Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
3 Yogyakarta The cultural heart of Java, with a
fascinating walled royal city, Yogya is a centre for
Javanese arts and also the best place to base
yourself for visiting the magnificent temples of
Borobudur and Prambanan. See p.190
4 Gunung Bromo A vast volcanic crater, with
the still-smoking Gunung Bromo rising up from
its base; the pre-dawn hike up the crater rim is
well worth the effort for the dramatic sunrise
views over a spectacular landscape. See p.208
5 Bali The laidback Hindu island is still the most
popular destination in the archipelago, with
great nightlife, perfect surf, beautiful scenery
and the chilled-out cultural centre of Ubud.
See p.241
6 Lombok Just a short hop from Bali, head to
the awesome Gunung Rinjani for a few days'
trekking, or to the Gili Islands, just off the
northwest coast, for some fabulous diving.
See p.282
7 Komodo and Rinca Enjoy close encounters
with the fearsome Komodo dragon. Overnight
trips can be organized from Labuanbajo on
Flores, or from Lombok. See p.304
8 Flores A fertile, mountainous island, Flores
has one of the most alluring landscapes in the
country. The three craters of Kelimutu each
contain a lake of vibrantly different colours.
See p.305
9 Tanah Toraja You'll probably have to
backtrack to Bali before travelling up to
Sulawesi, where the major attraction is the
highlands of Tanah Toraja, home to a fascinating
culture and flamboyant festivals. See p.330
0
400
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PACIFIC
OCEAN
THE PHILIPPINES
2 Palawan A prehistoric landscape of
underground rivers, giant lizards, shockingly
beautiful limestone islands and some of the best
wreck-diving in the world. See p.660
3 Cebu city The Philippines' second city is
nearly as frenetic as Manila, and an inevitable
stop as you island-hop around the Visayas.
See p.634
4 Camiguin Easily reached from Cebu City,
this small volcanic island offers some of the
country's most appealing adventure activities
and a laidback, bohemian arts scene. See p.657
5 Siargao This small teardrop-shaped island
located off the northeastern coast of Cagayan
de Oro draws crowds of enthusiastic surfers
eager to ride Cloud 9, one of the world's most
acclaimed reef breaks. See p.658
6 Malapascua and Bantayan For a slice of
island living complete with limited electricity
and captivating sunsets, these islands off the tip
of Cebu are the Visayas at their best. See p.641
& p.639
7 Boracay One of the world's most beautiful
beaches, with nightlife to rival Manila, Boracay is
still an unmissable stop on any trip to the
Philippines. See p.651
8 The Cordilleras For a Philippine experience a
world away from the sun-drenched beaches of
the south, head north to the cool mountain
villages of the Igorot tribes, nestled among
jaw-dropping rice-terrace scenery. See p.615
THE PHILIPPINES
Graced by dazzling beaches, year-round sun and
numerous opportunities for diving, island-
hopping and surfing, the Philippines has long
attracted a steady stream of foreign visitors. Yet
there's far more to these islands than sand and
snorkelling. Beyond the coastline are places to
visit of a different nature; mystical tribal villages,
ancient rice terraces, jungle-smothered peaks
and crumbling Spanish churches.
1 Manila The Philippine capital can appear
sprawling and seedy, but it has a compelling
energy all of its own. It's also the most
convenient gateway to some of the country's
more inaccessible areas. See p.597
 
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