Jakarta

Java is Indonesia's most populous island, and encompasses the country's bustling capital Jakarta, which is the main gateway to the archipelago. The island is strewn with stunning ancient wonders, an awe-inspiring volcanic landscape crowned by Mount Bromo to the east and a cultural heartland around Yogyakarta and Surakarta that is brimming with history, music, art and crafts. Its jungles are also home to lots of exotic creatures, slow loris, sunbears, all manner of monkeys and bright birds of paradise.

Jakarta is a sprawling modern city pierced by skyscrapers, jammed with traffic and petering out to low-rise suburbs. It is usually just a stopover for travellers visiting Indonesia, but it does deserve some exploration. Fans of fine dining can find some excellent Indonesian restaurants while the stylish Skye Bar offers jaw-dropping views of the city from its terrace at the top of one of Jakarta's highest buildings. The city's old quarter, known as Batavia, is a crumbling and atmospheric remnant of the Dutch colonial era that can be explored on foot.

The island also has some charming former Dutch colonial towns such as Surabaya and Malang, but for atmosphere and location, Yogyakarta is the best place to stay. An attractive city of wide avenues and universities, of the town's grand old Dutch buildings, one has been converted into the beautiful Phoenix Hotel. Fine woven Batik fabric is a local speciality, and you can witness it being made at Rarad Jonggrang factory. Catch one of the popular shadow puppet shows that are emblematic of this region and take a stroll around the Sultan's Palace. Two of Indonesia's spectacular must-see sights - the ancient Hindu temple complex of Prambanan and the Buddhist monument of Borobudur - are within a short drive of the city centre.