Indonesia Car Hire

Guide to Indonesia

Geography

Indonesia is an archipelago country located off the coasts of South East Asia and Oceania and nestled between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It borders Malaysia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. The country also shares maritime borders with Australia,India, Palau, the Philippines,Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. It consists of over 17500 islands, of which only about 35% are inhabited. The largest islands are Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Sulawesi and New Guinea.

Climate

Weather in Indonesia can be divided into two seasons - wet and dry. The dry season (May till September) is the most popular time to visit the country because warm tropical temperatures average around 28°C during the day, offering perfect conditions for sightseeing, adventure sports and water sports. The wet season spans (October to April) usually sees a downswing in tourism.

Culture

Indonesia is incredibly ethnically diverse, with over 1,340 ethnic groups and more than 660 indigenous languages. However, the national language uniting the 270 million people of Indonesia is Bahasa Indonesia. It has the world’s largest Muslim population.

Things To Do in Indonesia

Witness the grandeur of Uluwatu temple

Uluwatu is a majestic temple that sits 70 metres above sea level on a cliff-top. Picture an ornate Prehistoric Balinese temple overlooking the majestic ocean waves crashing against the rocks as the sun sets on the horizon. You can also witness a fascinating Kecak dance performance and fire show held at the attached amphitheatre every day at sunset to get a glimpse into Balinese culture and performing arts.

Explore the Sacred Monkey Forest

Located in Ubud, this place showcases aspects of Balinese Hinduism through art and architecture. Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) is a site of meditation that features rock engravings dating back to the 11^th century. Make sure to visit the ancient bathing temple where grey long-tailed macaques will greet you.

Behold the beauty of Borobudur

The magnificent 9th-century Buddhist shrine, Borobudur, often called the ‘Angkor Wat of Indonesia’, is one of the most famous and culturally significant landmarks of the country. Constructed in the likeness of a traditional Buddhist mandala, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s largest Buddhist temple. For the most sublime experience, visit at the break of dawn for a torch-light climb and a breathtaking view of the temple glowing in the early morning sunlight. You can book your Indonesia car hire in advance with Enjoy Travel.

Catch sight of orangutans and komodo dragons

Go trekking at Tanjung Puting National Park in Kalimantan, Borneo, to encounter the world’s largest population of the endangered orangutan. Another species unique to Indonesia is the almost-mythical but very real Komodo dragon. Visit the Komodo National Park, another UNESCO world heritage site to catch a glimpse of these deadly yet devastatingly alluring animals. While there, make sure to not miss the Pink Beach, a stretch of soft pink sand meeting clear blue waters.

Eating Out in Indonesia

Indonesian cuisine reflects the diverse culinary traditions that formed the archipelagic nation. The plentiful natural produce, herbs and spices give its people a certain freedom to be creative and resourceful in coming up with recipes that are not only delicious but also tell stories about the country’s customs and traditions.

Rice is by far the main staple food in the country and is served with fish, meat, fish and vegetable side dishes. Sambal, a hot chili paste of Javanese origin is a crucial condiment. Popular dishes such as nasi goreng, gado gado, satay, soto and rendang are ubiquitous in the country and have been chosen as national dishes. Jajanam (snacks) are sold everywhere and there are thousands of varieties of sweet and savoury snacks made of peanuts, coconuts, bananas, sweet potato and more.

Indonesia Transport

Flying to Indonesia

Air travel is the quickest and most convenient way to reach some parts of the archipelago. Jakarta’s Soekarna-Hatta International Airport (CGK) serves as the country’s main air transportation hub and is one of the busiest airports in Southeast Asia.

Public transportation in Indonesia

The Transjakarta system in Jakarta is the longest bus rapid transit system in the world. Sea transport is also very important and quite well developed; the major islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Sulawesi are all connected by regular car ferry. The majority of Indonesia’s railways are on Java, used for both passenger and freight transport.

Bus, car, bicycle, motorbike, becak, gojek, minivan and taxi are all also used for travelling by road.

Driving in Indonesia

As Jakarta can get extremely crowded, we recommend hiring a compact car like a Toyota Avanza, Honda Brio or similar. Car hire is also a popular choice among those looking to explore the attractions outside the major cities across the various islands at their own convenience. Avis is a reliable international car hire agency available in Indonesia. Local car hire agencies are also available, like Bali Car Hire and Jakarta Car Rental.

You can pre-book your vehicle with Enjoy Travel for a seamless trip to Indonesia. You can opt for a one-way car hire which will give you the flexibility to pick up your vehicle in one city and drop it off in another at the end of your trip. If you’re there only for a couple of days, check out weekend deals on Enjoy Travel to compare the best car options and prices prior to your trip.