7 Breathtaking Indonesia Places and Our Pick for the Best Travel eSIM

So, you’re thinking of Indonesia for your next big trip? That’s not just a holiday plan; that’s the start of a proper adventure. Indonesia isn’t just one place; it’s a magnificent, sprawling, and sometimes chaotic collection of over 17,000 islands scattered across the equator. It’s a place of fire-breathing volcanoes, ancient temples, real-life dragons, and some of the most vibrant underwater worlds on the planet.

It is, in a word, epic.

But an epic trip needs a bit of smart planning. I learned that the hard way on my first island-hopping trip there. I was on a slightly rickety local ferry bouncing between two islands near Lombok. The view was incredible, but I had a nagging worry. I needed to confirm our booking at the guesthouse on the next island, but my local SIM card had completely lost its signal the moment we left the harbour. I felt properly cut off, floating in the middle of the sea with no way of knowing if we had a bed for the night.

It taught me a valuable lesson: for a trip this sprawling, you need a solid, reliable plan for staying connected. So, I want to share my personal hit list of seven absolutely breathtaking spots in Indonesia, and then I’ll let you in on the secret to exploring them without a single moment of that ‘oh crikey, I’ve got no signal’ panic.

My Ultimate Indonesian Hit List

This isn’t a ranked list, because that would be impossible. It’s more like a scrapbook of my favourite, can’t-miss experiences from across this incredible archipelago.

1. The Gili Islands, Lombok

Just off the coast of Lombok are three tiny coral islands that are the very definition of paradise. There are no cars or motorbikes here, just push bikes and little horse-drawn carts called cidomos. Gili Trawangan (Gili T) is the biggest and liveliest, with a great buzz. Gili Meno is the quiet, romantic one. And Gili Air is the perfect mix of the two. The best part? You can just grab a snorkel and mask, walk into the turquoise water, and swim with giant sea turtles right off the beach. It’s magical.

2. Komodo National Park

Yes, there be dragons here. And seeing a three-metre-long Komodo dragon lumbering across a dusty track in its natural habitat is a proper, heart-in-your-mouth moment. But the park is so much more than that. The landscape is rugged and prehistoric, with sweeping savannahs and dramatic hills. You’ll visit the famous Pink Beach, and the snorkelling and diving here are out of this world.

3. The Temples of Yogyakarta, Java

For a dose of culture and history, you have to visit Yogyakarta in central Java. This is the gateway to two of the most incredible temple complexes on Earth. You need to wake up before dawn to watch the sunrise over Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple. As the mist clears and the sun illuminates the hundreds of Buddha statues, it’s a genuinely spiritual experience. Nearby is Prambanan, a stunning collection of towering Hindu temples dedicated to Shiva.

4. Mount Bromo, Java

Also on Java is one of the most epic volcano experiences you can have. Your day starts at a ridiculous hour, bumping along in a 4×4 in the pitch black to a viewpoint. You wait in the freezing cold, huddled with other travellers. And then, as the sun begins to rise, it reveals a breathtaking, otherworldly landscape: a vast ‘Sea of Sand’ with the smoking crater of Mount Bromo in the middle. It’s absolutely worth the early start.

5. The Rice Terraces of Ubud, Bali

Of course, we have to talk about Bali. While some parts are very busy, the heart of the island, around Ubud, is still incredibly beautiful. The Tegalalang Rice Terraces are an iconic sight – a valley of the most impossibly vibrant green, with rice paddies cascading down the hillside. It’s a place to find a bit of zen. And if you’re looking for the best hotels in bali, this is where you’ll find those stunning jungle resorts with infinity pools overlooking the valleys.

6. The Nusa Islands, Bali

Just a short boat ride from Bali are three smaller islands that feel a bit more rugged and adventurous. Nusa Penida is the star, with its dramatic coastline and the famous Kelingking Beach, which looks like a T-Rex. It’s a proper Instagram hotspot for a reason. The water here is a shade of blue you won’t believe.

7. Raja Ampat, West Papua

This one is for the true adventurers. Raja Ampat is way out east, and it’s not the easiest or cheapest place to get to. But your reward is what many consider to be the most biodiverse marine environment on the planet. It is, quite simply, the best diving and snorkelling in the world. It’s a proper, off-the-grid paradise.

The Secret to a Seamless Island-Hopping Adventure

So, you’re hopping from a volcano on Java to a remote island in Komodo. How on earth do you stay connected across all these different places? The old way was a nightmare. You’d have to buy a new physical SIM card on every other island, hoping it would have a decent signal. A proper faff.

This is where the Best Travel eSIM comes into its own. An eSIM is a digital SIM that’s already in your phone. You just download a data plan to it. The beauty of it for a trip like this is that you can get one plan that covers the whole of Indonesia. It automatically connects to the best local network available, which is a massive advantage when you’re in remote areas.

My Pick for the Best Travel eSIM

Alright, so which one do I use? There are a few out there, but for my money, the one that’s been consistently brilliant is Commbitz.

Their website is clean and doesn’t feel like it’s trying to confuse you with tech-speak. You can see their Indonesia plans, pick one based on how long you’re going for, pay in pounds, and you’re sorted. They email you a QR code, you scan it before you leave the UK, and the job’s a good’un.

The relief of getting off a boat at a tiny Gili island and seeing that 4G signal pop up instantly is just brilliant. It meant I could message our next guesthouse to confirm our arrival or look up near by attractions and the best place to eat. It just takes all the stress out of the logistics.

Ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime?

Indonesia is a country that will challenge you, surprise you, and reward you in equal measure. It’s a place for adventurers. Don’t let a little thing like staying connected cause you any stress.

Do the smart prep, get the right gear – and that includes the Best Travel eSIM – and then just go. Paradise, in all its many forms, is waiting for you.