Many tourists, at the start of their journey, ask themselves one question, "Where to Travel?" because, one gets confused in choosing a destination for a specific tenure, within a budget with a certain choice of places to explore or activities to enjoy. One such confusion is selecting between the Philippines and Indonesia for a holiday visit. Both the Philippines or Indonesia are remarkable tourist destinations, where millions of tourists visit from different parts of the globe. Despite being two different Asian countries, you will find a blend of history, culture, natural landscapes, artificial wonders and great nightlife.
The Philippines and Indonesia are two ideal tourist destinations, where every year you will find both national and international tourists throughout the year across different parts of the country. The diversified and intriguing destinations will help you spend amazing holidays with either your friends or families. There are various activities on both land and water to engage in in Indonesia or the Philippines.
This blog features a detailed contrast of Philippines vs Indonesia holiday destinations in regard to the tourist attractions, weather, activities and cuisines to be indulged in. Scroll below to read a detailed comparison between the Philippines and Indonesia for holidays.
The Philippines is considered to be a treasure trove for tourists travelling from different parts of the globe. The Philippines offers you a wide array of tourist attractions, starting from stunning oceans and beaches to historical places that have been cited as heritage sites by UNESCO, to active volcanoes, where you can visit and have an amazing time. The locals are also very helpful and friendly and will try their best to cater to your needs and comfort.
UK residents need to apply for a visa for travelling to the Philippines and must hold a valid passport, carry necessary identification proof, and have both onward and return journey tickets. It generally takes around 7 to 14 working days to get the visa approved. Obtaining a Philippines visa is a hassle-free process that will allow you to have a comfortable travel experience, upon reaching the Philippines. Also ensure to exchange some of your pound sterling into Philippine peso at the airport or at any SM Mall, to avoid hassle on your trip.
Boracay Island is one of the top tourist destinations in the Philippines, which is located at a distance of 103 km (approx.) from the mainland. This small island is just 7km in length and 500m in width, surrounded by clear water in all four directions. This island is renowned for its White beach, which holds its position among the top beaches of the world. You can also enjoy a variety of water sports activities like scuba diving, parasailing, kiteboarding, fly fish and others. This island also has a number of bars and restaurants along the shore, offering a spectacular nightlife.
The Banaue Rice Terraces is said to be the wonder made by the native Filipino people over 2000 years ago, by carving the Ifugao mountains. While trekking down the rice terraces, one can gain a better insight into the practices of the local people. These rice terraces hold a significant position in the Ifugao economy for rice cultivation requires intensive cooperation among people. At present, you will be able to witness an area of over 4000 square miles that also highlights an intricate irrigation system. Since 2012, major conservation and restoration efforts have been made by the officials and sustainable tourism has been promoted, which attracted many tourists.
Intramuros is an old neighbourhood located in Manila, which has deep roots of history, as it was the centre of educational, religious and political activities. The name "Intramuros" means within the walls, referring to the fortification of the area during the Spanish colonial era. There are a number of points of interest in this neighbourhood, where you can spend your time leisurely, such as San Agustin Church, Fort Santiago and Casa Manila. You will be amazed with the well-preserved remnants, museums and architecture of the past. You can walk down the lanes of Intramuros and witness the years-old buildings in exchange for a nominal entry fee.
Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the Philippines, as it is a secured marine area and is renowned globally as a scuba diving site. This natural park offers shelter to over 1200 marine species, comprising of marine mammals, sea birds, sea turtles, rays, sharks, corals, algae and sea grasses. You are bound to have a great diving experience in this marine natural park amidst the ocean ecosystem. This park is spread over an area of 100,000 hectares to ensure the habitat of marine animals and plants. On June 26th, 2009, UNESCO declared this park as a heritage site.
Mayon volcano is an active stratovolcano, which has a remarkable symmetrical cone shape. You can spot the spectacular backdrop view of the Cagsawa ruins that will leave you awestruck. The volcano is 2462m tall and 13.km wide and is a popular destination among campers, trekkers and climbers. Since 1616, there have been over 30 eruptions and in 1814, the deadliest eruption had occurred. At present, the serene and vibrant scenery along the hiking trails makes this trail a must-visit destination in the Philippines. If you are planning to hike the mountain, then make sure to hire a guide.
The best time to visit the Philippines is between December and April, which will allow you to explore different parts of the country in a comfortable manner. The Philippines, being a tropical country, offers you a dry season in the above-mentioned months, when the average temperature ranges around 25°C. During the night time, the temperature drops further, allowing you to enjoy the nightlife in a better manner.
Here is a list of things to do in the Philippines to make your trip memorable
The best time to visit the Philippines is between December and April, which will allow you to explore different parts of the country in a comfortable manner. The Philippines, being a tropical country, offers you a dry season in the above-mentioned months, when the average temperature ranges around 25°C. During the night time, the temperature drops further, allowing you to enjoy the nightlife in a better manner.
