Indonesia is too big to “do”, so every good itinerary picks one or two islands and moves through them in one direction, flying only when a boat or train would eat a day. The four routes below are built around the classic Java-to-Bali corridor (train east, fly or ferry to Bali) and the hop east to Lombok, Komodo and Papua, with realistic travel times, where to sleep each night and a cost line per person excluding international flights. Bali appears in each as one stop among several; it has its own detailed itineraries.
Which itinerary fits you#
Yogyakarta’s temples, a Bromo sunrise and two days in Bali. Fast, one domestic flight, no boats. Best for a first short trip.
Bali’s south and Ubud, then either a fast boat to the Gili Islands or a flight to Labuan Bajo for Komodo dragons. Beach time built in.
Jakarta, the Yogyakarta temples, Bromo and Ijen, Ubud, then Komodo by boat. The grand first-timer route.
Tulamben’s wreck and Nusa Penida’s mantas, Komodo’s currents, then a week in Raja Ampat homestays. For certified divers and snorkellers.
Trains across Java (Jakarta-Yogyakarta 6 to 7 hours), the Whoosh high-speed line Jakarta-Bandung in 45 minutes, domestic flights for every sea crossing over 3 hours, boats for the Gilis and Komodo.
One change of base every two to three nights, early starts for sunrises, and a free afternoon after every travel day. Add a buffer day before any international flight.
Getting between the stops#
Java has the only real rail network. From Jakarta’s Gambir station the Argo Dwipangga, Argo Lawu and Taksaka executive trains reach Yogyakarta in 6 to 7 hours for Rp400,000 to 650,000 (US$25 to 40); book on the Access by KAI app with your passport number, two to four weeks ahead in holiday periods. The Whoosh high-speed train runs from Halim in east Jakarta to Padalarang and Tegalluar for Bandung in 30 to 45 minutes for Rp150,000 to 300,000 depending on the departure, with a free feeder train from Padalarang into Bandung station; it is a good half-day excursion but does not continue east, so Yogyakarta-bound travellers usually stick to the conventional line (Bandung-Yogyakarta is another 7 to 8 hours by rail). East of Yogyakarta, economy trains reach Probolinggo for Bromo in about 8 hours (Rp200,000 to 350,000) and Banyuwangi for Ijen and the Bali ferry in 12 to 14 hours.
Everything else is flights and boats. Surabaya to Denpasar takes 55 minutes (Rp600,000 to 1,200,000), Denpasar to Labuan Bajo 1 hour 15 minutes (Rp1,000,000 to 1,900,000), Denpasar to Sorong for Raja Ampat 5 to 8 hours via Makassar or Jakarta (Rp2,500,000 to 4,500,000). Fast boats from Padangbai in east Bali reach the Gili Islands in 1.5 to 2.5 hours (Rp350,000 to 700,000 including hotel pickup). Garuda, Citilink, Batik Air, Lion and Wings fly the domestic routes; check in with 20 kg of hold luggage only on the full-service carriers.
7 days: Java and Bali highlights#
Fly into Yogyakarta (YIA) via Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, or arrive in Jakarta and take the morning train. Fly out of Bali.
| Day | Where | What you do | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yogyakarta | Arrive; afternoon at the Kraton and Taman Sari water castle; evening on Malioboro street for gudeg and street food | Yogyakarta (Prawirotaman area) |
| 2 | Borobudur | 4am pickup for the Punthuk Setumbu sunrise viewpoint, then the temple when it opens; structure-climb tickets are capped at 1,200 a day, so book online weeks ahead. Afternoon at Mendut temple and the Borobudur villages | Yogyakarta or a homestay near [[borobudur |
| 3 | Prambanan | Morning free (Sonobudoyo Museum, batik workshop); late afternoon at Prambanan for golden hour, then the Ramayana Ballet (open-air stage May to October) | Yogyakarta |
| 4 | Travel to Bromo | 7am economy train to Probolinggo (about 8 hours), shared minibus 1.5 hours up to Cemoro Lawang at 2,200 m; early night | Cemoro Lawang guesthouse |
| 5 | Bromo to Bali | 3.30am jeep to the Penanjakan viewpoint for sunrise, walk the Sea of Sand and the 250 steps to the crater rim; car to Surabaya (3 hours) and a late-afternoon flight to Bali; driver to Ubud | [[ubud |
| 6 | Ubud | Morning at [[tirta-empul | Tirta Empul]] and the Tegalalang terraces, afternoon at the [[ubud-monkey-forest |
| 7 | South Bali | Drive to the Bukit: Padang Padang beach, Kecak at [[uluwatu | Uluwatu]] at 6pm, seafood dinner on Jimbaran beach, late flight home from Denpasar |
Bromo’s national park fee for foreigners is Rp220,000 on weekdays and Rp320,000 at weekends; the shared jeep is Rp600,000 to 800,000 per vehicle. Borobudur’s foreign entry is about Rp400,000, or Rp455,000 for the structure-climb ticket that includes park entry, and Prambanan is similar, with a combined ticket for both temples; confirm the current prices on the official temple park site before you go.
