It is true that for some people, solo travel sounds unusual. Most people are getting used to finding joy by sharing an adventurous experience with their companions, either partner, friends, or family members. However, solo travel has its own perks. Aside from having full control of your own trip, you can enjoy all the excitement in the comfort of solitude. Furthermore, you can avoid less crowds, especially since getting exposed to unwanted risk is the last thing we want on a holiday.
Getting excited to start your very first solo trip to Indonesia? We have some destination recommendations and travel to-do lists based on the 5S: sight, sound, savor, scent and sense of touching. Never be intimidated with a solo trip anymore, because with our recommendations, you are going to get the maximum adventure that will indulge all of your senses!
Click on one of these tabs to explore your dream destination now!
1. Lake Toba
No one can deny the magnificence of this ancient gigantic crater. Formed by a volcanic eruption around 75,000 years ago, Lake Toba in North Sumatra is now known as one of the largest and deepest lakes in the entire world. Its existence did not only give birth to wondrous natural excitements but also fascinating cultures and communities to learn from. Refer to this article to find out how to get to Lake Toba.
SIGHT
Every corner of the landscape in Lake Toba is a sight to behold. For starters, visit Tomok Village and admire its unique housing structure and historical sites. Those who fancy cultural excitements will be awed by the look of Sigale-gale Puppet. A few notes for some goosebumps: the locals believed that in some occasions, the puppet has a mystical power that can make it wail and dance by itself.
If you’re looking for natural scenery, you can hike up to Tarabunga Hill or Holbung Hill. Both offer the stunning look of Lake Toba from a bird’s eye view, which will really pamper your eyes.
SOUND
The first thing you hear when you arrive at Lake Toba is, of course, the breezy wind that is blowing all over the place. Looking for the best way to enjoy it? Ride a jet ski or paddle around the lake with a kayak boat. In Samosir Island, which is located in the middle of Lake Toba, there are some places that rent a jet ski or a kayak boat for tourists. Don’t worry if you’re still a beginner, because they will also guide you on how to do it. If you’re looking for a more calming type of breeze, you can just sit on the lakeside and enjoy the comforting sound of the wind.
Most of the locals that reside in Lake Toba are Batak people, and they have plenty of mouthful dishes to keep your tongue intrigued during your solo trip. The first thing you should try in Lake Toba is arsik, a dish made from goldfish and herbs steamed in low heat. This dish brings all elements of flavor together: sweet, spicy, sour, and savory. It’s perfect for those who fancy tasteful local delicacies. You can also try dali ni horbo, a unique cheese-like dessert that is processed from buffalo milk and can be found in traditional markets in Lake Toba.
SCENT
The scent that will remind you of Lake Toba after you get back from your trip will be the spicy aromatic notes of Andaliman pepper. This spice is known to be used in many of local dishes in Lake Toba including arsik. Andaliman peppers are harvested from wild plants that grow in the mountainous area with a height of approximately 1,400 m above sea level. You will never forget the distinctively rich and delicious smell just like you won’t forget your experience in Lake Toba.
SENSE OF TOUCHING
When in Lake Toba, find ways to enjoy the trip by satiating your sense of touch. Find their signature hand-woven textile product called Ulos. This traditional textile product uses cotton yarn as the main material and plant dye to create colors. It is created in meticulous manners not only because it’s the identity of the tribe but also because it’s a significant symbol of status for Batak people. Feel the texture of the fabric with your own hands and buy one as a souvenir to bring back home!
2. Borobudur
The large temple that once was the throne of the Syailendra Dynasty in the 9th century has now become a place for people to not only savor the magnificence but also cultivate the flourishing culture in and around the temple area. There are many activities that you can explore in Borobudur Temple, and here’s our recommendation based on the 5S.
SIGHT
Aside from the stunning 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues telling stories about past glories and divine philosophies, you can also enjoy taking photos at its majestic stairs from many different angles. It will definitely be the pictures that you will be happy seeing for the rest of your life. Furthermore, you can also come before dawn to Borobudur Temple to witness the view of otherworldly sunrise that will leave you in awe.
