Nusa Tenggara

The islands are located in the middle-south part of the Indonesian Archipelago and divided into three parts: Bali, an absolute paradise for sun lovers; West Nusa Tenggara, boasting rich wildlife; and East Nusa Tenggara, an unspoiled mecca for surfers.

About one and a half miles from the eastern tip of Java, Bali is a paradise island for beach fans and adventurous tourists. Home to over four million people, Bali has become a thriving tourist hub, with countless accommodations and modern facilities for travelers.

Many of Bali’s towns are vibrant and its stunning beaches with black sands never fail to amaze vacationers. For those traveling with children, Bali has many amusement parks and zoos to keep the little ones happy.

Bali’s highlights include an array of Hindu temples that can be found everywhere on the island. The most popular temple for visitors is Uluwatu at the southern tip of the town, while the most significant temple of all for the Balinese is the temple of Besakih, with an exclusive location on the slopes of Mount Agung.

West Nusa Tenggara is no less appealing than Bali, located in south-central Indonesia. Its two most famous islands are Lombok and Sumbawa. Having emerged as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Indonesia, Lombok boasts rich wilderness and unexplored green areas. Previously unknown to outsiders, Sambawa has been a secret sanctuary for a few groups of surfers.

Nature lovers and hikers will find West Nusa Tenggara particularly interesting. The northern part of the island is full of mountains and lush areas with tall trees. Even though large Asian mammals are not likely to be spotted these days, many varieties of birds and reptiles still roam freely in the forests.

With some of the most rich and dynamic marine environments in Asia, East Nusa Tenggara is home to various species of coral and tropical fish. The island is a thriving playground for divers and snorkelers, who find the area particularly captivating.

The three main islands of East Nusa Tenggara are Flores, Sumba and Timor. A paradise for flora and fauna, Flores, which means ‘flower’ in Portuguese, is a magnet for those with a passion for beautiful nature. Neighbors Sumba and Timor are home to several volcanoes and mountains, giving their towns a unique character. Sumba is also famous for its horses, so travelers can expect exciting horse races during local festivals.

The most popular way to get to East Nusa Tenggara is by sea. There are a few passenger routes connecting the islands to mainland Indonesia. Visitors should be warned that roads on the islands are not in tip-top condition except for the surprisingly good roads and public transportation in more developed Timor.

Cities

• Denpasar: although Bali’s most populated city and capital isn’t known as a top tourist destination, it contains dozens of temples and Bali’s best shopping.
• Kuta: this heavily developed city is the heart of Bali’s famous nightlife and surfing culture.
• Ubud: this central Bali town is known as the island’s cultural capital, with temples, historic sites, and art galleries on virtually every corner.
• Labuanbajo: this Flores Island city is best known as the launching point for boat journeys to the islands of Rinca and Komodo.
• Mataram: Lombok Island’s largest city’s main attractions are a modern shopping mall, a historic water palace, and the relaxing Narmada Park.
• Senggigi: this beach town and surrounding area is Lombok’s most visited tourist destination.

Islands & Beaches

• Bali: no Indonesian destination receives more visitors than Bali, whose distinct culture, hilly landscape, bustling beaches, and vibrant nightlife offer something for everyone.
• Lombok: Indonesia’s second tallest mountain, Mount Rinjani, towers over Lombok, which has become known as a more tranquil and unspoiled alternative to bustling Bali.
• Sumbawa: surfers form the majority of Sumbawa’s visitors, but this island also offers peaceful white beaches and a fascinating culture.
• Flores: this island is most famous for its diving, its weaving, its hiking, and Kelimutu’s lakes of three colors.
• Sumba: Sumba’s rugged interior is often compared to a hotter version of Texas hill country, but this island is also among the few remaining places on Earth where people are buried in megaliths.
• Gili Islands: these three small islands are best known as backpacking destinations, but despite an increase in more upscale tourism, they remain fairly unspoiled because of their lack of motorized vehicles.

National parks

• Mount Rinjani National Park: this national park bears the name of Indonesia’s second highest volcano, but also includes hot springs and a crater lake where an annual sacred Hindu ceremony is held each year.
• West Bali National Park: 10 percent of Bali’s territory belongs to this national park which includes four volcanic peaks, many coral islands, and a long beach.
• Gunung Rinjani National Park: Indonesia’s third highest mountain, for which this park was named, is just the tallest of this park’s many majestic peaks.
• Kelimutu National Park: Mount Kelibara’s three colored lakes and an arboretum with 78 different tree species are just two of this park’s attractions.
• Komodo National Park: this park was named after the world’s largest and most feared lizard, but Rinca Island may be a better place to spot Komodo dragons than Komodo Island.
• Laiwangi Wanggameti National Park: all of the island of Sumba’s forest varieties grow in this national park, among the newest in Indonesia.

Other Destinations

• Mayura Garden Taman Mayura: some of the fiercest battles between Balinese and Dutch troops occurred in 1894 at this water palace first built in Mataram 150 years earlier.
• Narmada Park: kings used to relax in this park east of Mataram, whose most unique features are a Hindu temple and a ‘youth fountain’ whose waters are believed to keep people eternally young.
• Mount Tambora: reaching this mighty volcano in remote Sumbawa, the location of the world’s most powerful volcanic eruption in 1815, is nearly as difficult as climbing to its summit.
• Air Terjun Sindang Gila: this is the largest of Senaru’s three spectacular waterfalls.
• Moyo: a marine park and a luxury resort occupy most of this isolated island’s land.
• Bali Bomb Memorial: one of Kuta’s more solemn landmarks is this memorial for the 202 people who were killed in the October 2002 Bali bomb attack.