Now that we can slowly start to discover the world again, it starts to itch to get ideas for a holiday to a tropical destination. We have put together a top 5 of the highlights on the destinations that Mimpi Reizen offers. Read along and get inspired for your next dream trip!
INDONESIA
Indonesia is a very diverse country with a lot of Dutch history. There are about 17,000 islands with rainforests, a great diversity of animals, mighty volcanoes, green tea plantations, a lot of culture and white beaches with an azure blue sea. We have put together a top 5 of sights that you should definitely not miss out on!
- Orang-utan spotting on Sumatra
In the north of Sumatra lies the village of Bukit Lawang in the middle of the Gunung Leuser National Park, known for its immense jungle. Have you always wanted to see orang-utans up close? Here it is possible! With a trekking of a few hours you will go in search of these beautiful monkeys. With a bit of luck you can even give them a banana. Adventurous? Then you can spend the night in the middle of the jungle. For the night, a place to sleep is made of simple materials and there are no other facilities. You go back to nature, so this experience will stay with you for a long time! After the trekking, you can float down the river in a tub, while the locals cheerfully wave at you!
2. The Borobudur on Java
One of the cultural highlights on Java is, of course, the Buddhist Borobudur temple, which is over a thousand years old and is one of the most famous attractions in Indonesia. Climb the temple at sunrise because it is not so hot yet and especially not so crowded. Moreover, if you are early, you can see the sun rise from Borobudur. You will see the mist between the trees disappear and the sunrays slowly illuminate the temple. It seems like a fairy tale!
In the afternoon, you can take a nice bike ride along the rice fields. Do you like some more excitement? Then go rafting on a nearby river!
3. Special death culture in Tana Toraja on Sulawesi
It sounds a bit crazy, but attending a funeral in Tana Toraja is very special! According to the Toraja, the final burial is to take the soul to heaven. For a funeral, families often have to save up for a long time. In the meantime, the deceased is embalmed and placed in a separate room in the house. The person who has passed away is only considered 'sick' until the funeral, and is greeted by the family and all visitors, and food is brought at times when the family eats. The funeral itself is also quite an event.
Tana Toraja also features a beautiful green landscape with unique houses with roofs in the shape of a saddle. Want to see more of the surroundings? Take a beautiful walk or a nice bike ride through villages and along rice fields. If you are looking for a more adventurous activity, you can also go rafting in this area.
4. The cosy islands of Nusa Lembongan, Penida and Ceningan off the coast of Bali
Southeast of Bali are the lovely islands of Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan. Here, you will find beautiful bounty beaches where you can relax and unwind. You can explore the islands by motorbike. You can also combine the islands with each other. On all islands, you can find several nice restaurants and bars where you can enjoy the fantastic view at sunset.
A unique activity in this area is snorkelling with the friendly manta rays. This is possible between Nusa Penida and Nusa Ceningan. It is a wonderful experience to see these beautiful animals up close!
By the way, did you know that from Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida you can cross over to the Gili Islands northeast of Bali? Great if you want to do some island hopping!
5. Unique boat trip through Komodo National Park near the Lesser Sunda Islands
Do you like animals? Then a visit to the Komodo National Park is highly recommended! During a day trip or a trip of several days, you explore the various islands and beautiful beaches of this national park. You stay on a converted fishing boat and discover the colourful underwater world. But of course you will also go in search of the immense Komodo dragons.
You can travel on a traditional boat where, instead of sleeping in a cabin, you can have your mattress laid out on the deck and spend the night under the most beautiful starry sky you have ever seen! If you prefer to stay on a trendy boat with hammocks on the sides and chilly beanbags, this is also possible. In the evening, the big screen is rolled out and a beamer transforms the boat into a floating cinema!
MALAYSIA
Malaysia is a true dream destination. You will find an impressive culture, friendly people, immense jungle areas with the most special animals you can imagine, but of course also wonderful beaches. We would like to share some of our favourite destinations in this country.
- Bustling Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur; for us one of the nicest cities in Asia! A destination of extremes with the old historic and the more modern new part. A visit to the world-famous Petronas Towers is of course a must. Furthermore, it is wonderful to stroll through the city on foot, but discovering the city by bike is also a fun activity! Do you like shopping? Then you will not be short of anything in this city. From fun trinkets in China Town to trendy shopping malls, you will find it all here. This metropolis also has plenty to offer in terms of food and drink. There is a night market and several food courts where you can taste delicious delicacies, but there are also many nice restaurants and bars.
If you want to get back to nature, you can visit the Forest Eco Park in the middle of the city, where you can swing over suspension bridges between the trees. How cool is that!
2. Cultural Penang
The island of Penang is one of the most enjoyable destinations in West Malaysia. You do not go there for idyllic beaches but for the culture of the destination. All the different cultures of Malaysia come together here.
The capital, Georgetown, with its UNESCO city centre, is a great place to stroll through alleyways filled with beautiful street art, trendy bars and quaint shops. The mountains of Penang Hill, which can be reached by train, are also worth a visit. But don't forget to visit the special Kek Lok Si temple, the botanical gardens and the snake temple. In the evening, the night market at Ferringhi Beach is a great place to browse for souvenirs. Penang is also known for its food culture and some of the best food in Malaysia can be found here! A cooking workshop in this area is highly recommended.
