A boat on a beach in Indonesia
Not Bali (Picture: Ministry of tourism for the Republic of Indonesia)

Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country.

It is composed of over 17,000 islands and is home to a multitude of cultures, languages and religions.

In a place so vast, it’s a shame that most travellers choose to visit only one of its many islands – namely, Bali.

So next time you’re planning a Pacific holiday, maybe give some thought to these lesser-known destinations.

Avoid the crowds and skip the relative expense of Indonesia’s ever-popular holiday haven.

Kuta, Lombok

Life's a beach in Kuta Lombok
Life’s a beach on Kuta Lombok (Picture: Grad Gone Global)

If you’re just after a nice place to chill out, Kuta Lombok is your answer.

Close to several great beaches and full of cafes to hang out in, it’s the perfect destination if you want the easy Bali lifestyle without the crowds.

Komodo National Park

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If wildlife is your thing then surely nothing is more appealing than real-life dragons.

Just five islands in the world play host to these weird and wonderful creatures, and all are contained within Komodo National Park.

Take a tour from Lombok or Flores and you’ll also get the opportunity to check out the incredible snorkelling nearby.

No bleached, damaged coral here – just healthy, colourful sea life.

Bukit Lawang, Sumatra

Orangutans in Sumatra
Spot the orangutan (Picture: Getty)

Everyone knows about Borneo, but did you know that you can also spot orangutans in Sumatra?

Head to Bukit Lawang for a spot of jungle trekking and the chance to view these amazing endangered animals – from a sensible distance, of course.

Mount Ijen, Java

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Every day in Indonesia seems to involve a volcano in one way or another, but Mount Ijen is pretty special.

If you visit in the middle of the night, you’ll get to witness one of nature’s most fantastic spectacles: bright blue flames flickering around the crater.

Make sure to hire gas masks because those sulphur fumes aren’t just stinky, they’re dangerous, too.

Malang, Java

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Now barely a blip on the tourist map, Malang is set to be huge within the next couple of years.

A PR project undertaken by local university students has seen a whole slum community transformed into a tourist attraction: three tonnes of paint later, it is an arresting sight.

For an entrance fee of about 30p you can wander round, passing through tunnels of flowers and under rainbow umbrella displays.

Expect to become a tourist hit yourself, though: most visitors to the colourful village are Indonesian, and foreigners are a huge novelty.

Mount Bromo, Java

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Another volcano to add to the list, the special thing about Bromo is its position nestled among several other volcanoes, making for an impressive scene.

You can hike to the smoking crater itself, but the best view is from just northwest of Cemoro Lawang, which can be reached by a fairly easy hour-long walk.

Most people go for sunrise, but the panorama is just as good during the day, when you won’t find the crowds.

Now I’m not saying you should skip Bali on your Indonesia visit.

I’m just suggesting that it’s worth venturing a little further afield.

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