frequented by bumphead parrotfish, turtles, and Napoleon wrasses.

Bunaken Timor

There are strong currents and lots of fish on this long wall. The shallow reef isn't as spectacular as some but there are turtles, sharks, eagle rays, and other big fish in the blue. Overhangs and small caves mark the wall.

Siladen Island

Siladen has a beautiful wall of soft corals that bloom when the current is running. The shallows are nice with lots of fishes and schooling snappers.

Barracuda Point

Barracuda Point, on northwest Montehage, is one of the furthest sites. A school of giant barracuda are regulars along with jacks and tuna.     

Manado Wreck

This 60m (200ft) long German merchant ship sank near Molas Beach in 1942. It sits upright with the bow at 23m (78ft). The ship is split near amidships back to the stern, exposing the wheelhouse and cargo holds. Dives finish up on a nearby shallow reef. Expect 10-15m (30-50ft) visibility.

Other than diving-enthusiasts, ornithologists and amateur bird-watchers might find visiting Tangkoko Dua Sudara Nature Reserve entertaining.

How to Get There

The island of Bunaken is easily reached from Manado by motorized boat, departing from Manado harbor, Molas, Kalasey and Tasik Ria beach. Ferries from Manado to Bunaken leave daily around 2 p.m (depending on the tide), except on Sundays, when they leave from Pasar Jengki near the Manado harbor. The return journey from Bunaken to Manado usually leaves early in the morning, at around 7-8 a.m

There are also charter boats that depart in the morning and return in the late afternoon. These are usually reserved for travel packages organized by agents or hotels.

Tips

·         Entrance tags and tickets can be purchased through marine tourism operators based in Manado and in the Bunaken National Park, or can be purchased from one of three ticket counters in Bunaken and Liang villages on the islands of Bunaken and Siladen .

·         You should be aware that during the absolute peak season months of July and August it usually gets very crowded. Many of the better resorts and dive operators will not be able to accept walk-ins during that time since they are already fully booked. Better make a reservation beforehand.

·         Try to hire equipment from larger firms as these are more reliable, but remember: the responsibility of checking the equipment is ultimately with yourself.

·         If you're the more adventurous type, you can try diving in Raja Ampat and Wayang Island. In Papua.

Albert RT – XI MIA 1 - 02

Dieng Telaga Warna

Dieng Telaga Warna

What to Do

You can follow the edge of the lake and you will find a small balcony to sit and relax while enjoying

the beauty and diversity of nature that surround it.

There is also another excellent location where to enjoy the beauty of this lake other than being right

on its edge.  You can climb to the top of one of the hills bordering the lake along a narrow trail. This

dirt road is very narrow, with just enough room for one person to pass at a time. The climb is not so

steep, but is slippery enough since the Dieng area is known for its high rainfall. After a few hundred

meter climb, you will reach the top of the hill to witness a spellbinding view. Spread out down below

is a beautiful lake surrounded by thick forests with beautiful purple colored water around the edge,

shaded in green in towards the middle, and pale green towards the center of the lake. 

On the otherside, a narrow meadow separates it from another lake called Telaga Pengilon, or the

Reflecting Lake.Further ahead, Prau Mountain and Pakuwaja Mountain form a circle, as if created to

protect these two beautiful lakes from any harm.

From this hill, you will also see another beautiful lake called Telaga Pengilon, meaning the

Reflection Lake. This lake earned its name from its waters being so transparently clear that you are

able to see your reflection in it. Story has it and local residents believe that this lake can know the

inner feelings of the human heart.

Around Telaga Warna, there are several ancient Dieng caves worthy of a visit such as the Gua Semar

Pertapaan Mandalasari Begawan Sampurna Jati. In the front of this cave is a statue of a woman

holding a water pitcher. This cave also has a small pool whose water is believed to cure diseases and

make the skin more beautiful and reduce the appearance of ageing. Other caves that may be of

interest are Gua Sumur Eyang Kumalasari, and Gua Jaran Resi Kendaliseto. The caves around this

area are often used as a place for meditation.

How to Get There

You can reach the Dieng highlands from Semarang, capital of Central Java. Semarang is served by

daily flights from Jakarta, Surabaya and other cities around Indonesia.You can also reach Semarang

by train from Jakarta or Surabaya.Dieng is located approximately 116 km from Yogyakarta. There 

are daily flights available to Yogyakarta from Jakarta and Denpasar with Garuda Indonesia and Air 

Asia.

