Irian Jaya may well be one of the most beautiful- and undeveloped- parts of Indonesia. Part of the island is Indonesian territory, while part comprises the nation of Papua New Guinea. Breathtakingly beautiful, with topography which is truly unpredictable - mangrove swamps, dense jungles, glaciers and snow-clad peaks: Irian Jaya has it all.

There are lots of trekking trails, especially in the beautiful Baliem Valley, and around the breathtaking Sentani Lake, which also offers the chance to go on some memorable boat trips. In the coastal areas, you’ll find some good beaches, coral reefs and serene blue seas- if you’re interested, head for Kota Biak- some of the most wonderful underwater scenes for miles around.

The islanders (even those who are 'Indonesian’) are, racially speaking, Papuans, a hardy race who have  for the past three decades, been fighting a guerilla war for independence from Indonesia. The fighting, in fact, is one of the reasons why you should make certain that the area you’re travelling to is safe (you can contact your embassy for information; furthermore, you’ll need a permit to visit some parts of the province). Another problem with visiting Irian Jaya is that there are few proper roads between settlements, and boats are few and far between, so often the only option left is to go by air - an option that is pretty expensive.