Indonesia

It would be impossible to encapsulate Indonesia in a few descriptive phrases: Covering hundreds of thousands of square miles of water and islands on the seam of the Indian and Pacific oceans, this equatorial archipelago harbors 250-odd million people and a wheeling spectrum of cultures and ethnicities.

Given that spectacular diversity, it comes as no surprise that Indonesia appeals to a wide variety of travelers. Fun-in-the-sun types looking for warm sand, warm surf, and plenty of umbrella drinks can find some of the world’s most luxurious tropical resorts in places such as Bali and Lombok. While outdoor adventurers and ecotourists can seek out luxuriant tropical rainforests of skyscraping hardwoods, soaring mountains, and, in the wildest corners, evocative creatures such as Sumatran elephants and orangutans.

Indonesia’s almost unbelievable demographic scope also makes it a spectacular destination for cultural tourism. Huge and hectic cities—not least the 10-million-strong capital of Jakarta—reveal Indonesia at its most frenetic and modernized, while rural areas provide refuges for ancient traditions—from Balinese artwork and dance to the agricultural and ritualized-warfare customs of West Papua’s mountain-fortressed Dani people. And spirituality permeates the archipelago: Travel widely enough, and you’ll likely see more than your fair share of Islamic mosques, Christian churches, Buddhist stupas, and Hindu temples.

Whether you’re eating your way through a tour of its ethnic geography or trekking to the summit of one of its equatorial volcanoes, Indonesia accommodates a spectacular wealth of travel experiences.