Indonesia island hopping

Route: Yogyakarta - Malang - Mount Bromo - Kalibaru - Lovina - Tirtagangga - Ubud - Maumere - Detusoko - Bajawa - Ruteng - Labuhan Bajo - Komodo - Sekotong - Tetebatu - Gili Meno - Sanur

Just like Komodos and Nemos, this 4-week Indonesia island hopping itinerary will take you down the path less trodden. The route is the same with the addition of Eastern Java. This way, you’ll visit both the well-known Indonesian highlights and explore places that not many tourists reach. Your trip begins on Java, heading east towards world-famous temples and arid volcanic plateaus to the fertile rice terraces of Bali. You’ll spot dolphins from a traditional fishing boat and visit the smiling buddhas at an ancient water palace. Then, you’ll hop on a plane to travel back in time on Flores. Passing authentic bamboo villages, you’ll explore brightly coloured crater lakes and go in search of the Komodo dragon. On Lombok you’ll walk barefoot along tropical beaches and visit local potters in their workshop. Your Indonesia island hopping trip ends on a white beach with rustling palm trees.

From June to October you’ll travel by shared minibus from Yogyakarta, but outside this period you’ll travel by private car on Java.

Duration	27 days / 26 nights departs daily from Yogyakarta airport or Denpasar airport	Accommodation	Charming cottages in the rice paddies, in a valley, in the hills, on the beach. Basic accommodation on Flores. Comfort level 3 and 4 (see accommodation).
Price	£1998 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Includes	Transport as described, accommodation with breakfast, guided excursions
Transport	Shared minibus wirth driver and private car with driver	Excludes	International flight, domestic flights, entrance fees, optional excursion in Lovina on Day 8.

Day 1: Arrival in Yogyakarta

Today, you'll arrive in Yogyakarta after a long flight. You'll be collected at the airport by your driver and taken directly to your hotel where you can jump straight into the refreshing hotel pool. The comfortable rooms here are built around the pool, the small-scale and atmospheric hotel is just outside the old centre.

In the afternoon, you’ll have time to explore the streets of Yogyakarta at you own pace. You’ll find plenty of becak-riders waiting outside the hotel who will happy to show you around the city. If you opt for a becak tour, you’ll ride through tiny backstreets to all the attractions around the city. Your driver will probably show you a couple of batik workshops where you can watch the production process (by hand) and admire the beautiful paintings. Just keep in mind that the driver usually has a deal with the shop owner which means you’ll be charged a slightly higher price. Happy haggling…

Indonesia island hopping - Yogyakarta market

Day 2: Yogyakarta - Borobudur and Prambanan

After breakfast you’ll visit two fascinating temples. From April to October, you’ll do this day trip in a group (maximum 6 travellers), but for the rest of the year the tour is based on private transport. Your first stop is the famous Buddhist temple complex Borobudur and you'll arrive early in the morning to beat the crowds.

The Borobudur has 10 levels and the higher you go the more beautiful the view becomes. You can choose whether or not you would like a guide when you arrive. If you go for a guided tour, you’ll climb the Borobudur along the traditional pilgrim’s route from the east, walking clockwise on each level. The guide will tell you all the stories illustrated in the stone walls, including the life of Siddhartha on his journey to becoming Gautama Buddha. At the top of the temple you'll find 72 small open stupas, most of them with a meditating Buddha in the centre. If you want to make a wish, then try to touch the lucky Buddha (in one of the stupas). Men should touch the hand, women should touch the heel.

Next, you'll visit the Prambanan temple with eight buildings spread around a central courtyard. The walls here are filled with intricate carvings, including the story of Ramanyana on the inner walls of the largest temple. At Full Moon the story is performed in the open air, with a magnificent view of the Prambanan temple. Don't worry if you’re not here at Full Moon - you can also see an open-air performance in Yogyakarta.

Day 3: Yogyakarta - Malang

Early this morning, you’ll leave Yogyakarta for the 2 hour trip to Surakarta, also known as Solo. Driving through the Javan countryside you'll see the Prambanan towering high above the road. In Surakarta, you’ll notice that the town is famous for antiques and batik and you can find both at two enormous markets in the city - the Pasar Triwindu (antiques) and the Pasar Klewer (batik). Like Yogyakarta, the kraton of Surakarta forms the centre of the city and within the palace walls you'll find a maze of narrow streets, two large squares, a mosque and the royal quarters.

