Bali rice fields and temples, Java Bromo volcanoes and Borobudur, Lombok pristine beaches, mythical Komodo dragons, world-class Raja Ampat diving. 17,000 islands, 4 time zones — the world's largest archipelago. Our complete guide.
Indonesia at a glance
Capital
Jakarta (soon Nusantara)
Language
Indonesian
Currency
Rupiah (IDR)
Time diff
+6h to +8h
Flight from Paris
~14-18h via Asia
Average / day
€40-200
Visa
Best season
April-October (dry season)
In 30 seconds
World's largest archipelago
17,000 islands, 6,000 inhabited. Bali is famous but Indonesia is also Java (4× larger), Lombok, Flores, Sumatra, Sulawesi. Each island = a trip.
World-class diving and snorkeling
Raja Ampat (world's highest marine biodiversity), Komodo (manta rays), Lembeh (macro photography), Bunaken. Dry season April-October.
Spectacular active volcanoes
Bromo (Java), Kawah Ijen (blue sulfur lake), Rinjani (Lombok, 3,726m), Batur (Bali). Legendary sunrise treks.
Bali = experience in itself
Hinduism in a Muslim sea, Tegallalang terraced rice fields, Uluwatu and Tanah Lot temples, spiritual Ubud. Touristy but authentic off-season.
Simplified e-VOA since 2022
Visa on Arrival OR online e-VOA for $35. 30-day validity, extendable once. All online at molina.imigrasi.go.id.
Calendar
Tropical climate: dry season April-October, rainy season November-March. Bali year-round but prefer May-September for non-flooded rice fields and clear diving.
01
Jan
🌡 25-31 °C
02
Feb
🌡 25-31 °C
03
Mar
🌡 25-32 °C
04
Apr
🌡 25-33 °C
05
May
🌡 25-33 °C
06
Jun
🌡 25-32 °C
07
Jul
🌡 24-32 °C
08
Aug
🌡 24-32 °C
09
Sep
🌡 25-32 °C
10
Oct
🌡 25-33 °C
11
Nov
🌡 25-32 °C
12
Dec
🌡 25-31 °C
Detailed programs
Destinations
By traveler profile
Bali (Sanur, Nusa Dua) for safe beaches, Ubud (cultural immersion), Lombok Gili Air. Direct Paris-Denpasar flight not possible (layover required).
Bali (Ubud resorts with private rice fields), Sumba (Nihi Sumba), Raja Ampat (Misool Eco Resort). €5,000-12,000 for 10 days.
Bali backpacking: guesthouses €8-15, warungs €3/meal, scooter €5/day. 14 days excluding flight = €700-900.
Raja Ampat (Misool, Sorong) = THE world spot. Komodo (manta rays), Lembeh (macro), Bunaken (wall). 1-2 week liveaboard cruises.
Ubud (yoga capital of the world), Canggu (trendy vibe), Sidemen (calm). Yoga Barn, The Yoga House, Radiantly Alive retreats.
Bromo (Java, accessible), Ijen (blue sulfur lake), Rinjani (Lombok, 3-4 days, hard), Merapi (Java, active).
Must-do
4 am, sublime
9th century Buddhist temple
Night blue flames
Ubud, iconic photo
Komodo, Nusa Penida
Touristy Insta-photo
At sunset
Market + workshop
Plan your trip
French and most Western travelers need an e-VOA for Indonesia and Bali: 500,000 IDR, 30 days, extension possible. Official portal, procedure and pitfalls in 2026.
Read the guide →Plan 30 to 270 € per day in Indonesia and Bali depending on your travel style. Breakdown of costs, Bali's tourist tax: a realistic budget for 2026.
Read the guide →Indonesia's main international airports: Bali Ngurah Rai, Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta, Yogyakarta, Lombok. Distances, transfers, travel times in 2026.
Read the guide →The Indonesian rupiah (IDR) is counted in hundreds of thousands. Exchange rate, cash, cards and currency exchange scams in Bali: the full 2026 guide.
Read the guide →Indonesia and Bali use type C and F plugs, identical to continental Europe, at 230V/50Hz. No adapter is needed. The full 2026 picture.
Read the guide →Indonesia and Bali stay generally safe, but tainted alcohol (arak oplosan) is a documented, deadly danger. Snatch theft, active volcanoes: the 2026 picture.
Read the guide →Indonesia has 3 time zones. Bali (WITA) is 6 to 7 hours ahead of Paris depending on the season. Flight time, layovers: the full 2026 picture.
Read the guide →No mandatory vaccine for a trip to Indonesia or Bali from France. Recommended vaccines, malaria, dengue: the full 2026 picture.
Read the guide →Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is the official language, but English is widely spoken in Bali's tourism sector. What a traveler should know in 2026.
Read the guide →Repatriation to Singapore often needed for serious cases. Essential.
Compare →Excellent coverage on Bali and Java, variable elsewhere.
Compare →Backpacker
€1,300
Comfort
€2,200
Premium
€6,500
Combine with
🇲🇾 2h flight, same timezone
🇸🇬 2-3 day city-break stopover
🇹🇭 Beach + temples combo
🇵🇭 Islands and diving
🇦🇺 Vol 5h vers Bali
🇰🇭 Extension Bali en vol direct
🇯🇵 Contraste tropical après Tokyo
🇳🇿 Vol 7h, escale tropicale
FAQ
Marie Laurent ✓
·Southeast Asia specialist
Last updated: May 25, 2026.