Overview
Spanning three time zones and 700 dialects, this archipelago is Earth’s living evolution exhibit. Komodo dragons hunt across Flores’ pink shores while Ubud’s rice terraces echo with gamelan rehearsals. Divers in Raja Ampat glide through coral “nurseries” birthing 75% of marine species, and Java’s volcanic peaks puff smoke rings over Hindu-Buddhist temple ruins older than Angkor Wat.
Sights
Map
Info
Dry season (May-Sept) rules most islands, but Sulawesi’s best June-Oct. Download offline maps – connectivity fades in Mentawai. Visa-free entry for 30+ nationalities. Rabies pre-vaccination advised for jungle treks.
