Best national parks in Indonesia

Incorporating mountainous areas, rain forests, and savannahs, Mount Rinjani National park is home to the third tallest volcano in Indonesia. Gunung Rinjani is known for it's challenging treks and gorgeous views. Check out Segara Anak Lake located on the western side of Mount Rinjani. This lake contains sulphurous-smelling water and is in different temperatures ranging from cool to hot. Also in this lake is a newly forming volcano that is active but still growing. During the rice planting season, locals will hold ritual ceremonies by releasing gold artificial fishes to ask for blessings for their crops. Mount Rinjani National Park is also home to a variety of flora and fauna. Some species include: musang rinjani, barking deer, ebony leaf monkey, pangolin, and the dark-backed imperial pigeon. Visitors can also spot orchids, jelutung, and jambu-jambuan within the park! Other attractions here are: Otakokkoq and Kembang Kuning (which are thermal springs and waterfalls), Sebau and Gunung Baru.Show more

Mount Gede Pangrango National Park was one of the five national parks established in Indonesia. Mount Gede features diverse ecosystems and a large amount of biodiversity. This park encompasses ecosystems such as: sub-montane, sub-alpine, lake, marshland, and savannah. This park is also home to endangered animals such as the: Javan gibbon, Javan leaf monkey, panther, ebony leaf monkey, and others. The most popular attraction here in Gunung Gede and Pangrango, which are twin volcanoes. Although active, legend has it that the spirits guarding the volcanoes keep it from erupting. Locals and visitors will occasionally hold meditate or hold ritual ceremonies within the caves. Other attractions include: Thermal Springs, Cibeureum Waterfall, Biru Lake, Mt. Putri and Selabintana.Show more

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park covers the largest volcanic region in Indonesia and is the only park that contains a sea of sand also known as Tengger. There has been eruptions in Tengger causing volcanoes to develop however the only one that is still active is Mount Bromo. The crater center of Mount Bromo is hazardous and visitors will be able to see the volcano intermittently emit smoke and ash. Although active and potentially dangerous, this park is heavily trafficked by locals and visitors. If going in December/January, check out the Upacara Kasodo (Kasodo Ceremony) where the Tenggerese people ask for blessings from the crater by climbing down the sides of the craters to catch offerings being thrown in. Note: This is highly dangerous and there is the occasional tumble down into the crater's floor. Other attractions in this park include: Mount Semeru, Pananjakan, Ranu Darungan Lake, and many more! Show more

Mount Merbabu National Park, also known as Gunung Merbabu and the "Mountain of Ash" is a stratovolcano in Java. Mount Merbabu exploded twice in the past, once during 1560 and another during 1797 which was rated level 2 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index. However the volcano is dormant now and is popular for its challenging hiking trails with scenic views. Check out the other volcano located in this park. Mount Merapi, known as "Fire Mountain," which is the most active volcano in Indonesia. This volcano erupts regularly and has killed many people over the years. Villages had to be relocated and evacuated during raised alerts. Mount Merapi has erupted so frequently that the shape of the volcano has changed!Show more

Kerinci Seblat National Park is the largest national park in Sumatra, Indonesia. This park is a combination of rainforest, swamps, sub-alpine, and lakes. This park features Mount Kerinci, the largest and tallest active volcano. Visitors can challenge the trek towards the peak, note that you will occasionally have to rock climb. Another attraction of this park is being able to observe the rhinoceros hornbill, helmeted hornbill, and wreathed hornbill. This park is also home to over 4,000 plant species, 130+ bird species, and 30+ mammals! Keep an eye out for the mysterious golden cat or the "orang pendek," a primate that walks upright similar to a human. Other attractions at this park include: Gunung Tujuh Lake (which is surrounded by several mountains and is the highest volcanic lake in Sumatra), Solar, Nguak and Kunyit Caves (containing thermal springs), Letter W (where visitors can see wildflowers and rabbits), and Ladeh Panjang Lake.Show more

Established as a national park in 2015, Mount Tambora (also known as Tomboro) is an active stratovolcano in north Sumbawa. It is one of the tallest peaks in the Indonesian's archipelago. The largest eruption in mankind and the largest in the Holocene was during the 1815 Tambora eruption. This eruption killed approximately 71,000 people and its volcanic ash caused the 1816's "year without a summer" for the European and American weather. It also resulted in one of the worst famines in the century killing countless livestock and crops. Nowadays visitors come from far and wide to challenge the trek towards Tambora's peak. This trail to the summit is absolutely stunning. As hikers traverse through the rainforest, keep an eye out for any wildlife or critters you encounter. Note that Mount Tambora is closed during rainy and stormy seasons, so please check before planning a backpacking trip to the crater.Show more

West Bali National Park also known as Bali Barat National Park features a variety of forest environments, sandy beaches, and coral reefs. This park encompasses about 3% of Bali's land and the rest is sea. Visitors can access this park by either car or ferries from Ketapang. This national park also contains Goris, a village in the east and Gilimanuk, a seaport in the west. Make sure to keep an eye out for the Bali starling, an endangered species and the mascot of the park. Bali starlings are known to be easy to catch, please do not do so and observe only from afar. Visitors can choose to go hiking at this park, if that's not what you're looking for head out to the sea! Go scuba diving or snorkeling at Kapal, a shipwreck filled with coral and fish species or Pos Satu, Pos Dua, and Menjangan Island (also popular for water activities).Show more