Indonesia | ZHO Travel & Tourism

In Indonesia a day can begin with sunrise over a volcano and end with sunset over the sea, and no two islands are alike.

The destination

About Indonesia

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago: more than 17,000 islands strung along the equator between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It combines tropical nature, a wide range of cultures and gentle adventure, so it suits travellers who want a quiet beach as much as those who want to walk through forests and up volcanoes.

It is also the country with the largest Muslim population in the world. Mosques are part of daily life in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Lombok, and halal food is easy to find. Bali is mostly Hindu, so there we choose trusted halal restaurants for you and hotels that prepare halal meals on request.

We plan your trip around five places: Bali, with its rice terraces and sea temples; Jakarta, the capital, with Istiqlal Mosque and the old town; Komodo, home of the dragon and the pink beach; Yogyakarta, with the UNESCO-listed temples of Borobudur and Prambanan; and Lombok and the Gili Islands, for clear water and calm away from the crowds.

The best months are April to October, the dry season. Saudi citizens can get a visa on arrival or an electronic visa before travelling, and we handle the paperwork and the domestic flights and fast boats with you, step by step.

Best timeApril to October (dry season)

FlightAbout 9.5 h direct from Jeddah or Riyadh to Jakarta, then a domestic flight to Bali or Lombok

VisaVisa on arrival or e-VOA for Saudi citizens, valid for 30 days and extendable once

CurrencyIndonesian rupiah (IDR)

LanguageIndonesian; English is widely spoken in tourist areas

Time+4 h in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, +5 h in Bali, Lombok and Komodo

Ideal stay7 to 12 nights

Ideal for

Family travel Honeymoons Travel with friends

Regions

Where to go

01 · Island

Bali

Indonesia's best-known island: beaches in the south, rice terraces and forest around Ubud, temples on sea rocks and lakes, and calm luxury resorts.

02 · City

Jakarta

A lively capital where skyscrapers meet traditional markets and history, with Istiqlal Mosque beside the National Monument.

03 · Island

Komodo

A UNESCO-listed national park of Komodo dragons, the hills of Padar, pink-sand beaches and coral reefs.

04 · City

Yogyakarta

The cultural and historical heart of Java, and the gateway to the UNESCO-listed temples of Borobudur and Prambanan.

05 · Island

Lombok and the Gili Islands

A mostly Muslim island of quiet clear-water beaches and the volcano Rinjani, with the small Gili Islands for snorkellers and those who want calm.

Experiences

What to do

Terraced rice fields at Tegallalang, Bali

Bali's rice terraces Bali A day among the terraces of Tegallalang and Jatiluwih, watered by the subak system for centuries. Quiet green views for families and photographers.Discover

A Komodo dragon on Rinca island, Komodo National Park

A Komodo National Park cruise Komodo A day on a private boat from Labuan Bajo: the Padar viewpoint, the pink beach and the Komodo dragon. A mix of wildlife and sea found nowhere else.Discover

Sunrise over Borobudur temple, Central Java

Borobudur at sunrise Yogyakarta The world's largest Buddhist temple, built in the 9th century, seen as the mist lifts from the plains and volcanoes around it. A quiet morning of history.Discover

The cliffs below Uluwatu temple and the Indian Ocean, Bali

Culture and heritage Sunset at Uluwatu Uluwatu temple stands on a sheer cliff above the Indian Ocean at Bali's southern tip. Sunset is followed by the Kecak dance in an open-air theatre. Read more

Lombok and Mount Rinjani seen across the strait from Gili Meno

Sea and islands The Gili Islands and sea turtles Three small islands off Lombok with no cars or motorbikes. Snorkelling with turtles in warm, clear water. Read more

Sunrise seen from the summit of Mount Batur, Bali

Adventure Sunrise on Mount Batur A pre-dawn climb up an active volcano in north-east Bali, 1,717 m high. The sun rises over Lake Batur and Mount Agung. Read more

Kelingking bay and its headland on Nusa Penida

Sea and islands A day on Nusa Penida A rugged island south-east of Bali, reached by fast boat from Sanur. White cliffs and turquoise bays, the best known being Kelingking. Read more

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan on the shore of Lake Bratan, Bali

Nature The lake temple at Bratan Ulun Danu Bratan temple on the shore of Lake Bratan in Bali's highlands, pictured on the 50,000-rupiah note. Cool air, gardens and mountains around the lake. Read more

Where to stay

Hotels and resorts we recommend

View all 5 stays

The pool at The St. Regis Bali Resort, Nusa Dua

Bali The St. Regis Bali Resort Beachfront Explore

Stone pathways and gardens of AYANA Resort Bali leading to the ocean

Bali AYANA Resort Bali Beachfront Explore

The forested Ayung river valley at Kedewatan, on the road from Ubud to Payangan where the resort stands (no free photo of the resort itself)

Bali Padma Resort Ubud Jungle and rice terraces Explore

The strait off Lombok's north-west coast by the Gili Islands, which the resort faces (no free photo of the resort itself)

Lombok and the Gili Islands The Oberoi Beach Resort, Lombok Beachfront Explore

The Bundaran HI roundabout and Welcome Monument in central Jakarta, which the hotel overlooks

Jakarta Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta City Explore

Taste and addresses

Flavours and places to know

Indonesian cooking is built on spice pastes, coconut milk and rice, and most of it is halal by nature outside Bali. Try slow-cooked beef rendang, nasi goreng at breakfast and Lombok's grilled ayam taliwang.

