Asia

Indonesia

Mount Bromo and its neighbouring volcanoes above a sea of mist at sunrise

Volcano sunrises, rice terraces and island-hopping across 17,000 islands.

Most backpackers start on Bali, and for good reason: Ubud’s rice terraces, cheap surf lessons and fast boats to the Gili Islands make it an easy first stop. Go further and you get the temples and volcanoes of Java and the Komodo dragons of Flores.

Warungs serve nasi campur for a couple of dollars, and a scooter gets you almost anywhere. Distances are big, so budget for a few domestic flights and ferries if you want to see more than one island.

Good to know

Time zone
GMT+7 in Java and Sumatra, GMT+8 in Bali, Lombok and Flores
Plugs
Types C and F, 230V
Emergency numbers
112 general, 110 police, 118 ambulance
Tap water
Drink bottled or filtered
Traffic drives on the
Left
Tipping
Not expected at warungs, but rounding up for drivers and guides is appreciated, and many restaurants add a service charge.
SIM cards
Telkomsel and XL tourist SIMs with 25–50GB of data cost around 150,000–250,000 rupiah at the airport.

When to go to Indonesia

Best months to go: May to September. Pick a month to see what it’s like.

Bars show rainfall; numbers are the average daytime high. Amber marks the best months to go.

SeptemberBest time to go

Still dry, with the summer crowds thinning out. A great month for Flores.

Daytime high
31°C
Rainfall
45 mm
Crowds
Busy

What Indonesia costs

Work out a budget for your trip, then check what everyday things cost.

How do you travel?

Dorm beds, street food and public transport.

14 days

$420for 14 days, about $30 a day (Rp 6,850,000 in total)

Bed$8$112
Food and drink$8$112
Getting around$6$84
Things to do$5$70
Everything else$3$42

Per person, in US dollars. Flights and insurance not included.

What things cost

  • Nasi goreng at a warungRp 25,000, about $1.53
  • Plate of nasi campurRp 30,000, about $1.84
  • Large Bintang in a barRp 45,000, about $2.76
  • Hostel dorm bed in BaliRp 150,000, about $9.20
  • Scooter hire for a dayRp 80,000, about $4.91
  • Fast boat, Bali to the Gili IslandsRp 350,000, about $21
  • Short Gojek or Grab motorbike rideRp 20,000, about $1.23

Routes through Indonesia

Where to go and how long to stay, for the time you’ve got.

14 nights, 5 stops

Bali and the Gili Islands at an easy pace, with rice terraces, snorkelling and surf.

  1. Ubud

    4 nights

    Rice terraces, temples and a sunrise hike up Mount Batur.

  2. Sidemen

    2 nights

    A quiet valley of rice fields with views of Mount Agung.

  3. Gili Air

    3 nights

    No cars, just bikes, beach bars and turtles off the shore.

  4. Nusa Lembongan

    2 nights

    Snorkel with manta rays and day trip to Nusa Penida’s cliffs.

  5. Uluwatu

    3 nights

    Clifftop temples, surf breaks and sunset at Single Fin.

Getting around

  • Ferry

    $3–25 per crossing

    Slow public ferries are cheap; fast boats link Bali, the Gilis and Lombok in a couple of hours. Avoid them in rough seas.

  • Motorbike

    $4–7 a day to hire

    The easiest way around Bali and Lombok. You need an international licence with a motorbike category for police checks and insurance.

  • Flight

    $30–80 one way

    The only sensible way to cover long distances, such as Bali to Labuan Bajo or Java to Sumatra.

  • Train

    $10–30 for a long trip

    Java’s trains are clean, punctual and cheap. Book through the KAI Access app.

  • Private car

    $35–50 a day with a driver

    Split a car and driver with friends for day trips around Bali. Gojek and Grab work for short rides.

What to eat and drink

  • Nasi goreng

    Fried rice with sweet soy, chilli and a fried egg on top. Breakfast, lunch or dinner.

    Rp 25,000, about $1.53

  • Nasi campur

    Rice with a choice of small dishes from the counter. Point at what you want.

    Rp 30,000, about $1.84

  • Babi guling

    Balinese spit-roast pork with crackling and spiced sides.

    Rp 50,000, about $3.07

  • Rendang

    Beef slow-cooked in coconut and spices, found at every nasi Padang canteen.

    Rp 30,000, about $1.84

  • Sate ayam

    Chicken skewers grilled over charcoal and covered in peanut sauce.

    Rp 25,000, about $1.53

  • Es kelapa muda

    A young coconut, chilled, with a straw. Best on the beach.

    Rp 20,000, about $1.23

Say it like a local

A few words go a long way. Tap “Hear it” to listen, where your browser can.

  • Good morning

    Selamat pagi

    suh-lah-mat pah-gee

  • Thank you

    Terima kasih

    tuh-ree-mah kah-see

  • How much?

    Berapa?

    buh-rah-pah

  • Too expensive

    Terlalu mahal

    tur-lah-loo mah-hal

  • Not spicy, please

    Tidak pedas

    tee-dah puh-das

  • Delicious

    Enak

    eh-nak

  • No problem

    Tidak apa-apa

    tee-dah ah-pah ah-pah

Questions travellers ask

Is Bali too touristy?

Parts of the south are busy, but you only need to go a short way to escape it. Sidemen, the north coast and the islands feel very different from Canggu and Kuta.

What should I wear to temples?

Cover your shoulders and wear a sarong and sash, which most temples lend or rent for a small fee.

Do I need cash?

Yes, for warungs, scooter hire and small guesthouses. Use bank ATMs rather than standalone machines, and check the notes as you count them.

Are the fast boats safe?

Most crossings are fine, but accidents do happen. Pick an established operator, check there are life jackets, and do not travel when the sea is rough.

Can I climb the volcanoes on my own?

Bromo, yes. Mount Batur and Ijen require a local guide, which your hostel can arrange with transport included.