With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia has thousands of kilometres of coastline and, not surprisingly, a great selection of exciting beaches that will attract not only hard-core surfers but also travellers who are looking for a beach side experience where they can relax and immerse themselves in a different culture.
When planning your trip to Indonesia give yourself plenty of time to consider your options, take out the best travel insurance package you can afford, and make your bookings well in advance.
Whilst it is well-nigh impossible to narrow down the choice of beaches to a list of five that will suit everybody, let’s take a look at a broad range in our shortlist.
- Thousand Islands. By taking a ferry from Ancol in North Jakarta you’ll find yourself in the pristine blue waters of these islands which offer a range of accommodation and resorts as well some of the most beautiful deserted beaches on earth. The islands closer to Jakarta are more popular, especially with day-trippers, so if you really want to get away from it all you’ll need to travel a bit further out to find yourself on powdery white sand with vast expanses of blue water fringed with coconut palms and no one to share it with you.
- Banda Islands, Maluku. These islands were once exotically termed the spice Islands, shrouded in mystery and wonder, highly valued by pirates and international traders alike. Today, it has assumed the more sedate name of Banda and whilst spices still grow abundantly the islands are now favoured by holidaymakers seeking quiet rest in a noisy world.
- Nusa Dua. Surfers the world over know that Indonesia has some of the world’s best surfing beaches and is home to some of the most amazing ocean waves in the southern hemisphere. Even following the terrorist attacks in Bali a few years ago, surfers continued to visit Indonesia in undiminished numbers, and this was amongst their favourite destinations.
- Aloita Resort and Spa. This is a surfers only destination located in Padang which was specially built to pander to your every need as a surfer. It is only five minutes from Telescopes, probably the most famous deserving destination in Indonesia if not the world. The resort’s owners promise to share all the local secrets with their guests but are very tight-lipped about giving out any information prior to your arrival. But, if you read the reviews of surfers who have visited this area, it promises to be something very special indeed.
- The Mentawai Islands. This collection of about 70 islands is located off the western side of Sumatra are considered by surfers in the know to have the most consistent surf in the world. From June to September the conditions are nearly perfect for big waves and, as you can imagine is extremely popular.
Of course, surfing can come with some extra dangers so you should always make sure that your holiday insurance policy covers the possibility of an untimely accident. The above five selections are simply a start and you can find extra information from a good travel agent.
