Buzz
When it comes to traveling to Indonesia, Bali is often the first place that comes to mind for most people. However, you may not know that this beautiful country with its approximately 16,999 islands has many other interesting places to discover. Here are the top 10 lesser-known but incredibly attractive tourist destinations in Indonesia, as introduced by Globalgrasshopper!
1. Visit the Togean Islands in Indonesia
Known as the 'sea paradise,' Togean is a uniquely beautiful destination, ideal for those who want to relax in a remote seaside home with quiet beaches and clear waters. The white sandy beaches here are said to rival those of the Maldives. Additionally, the diverse underwater biology with colorful coral reefs offers you the chance to experience amazing things. What's more, there's no internet or electricity during the day on the island, so you'll be completely disconnected from the noisy outside world.
2. Raja Ampat
Raja Ampat is an archipelago of over 1,500 small islands located in the west of Papua province, Indonesia, consisting of 4 main islands: Misool, Salawati, Batanta, and Waigeo. Many islands in the Raja Ampat archipelago are still quite pristine, uninhabited, or even unheard of by the local Indonesian people. Thanks to its rich marine life with over 1,300 species of colorful fish, more than 700 species of mollusks, and a vast 180,000 square kilometer coral reef, Raja Ampat is known as the Amazon of the oceans.
If you love exploring and diving into marine life, there's no better place than Raja Ampat, home to the most diverse underwater ecosystem on the planet.
3. The Small Village of Kabalutan
The small village located on countless islands of Togeans is home to the Bajau people, famous worldwide as the 'sea nomads.'
The Bajau Laut tribe is believed to be the only tribe in the world still living a sea nomadic lifestyle. They spend their entire lives at sea on boats, only stepping foot on land to exchange the fish they catch for rice and fresh water. Growing up at sea, the children of the tribe learn to swim and dive from a very young age, with most of the kids here able to dive up to 12 meters deep without any supporting equipment. When visiting here, you'll have the chance to buy rare and delicious seafood, especially from the skilled fishermen of the Bajau Laut tribe, at incredibly cheap prices.
4. Una-Una Volcano
Una-Una Volcano is also a great place to visit if you're traveling to the Togean Islands. After the last eruption of the volcano in 1983, the island became quite deserted, with only a few people still living in the eastern area. The beautiful natural landscape and diverse ecosystem are the highlights of Una-Una Volcano. Additionally, if you're lucky, you might even get to swim with the dolphins living in this area.
5. Baliem Valley
Located in the rugged mountainous region of the Jayawijaya Mountains, Baliem Valley - the heart of West Papua New Guinea) is known as the oldest ancient valley in the world with swamps, dense forests, and wild tribes, and it is also the homeland of the rare Stone Age culture still surviving on Earth. Exploring the mysterious Baliem Valley, travelers will be welcomed by many incredibly interesting surprises that are hard to find anywhere else in the world.
Baliem is home to many wild tribal groups. The majority of the residents are the Dani, Yali, and Lani tribes. They are warriors of headhunting tribes. Among them, the Dani tribe is the most special, despite the world's continuous development, this tribe still lives a primitive life, preserving the integrity of their ethnic identity.
6. Tangkoko Nature Reserve
The nature reserve on Tangkoko Mountain is an ideal place in your Indonesia travel to see the black monkeys and many colorful birds. However, the most special thing is that here you will have the opportunity to see the Tarsier, one of the smallest and rarest primates in the world. This species of Tarsier was once thought to be extinct since 1921.
7. Kakaban Island
Kakaban Island is considered a hidden gem of Indonesian tourism, captivating visitors with its stunning golden beaches and coral reefs as part of the Derawan Islands in East Kalimantan. A highlight here is snorkeling and marveling at the colorful jellyfish.
8. Lake Sentani
Indonesian tourism wouldn't be complete without a visit to Sentani - a huge tranquil lake nestled deep in the islands of Papua. The entire scenery is covered in a refreshing green hue, coupled with its pristine beauty, it immediately attracts you. Lake Sentani is home to about 24 small villages of local tribes. When you travel here, you will have the opportunity to learn about the unique traditions of the tribes here.
9. Londa Valley
For thousands of years, the Toraja tribe has lived in the Londa Valley, Indonesia, known for their unique funeral and burial rites. According to Toraja beliefs, they want to send the deceased to a remote and prosperous place in the afterlife.
Therefore, when someone dies, relatives do not mourn, then bury or cremate as other tribes do, but they sequentially perform ceremonies - called a 'grand funeral.' After completing the procedures at home, the people of this tribe carry the coffin up the mountain. To place the coffin, the Toraja people have to climb to the top of the mountain, the cliff to chisel the mountain to place the coffin. Despite having machinery, modern means available, the people of this tribe still use chisels, hammers, and bare hands to do it.
10. Kawah Ijen
Hidden beneath a veil of white smoke lies the deep blue lake, yet no one dares to plunge into the clear blue waters of Kawah Ijen Lake, as it is dubbed the 'Giant Acid Bowl of Nature.'
Kawah Ijen Lake is located in the Ijen volcano complex, between the Bondowoso and Banyuwangi plateaus (eastern Java). Kawah Ijen Lake is located 2,300 m above sea level. The lake has a radius of about 361 m and is 200 m deep. Kawah Ijen Lake, along with neighboring areas, forms a volcanic lake community covering up to 45 hectares. The lake contains up to 36 million m3 of acidic water. Although the lake is blue, it is always covered by a thick white smoke, due to the lake's strange characteristics, making it a favorite destination for many tourists in Indonesia who love to explore the world.
According to San San/Traveltimes.vn
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Reference: Mytour Travel Guide
MytourSeptember 25, 2015
