With thousands of islands offering an incredible choiceof terrain, Indonesia has a wealth of opportunities for the adventure traveller. From smoking volcanic peaks and roaring river rapids to some of the bestdiving and surfing spots in the world, the country offers an unbeatable choice of outdoor activities for everyone, regardless of skill, age or prowess.

Indonesian landscapes are among the most diverse in the world. Visitors will not only see some spectacular beaches and coral reefs but also discover waterfalls, paddy fields, rice terraces, Southeast Asian largest lakes and even snowy mountains tops in Irian Jaya.

The Republic of Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia. Comprising 17,508 islands, it is the world's largest archipelagic state. With a population of 222 million people in 2006, it is the world's fourth most populous country and the most populous Muslim-majority nation; however, no reference is made to Islam in the Indonesian constitution. Indonesia is a republic, with an elected legislature and president. The nation's capital city is Jakarta. The country shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor and Malaysia. Other neighboring countries include Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, and the Indian territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Indonesia has around 300 ethnic groups, each with cultural differences developed over centuries, and influenced by Indian, Arabic, Chinese, Malay, and European sources. Traditional Javanese and Balinese dances, for example, contain aspects of Hindu culture and mythology, as do wayang kulit (shadow puppet) performances. Textiles such as batik, ikat and songket are created across Indonesia in styles that vary by region. The most dominant influences on Indonesian architecture have traditionally been Indian; however, Chinese, Arab, and European architectural influences have been significant.

Lake Toba - is Southeast Asia’s largest lake surrounded by amazing landscapes composed of cliffs, hills and waterfalls. Batak people live in wooden houses richly painted and shaped like boats.

Bukittinggi and the Minangkabau Highlands - are home to one of the most intriguing Indonesian ethnics in West Sumatra. In lush landscapes, visitors can admire finely sculpted wooden houses crowned by buffalo-shaped roofs, some of them over 300 years old. Minangkabau people is a devoted Muslim society, where women play however a pivotal role in daily life

Java Jakarta’s - old town is one of the best preserved in Indonesia around Fatahillah Square, where the first house of the Dutch governor has been converted into the Jakarta History Museum. On the west side of the square, the Wayang Museum displays a fine collection of puppets from Indonesia and the rest of the world.

Bali Ubud. This village is known as a retreat for artists since the 30’s and is now a famed resort destination. Old houses and palaces, temples stand next to discreet boutique hotels, all bearing a distinctive Balinese style and surrounding by paddy fields.

The Mount Kelimutu - is located a few hours from Ende, Flores island main city. It is the most visited natural wonder in the island as the mountain is topped by three crater lakes, separated by thin ridges and showing each a different colour. The largest lake is turquoise, the next one olive green and the third black. The colours vary over the time.

Bandung - the capital city of West Java is either dubbed the “Parijs van Java” or an Asian “Miami Beach” because of its impressive collection of Art Deco buildings. Promised to be the new capital city of Dutch-ruled Indonesia, Bandung has striking examples of western inspired architecture.

The Indonesian name for the language is Bahasa Indonesia . This term can sometimes still be found in written or spoken English. In addition, the language is sometimes referred to as "Bahasa" by English speakers, though this simply means "language" and thus is also not an official term for the Indonesian language. This usage of "Bahasa" serves as an umbrella term for both Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Malaysia.

To a certain degree, Indonesian can be regarded as an open language. Over the years, foreign languages such as Sanskrit, Tamil, Chinese, Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch and English have influenced and expanded the Indonesian language, mostly through trade contacts and international media.

Indonesian cuisine reflects the vast variety of people that live on the 6,000 populated islands that make up Indonesia. There is probably not a single "Indonesian" cuisine, but rather, a diversity of regional cuisines influenced by local Indonesian culture and foreign influences.

The most popular dishes that originated in Indonesia are now common across most of Asia. Popular Indonesian dishes such as satay, beef rendang, and sambals are also favored in Malaysia and Singapore. Soy-based dishes, such as variations of tofu (tahu) and tempe, are also very popular. Tempe is regarded as a Javanese invention, an adaptation to the loss of forests, which precluded hunting as a source of protein food. Indonesian meals are commonly eaten with the combination of a spoon in the right hand and fork in the left hand, although in many parts of the country (such as West Java) it is also common to eat with one's hands.

Indonesia's climate is definitely tropical. There is no Autumn or Winter and distinctive "dry" and "wet" seasons share the year. The East Monsoon, from June to September, brings dry weather while the West Monsoon, from December to March is moistureladen, bringing rain.

The transitional period between these two seasons is interspersed by the occasional heavy rain shower, but even in the midst of the West Monsson season, temperatures range from 21 degrees (70_F) to 33 degrees celcious 190_F except at higher altitudes which can be much cooler.
Heaviest rainfalls are usually recorded in December and January and humidity is generally between 75% and 100%