To get to the Dieng Plateau, you can use your own car or rent a car directly to Dieng in the

Wonosobo District. The journey will take approximately 4 hours from Yogya. For those who choose

public transport, buses and travel (door to door minibus) are available to take you to Wonosobo

District. After that, the trip is continued with a micro-bus to Dieng for about 1 hour. The natural

scenery of green mountains along the road will pamper your eyes and eliminate the anxiety of the

constantly twisting uphill ride.

To reach Telaga Warna you can use a motorcycle taxi service available in Dieng. However, if you're

feeling adventurous the walk is not too long and you can enjoy the beautiful Dieng scenery.

Where to Stay

Many tourists come to stay in Wonosobo and travel to Dieng as a day trip, however, if you prefer

to stay overnight in Dieng there are many comfortable home-stays available with a host of amenities

and at a reasonable price. Several of the local families from Dieng have also opened up their houses

for rent at relatively cheap prices. Below are several homestay options in Dieng.

Tips

·         Bring supplies you may need during the journey and while at the lake site.

·         The weather in these highlands is very unpredictable and can get quite chilly unlike other low lying parts of Indonesia. Bringing warm clothing is recommended.

·         It is recommended to leave the Dieng region before night falls as a thick fog begins to set in around the later afternoon. 

·         In Gua Semar and Gua Sumur the cave entrances are well fenced off and permissions is needed from the caretaker to enter.

·         Telaga Warna and its surrounding area are considered a sacred place and it is advisable to be respectful and not speak too loudly while in the region.

Do not litter to maintain cleanliness and sustainability of tourism in the region of Dieng at Telaga Warna

Michael FK. - XI MIA 1 - 24

Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo

Where To Stay

There are a number of guesthouses and basic hotels located around Mt Bromo. The Bromo Guest

House is located at Ngadisari that lies 3 km from the crater rim. Or you can choose other hotels at

Cemoro Lawang because it this situated at the crater rim.

Visitors can also stay at Tretes, Pasuruan or in Malang, the nearest towns to Bromo, and cool

mountain resorts, where there are a number of good hotels with spectacular views on Mt. Semeru

and Mt.Arjuna.   

How to Get There

To reach Mount Bromo, you can fly to Juanda international airport in Surabaya. There are direct

flights to Surabaya from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hongkong, Jakarta and Bali.

Sriwijaya Air flies twice daily from Jakarta to Malang.

From there, continue your journey to Mount Bromo by booking with a travel agent, or driving the

Surabaya-Pasuruan-Wonokitri-Mount Bromo route. The journey will take 2 to 3 hours. It is best for

you to leave Surabaya at 23:00-24:00 in order to arrive in time for sunrise. Or you can stay overnight

at one of the hotels at Prigen, Tretes, .to make sure that you are on the crater rim before sunrise.

Ponies can take you across the sand sea to the bottom of the steep stairs that leads to the crater.

What to Do

Watching the sun rise spectacularly over Mt Bromo is the highlight of any trip here.

Visit in the month of Kasada (usually in September-November) and witness the annual Kasada

festival where the local Tenggerese come to Bromo to throw offerings of vegetables, chickens and

money into the crater of the volcano.

What to Eat

If you forget to bring food, the restaurants near Mount Bromo open from 3 am. They generally

provide various types of Indonesian traditional dishes such as Ketoprak, fried rice, Rujak Cingur,

Bandrek, etc.

Tips

·         The temperature at Mt Bromo ranges from 3 to 20 degrees Celsius but the temperature may be several degrees below zero during the dry season.  If you can’t stand cold weather, you should bring a jacket, gloves and a head cover or cap. After the sun rises, the weather becomes hot pretty fast.

·         Don't forget to bring a camera or handycam so you can capture the natural beauty.

Kelvin - XI MIA 1 -20

Kuta Beach

Kuta Beach

Where to Stay

Kuta is the ultimate beach resort catering to any taste and budget. You may stay at five star hotels, or at clean “losmen” or home stays. In the hotel complex you will have privacy at the hotel’s own beach front or swimming pool, but when you stroll out you will be met with the hustle and bustle of the town centre.

What to Do

Many visitors come here to shop. Kuta is a manufacturing center for summer wear, jewelry and decorative handicrafts that are exported all over the world. So shop here to your heart’s content for summer chic to beach wear, including wonderfully creative accessories from shoes, handbags to bracelets, necklaces and earrings. There are department stores to boutiques, to roadside stalls.

