2 Best Sights in Indonesia

Bali's lake country highlands present breathtaking vistas at elevations above 1,000 meters (3,280 feet), two to three hours north of southern resort areas. Bedugul overlooks Danau (Lake) Bratan. Lakeside temple Pura Ulun Danau Bratan (Rp10,000) is rightly among Bali's most photographed spots. Vast Bali Botanical Garden (Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bali; Rp7,000), mobbed on Sundays, grows palms to pines to pink roses, thanks to the elevation. Bedugul's market and countless hawkers sell famed local strawberries. The winding 16-km (10-mile) road to Munduk skirts Danau Buyan and Danau Tamblingan, with views of forested mountainsides that reach the sea. Munduk features hiking trails, waterfalls, Dutch colonial buildings, and coffee plantations. Weather ranges from sweltering sun to misty downpour to mountain chill, often changing dramatically within a couple of hours.

Though it's a four- to five-hour drive to reach Lake Toba from Medan, travelers say the journey is totally worth the hassle to experience its beauty—though it's advisable to stay overnight or longer if you can. It's the largest volcanic lake in the world, resulting from a volcano that exploded more than 75,000 years ago. To reach Lake Toba, hire a driver to take you to the charming town of Parapat, on the shores of the lake, then board a 40-minute ferry to volcanic Samosir Island, which sits in the middle of the lake. Once you're there, you can take a dip in a hot spring, hike or bike the island, or simply enjoy the mesmerizing views.