3. Nature-rich Borneo
Borneo has authentic jungle where you can swing over rope bridges, make walks through the rainforest and go in search of the most beautiful animals by boat; orang-utans, elephants, proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, snakes and colourful birds such as the hornbill and many other special animals. You will spend the night in a cosy lodge in the middle of nature. The rainforests of Borneo are among the most beautiful in the world!
There are several areas in Sabah with gigantic rainforests, each with its own unique piece of nature. In the jungle of Sukau, for example, you will mainly go on boat trips. But in Danum Valley, Malaysia's most authentic piece of jungle, you will explore the area on foot and take a jeep ride in the evening in search of nocturnal animals.
Sarawak also boasts some amazing green landscapes. The famous Bako National Park is mainly known for the beautiful hikes that you can make among the special flora and fauna. The Proboscis Monkey is a frequent guest here.
If you have enough time, a visit to Mulu National Park is also worthwhile. During your stay in the middle of the rainforest, monkeys will jump from tree to tree above your head. There are also large networks of cave systems with beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. Towards the end of the afternoon you can see millions of bats flying out in search of food, a spectacular sight!
4. Sleep with the locals
Have you always wanted to sleep with the locals? In Malaysia, it is possible! In Sarawak on Borneo, it is possible to sleep in a traditional longhouse with the former headhunters. Very simple but an experience that you will remember for a long time! You sleep in an elongated house on poles where several families live. During these days you will learn more about the traditions and habits of these people. You will have dinner with the family and you can taste a traditional glass of Arak. You sleep on a mattress with a mosquito net. You don't need to set an alarm clock, you will be woken up by the crowing of the rooster.
5. Fantastic beaches
Both West Malaysia and Borneo have idyllic beaches where you can relax either at the beginning or at the end of your tour. You can also go snorkelling or diving, or take an excursion if you are staying on a larger island. On Langkawi in West Malaysia, for example, you can take a wonderful mangrove tour, during which the sea eagles circle above your head, and on the island of Selingan near Sabah in Borneo you can even see turtles come ashore!
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka is a destination that offers something for everyone. You will find beautiful national parks with unique animals, green mountains and tea plantations, a rich cultural history and of course beautiful beaches with swaying palm trees. Of course, there are many highlights, but below we highlight a few that we think you should definitely not miss out on!
- Visiting the national parks in search of wildlife
Sri Lanka has several nature reserves where you can go by jeep in search of the most beautiful wild animals such as leopards, elephants, bears, crocodiles, birds of prey, water buffaloes, monitor lizards and many more beautiful animals. When visiting Sri Lanka, a visit to at least one national park is definitely one of the highlights of the country!
2. Cycling through one of the King's Cities
The royal cities of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa belong, together with Dambulla and Sigiriya, to the cultural triangle of Sri Lanka. In both places you can see the remains of the past. Through both places you can make a nice bike ride which takes you back in time.
Anuradhapura is the first King's City of Sri Lanka and is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. This city is also considered the capital of Buddhism. Anuradhapura is a real pilgrimage city, which is why more temples and stupas can be found there.
Polonnaruwa is the second King's City and here you will find more ruins.
3. Soak up the culture in Galle, Sigiriya and Kandy
In these cities, you will find the most beautiful cultural remains from a distant past. These cities are absolute must-sees during your trip through Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka was once a Dutch colony. In the 17th century, the Dutch East India Company built a large fort in the coastal town of Galle, which fortunately still looks beautiful. Because UNESCO has declared this area a World Heritage Site, the old building style has been preserved. Nowadays, Galle Fort is a cosy place where you can stroll through authentic streets, browse in nice shops and enjoy the view from one of the many terraces. For us, a visit to Galle should not be missed during your trip through Sri Lanka.
There are several interesting temple complexes to visit in the vicinity of Sigiriya, such as the cave temple of Dambulla with its richly coloured murals.
Kandy is a famous city for believers. Buddhists from all over the world visit the 'Temple of the Tooth' of Buddha. The temple is situated on a beautiful lake and opposite the colonial Queens hotel, where you can enjoy a delicious high tea.
4. Take one of the most beautiful train journeys in the world
There are several train journeys possible in Sri Lanka. One of the most beautiful trips is from Kandy to Ella, where you can enjoy this unique experience for no less than seven hours. However, if you want to travel a bit shorter by train, you can get off at Nuwara Eilya after about four hours. During the train journey, you will enjoy views of green rice fields, mighty mountains, waterfalls and rivers as well as a ride through special tunnels and gigantic bridges. The windows and doors are usually open, making it possible to take beautiful photos and enjoying the nice breeze. Sit in the doorway and watch all the beauty pass by, with your hair dancing on the breeze.
5. Picking tea at a tea plantation
Sri Lanka has many green tea plantations. Especially in the surroundings of Ella and Nuwara Eliya, you will find these beautiful plantations. You drive through them by car, but at Lipton's Seat near Haputale you can also take a very nice ride by tuk tuk high into the mountains. From here, you can enjoy a great view over this beautiful area! A visit to a tea factory is also highly recommended to learn more about the tea process. If you like, you can even join the local people at the plantation to pick the tea, they love that too!
Are you interested in one of these fantastic destinations? Then please contact us. You can do this by phone, e-mail or through a pleasant personal appointment as soon as this is possible again. We are happy to help you put together your dream trip! Your trip can be based entirely on your own wishes, everything is possible!
Mimpi Reizen makes your dream trip come true!