9 Spots in Indonesia that can bring out the adventurer in you

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Banda Aceh
Located on the island of Sumatra, Banda Aceh is the capital and largest city in the province of Aceh, Indonesia. While most people don’t immediately think of Banda Aceh as a tourist-y spot, there are plenty of things to see and do here. Try your hand at kite surfing, a watersport that combines wakeboarding, surfing, paragliding, and gymnastics into one adrenaline-pumping extreme sport. If you’re new to it, we suggest heading to Aceh Kitecamp, a kite surfing school where courses are conducted in English, Bahasa Indonesia, and French.

Photo credit: Getty Images
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Bandung
Like to live life on the edge? Well, you can do so literally at the Tebing Gunung Hawu mountain. Besides being known for its massive crater, the mountain is also home to “hammocking”, an activity where you perch on a hammock hanging between two towering cliffs. Why not catch the sunrise from your precarious perch for maximum bragging rights? You’ll also be doing Mother Nature a favour since hammocking was popularised by a group of locals who wanted to increase tourist traffic and keep limestone miners from destroying the mountain.

Photo credit: jikriii on Instagram
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Bali
Bali is famous for activities like surfing, diving, and mountain climbing. However, did you know that you can also go for a sea walk, sans heavy diving gear? That’s right, you too get to enjoy an underwater experience even if things like diving and snorkelling aren’t for you. The Bali Seawalker is a 30-minute tour that utilises a specially-designed helmet that’s connected to oxygen tanks onboard a boat, which means people who wear glasses won’t even have to take their spectacles off for this truly one-of-a-kind experience. Observe colourful schools of fish, coral reefs, and marine life up close at a comfortable depth of 7 metres.

Photo credit: kayla.morton on Instagram
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Medan
Home to Lake Toba, the largest volcanic lake in the world, Medan is a picturesque but underrated spot in Indonesia. Wildlife lovers can explore the greenery at Bukit Lawang and even spot orangutans in the wild. Get up close and personal with not one, but two active volcanoes at the town of Berastagi. Hike up to the crater of Mount Sibayak, or have a picnic on Gundaling Hill together with the locals while enjoying a view of Mount Sinabung and Mount Sibayak. Those who fancy a little rest and relaxation after a long day of trekking can soak in one of the hot springs at the food of Mount Sibayak.

Photo credit: Getty Images
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Padang
For the uninitiated, Padang is the largest city on the western coast of Sumatra. It’s just a stone’s throw away from the Mentawai islands, a favourite of surfers. However, Padang has its own gems to offer. Take a gander through the rice fields, observe local fisherman at work at Bungus beach, and round up your trip with a visit to Jembatan Acar, Indonesia’s only living root bridge. It’s about 88 kilometres from the south of Padang, making it a perfect destination for a day trip. The entire 25 metre bridge is made out of banyan tree roots and hangs over the Batang Nayang river. It was created in 1890 by a Muslim teacher called Pakih Sohan, who made the bridge by stringing roots of banyan trees around a stem bridge.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Air Asia
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Pontianak
Named after a vampiric spook of Asian lore, Pontianak is a surprisingly pleasant place to visit. If you’ve ever dreamt of being in two places at one time, check out the Equator Monument (Tugu Khatulistiwa), which marks zero degree on the equator line. By standing there, you literally have one foot each on Earth’s northern and southern hemisphere. Twice a year, on the Vernal Equinox and Autumnal Equinox, you’ll also get to experience a natural phenomenon called the “shadowless sun”, where everything at the zero point cease to cast a shadow for a few minutes.

Photo credit: Getty Images
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Surabaya
Trekking up an active volcano is an exciting activity in itself, but what about doing so at midnight? That’s right, just three hours away from Surabaya, you can join the Bromo Midnight Tour where adventurous tourists can hike up Bromo and watch the sun rise from behind the volcano. After watching the sunrise, trek to the top of the mountain for a chance to peek inside the smoking crater.

Photo credit: Getty Images
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Semarang
Semarang may seem like a sleepy little town to the uninitiated, but it’s actually an undiscovered paradise untouched by the taint of commercialisation? Those who love a tinge of nostalgia can visit one of many colonial retro cafes dotted around Semarang. Then, try your hand at zip-lining across the Bandungan valley and follow up with a breath-taking walk on the Umbol Sidomukti Marine Bridge. Don’t be fooled by its deceptively simple appearance—the suspension bridge requires a good sense of balance and plenty of strength to manoeuvre!

Photo credit: Getty Images
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Yogyakarta
If regular windsurfing isn’t enough for you, why not try your hand at sand boarding in Yogyakarta? Located on the Indonesian island of Java, Yogyakarta, also known as Jogja for short, is home to impressive sand dunes that rival those in Africa and the Middle East. You can also rent ATVs and horses for a thrilling ride through the dunes and unleash your inner Indiana Jones for a day.

Photo credit: Getty Images

City living and long working hours can take a toll on your soul. After all, we can all agree that nondescript cubicles and dreary environments aren’t the most inspiring, right? If you feel yourself teetering on the edge of a burnout, why not go on an impromptu adventure trip to Indonesia? The cost of living is low, which means that your money can stretch further. There’s also minimal language barrier, taking away a huge part of your travel headache. Most importantly, Indonesia is home to a plethora of picturesque spots that offer adrenaline junkies an adventure of a lifetime. From crowd-favourite activities like surfing and white-water rafting to something a little more obscure like sand boarding and midnight volcano tours, there’s plenty to check out in humble ol’ Indonesia.

Since Indonesia is just a hop, skip, and jump away from Malaysia, you don’t even have to waste a huge chunk of your vacation time on travelling! Just hop on a flight, get ready for an adventure-filled day, and you’ll be there before you know it! Ready to shake off your dreary 9-to-5 life and get your heart pumping? Click through the gallery for the 9 spots in Indonesia that will bring out the adventurer in you!

This post was written with the collaboration & support of the Ministry of Tourism Indonesia. Air Asia offers the best connectivity to Indonesia, check out their 15 destinations here!

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9 Spots in Indonesia that can bring out the adventurer in you

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