Indonesia

As the world’s third largest democracy, Indonesia is a presidential republic with an elected legislature. It has 38 provinces, of which nine have special status. The country’s capital, Jakarta, is the world’s second-most populous urban area. Indonesia shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and the eastern part of Malaysia, as well as maritime borders with Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, Palau, and India. Despite its large population and densely populated regions, Indonesia has vast areas of wilderness that support one of the world’s highest level of biodiversity. 

Though Bali usually gets all the headlines (and deservedly so), Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, mostly volcanic in origin. From hiking in the mountains to lazing on the beaches, and exploring the rain forests and rice terraces, Indonesia’s environs are diverse and quite often dramatic. You’ll find some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world—Indonesia contains 20% of the world’s coral reefs, though sadly, they are seeing the effects of erosion. Nature buffs can commune with wild orangutans and Komodo dragons; if you’re into culture, you can explore temples and old palaces. Jakarta, though not for everyone, can be chaotic but energizing. And you certainly can’t leave Indonesia without visiting at least one of its famous spas for some good old-fashioned pampering.