Festivals

Clambering inside a massive volcanic crater may sound a bit crazy, but on the island of Java, this means one thing – it’s the annual one-day Yadnya Kasada Festival. Hundreds of Indonesians climb inside the crater to deliver offerings to the gods. The religious festival takes place at the foot of Mount Bromo for an incredibly beautiful setting.

Re-enactments of tribal war, traditional dancing, archery contests and children’s competitions create a lively scene at the Baliem Valley Festival in Papua Wamena every July spread across three days. Finishing with a decorated vehicle parade and fun-filled carnival, the festival celebrates both traditional and modern tribal life.

An explosion of color, the three-day Jember Fashion Carnaval in Jember, Indonesia, is a spectacular sight. The city’s main streets are converted into a 2.2-mile catwalk, the longest in the entire world. Visitors are invited to create their own imaginative costumes and vote on the extravagant costumes presented.

Globally-acclaimed, the two-day Ubud Village Jazz Festival features 100 renowned international and Indonesian Jazz musicians performing on three stages spotting Ubud's green hillside. This is the first eco-friendly, community-based jazz event in the country. The plastic-free event involves local art and music groups.