SOUND
Those who come to Borobudur Temple and explore the surroundings must be familiar with the sound of gamelan that can be heard almost in every corner of the area. Gamelan is a set of instruments that is usually played simultaneously to make a harmonious combination of mostly diatonic music. The instruments in gamelan include xylophone, drums and gongs. It’s a musical arrangement that is traditional in Java and Bali but you will find it easier in the tourism areas especially Borobudur Temple.
SAVOR
It won’t be a complete trip to Borobudur Temple if you skipp their exceptionally delicious gudeg. Gudeg is a traditional food from Yogyakarta and Central Java made from young jackfruit cooked with coconut milk. It took hours to make this dish. The brown color from gudeg is usually produced by cooking teak leaves together with the dish. Gudeg is usually eaten with rice and served with thick coconut milk (areh), free-range chicken, eggs, tempeh, tofu, and krecek (a traditional Javanese cattle skin stewed in chili sauce). Enjoying the sweet sensation of gudeg will be an adventure itself, which you can only experience in the area of Central Java and Yogyakarta, especially Borobudur Temple.
SCENT
Central Java, including the area of Borobudur Temple, is identical to one of its main commodities: kretek. Kretek is hand-rolled clove and tobacco cigarette with a dense, warm, rich, and thick profile. There are many products of kretek imported worldwide that are produced in Central Java. The smell of burnt kretek might not appeal to many people, but the scent of raw tobacco and clove in a roll of paper will remind you of the greatness of Central Java, especially Borobudur.
SENSE OF TOUCHING
In the area of Borobudur Temple, it is very easy to find batik clothing, as there are many cities in Central Java that are known to produce batik as their main commodities, namely Kudus, Pekalongan, and Surakarta (Solo). Batik is a cloth that is painted with wax using a tool called canting to produce certain patterns on the cloth. The high-quality fabric result is so smooth it will bring a distinctive pleasure to your sense of touching.
Batik has become an identity to Indonesia’s cultural richness and has been known worldwide. This traditional fabric has been recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and the Intangible Heritage of Humanity from Indonesia on 2 October 2009. It is still uncertain about when batik was originally created, but according to some historical findings, batik has been around since the Majapahit era and it continued to develop in many regions in Indonesia, especially in Central Java itself. Bring batik as a souvenir to help you reminisce every moment you’ve had while enjoying solo traveling to Borobudur Temple.
3. Mandalika
Once a surfers’ secret that dwells on the southern coast of Lombok Island, Mandalika now has emerged as the island’s center of leisure. It has now become a special tourism economic zone that boasts unlimited excitement in a 1,250-hectare seashore area facing the Indian Ocean. Take a look at our recommendations here based on 5S:
SIGHT
Mandalika is strategically located near some of Lombok's most outstanding beaches, including Tanjung Aan, Kuta, Gerupuk, Serenting, and Seger Beach. If you’re looking for a more adventurous sightseeing journey, you can climb to the top of the Merese Hill or make your way to Batu Payung Beach and you will be presented with some of the most exhilarating sceneries in Lombok.
SOUND
The Sasak Tribe is known as the indigenous community residing in Lombok. If you’re interested in learning more about their culture while visiting Mandalika, you can head to the village of Sade and Ende, which is only a 19-minute drive away from Mandalika area. When you get there, you will be welcomed with the music of Lombok, which uses many traditional instruments such as genggong, mandolin, rebana burdah, gendang beleq, and many others.
SAVOR
Ayam taliwang (spicy aromatic grilled chicken) and Plecing Kangkung (water spinach topped with spicy sambal) is two of the most popular dishes in Lombok. You can certainly find those two dishes in most of the restaurants in Mandalika. Prepare to be challenged with their spicy and umami sensation that will dance in your mouth. They’re certainly rich and flavorful and will make you want to keep coming back to Mandalika for more.