After visiting the town you’ll continue your Java and Bali adventure trip for 6 hours, until you reach the city of Malang. The city has a distinct colonial atmosphere, particularly in the streets of the Tugu district. This is the historic part of the city with buildings dating back to the Dutch colonial era. The city is split in two by the river Sungai Brantas. On the south side, you’ll find several restaurants and shops around the Alun Alun. Malang also has several interesting markets, like the flower market Pasar Bunga which is great to visit early in the morning. You’ll stay in a friendly hotel just outside the city centre.

Day 4: Malang - Mount Bromo

Today, you’ll head to one of the highlights of your itinerary - the Tengger mountains and Mount Bromo. You won’t leave Malang until late morning so you can rest and take it easy for a while. You’ll need your energy because tomorrow is going to be a tiring day.

After a 3 hour drive you’ll arrive at your comfortable hotel near Mount Bromo. You can take a walk across the crater rim later that afternoon if you like. The slopes of the volcano are scattered with little houses where the locals live. They're very green but up ahead you'll be able glimpse the bare, barren rocks of the volcano which you’ll visit tomorrow.

Day 5: Mount Bromo - Kalibaru

You’ll head into the mountains by jeep early this morning to the viewpoint on the crater rim, accompanied by a local guide. There are some magnificent views across the mountain range and crater from here and you’ll see the sun slowly rising, colouring the mountains deep red. In the afternoon Mount Bromo is often covered in thick clouds, so getting here early in the day is worth the effort. From the viewpoint you’ll drive down narrow tracks to the foot of the volcano from where you can climb the volcano. It’s a tough climb to the top but well worth the struggle. Once you're back at the bottom, you’ll be pleased to find a horse waiting to take you back to your accommodation. Riding through the barren landscape and the vast plains of the crater is an amazing experience and for many travellers one of the highlights of their Java and Bali adventure trip. You don’t need to be an experienced rider by the way as the horses are very well trained.

Back at your hotel you can freshen up and pack your things, but then it's time to leave. It's a pretty long drive to Kalibaru, most of it along winding roads through the mountains. You'll arrive at your comfortable hotel in Kalibaru in late afternoon.

Indonesia island hopping - rice paddies of Kalibaru

Day 6: Kalibaru

This afternoon, you'll on a guided walk through the plantations around Kalibaru. Your english-speaking guide will tell you all about the crops that are grown here, and it’s amazing how effectively the locals use the natural resources for shampoo, medicine and all kinds fo other things. During the walk, you’ll visit a coffee plantation and also see how cocoa, rubber and cloves (for cigarettes) are grown. Later on you can watch the rubber production process in a small rubber factory.

Your comfortable hotel in the small mountain village has a swimming pool and the rooms are located in an interesting garden with several plants and trees all displaying their Latin and Indonesian names. Just enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the peaceful little village. There's not much to do here, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Day 7: Kalibaru - Lovina

It's time to say goodbye to Java, but you've got Bali to look forward to next on your Indonesia island hopping adventure. You'll drive from Kalibaru to Ketapang where you can board the ferry for the 30-minute crossing to Bali. On arrival in Giliamanuk you'll continue by car to Lovina.

Lovina on the north coast of Bali has been a popular hideaway for backpackers and adventure travellers for years. This has given it a laid-back character with lots little restaurants, shops and diving schools. Lovina beach may not be the prettiest in the world, with dark volcanic sand, but it is a good place for swimming and snorkelling. Thanks to the large shrimp population the area attracts lots of dolphins which makes for a great day trip. Your attractive resort is directly on the beach and has a lovely pool. It's within walking distance of the places of interest in Lovina.

Indonesia island hopping - dolphins of Lovina

Indonesia island hopping - Lovina hot springs

Day 8: Lovina

Early this morning, you’ll board a boat for a dolphin-spotting trip. The water is as smooth as a mirror this time of day. Luckily the fishermen know where the shrimp are hiding in the currents and before you know it, you'll hear splashing alongside the boat as the first group of dolphins appear.