Popular night spots on Kuta include the Hard Rock Café, De Ja Vu, the Bali  Globe, Paddy’s Café and many more. 

How to Get There

There are plenty of taxis that can take you to Kuta beach. You can rent these by the meter or by the hour. Taking your own car is not recommended as parking here is very tight.

What to Eat

There are various foreign and local restaurants that offering international and local foods. These restaurants are available along Kuta.

Tips

·         Dont forget to equip yourself with sun protection.

·         Bring a bathing suit and extra clothings.

·         If you're a backpacker looking for cheap accommodation in Kuta, just go to Poppies Lane Alley, where you can pick your low-budget inns and restaurants.

·         Warungs offering cheap food are within a 2 minute walk on Poppies Lane 1, so no need to get sucked into a beachside restaurant and high prices.

·         Almost every evening there is a performance of Balinese -dance somewhere in Kuta. To know what is on just ask around.

Rico V- XI MIA 1 - 30

Komodo National Park

 Komodo National Park

       Similar with those available in Loh Liang (Komodo Island), Loh Buaya (Rinca Island) also has simple guest houses offering few rooms. A luxurious hotel with limited capacity is currently being built in Loh Liang. Most tourists visiting Rinca Island don't stay overnight (they come from Labuan Bajo and stay in the hotels in Labuan), while those coming to Komodo Island usually stay in their rented motorboats. Nearly all motorboats have cabins and bed rooms. Large motorboats usually have good bed rooms.

Ranger's Houses - Komodo Island

The new renovated ranger's houses in eco style accommodation, with modern facilities featuring with private bathroom, limited electric power supply, dining. Only few step to the beach of Lohliang. Ranger's houses becomes an alternative accommodation offer to visitors whom for some reasons are not able to sleep on boat.

 

Puri Komodo Resort - Batu Gosok

Sets on the northwest tip of Flores island of Indonesia, this location well known with Batu Gosok, secluded peninsula. 250.000 square meters of land hideaway guaranteed to thrill snorkelers, divers and adventurers. A magnificent secluded cove with over 1.000 meters of white sandy beach and a wooden jetty protruding 450 meters into the coral rich turquoise waters. Opulent sea gardens in colors of purple, yellow, blue and fuchsia blend with brightly colored tropical fish drifting aimlessly amongst the coral.

Boat Accommodation from Labuan Bajo

Simple boat sleep on the deck with set mattresses, fit for a small group up to 4 peoples only, meals freshly cooked on board, mineral bottled water supplied, simple toilet.

Boat Accommodation depart from Bima

Larger boat with cabin, dining facilities and standard safety equipment available for those who are travel to Komodo via Bima. Although it takes you over 7 hours on water - the facilities promises on the boat better enough compare to those who are start from from Labuan Bajo

Tips

• Don't walk alone. It is best to walk around with a ranger or guide. 
• Don't disturb or feed komodos. 
• Despite slow and lazy movement, this animal can suddenly turn aggresive and move fast. 
• When trekking, please take a stick with you. Komodos are usually afraid when threatened with a stick. 
• Please wear shoes. 
• Komodo, Rinca, and Padar islands have 12 types of snakes and three of them are poisonous, namely green snakes living on trees, cobras and russel's viper who live on the ground in holes on the savannas. 
• Women having their menstruation must report to a guide or ranger for special attention. Komodos have a very strong sense of smell and may turn agresive when they smell blood. 
• Please bring along your insect repellant because this area has many mosquitoes who'll be excited at the prospects of having fresh blood. 
• Most lands on Komodo and Rinca islands are savannas which are prone to fire during the dry season so smoking and making fires are prohibited.

How To Get There?

By daily flights from: Bali - Labuan Bajo/Komodo Airport - Bali (each 1.5 hours)

Everyday, there are two to three flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo by Transnusa, IAT (Indonesia Air Transport), and Merpati.  In addition, there is a twice a week flight from Kupang. Inter-island motorboats from Sape in West Nusa Tenggara are also available everyday (when the weather permits), and the Pelni ship from Bali and Lombok makes a stop over here every two weeks.

Land transportation from the East (Flores mainland e.g., Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende and Maumere) is also available.  If you are interested in making a long trip in Flores, you can start from Maumere to the west i.e., to Moni, Kelimutu, Ende, Bena, Bajawa, Ruteng and lastly Labuan Bajo (Komodo) or vice versa.

Kelvin - XI MIA 1 - 20  B)