A trip is incomplete without savouring the popular dishes or local cuisines of a place. Here is a list of local dishes that you must try on your trip to Philippines:
Indonesia, one of the world's largest archipelagos, offers you a blend of natural beauty, artificial wonders, rich history and culture along with wildlife. Travelling to different islands within Indonesia offers a diverse experience and caters to the taste of every traveller, be it a nature lover or thrill seeker or history lovers. Also ensure, savouring the local cuisines to connect to their traditional cooking style and flavours.
The residents of the UK need to apply for a visa before travelling to Indonesia. You must apply for a visa at least a week before travelling to Indonesia. You will get a Visa on Arrival (VOA) of 30 days for the purpose of visiting or tourism. It takes a few days to receive-visa upon registering and applying for a visa. Also, you need to pay a tourist levy of approximately £8 per person visiting Indonesia.
Bali is one of the most visited destinations of Indonesia, where travellers from across different parts of the world visit to spend their holidays. Bali offers you a fusion of scenic natural beauty, rich historical and cultural heritage and diverse flora and fauna. Bali features some of the iconic tourist destinations like Uluwatu temple, Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ceking Rice Terrace and many more. While exploring Bali, you will be able to understand that some areas have been influenced by tourism, whereas some areas still stand remote, retaining their Balinese charm and beauty. You will find tourists visiting Bali throughout the year to enjoy the wide array of tourism options.
Ubud is a scenic destination that is located in Bali and is also one of the most popular tourist destinations. Ubud is surrounded by green pastures of jungle, palms and rice fields. The tranquillity and peace surrounding this destination will help you release stress and tension and help you gain spiritual awakening. Being Bali's cultural, artistic and spiritual capital, Ubud offers you to cleanse your body and soul by visiting yoga retreats, and wellness centres and enjoying vegan and vegetarian foods. Hence, visiting Ubud will help you get both, physically and mentally fit and also elevate your spirituality, which will help you lead a better life.
Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia offers you a wide array of destinations to be visited, mainly at its central part. Some of the points of interest that you can visit during your stay at Jakarta are Selamat Datang, Jakarta Cathedral, Merdeka Palace, Mona and many more. Apart from being a tourist spot, it is also the control centre of the national economy of Indonesia along with being an industrial hub. One will be able to mark the significant wealth gap while exploring the streets.
Tanah Lot is a renowned sea temple in Indonesia, as well as a popular tourist destination that is visited by travellers from different parts of the world. It is an ancient Hindu temple that is situated near the coast. The name "Tanah Lot" is not the name of the temple but actually the name of the rock upon which the temple is seated. It is also considered to be one of the most Instagrammable places due to the scenic backdrop. As per local myth, this temple is being protected by sea snakes, who are meant to protect the temple from evil spirits. There is another temple named Batu Bolong temple located at a close proximity from the temple, where you can visit. It is recommended to visit this temple during sunset when you will be able to discover a majestic view.
Komodo National Park is one of the popular tourist attractions of Indonesia, where tourists from different parts of the globe come to witness the amazing Komodo Dragons. This national park has been marked as a world heritage site by UNESCO back in the year 1991, as this is the only place around the globe where one can spot these giant lizards. This park has a population of about 5700 Komodo dragons and is situated between the islands of Flores and Sumbawa. You will find a contrasting landscape at the park between thorny green vegetation, dry savanna and blue water and white beaches.
The best time to visit Indonesia is between the months of April and October when you will get dry and warm weather, which is suitable for travelling to different destinations across Indonesia as well as enjoying water sports activities like diving indo, snorkelling, surfing, flyboarding, water jetpacks and many more. The temperature in Indonesia during the above-stated months will be around 32°C to 23°C. The fall in temperature after sunset will also help in enjoying the night life of Indonesia, by visiting pubs, bars and nightclubs.
Here is a list of things to do in Indonesia to make your trip unforgettable:
If you are planning on visiting Indonesia, do not forget to try out these local cuisines:
Based on the above discussion on Indonesia vs the Philippines, it can be seen that both the Philippines and Indonesia are suitable holiday destinations that offer you a wide array of choices based on your preferences. However, in terms of beaches between Indonesia vs Philippines, the Philippines boasts a longer coastline that stretches over 36000 km and has also been awarded as "Asia's Leading Beach Destination Award 2024" by World Travel Awards. However, in terms of culture, you can enjoy the cultural uniqueness of Indonesia, whereas, in the Philippines, you will be able to find the influence of Spanish and American culture. The Filipinos are seen to be helpful to tourists and assist you in visiting different points of interest or trying the popular delicacies of that region. Hence, Indonesia or the Philippines, are suitable for enjoying holidays and you can select either one, based on your preferences and budget.
Overall, Indonesia is considered to be more expensive as compared to the Philippines, due to the overall cost of living in Indonesia that leads to higher travel prices.
It is best to visit Philippines in between the months of December and February when you will find dry and cool weather, which is suitable for exploring the places around.
It is best to visit Indonesia, in between the months of May and September, when you can experience sunny and dry weather, which will help you explore the places more comfortably.
In comparison to Indonesia, the Philippines has a coastline that stretches over 36000 kilometres and offers you some of the most spectacular and iconic beaches.
You can find the finest sand in White Beach, Boracay, Philippines that also offers you a scenic view.
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