Cost: Rp8,000,000 to 13,000,000 (US$500 to 800) per person mid-range, including the Surabaya-Bali flight, trains, a shared driver, mid-range guesthouses and all entry fees. Backpackers on trains, hostels and warungs can do it for US$350.
10 days: Bali plus Lombok and the Gilis, or Komodo#
Fly into and out of Denpasar. Days 1 to 4 and 9 to 10 are the same in both versions; pick one of the two middle blocks.
| Day | Where | What you do | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Canggu or Seminyak | Arrive, beach sunset, first nasi campur | Canggu |
| 2 | South Bali | Surf lesson at [[kuta | Kuta]] or Canggu in the morning, [[pura-tanah-lot |
| 3 | Ubud | Driver to Ubud via Taman Ayun and the [[jatiluwih-rice-fields | Jatiluwih rice terraces]]; evening dance at the palace |
| 4 | Ubud | Campuhan Ridge walk at dawn, Tirta Empul, [[goa-gajah | Goa Gajah]], cooking class or spa |
| 5-8 (A) | Gili Islands | Day 5: driver to Padangbai, fast boat to Gili Trawangan or quieter Gili Air (2 hours). Days 6-7: snorkel with turtles off Gili Meno, cycle the island, dive courses from Rp5,000,000. Day 8: public boat to Bangsal, 20 minutes, then 2 hours to south Lombok | Gili Air x3, Kuta Lombok x1 |
| 5-8 (B) | Komodo | Day 5: 1 hour 15 minute flight to Labuan Bajo, sunset at Paradise Bar. Days 6-7: two-day, one-night boat to Padar’s viewpoint, Pink Beach, Komodo Island dragons with a ranger, snorkelling at Manta Point. Day 8: Rangko cave or a rest day, evening flight back to Bali | Labuan Bajo, boat, Labuan Bajo |
| 9 | Sanur or Nusa Penida | Early fast boat from Sanur to [[nusa-penida | Nusa Penida]] for Kelingking cliff and Crystal Bay snorkelling, back by 5pm |
| 10 | Depart | Morning massage, airport 20 minutes away | Depart |
Version A is the beach-and-budget route: the Gilis have no motor vehicles, snorkelling from the shore and dorms from Rp150,000. Version B costs Rp3,000,000 to 5,000,000 more for the flights and boat but delivers Komodo dragons, mantas and the Padar viewpoint, the images most people associate with Indonesia. Komodo park and ranger fees come to roughly Rp300,000 to 400,000 per person per day for foreigners; a shared two-day boat is Rp2,500,000 to 4,500,000 per person with meals. From Lombok, the Rinjani trek (3 days, 2 nights, Rp3,500,000 to 5,000,000, April to December only) can replace the Gili days for strong walkers.
Cost: Rp10,000,000 to 16,000,000 (US$600 to 1,000) per person for version A, Rp14,000,000 to 22,000,000 (US$850 to 1,350) for version B, mid-range.
14 days: Java, Bali and Flores grand route#
Fly into Jakarta, out of Bali. This is the 7-day route stretched to a sane pace with Jakarta, Ijen and Komodo added.
