Indonesia Travel Guide
Priya Nair· Asia Editor
Updated September 12, 2026 · 8 min read
Indonesia is 17,000 islands, and the traveler's Indonesia is a select few: Bali's beaches and temples, Java's Borobudur and Bromo, the Gili and Komodo chains. Budgets run $50–80/day at the mid tier, and domestic flights are cheap enough to build island hops around.
The classic route: Bali (4–5) → Java's temples (2–3) or the Gilis/Komodo (3). Two weeks can do both.
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Bali is the base — Ubud's terraces, the southern beaches, the temples. Java adds Borobudur's sunrise and Bromo's crater. The Gilis are the car-free beaches; Komodo is the dragons and the pink sand.
- Classic: Bali 5 → Gilis 3.
- Culture: Bali 4 → Yogyakarta 3 (Borobudur, Prambanan).
- Adventure: Bali 3 → Flores/Komodo 4.
Getting Around
Garuda, Lion and Citilink connect the islands cheaply. Bali needs drivers ($40–60/day) for the temple days; the Gilis and Komodo run by boat.
The Bali-Plus Route
Bali base with one extension.
Day 1 · Bali — arrive Ubud
The ridge walk and the villa.
Day 2 · Bali — temples
Tirta Empul and Gunung Kawi.
Day 3 · Bali — waterfalls
Tibumana and the Monkey Forest.
Day 4 · Bali — coast
Uluwatu's kecak and the beach club.
Day 5 · Bali — beach day
Surf, spa, sunset.
Day 6 · Fly to Yogyakarta or the Gilis
The extension begins.
Day 7 · Temples or islands
Borobudur's dawn — or the Gili snorkel.
Day 8 · Farewell
The last nasi campur and the flight.
Practical planning info
Money
- About $70/day in Bali, $45–55 in Java at planning figures.
- Private drivers $40–60/day — split them.
When
- April–October is the dry season nationwide.
- The wet season greens everything and cuts prices 30%.
Frequently asked questions
Bali alone or island-hop?
Bali alone for five days; island-hop from a week. The flights make hops cheap.
Komodo or the Gilis?
Komodo for the dragons and the trekking; the Gilis for the car-free beaches.
How many days for Indonesia?
A week does Bali plus one extension; two weeks does both.
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