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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Indonesia

67 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Indonesia

Updated April 18, 2023

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  1. Abang
  2. Baturiti
  3. Kuta Selatan
  4. Magelang
  5. Rantepao
  6. Ternate
  7. Yogyakarta

Unusual Attractions in Indonesia

See All 67 Things To Do in Indonesia

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Indonesia

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Geology 11
Temples 11
Volcanoes 8
Ecosystems 7
Hinduism 6
Art 6
Nature 5
Caves 5

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Stories About Indonesia

A 1902 illustration of battling dryptosaurs.

Wonder Is Everywhere: Lost Dinosaurs, 5,000-Year-Old Leftovers, and More From Around the Web

Get a peek into what we’re obsessed with right now.
by April White
A man makes a traditional dragon heads for the Lunar New Year celebration in Bogor, Indonesia.

5 Colorful Stories About the Pageantry of the Lunar New Year

Go behind the scenes of celebration, from molten metal to sticky cakes.
by April White

What Caused This Massive Mud Volcano Eruption in Indonesia?

For more than a decade, hot mud has oozed across thousands of acres, displacing entire villages.
by Michael Hudec
The carnivorous plant Nepenthes lowii, found only in Borneo, is able to thrive in a harsh, high-elevation ecosystem because it has adapted to eat animal droppings.

These Toilet-Shaped Carnivorous Plants Thrive By Eating Poop

Some of Borneo's pitcher plants took insects off the menu in favor of mammal droppings. It's an evolutionary triumph.
by Gemma Tarlach
An aling-aling is a half-wall opposite a gate that can keep spirits at bay.

How Homes in Bali Are Designed for Harmony—and to Keep Demons at Bay

All the subtle ways traditional dwellings offer spiritual security.
by Ronan O'Connell

The World's Largest Bee and the Cautionary Tale of Its Rediscovery

Scientists were thrilled to find the Wallace's giant bee, missing for four decades. Things did not go as they'd hoped.
by Oliver Milman
A female orangutan and her three-year-old offspring from Central Kalimantan, Borneo; primatologists found the primates reduced social interaction in the wake of destructive fires.

How Orangutans Changed Their Behavior After Devastating Fires

Primatologists found the disaster's effects lingered years after the smoke cleared from Borneo's forests.
by Bridget Alex
Biruté Mary Galdikas has spent more than half a century studying Borneo's orangutans.

The Anthropologist Who Has Spent 50 Years Protecting—and Learning From—Orangutans

Biruté Mary Galdikas has quietly fought on the frontlines of some of conservation’s biggest battles. 
by Gemma Tarlach

Lists Featuring Indonesia

Red Seabeach
Padar Island and its crystal-clear turquoise water.
Black Sand Beach

10 Unique Beaches From Around the World

From bright red grass to stranded shipwrecks, these beaches are anything but ordinary.

10

Including Driftwood Beach, Red Beach , and Padar Island

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