SCENT
Many Indonesians believe that Lombok has its name derived from spicy red chili pepper since many local languages use the term ‘lombok’ to describe the product. Although the locals had explained that the name actually comes from Sanskrit language which means ‘straight ahead’, people cannot seem to separate Lombok from spicy red chili due to their traditional cuisine which always features a hot, spicy, and savory taste profile. Therefore, if you’re going to Lombok, especially Mandalika, you will always be pampered with a distinctive yet exciting whiff of spicy scents.
SENSE OF TOUCHING
If you’re visiting some of the tourist villages around Mandalika, especially in Sukarara Village, you will find that one of the people’s main activities is weaving tenun fabrics. Almost every house in this village has its own loom. The weavers in this village are only women, while men mostly work as farmers.
Tenun fabrics from Lombok are produced with distinctive technique because they combine weft threads with synthetic threads for decoration, usually with golden or silver colors. They use high quality materials to produce the fabrics so it definitely will leave quite an impression for you. Of course, you are allowed to just enjoy the distinction by touching the fabrics and take photos with them, but wouldn’t it be better to support their local economy by buying the product, right?
4. Bali
Its undisputed tropical charm and abundance of cultural excitements makes Bali one of the best tourist destinations not only in Indonesia but also worldwide. The countless beauties of the volcanoes, beaches, waterfalls, and rice fields are a perfect paradise for nature and culture lovers who are seeking ideal moments of holiday. Here are our 5S recommendations:
SIGHT
There are plenty of exhilarating views in the Island of the Gods. You can choose one or two that fits your preference or you can just simply explore them all. Beach lovers? Discover the greatness of Kelingking Beach in Nusa Penida, the quiet comfort of Balian Beach in Tabanan, or the liveliness of Double Six Beach in Seminyak. Fancy mountains and forests? Explore Mount Batur and immerse into the Ubud Monkey Forest to befriend nature, and also the macaques. Looking for something different yet represents Bali the most? Discover the hidden waterfalls such as Sekumpul Waterfall in Sawan, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls in Wanagiri, and many others or take a scenic walk in Campuhan Ridge in Ubud to make your solo trip unforgettable.
SOUND
You haven’t truly felt the magic of Bali if you don’t see the performance of Kecak Dance. Kecak is a traditional dance from Bali that is performed by approximately 10 to 15 main dancers while the choir group consists of 50 or more male dancers who perform basic movement patterns. The dance is known to narrate the story of Ramayana, one of Asia's most popular legends. Come to Uluwatu before sunset and see the epic performance of Kecak Dance by yourself. Prepare to get bewitched by the haunting sound of “cak, cak, cakcakcak, cakcakcak,” while the shades of sun slowly leave the sky and shine upon the dancers.
SAVOR
Bali’s cuisine is definitely the one you should not miss during your solo trip. There are a lot of options, but we recommend two dishes that will simply represent the flavor of the Island of the Gods: ayam betutu and nasi jinggo. Ayam betutu is a whole chicken baked on a fire husk and seasoned with Bali’s authentic spices while nasi jinggo is a simple dish consisting of a fistful of steamed rice topped with several complementary and side dishes such as serundeng (fried coconut flakes), spicy fried tempeh, shredded chicken, eggs, and also fried noodle. Truly two dishes that represent the richness of Bali and will make you keep coming back for more.
SCENT
One scent that will catch your attention immediately after you arrive in Bali is the incense. Everywhere you go in Bali, you will be transported to the contemplative atmosphere made by the burning incense in every corner. It is part of Balinese Hindu beliefs to give offerings, or bantenas, a gift of gratitude to their Creator in the form of burning incense and canang. It makes Bali a meditative place for a solo trip and one that will be hard to forget once you leave.
