Celebrate New Year’s Eve at these five back-to-nature spots in Indonesia

1 | East Nusa Tenggara

Surrounded by 80 islets, the fishermen’s town of Labuan Bajo is a central point for tourists looking to explore the stunning landscapes and beaches nearby.
You can charter a boat from Labuan Bajo and cruise around to famous spots like Padar Island and Dividend Beach and spend New Year’s Eve here. Not only will you be mesmerized by the clear blue waters and green islands during your trip, but you will also have the chance to encounter the “living dragon” Komodo dragon. Locally known as “Ora”, Komodo dragons are now protected in Komodo Island National Park, and you are welcome to swim in their natural habitat to observe this ancient lizard.

2 | Maribaya Lodge in Bandung, West Java

Welcome to New Year’s Eve outdoors! Camping at Maribaya Campground in Bandung, Lembang, Cibodas, Jl. Maribaya will give you a year-end experience of a lifetime, despite the lack of fireworks, it is easy to light a flame in the cold pine forest in place of fireworks.

The Lodge Maribaya was built in 2005 as an outbound area called Lodge Land and Adventure Park. In 2016, its main business turned into glamorous tents at resorts, and it has since started the glamping tourism trend.

Pumpkin-like tents allow you to sleep comfortably as each tent comes with a single or double bed, power supply, lights, power sockets and cooling fans. These are the “luxuries” you can have while camping in the forest. There are three kinds of tents, namely single occupancy, double occupancy and triple occupancy, you can choose freely. Instead of battling the cold weather, each shared bathroom at The Lodge Maribaya has hot water.

3 | Dieng Plateau in Central Java

Dieng is located at 2200 meters above sea level and is the highest plateau in Central Java. Usually, tourists visit Dieng Plateau for its peaceful atmosphere and cold weather, which helps relieve stress.

If you’re there on New Year’s Eve, you’ll find more than two outdoor celebrations, such as a dangdut music stage and poetry readings hosted by locals. When the bells rang past midnight, the horns sounded, and fireworks and paper lanterns would light up Dion’s sky.

If you want to spend more time in the Plateau of Dieng, local guesthouses and homestays are affordable options.

4 | North Jakarta

If you’re in the Greater Jakarta area and don’t have enough days off but want to escape the concrete jungle to celebrate New Year’s Eve, head to Kepulauan Seribu!
The Kuril Islands are made up of small islands located several miles off the coast north of Jakarta. Just beyond the dark Aral Sea in the Gulf of Jakarta, the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Kuril Islands are waiting for you to surprise you. There are several islands known for their beautiful beaches and underwater ecosystems namely Tidung Island, Pramuka Island and Macan Island.
Imagine celebrating New Year’s Eve on the beach at midnight and snorkeling in the morning. It’s the equivalent of you’re still in the giant durian, but it’s almost surreal.

To think of these islands, you can take a traditional boat from Kali Adem Port in Muara Angke or a speedboat from Marina Port in Ancol, North Jakarta. Arrival times vary, depending on the island you want to visit.

5 | Derawan Island, Berau, East Kalimantan

Are you asking for a longer rest day for a year-end tour? If the answer is yes, then consider spending New Years on Derawan Island (Drawan Island).
These islands have been internationally recognized as one of the best diving spots in Indonesia, with fascinating corals and a variety of fish. Let me tell you a secret, a great way to start the new year is to relax on white sand beaches surrounded by crystal clear turquoise waters.
The Derawan Islands consist of about 30 small islands, but tourists can only visit four of them, namely Derawan Island (Drawan Island), Maratua Island (Maradua Island), Sangalaki Island (Sangalaki Island) and Kakaban Island (Kakaban Island). In addition to the stunning underwater landscape, the Delavan Islands are also home to many protected marine animals such as green turtles, whales and dolphins. In a lake on Kakaban Island, you’ll find stingless jellyfish, and you won’t get hurt if you swim nearby or even touch them.