Indonesia

At a Glance

Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago, a chain of over 17,000 islands stretching across three time zones, where Balinese Hindu culture, Javanese court traditions, Sumatran rainforests, and the Komodo dragons of the eastern islands create a diversity that rewards years of exploration. The people are warm and welcoming across almost every island, and the food, particularly in Sumatra and Java, is outstanding. Those who limit themselves to Bali alone will miss most of the story.

• Has more Muslims than the entire Arab world combined.
• Fourth most populous country, yet spread across 17,000 islands.
• More active volcanoes than any other country — 127 at last count.