After your dolphin trip you can enjoy breakfast back at the hotel and spend the rest of the morning relaxing. In the afternoon you can choose to visit the hot springs (optional) where you can swim in the hot sulphuric waters. In that case, you'll be picked up at your hotel around midday, returning to Lovina later that afternoon.

Day 9: Lovina - Tirtagangga

Today you'll continue your Indonesia island hopping trip to the Tirtagangga Water Palace. At the gate, the guard will ask you for a small entrance fee but if you tell him you’re a guest in the palace you won’t be charged anything.

As you step through the gate, you’ll be met by Balinese statues spouting water, immense fountains and little cobbled paths that you can hop across like stepping stones. The ancient Balinese rulers had a soft spot for ornamental waterworks, which also serve as an irrigation system for the surrounding rice fields. If you’ve got some time left, you can follow the main road down to the coast where you’ll find another beautiful water palace, although this one is overgrown and no longer in use.

You’ll stay in a bungalow with a great outdoor bathroom in the palace gardens. The accommodation isn’t particularly luxurious but the setting is certainly remarkable. If you want to enjoy a little more luxury we can arrange an upgrade to one of the villas. There’s a fantastic view across the palace grounds from the restaurant, and the water reservoir is now used as a swimming pool.

In the afternoon you’ll take a guided hike through the rice paddies around Tirtagangga. Balancing along the little dykes between the rice paddies you can cross over to the isolated villages. The locally brewed palm wine is delicious and you can see how the wine is ‘pumped’ out of the palm trees.

Day 10: Tirtagangga - Ubud

After breakfast, you'll make your way to the rolling rice paddies at Ubud. On the way you'll pass a couple of viewpoints where you can look across the entire island, the volcanoes in the distance and on a clear day you can even make out Lombok on the horizon. Make sure to stop off at the lakes around Bedugul as well; it's a popular place for ceremonies so chances are you'll see a long procession of people in traditional dress. Great for a couple of colourful photos.

On arrival in Ubud, settle in to your bungalow amongst the rice paddies. From your porch, you can look out across endless green terraces, watch ducks wobbling along the rims of the paddies and see butterflies fluttering among the exotic flowers. The bungalows here are beautifully decorated with bamboo furniture and Balinese batiks. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the shops and art galleries of several accomplished Balinese painters and sculptors. You can also spend the rest of the day exploring the village or swimming a few laps in the pool overlooking the rice fields.

Day 11: Ubud

After breakfast, you’ll be picked up for a tour through the surrounding countryside, visiting several interesting villages where you’ll find artists, sculptors and silversmiths. You’ll also cross an area with spectacularly beautiful rice terraces that seem to cascade down the hillside like a huge green waterfall, with some mystical royal tombs at the bottom.

Back at the hotel, you can take a refreshing dip in the beautiful pool looking out across the rice paddies.

Indonesia island hopping - on the way to the temple

Indonesia island hopping - meet the locals

Day 12: Ubud - Maumere - Detusoko

In the morning you'll be picked up at the hotel for the 3 hour transfer to the airport, where you'll board the plane to Maumere in the east of Flores. At Maumere airport, you'll be met by your new driver and continue your Indonesia adventure holiday across beautiful countryside and into the hills to Detusoko where you’ll stay in a missionary post / convent community of Franciscan nuns. The nuns are incredibly welcoming, as are the orphans living in the community’s orphanage. You’ll stay in the guest quarters for one night. It’s a basic room with two single beds, each with a mosquito net. You’ll have to make do without hot water - but you won't forget the experience.

Day 13: Detusoko - Kelimutu Volcano - Bajawa

Before dawn you’ll set off for the Kelimutu volcano to enjoy a spectacular sunrise across an equally spectacular panorama. On a clear day the Kelimutu volcano is one of the most amazing sights in the world.

The three lakes change colour every now and then, depending on the mineral content in the water. Nowadays they range from black to dark green, although in the past the colours have been dark red, light blue and light green. No wonder the three lakes are compared to gemstones, and were once an important place for rituals. People believed (and still believe) the lakes were the final resting place of the dead; one lake for the elderly, another for young people and a third one for witches.

