Composed of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago. They are scattered over 5,000 miles of ocean along the Pacific ‘ring of fire’ making the country prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

There are few places on earth that can match its cultural and geographical diversity making it a tourist draw all year round – helped of course by its year-round hot climate and value for money.

Most visitors flock to the magical island of Bali with its beautiful sandy beaches, verdant landscapes and tropical climate. For those feeling more adventurous, exploration beyond Bali reaps rich rewards.

Sumatra offers the orang-utan nature reserve of Bukit Lawang, the striking Lake Toba (the world's largest volcanic lake) and the world-renowned surfing destination of Pulau Nias.

Java offers a different experience, especially in Jakarta, the vibrant, chaotic capital of Indonesia. An altogether more peaceful and traditional location is Yogyakarta offering the enigmatic temple ruins of Borobudur and Prambanan as well as the volcanic blue lakes and Hindu temples of Dieng Plateau.

Lombok Island has beaches to rival the world's best and offers a more laid back and less touristy experience than Bali.  Further east, Komodo is the home to the world's largest lizard, the Komodo dragon while Flores has intriguing cultures and the extraordinary coloured lakes of Kelimutu.

For the intrepid explorer, north of Java are the vast jungles of Kalimantan, one of the least explored areas in the world. Sulawesi is similarly unexplored, although more accessible to visitors and offers gorgeous beaches perfect for soaking up the never-ending sunshine.

The volatile nature of its location was vividly displayed to the world in December 2004 when a tsunami greatly damaged many Indonesian islands, with the loss of thousands of lives.   Many areas are now able to welcome visitors again, but you should be aware of the impact of the disaster on local communities, even if the physical damage is not always evident. 

The situation was aggravated further by the severe earthquake that took place on 28 March 2005 on the tiny island of Nias, a popular surfing destination off the coast of Sumatra.

The currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (Rp). The easiest currency to change is US Dollars; you’ll have no problem in the main tourist areas but may encounter difficulties in other areas.

American Express, MasterCard, Visa, Diners Club and Eurocard are all widely accepted in Jakarta and the main tourist areas. ATMs are available in towns and it is best to carry cash in small denominations.

Traveller’s cheques can be exchanged at banks and large hotels. To avoid any additional exchange rate charges take US Dollar or Sterling traveller’s cheques (American Express are more widely accepted)