Exercise caution — there are real risks that travellers should plan around. Political freedoms are limited and travellers should be mindful of local sensitivities.
Regional breakdown
The picture across Indonesia is uneven. Bali, Yogyakarta, and most of Java and Sumatra are treated as normal tourist destinations. With the usual warnings about petty crime, road safety, and natural hazards. Jakarta sees frequent protests that can turn disruptive, so travellers are asked to avoid large gatherings and political rallies. Papua is the main outlier. The official advisory guidance places Central Papua and Highland Papua at Level 4 (Do Not Travel). Citing armed separatist activity and the risk of kidnapping of foreign nationals. The wider Papua region has seen repeated clashes between security forces and armed groups, and access for outsiders is tightly controlled. The official advisory guidance also draws red lines around six active volcanoes. These include Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki in East Nusa Tenggara, Mount Semeru in East Java, and Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra. Along with Mount Marapi, Mount Ruang, and Mount Ibu. Exclusion zones run from 3 km to 7 km, with extra buffers along riverbanks near Semeru. Travellers heading to trekking areas should check the current alert level before setting out.
Recent advisory changes
The official advisory guidance last updated its Indonesia advice on 19 March 2026. It warns against all travel inside the volcanic exclusion zones listed above, and notes that travel insurance can be invalidated if travellers enter those zones. The page also flags wider regional disruption from escalation in the Middle East, including airspace closures and cancelled flights. Though commercial routes out of Indonesia remain open. No ordered departure is in place for travellers. The official advisory guidance reissued its advisory on 30 April 2025 at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution. The reasons cited are terrorism, natural disasters, and civil unrest. Central Papua and Highland Papua stay pinned at Level 4. US officials point to continued plotting by extremist groups against public venues and transport hubs, and warn that demonstrations can turn violent with little notice. Travellers are urged to enrol in the their home government's traveller alert programme programme and keep contingency plans ready.
What travellers should know
Check the volcanic status before any trip involving hiking, crater tours, or stays near the six flagged mountains. Indonesia's geology agency PVMBG updates alert levels regularly, and local authorities can close trails at short notice. Travel insurance normally follows official advisory guidance guidance, so entering an exclusion zone can leave a traveller uncovered for medical evacuation or cancellation claims. For the rest of the country, standard precautions apply. Watch out for petty theft on Bali beaches and in Jakarta transit hubs. Road traffic is the biggest day-to-day risk, especially on scooters. Avoid political demonstrations and keep away from government buildings during periods of unrest. Anyone considering travel to Papua should think twice: both the official advisories describe a real kidnapping threat. And consular support in remote areas is limited. Keep copies of travel documents, register with your embassy where possible, and monitor local news for tremors, eruptions. And flight disruption linked to wider regional tensions.