| Day | Where | What you do | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jakarta | Arrive; [[kota-tua | Kota Tua]]’s Fatahillah Square and Museum Wayang, dinner in Menteng |
| 2 | Jakarta | [[monas | Monas]], [[istiqlal-mosque |
| 3 | Borobudur | Sunrise at Punthuk Setumbu, temple, Mendut; afternoon rest | Yogyakarta |
| 4 | Yogyakarta and Prambanan | Kraton performance at 10am, batik shopping, Prambanan at sunset and the Ramayana Ballet | Yogyakarta |
| 5 | Bromo | Morning train to Probolinggo, minibus to Cemoro Lawang | Cemoro Lawang |
| 6 | Bromo to Ijen | Sunrise jeep; car east to Banyuwangi (5 hours) or the afternoon train (4 to 5 hours); early night | Banyuwangi or Licin |
| 7 | Ijen to Bali | 1am start for the blue fire and sunrise over the turquoise crater lake (gas masks provided, 2 hour climb); 40-minute flight Banyuwangi-Denpasar or the Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry (45 minutes) plus a 3 to 4 hour drive; collapse in Ubud | Ubud |
| 8 | Ubud | Slow day: rice-field walk, Tirta Empul, massage, evening dance | Ubud |
| 9 | East Bali | Driver to [[pura-lempuyang | Lempuyang]] gates (go before 7am), Tirta Gangga water palace, snorkel the USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben, back to Ubud or sleep in Amed |
| 10 | Labuan Bajo | Morning flight from Denpasar (1 hour 15 minutes), afternoon at the waterfront, book tomorrow’s boat | Labuan Bajo |
| 11-12 | Komodo | Two-day, one-night boat: Padar sunrise, Pink Beach, dragons on [[komodo-island | Komodo Island]] or Rinca, Manta Point, Kanawa Island |
| 13 | Bali | Morning flight to Denpasar, afternoon at Seminyak or Uluwatu, Kecak at sunset | Seminyak or Uluwatu |
| 14 | Depart | Beach morning, flight home | Depart |
With three extra days, fly Labuan Bajo to Ende on day 13 and drive two hours to Moni for the Kelimutu sunrise over the three coloured crater lakes, then fly Ende-Denpasar. Sumba, with its ikat weavers and the Pasola in February and March, is a 1-hour flight from Bali and swaps neatly for Komodo if you have already seen the dragons.
Cost: Rp22,000,000 to 36,000,000 (US$1,350 to 2,200) per person mid-range, including four domestic flights, trains, drivers, the Komodo boat and entry fees. Replace the Jakarta-Yogyakarta and Banyuwangi-Bali flights with the train and ferry to save about US$100.
14 days diving: Bali, Komodo and Raja Ampat#
For certified divers, or snorkellers happy to spend their days in the water. Fly into Denpasar, out of Jakarta or Denpasar. The Raja Ampat week needs the October to April season; Komodo and Bali are best April to November, so the overlap months of October, November and April are ideal.
| Day | Where | What you do | Sleep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Tulamben, Bali | Arrive Denpasar, 2.5-hour drive north-east; dive or snorkel the USAT Liberty wreck and the Drop-off from the beach (Rp500,000 to 700,000 a dive) | Tulamben or Amed |
| 3 | Nusa Penida | Early transfer to Sanur, speedboat to Penida; two dives at Manta Point and Crystal Bay (mola mola July to October) | Sanur |
| 4-7 | Komodo | Fly to Labuan Bajo; three dive days or a three-night liveaboard covering Batu Bolong, Castle Rock, Manta Alley and a Padar sunrise. Strong currents: Advanced certification recommended | Labuan Bajo or liveaboard |
| 8 | Transit to Papua | Evening flight Labuan Bajo-Denpasar, then the overnight Denpasar-Makassar-Sorong connection, arriving around 6am | Overnight flight |
| 9 | Raja Ampat | 2-hour public ferry Sorong-Waisai (Rp130,000 to 250,000), buy the Rp1,000,000 marine park tag, homestay boat to Kri or Gam island | Kri Island homestay |
| 10-12 | Raja Ampat | Two dives a day at Cape Kri, Blue Magic, Sardine Reef and Manta Sandy (Rp500,000 to 800,000 a dive from homestays); a day trip to the Piaynemo karst viewpoint | Kri or Arborek |
| 13 | Sorong | Morning ferry back, afternoon flight to Jakarta (4 hours, or via Makassar) | Jakarta or airport hotel |
| 14 | Depart | Fly home from Jakarta | Depart |
Homestays in Raja Ampat cost Rp400,000 to 700,000 per person per night including three meals, on stilts over the water, with dive centres attached to the bigger ones; book through the local homestay association and bring cash because there are no ATMs beyond Waisai. Keep the Raja Ampat flights flexible: Wings Air and Lion operate Sorong, and weather delays are normal. Divers who want more volcano than reef can instead take the volcano version of this route, linking Bromo, Ijen, Rinjani and Mount Batur in Kintamani over the same fortnight.
Cost: Rp40,000,000 to 65,000,000 (US$2,500 to 4,000) per person including around 18 dives, three domestic flight legs, the Komodo liveaboard or day boats and Raja Ampat homestays. Liveaboards in Raja Ampat start around US$3,000 for a week on top of flights.
Buy domestic flights as soon as your dates are fixed. Lion and Wings fares to Labuan Bajo and Sorong double in the final two weeks, and the overnight Denpasar-Makassar-Sorong connection sells out in peak season. Pack dive gear in hold luggage and keep computers and regulators in your carry-on.