The climb up the volcano is fairly easy and you'll do most of it by car, leaving you with just one steep flight of steps to climb to the highest point, from where you can look out across the three crater lakes. On the way to Bajawa you’ll visit a small village with traditional wooden houses and high thatched reed roofs. This is where the typical ikats are made - intricately woven fabrics made up of individually dyed threads. You can take a look inside one of the houses to see if anyone’s busy weaving a piece.

After the visit to the ikat village you’ll drive on to Bajawa, arriving in the late afternoon. You’ll stay in the best hotel in town where you'll probably have hot water.

Indonesia island hopping - Kelimutu crater lake

Day 14: Bajawa

In the morning you’ll be going on a walk along the foot of the Inerie volcano, visiting several small villages on the way as you walk in the shade of the towering bamboo forest. This will prove to be a real highlight of your Indonesia adventure holiday.

On of the most authentic Ngada villages is Bena, where the little houses with straw roofs are built in two rows, along a line of megalithic stones. The stones are still used for sacrifice to the spirits. Traditional rituals are upheld here more than anywhere else on Flores and you can still witness rituals being carried out at the “bhaga” (ritual houses) and “ngadhu”, a carved wooden sacrifice pole, usually to honour the ancestors.

In the afternoon you’ll visit the hot springs at Soa where you can wallow in the warm water. The water from the spring is 40C, and mixes with the cooler water of a mountain stream just below the waterfall - so that’s the best place to take a dip. You won’t be the only one taking a bath here, and you’ll be surrounded by lots of people washing and scrubbing. For many people, particularly the guides and drivers, this is only place on Flores where they can find hot water.

Later, you’ll drive back to Bajawa where you’ll be staying another night in the basic hotel.

Day 15: Bajawa - Ruteng

Today, your Indonesia island hopping adventure continues from Bajawa to Ruteng, travelling through some isolated areas on the way, and if you want to see the area in more detail you can do parts of the route on foot. Your driver can drop you off and simply pick you up further down the road. Part of the journey travels along the south coast, where you could get out and take a walk along the dark, volcanic beach for a while.

You’ll arrive in the cool town of Ruteng in the afternoon, which leaves you some time to explore the town on foot and visit the lively market, where you can buy colourful embroidered sarongs. You’ll stay in a simple hotel in Ruteng, which despite being one of the best in town, is still very basic.

Day 16: Ruteng - Labuhan Bajo

Today you'll travel mainly downhill to Labuhan Bajo, a small fishing village in a beautiful bay. The sunsets are wonderful here, with views across the tiny islands between Flores and Komodo.

You'll stay in a charming bungalow with sea views in a eco-resort just outside the town, and there's also a pool. If you want to have dinner at the resort just let them know when you check in.

Day 17: Labuhan Bajo - Komodo National Park

Today you’ll board a small fishing boat for an exciting island hopping trip to Komodo and Rinca in the Komodo National Park.

Komodo Island is the popular for its main attraction - the dragons (as the locals call them) that carry the island’s name. During the trip, you’ll explore the area with a local ranger, walking through the arid area in search of the giant Komodos. They can be a bit difficult to spot in mating season but the ranger knows the area well and will do his best to find you a Komodo in its natural habitat. They’re not exactly dangerous but they’re not entirely harmless either - there are millions of bacteria in a Komodo bite - plenty enough to kill you.

Indonesia island hopping - Komodo National Park

Indonesia island hopping - Komodo dragon

The second largest island in the Komodo National Park is Rinca. The landscape here is greener and hillier than on Komodo, and again you can take a 2-hour walk across the island with a local guide. You’ll see some fantastic views across the sea and the island. With a bit of luck, you'll spot the odd dragon amongst the wealth of horses, deer, water buffalo and monkeys. Rinca has fewer visitors than Komodo, so your chances of spotting a dragon are much greater here.

After your adventures in the Komodo National Park, ranked by many travellers as the highlight of their Indonesia island hopping trip, you'll return to Labuhan Bajo. You'll stay another night in the pleasant eco lodge hotel, where you can enjoy a bit of luxury after the relatively basic hotels on Flores.

Day 18: Labuhan Bajo - Sekotong

Today you'll fly from Labuhan Bajo via Denpasar to Mataram on Lombok, where you'll be collected at the airport and transferred to the small town of Sekotong on Lombok's south west coast. Sekotong is still a relatively undiscovered resort with beautiful wideswept beaches and a coral reef at your door. In the nearby local village you'll find a handful of small restaurants serving amazing fresh fish. The little souvenir shops are a good place to stock up on traditional pottery and sarongs.

