In a nutshell
- Indonesia is an ideal destination for an island-hopping adventure — especially for backpackers. In just a few weeks, you can explore multiple islands, beaches, volcanoes, and cities.
- In this article, we share our personal 3-week Indonesia itinerary covering Java, Bali, and Lombok — plus tips on what to add if you have 4 weeks.
- We’ll tell you the best ways to get from A to B, share our hotel recommendations, and pass along honest tips from our own trip — so you can plan with confidence.
How Much Time Should You Plan for Indonesia?
For a first trip to Indonesia, we recommend planning 3 or 4 weeks. The more time you have, the better.
After all, Indonesia consists of over 17,000 islands, and it’s simply impossible to see all the highlights in Indonesia in just a few weeks.
So for your first trip, limit yourself to 2–4 islands.
Here we share our suggested 3-week Indonesia itinerary — by the way, this is roughly the route we did ourselves, so everything you’ll read here is based on personal experience. After that, we’ll give you tips for four weeks.
Our 3-Week Indonesia Itinerary on a Map
You start your indonesia itinerary 3 weeks on Java — Indonesia’s most populous island, best known for its breathtaking nature, towering volcanoes, and major cities. It’s home to many of the country’s top attractions.
Days 1–2: Jakarta
On Day 1 you’ll land at Jakarta’s airport. Here’s how to get from there to the city center:
Getting from Jakarta Airport to the city
After that, don’t plan too much — you’ll be pretty tired from the flight. On Day 2 you’ll have plenty of time to explore Jakarta. We cover everything you need to know in a separate article.
Our tips for Jakarta’s top sights in one day
Our Hotel Recommendations for Jakarta
Read all our hotel tips for Jakarta:
Days 3–4: Yogyakarta
From Jakarta, take a morning train to Yogyakarta. Trains usually depart from Gambir station and you can book tickets via Traveloka. The journey takes about six to seven hours.
In the afternoon, explore the center of Yogyakarta with the Taman Sari Water Castle and the Sultan’s Palace.
On Day 4, take a day trip to the Borobudur Temple (the world’s largest Buddhist temple) and the Prambanan Temple (Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple).
Guided Borobudur and Prambanan tour from Yogyakarta
Our Hotel Recommendations for Yogyakarta
Day 5: Malang
From Yogyakarta, take a train to Malang. The journey takes about six hours. Be sure to book your ticket in advance on Traveloka, as there are only a few connections per day.
Tip: Enter all stations in Yogyakarta and Malang (ML) on Traveloka.
Before sunset, you can squeeze in a great detour to the slums of Kampung Biru Arema (the blue village) and Kampung Warna Warni Jodipan (the colorful village).
Get to bed early though — you’ll need to be up again around midnight.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Malang
Day 6: Bromo Volcano
For Day 6, book a guided tour to Bromo Volcano. You can do this online beforehand, but most of the time you can also arrange it spontaneously through your accommodation in Malang.
Book a sunrise tour to Bromo Volcano
All tours depart at night, since the sunrise in Bromo National Park is a true highlight. Afterward, you’ll have the chance to walk to the crater rim — from here you can look right into the volcano.
Around 10 AM you’ll be back in Malang from the tour. We recommend booking a transfer to Tumpak Sewu Waterfall directly through your accommodation. The drive takes about two and a half hours. You’ll spend the night between Day 6 and Day 7 near the waterfall.
Where to Stay near Tumpak Sewu Waterfall?
Day 7: Tumpak Sewu Waterfall
On Day 7, head to Tumpak Sewu in the morning. Plan about three hours for your visit. You can see the waterfall from a viewing platform and also hike down into the gorge — both are seriously worth it.
All our tips on Tumpak Sewu Waterfall
After your visit, head back to your accommodation and take a transfer to Banyuwangi. The drive takes about five hours, so book it early enough that you don’t arrive too late in the evening.
Our tip: If you have a little extra time on your Indonesia trip, you can also stay two nights at Tumpak Sewu — the area is great for catching your breath between all the sightseeing.
