Indonesia

The reason to Visit Indonesia this year!

Indonesia is 17,000 islands and a lifetime of photography. Bali alone — with its terraced rice fields at Tegallalang, the temple of Tanah Lot silhouetted against the sea at sunset, the Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu's clifftop amphitheatre, and the extraordinary spiritual density of Ubud — could occupy a dedicated photographer for weeks. Beyond Bali, the Buddhist monument of Borobudur at dawn is one of Asia's great travel experiences, the active volcano of Bromo rising from a sea of cloud is like nothing else I've seen, and the blue fire of Kawah Ijen, visible only at night, produces photographs that look supernatural.

Borobudur at sunrise — arriving before dawn and climbing to the upper terraces as the mist burns off the surrounding jungle is one of the finest photographic experiences in Southeast Asia. The stupa-lined terraces with the Kedu Plain stretching out below glow in the early light in a way that afternoon visits completely miss.

Bali's rice terraces — Tegallalang near Ubud is the most-photographed, but Jatiluwih in the west is larger, less crowded, and has a UNESCO designation for good reason. The stepped geometry of the paddies, bright green in growing season, is endlessly compositional.

Mount Bromo — the volcanic complex of Bromo-Tengger-Semeru, with its smoking crater and surrounding sea of volcanic sand, is best photographed from Penanjakan viewpoint before sunrise. The drive up in a jeep in the dark, arriving at the viewpoint as the sky lightens, is one of the great adventure photography experiences in Indonesia.

Ubud's offerings and temple life — Bali's spiritual life is lived publicly. Women place daily offerings outside every home and business, temple festivals happen constantly, and the combination of incense, flowers, and prayer creates an atmosphere that's deeply photogenic without ever feeling staged.

Suggested Itinararies in Indonesia

Indonesia is enormous — stretching across thousands of islands and multiple time zones — so domestic flights are often essential for longer itineraries. Ferry journeys between nearby islands can be spectacular, but travel times are frequently longer than expected. Building in slower days between major moves makes the experience far more enjoyable.