To tasteRendangRendang

A plate of nasi goreng, Indonesian fried rice

To tasteNasi gorengNasi goreng

Ayam bakar taliwang, Lombok-style grilled chicken

To tasteAyam taliwangAyam bakar taliwang

To tasteGudegGudeg

The prayer hall and dome of Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta

Landmark · Jakarta Istiqlal Mosque The largest mosque in Southeast Asia and a symbol of Jakarta, opened in 1978. Read more

The Jakarta History Museum on Fatahillah Square, Kota Tua

Landmark · Jakarta Kota Tua, the old town The heart of historic Batavia, with Fatahillah Square and the Dutch city hall that now houses the Jakarta History Museum. Read more

The Prambanan temple complex near Yogyakarta

Landmark · Yogyakarta Prambanan temple compound Indonesia's largest Hindu temple compound, from the 9th century and on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Read more

The Donopratono gate of the Kraton, the sultan's palace in Yogyakarta

Landmark · Yogyakarta The Kraton of Yogyakarta The palace of the sultans of Yogyakarta since the 18th century, still the sultan's residence and a centre of Javanese culture. Read more

Shopping · Yogyakarta Malioboro Street Yogyakarta's best-known shopping street: batik, crafts, silver and street food. Read more

Gilded gamelan instruments in a pavilion of Ubud Palace, Bali

Landmark · Bali Ubud Palace and art market The palace of Ubud's former ruling family at the centre of town, with the arts and crafts market opposite. Read more

Journeys

Ways to see it

Itineraries drawn up by our consultants, to adapt to you day by day.

Indonesia · 8 days

Lombok in 8 days

Where rare nature meets calm and rest

8 days and 7 nights on Lombok, combining rest and adventure: airport reception and farewell, a hotel stay then a resort stay with daily breakfast, and a range of sightseeing tours on …

From SAR 2,444 per person in a double room, international flights not included View the package

Indonesia · 8 days

Bali, from the valley to the ocean

Three nights in Ubud's valley and four on the beach at Nusa Dua

A private 7-night journey that begins among Ubud's forests and rice terraces and ends in a beachfront suite at Nusa Dua with butler service.

Price On request View the package

Questions

Before you go

Do Saudi citizens need a visa for Indonesia?

Yes. You can get it in two ways: a visa on arrival at international airports, or an e-VOA applied for on the official Indonesian immigration website before you travel. It is valid for 30 days and can be extended once for another 30. We help with the application; the decision rests with the Indonesian authorities. For residents of Saudi Arabia it depends on nationality, so ask us about your case.

When is the best time to visit Indonesia?

April to October, the dry season in Bali, Lombok and Java. From November to March there are tropical showers, usually short and in the afternoon, with lower prices and greener landscapes. For Komodo, April to November is best.

Is halal food easy to find?

Yes, in most of Indonesia: it has the world's largest Muslim population, and food in Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Lombok is mostly halal. Bali is mainly Hindu, so there we choose halal-certified restaurants and ask your hotel to prepare halal meals in advance.

Are there mosques nearby for prayer?

Yes. Jakarta and Yogyakarta have mosques in every neighbourhood, and Lombok is known as the island of a thousand mosques. Bali has mosques in Denpasar, Nusa Dua and Kuta, and most hotels provide a prayer mat and the qibla direction on request.

How do we travel between the islands?

Mostly by domestic flight: Jakarta to Bali about 2 h, Bali to Lombok about 40 minutes, Bali to Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo, about 1 h 15. Fast boats also link Bali, Lombok and the Gili Islands. On each island you have a private car and driver.

Is there an extra charge to enter Bali?

Yes. The Bali government charges each foreign visitor a tourism levy of IDR 150,000, paid online through the official Love Bali platform before arrival or at the airport. It is separate from the visa fee.

What is the currency, and are cards accepted?

The currency is the Indonesian rupiah. Cards are accepted in hotels, restaurants and malls, but keep some cash for markets, villages and small islands. Change money at licensed exchange offices or use ATMs inside banks.

What should we wear?

Light cotton clothing for the heat and humidity. Mosques and temples require modest dress covering shoulders and knees, and Bali's temples lend a sarong at the entrance. Jakarta, Lombok and Yogyakarta are conservative, so modest dress is appreciated.

Indonesia: islands of rice terraces, volcanoes and clear sea