Where to Stay in Banyuwangi?
Day 8: Ijen Crater
On the night between Day 7 and Day 8, you won’t get much sleep — you’ll need to be up again at midnight. Today is all about the hike to Ijen Volcano.
You can book this through your accommodation in Banyuwangi or online.
First, you’ll be driven from your hotel to the start of the Ijen hike. There you’ll receive a headlamp and gas mask, and then you’ll hike about 3.5 kilometers steeply uphill.
At the crater rim, you can descend into the crater to see the Blue Fire, and you’ll be at the Sunrise Point for sunrise. Once it gets light, you hike back down. You’ll be back at your accommodation around 9 AM.
For the rest of the day, you’ll be fighting off exhaustion. Since you probably won’t feel like doing much anyway, our advice is to head to Bali that same day.
From Banyuwangi, the ferry takes only about an hour to reach Gilimanuk Harbor on Bali. From there, you can take a taxi to your accommodation in Ubud, or book a transfer in advance on 12goasia.
From the harbor, it’s just under four hours by car to Ubud.
Days 9–10: Ubud
After a good night’s sleep, head out in the morning to visit the Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Your best bet is to rent a scooter or take a Grab.
From there, head to one of the many Hindu temples, such as Pura Tirta Empul, and take part in a ceremony.
In the afternoon, stroll through the Ubud Market and treat yourself to a massage — they’re offered all around town.
On Day 10, visit the Monkey Forest and discover the many species of monkeys living there. From there, head to the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, which are far less touristy.
Our tips for Bali’s rice terraces
Back in Ubud, we also recommend a stroll along the Sweet Orange Walk — a real under-the-radar spot on Bali!
All our tips for things to see in Ubud
Our Hotel Recommendations for Ubud
For all our hotel recommendations for Ubud:
Days 11–12: Uluwatu
On Day 11, travel from Ubud to Uluwatu. Your best option is to book a taxi — even though you’ll spend some time in traffic. Depending on conditions, the journey takes about two hours.
In Uluwatu, you simply relax at the beach for two days after all the sightseeing. The vibe in this surf town is super laid-back and cool. Some of Bali’s most beautiful beaches are right here. And if you surf, you’re in the right place.
Our favorite beach is Balangan Beach. For a quieter alternative, try Nunggalan Beach.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Uluwatu
Read all our hotel tips for Uluwatu:
Days 13–14: Nusa Penida
On Day 13, head to the harbor in Sanur early in the morning and take a speedboat to Nusa Penida. The ride takes a good half hour.
Check into your accommodation on Nusa Penida — book somewhere close to the harbor so day trips are easy.
After that, either join a snorkeling tour or rent a scooter and ride to Crystal Beach — you can snorkel there on your own too.
On Day 14, get up very early and ride your scooter to Kelingking Beach. Try to arrive around 7 AM — there’s hardly anyone around that early. You can then also visit Broken Beach.
Head back to your hotel for breakfast. In the afternoon, zip over to Diamond Beach on the other side of the island.
Our guide to Nusa Penida’s top attractions
Our Hotel Recommendations for Nusa Penida
More hotel tips for Nusa Penida can be found here:
Days 15–16: Gili Islands
From Nusa Penida, take a speedboat to one of the Gili Islands. We recommend Gili Air or Gili Meno. The journey takes about two and a half hours.
Since all the Gili Islands are quite small, there isn’t a huge amount to do besides beach time. But the beaches are simply fantastic, and you can even snorkel with sea turtles.
Our Hotel Recommendations for the Gili Islands
On Day 16, we recommend not leaving the Gili Islands too late. Plan to arrive in the mountain village of Senaru by early afternoon.
Take a boat to Bangsal in the morning and arrange a transfer from there to Senaru (for example, through your accommodation in the village). You’ll then have time to walk to the waterfalls Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep before dark.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Senaru
Read all our hotel tips for Lombok too:
Days 17–18: Rinjani Hike
For Days 17 and 18, book a guided trekking tour to Rinjani Volcano — you can book it on-site or online. For us, it was one of the absolute highlights of the entire trip!