You'll be staying in a charming resort with a ceiling fan and a terrace overlooking the glimmering sea.

Day 19: Sekotong

Today is the lazy day of your Lombok adventure. There's nothing planned, which means you can spend the day relaxing on the beach, snorkelling in the clear water and spotting fish darting in and out of the coral reef. If you fancy riding the waves yourself, you can rent a surfboard or book a surfing lesson close to the resort.

Day 20: Sekotong to Tetebatu - Guided walk

Today, your Indonesia island hopping holiday continues from Sekotong to Tetebatu at around 6am. On the way Tetebatu, you’ll also pass traditional wooden Buginese houses and see the local fishing boats being built.

Tetebatu is a small village nestled at the foot of the Rinjani volcano and surrounded by green rice paddies. In roughly 1-2 hours, you can hike to two waterfalls that come crashing down the south side of the Rinjani into the valley below. The locals believe the water has healing powers and regularly visit the waterfalls. A steep path leads down to the pools where you can go swimming - just make sure you wear sturdy boots and take a bottle of water with you. It’s a strenuous hike, though with a refreshing reward at the end.

Towards the end of the day you’ll return to Tetebatu where you’ll stay in a small cottage in the amidst the rice paddies, surrounded by tall, waving trees.

Indonesia island hopping - Tetebatu roads

Day 21: Tetebatu

Today you'll visit a number of craft villages. You'll travel on foot along the rims of the rice paddies, by cidomo (horse and cart) and by car to a small village where you'll see the women and children weaving colourful rugs. You’ll have lunch with the local guide who will show you around the village. This is a great place to buy a real Indonesian sarong, because it’s here that they’re actually made. Next, you'll visit a ‘pottery’ village where the locals make the most beautiful vases out of black clay, which are then intricately decorated. You’ll also learn about the different things you can make from bamboo and reed. You’ll stay another night in your bungalow in Tetebatu.

Day 22: Tetebatu - Gili Meno

From Tetebatu, your Indonesia island hopping to the tiny island of Gili Meno for tropical white beaches and some fantastic snorkelling. The Gilis are a cluster of little islands just off the coast of Lombok, far enough from Bali to have maintained their laid-back atmosphere, but close enough to visit on your Indonesia adventure holiday. The beaches are white, the sea is blue, the people are relaxed and the fresh fish is roasting on the barbecue...

Your bungalow isn't exactly big, but it's charming, comfortable and close to the beach, with air-conditioning for some cooling relief when the winds drop in the evening. It takes just 1½ hours to walk all the way around the island, but you can also take one of the little horse-drawn carts. On the south side of the island you can buy beautiful Ikat hammocks, which may come in handy on Gili Meno.

Indonesia island hopping - Gili Meno beaches

Day 23 and 24: Gili Meno

There are several fantastic snorkelling spots around Gili Meno, or you could take a boat trip to one of the other islands (Gili Air and Gili Trawangan) where you'll find even more coral reefs. The outer island - Gili Trawangan - has probably the best beaches of the three on its inner coast.

You'll spend two more nights in your cosy bungalow.

Day 25 and 26: Gili Meno - Sanur

Today, it’s time to make your way back to Bali for the final day of your Indonesia adventure holiday. You’ll take the fast catamaran back to the starting point of your trip - Padangbai - where you’ll be picked up by our driver and transferred to Sanur. You’ll spend your last night in this beach resort, popular with both locals and tourists. The beaches here are beautifully golden in comparison to the black volcanic sand you’ll find in most places on Bali. There are no excursions planned for today or tomorrow, so you can just enjoy this friendly little town, have some dinner in one of the many restaurants and do some last-minute souvenir-shopping.

Day 27: End of itinerary

This morning, your Indonesia island hopping holiday comes to an end and you'll begin your journey home. The resort is conveniently close to the airport, which means that it won't take long to catch your flight back to the UK.

Accommodation images

Indonesia island hopping - garden cottages Indonesia island hopping - comfortable bedrooms Indonesia island hopping - authentic accommodation

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