SENSE OF TOUCHING
If you’re looking for a distinctive touching experience in Bali, stop by Tenganan Pegringsingan Ancient Village in Karangasem Regency and prepare for one of your most memorable trip ever. It is a fascinating village because it still upholds the ancient traditions from the ancestors, and one of them is the creation of gringsing fabric. Gringsing is a double woven cloth that is often used for various Balinese traditional ceremonies. It has a high economic value not only because of the uniqueness of the pattern but also because the production still uses natural coloring and the manufacturing process takes a long time. The price of a piece of gringsing cloth ranges from IDR 300,000 to tens of millions, depending on the complexity of the motif and the length of the process. It’s quite tempting to bring some of those back home from your solo trip, isn’t it?
5. Labuan Bajo
Once only a small fishing site, Labuan Bajo in the westernmost tip of Flores Island is now flourishing as a big tourist destination not only because it’s a gateway to Komodo National Park but also because the place itself has limitless excitement to explore. Let’s see our 5S recommendation in this destination:
SIGHT
If you’re a person who loves the simple joy of nature, then you’re in for a treat because Labuan Bajo is known as the city of sunset. There are plenty of vantage points to enjoy every evening here, and three of the best ones and the easiest to access are Cinta Hill, Amelia Summit, and Silvia Summit.
Another unique feature of Labuan Bajo is that it has many otherworldly caverns. Go to Mirror Cave or Goa Batu Cermin, which is only 4 kilometers away from Labuan Bajo, to witness a cave that has so many reflective stones. Continue your journey by visiting other natural attractions around the area such as Rangko Cave, Cunca Rami, and Cunca Wulang canyon waterfall and have the best solo adventure of your life.
SOUND
East Nusa Tenggara has a fascinating traditional instrument named sasando, which looks like a fusion of harp and guitar made from bamboo. In the language of Rote, a traditional community in East Nusa Tenggara, sasando means ‘vibrating’ or ‘resonating’. The instrument is usually played for many occasions from singing, traditional dance, traditional ceremonies, to poetry performances.
Even though it was created on the island of Rote, sasando also developed in other areas, such as Kupang and Labuan Bajo. Therefore, prepare to be welcomed by the beautiful plucks of sasando strings when you arrive at Labuan Bajo.
SAVOR
Meat lovers, prepare to be shook with Se’i, a mouthful traditional cuisine from Flores that will get you addicted to it. Se'i is smoked meat (beef or sometimes pork) placed over an open fire at a relatively high distance to let the hot smoke -- not the fire -- cook the meat. It is then served with vegetables like water spinach and topped with spicy chili sauce.
There are many other dishes that you should explore such as Tapa Kolo or Catemak jagung but Se’i is definitely the one you should not miss.
SCENT
As the main activity of Labuan Bajo people is revolving around fisheries, the first scent that will welcome your arrival to this destination is definitely the smell of the sea. Yes, for seafood lovers, Labuan Bajo is a paradise that provides everything they want. Let us give you a quick tip: go to Labuan Bajo Fish Market, which is only an 8-minute drive from the airport. There, not only you can buy the best quality fresh seafood to cook for yourself but you can also dine at the seafood restaurants which, of course, will serve you the best quality seafood you can expect.
SENSE OF TOUCHING
Near Labuan Bajo in the area of Komodo National Park, there is something unique that you should never miss to touch: the light, smooth, and gentle sands in the shores of Pink Beach. Yes, you heard that right. This beach, which is located on the southeastern part of Komodo Island, is one of the only seven pink-colored beaches in the entire world. It is named Pink Beach because the microscopic animals called Foraminifera exist on this beach and produce a pink pigment on the coral reefs. Don’t worry because you can still roam around the area and enjoy the pampering texture of the sand while the seawater touches your skin. A few things to remember: Pink Beach is located on the island that is a natural habitat to Komodo dragons, so if you see them roaming around you, be sure to keep a distance and be a responsible traveler by not disturbing them.
With this brief yet concise guide, you won’t have to worry about solo traveling to these destinations. It’s even better because it should not be hard for you to implement social distancing and plan a more contemplative yet immersive travel experience. However, we need to remind you that being a responsible traveler is the most important thing you need on your journey. Be mindful of your surroundings and a great adventure will come to you!