How to adapt these itineraries#
- First-timers and short trips: the 7-day route is the one; if you have only Bali’s week, swap Yogyakarta for Nusa Penida and Lempuyang. Do not try to add Komodo to 7 days.
- Families: skip the 1am Ijen climb and the Rinjani trek; children handle Bromo’s jeep sunrise well with warm clothes. Choose Gili Air over Trawangan, Sanur over Kuta, a private driver over trains with small children, and Komodo day boats (dragons, Pink Beach, snorkelling) rather than overnight boats; rangers accept children from about five.
- Rainy season (November to March): keep the Java temples and cities, cut Komodo in January and February, remember Rinjani is closed until April, and swap the Gilis for Raja Ampat or the Banda Islands, which are in their dry season. Build in a buffer day after every fast-boat crossing; cancellations are common.
- Slow travel: take the train the whole way across Java, the Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry into Bali, the public ferry from Padangbai to Lombok (4 to 5 hours, Rp50,000) and stay a week in Ubud or on Gili Air. Pelni ships link Flores, Sulawesi and Maluku for travellers with months rather than weeks.
- Avoiding crowds: travel the Java leg in reverse (Bali first, then Bromo, then Yogyakarta) to visit Borobudur on a weekday after the tour buses have left, and avoid the Lebaran week (around 20 March 2026 and 10 March 2027), when Java’s trains sell out.
- Culture over beaches: replace the Gili or Komodo block with Tana Toraja (fly Bali-Makassar, then 8 hours by road or a short flight to Toraja) in the July to September funeral season, or with Lake Toba and Bukit Lawang’s orangutans in Sumatra via Medan.
Destinations on these routes#
More Indonesia guides#
Indonesia Itinerary FAQs#
How many days do you need in Indonesia?
Ten days covers Bali plus one other island well; fourteen lets you add Java’s temples and volcanoes or Komodo without rushing. A week is enough for Yogyakarta, Bromo and two days in Bali if you fly between Surabaya and Bali. Allow three weeks or more to reach Sumatra, Sulawesi or Papua as well.
Is 2 weeks enough for Java and Bali?
Yes. Two weeks allows Jakarta, Yogyakarta with Borobudur and Prambanan, Bromo, Ijen and five or six nights in Bali at a comfortable pace, with one buffer day. Adding Komodo means cutting Ijen or a Bali night, as in the 14-day route above.
How do you get from Java to Bali?
Fly Surabaya to Denpasar in 55 minutes for Rp600,000 to 1,200,000, or Banyuwangi to Denpasar in 40 minutes. Overland, trains run to Banyuwangi (Ketapang), the ferry to Gilimanuk takes 45 minutes and runs 24 hours, and the drive from Gilimanuk to Ubud or Kuta takes 3 to 4 hours.
Should I visit Lombok or Komodo from Bali?
Lombok and the Gili Islands are cheaper and reachable by a 2-hour fast boat, best for beaches, snorkelling and the Rinjani trek. Komodo needs a 1 hour 15 minute flight and a boat trip costing Rp2,500,000 to 4,500,000 but offers dragons, mantas and the Padar viewpoint. With ten days choose one; with fourteen you can fit both only by cutting Java.
Can you do Indonesia without flying?
Across Java and into Bali, yes: train to Banyuwangi, ferry to Gilimanuk, bus or driver onward, then a public ferry from Padangbai to Lombok. Beyond Lombok, ferries to Sumbawa and Flores take two to three days with overnight stops, and Pelni ships serve Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua on weekly schedules, so a no-fly route needs a month or more.
How much does a 2-week trip to Indonesia cost?
About US$1,350 to 2,200 per person mid-range for the 14-day Java-Bali-Flores route, excluding international flights, covering domestic flights, trains, drivers, mid-range hotels, the Komodo boat and entry fees. Backpackers spend US$700 to 1,000; the diving route costs US$2,500 to 4,000 because of dive fees and Papua flights.
Is Bromo or Ijen better if I can only do one?
Bromo is easier: a jeep does the climbing, the sunrise panorama over the caldera is the most famous view in Java and children can manage it. Ijen is a 2-hour night climb to see blue sulphur flames and a turquoise acid lake, harder but more unusual. Bromo fits the 7-day route; both fit 14 days.
When should I book trains and domestic flights in Indonesia?
Book Java trains two to four weeks ahead on the Access by KAI app, and six to eight weeks ahead for July, August, Christmas and Lebaran. Domestic flights to Labuan Bajo and Sorong are cheapest four to eight weeks out and rise sharply in the last fortnight; Surabaya-Bali and Jakarta-Yogyakarta have many daily flights and can be booked a week ahead outside holidays.