Get up early on Day 17 — you’ll be driven to the trailhead in Sembalun around 6:30 AM. That day, you’ll hike 1,500 meters uphill to the campsite at the crater rim.
Rest for the remainder of the evening, enjoy the views, and go to bed early — you’ll need to be up again at 2 AM to hike to the summit of Mount Rinjani.
Up there, you’ll witness a truly unique sunrise. After the spectacle, descend to the campsite, and after a hearty breakfast, hike back to Sembalun.
Our full experience report on the Rinjani hike
You’ll be back at your accommodation in the early afternoon. We recommend taking a transfer to Kuta (Lombok) that same afternoon — you’ll be exhausted and won’t feel like doing anything anyway.
Days 19–20: Kuta
After the hike, everything will ache. So spend your last two days taking it easy in the beach town of Kuta.
Head to dream beaches like Tanjung Aan or Selong Belanak, or book a snorkeling trip out to the Secret Gilis.
And definitely treat yourself to a massage or two in Kuta — you’ve earned it.
All our tips for Kuta on Lombok
Our Hotel Recommendations for Kuta
Day 21: Return Flight
Your best bet is to fly home from Lombok — the airport is really close to Kuta. If flights are significantly more expensive than from Denpasar, take the ferry back to Bali and catch your flight from there.
All our tips on the Bali–Lombok ferry
Important: Ferries can be canceled due to weather conditions, so make sure you’re back on Bali at least one day before your flight.
Our 4-Week Indonesia Itinerary
If you have four weeks in total, we’d structure the Indonesia itinerary similarly to the 3-week route.
On Java, we’d take a bit more time, and also add the island of Flores with Komodo National Park.
Here is our suggested 4-week itinerary for Indonesia:
Java
- Days 1–2: Jakarta
- Days 3–4: Yogyakarta
- Day 5: Surabaya
- Days 6–7: Bromo Volcano on your own
- Day 8: Tumpak Sewu
- Days 9–10 Banyuwangi & Ijen Volcano
Here you'll find all the info about our Java itinerary:
Bali
- Days 11–12: Ubud
- Days 13–14: Uluwatu
- Days 15–16: Nusa Penida
Read our tips for the most beautiful sights on Bali:
Lombok
- Days 17–18: Gili Islands
- Days 19–20: Rinjani Hike
- Days 21–23: Kuta
Here you'll find our tips for the highlights on Lombok:
Flores
- Days 24–27: Komodo National Park
- Day 28: Return flight
You can reach Flores by plane from Lombok. You’ll fly into Labuan Bajo and stay overnight in town — it’s a great base for day trips into Komodo National Park.
Book flights to Flores via Skyscanner
Our hotel pick: Puu Pau Hotel and Coffee Shop
Alternatively, book a 3- or 4-day tour to Komodo National Park through your accommodation on Lombok — you’ll travel by ferry and won’t have to worry about a thing.
Frequently Asked Questions About an Indonesia Round Trip
Is a round trip through Indonesia affordable?
Absolutely! Indonesia is a very budget-friendly destination. In our travel tips article, we go into more detail on costs:
When is the best time to travel for a 3-week Indonesia itinerary?
The dry season from May to October is your best bet for this route.
We think May, September, and October are the sweet spot — you get great weather with fewer crowds than the peak June-to-August period.
If you don’t mind the occasional afternoon shower, November, March, and April are also solid months to visit.
Is Indonesia safe for an independent trip?
Yes! Indonesia is a safe travel destination — even for solo female travelers and backpackers.
You’ll find more detailed advice in our article on safety in Indonesia.
Is a 2-week Indonesia trip worth it?
It’s doable, but tight. If you only have two weeks, we’d recommend focusing on just one island rather than rushing between several.
Browse our photos and articles to figure out which island suits you best.
