10 Days in Indonesia: Bali, Java and Komodo

Ten days opens up Indonesia beyond Bali. This itinerary links three of the archipelago’s greatest draws: Java’s ancient temples (Borobudur and Prambanan), Bali’s cultural and coastal highlights, and the prehistoric dragons and underwater world of Komodo National Park. The route moves west to east, using domestic flights to cover the distances efficiently.

Route overview: Jakarta (1 night) → Yogyakarta (2 nights) → fly to Bali (4 nights) → fly to Labuan Bajo/Komodo (3 nights).

Key flights: Jakarta → Yogyakarta (1 hour, from IDR 400,000), Yogyakarta → Bali (75 minutes, from IDR 500,000), Bali → Labuan Bajo (1 hour 45 minutes, from IDR 700,000). All prices one-way as of 2026.

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Day 1: Jakarta

Most international flights land at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. Jakarta is not most travellers’ favourite Indonesian city, but one day reveals its complexity.

Afternoon: Old Town (Kota Tua)

Take an airport rail link to central Jakarta (IDR 70,000, 45 minutes) then Grab to Kota Tua — the Dutch colonial old town. Fatahillah Square is the centre, surrounded by the Jakarta History Museum (entry IDR 5,000), Museum of Fine Arts and Ceramics (entry IDR 5,000), and Wayang Puppet Museum (entry IDR 5,000). All three as of 2026. Allow 2 hours for the area.

Evening

Dinner: Lara Djonggrang in Menteng — Indonesian fine dining in a temple-like setting, mains IDR 85,000–200,000. For street food, visit Jalan Sabang — a night food street near Monas with dozens of stalls serving soto betawi, nasi uduk, and kerak telor from IDR 15,000–30,000.

Where to Stay: Jakarta (Night 1)

• Budget: RedDoorz near Gambir Station — basic but central, from IDR 250,000 (approximately USD 16) per night
• Mid-range: Hotel Indonesia Kempinski — iconic building on Bundaran HI, from IDR 1,800,000 (approximately USD 113) per night
• Luxury: The Langham Jakarta — modern luxury, from IDR 3,500,000 (approximately USD 219) per night

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Days 2–3: Yogyakarta, Borobudur and Prambanan

Getting There

Fly Jakarta to Yogyakarta (1 hour, from IDR 400,000 with Lion Air or Batik Air). From Yogyakarta airport, a Grab to the city centre costs approximately IDR 50,000–80,000 (20 minutes).

Day 2: Borobudur Sunrise and Yogyakarta

Borobudur sunrise is worth the 4am start. The temple is 42 km northwest of Yogyakarta (1 hour by car). Sunrise tickets through Manohara Resort cost IDR 450,000 (approximately USD 28) as of 2026 — this includes access from 4:30am before the temple opens to general visitors at 6am. General admission (6am onwards) is IDR 50,000 for foreign visitors.

Borobudur is the world’s largest Buddhist monument — nine stacked platforms topped by 72 bell-shaped stupas. Allow 2–3 hours for a full exploration. Hire a local guide at the entrance (IDR 100,000–200,000) for context on the 2,672 relief panels depicting Buddhist cosmology.

Afternoon: Return to Yogyakarta for Kraton (Sultan’s Palace) — entry IDR 15,000, open 8:30am–2pm. Walk through the adjacent Taman Sari Water Castle (entry IDR 15,000) — the ruined bathing complex of the former sultanate.

Lunch: Bale Raos inside the Kraton compound serves royal Javanese cuisine — the gudeg (young jackfruit curry) is Yogyakarta’s signature dish, IDR 35,000–60,000 per plate. Dinner: Mediterranea Restaurant on Jalan Prawirotaman — Mediterranean-Javanese fusion, mains IDR 65,000–130,000.

Day 3: Prambanan and Jomblang Cave

Prambanan Temple is 17 km east of Yogyakarta (30 minutes by Grab, IDR 40,000–60,000). Entry is IDR 50,000 for foreign visitors as of 2026. This ninth-century Hindu temple complex — the largest in Southeast Asia — centres on a 47-metre tower dedicated to Shiva. Allow 2 hours. If visiting at sunset, the Ramayana Ballet performs on an open-air stage beside the temple (seasonal, tickets from IDR 150,000).

Afternoon option: Jomblang Cave (Goa Jomblang), 90 minutes south of Yogyakarta, involves rappelling 60 metres into a sinkhole where a beam of light illuminates an underground forest. Tours run approximately IDR 500,000 per person as of 2026, including equipment and guide. Book through local operators like Java Private Tour — advance booking is essential as only 75 visitors enter per day.

Where to Stay: Yogyakarta (Nights 2–3)

• Budget: Greenhost Boutique Hotel — eco-themed, central Prawirotaman location, from IDR 350,000 (approximately USD 22) per night
• Mid-range: The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta — art deco heritage building, from IDR 900,000 (approximately USD 56) per night
• Luxury: Plataran Heritage Borobudur — garden setting near Borobudur, from IDR 2,800,000 (approximately USD 175) per night

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Days 4–7: Bali

Fly Yogyakarta to Bali (75 minutes, from IDR 500,000 one-way).

Day 4: Arrive and Settle — Ubud

Transfer to Ubud (90 minutes from airport). Afternoon visit to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (entry IDR 80,000) and a walk along Campuhan Ridge — a paved trail between two valleys with views over palm groves (free, best in morning light but fine any time).

Dinner: Hujan Locale — refined Indonesian, mains IDR 95,000–185,000.

Day 5: Ubud Temples and Rice Terraces

Full day with a private driver (IDR 500,000). Morning at Tegallalang Rice Terraces (entry IDR 15,000), then Tirta Empul Temple purification pools (entry IDR 50,000). Afternoon at Gunung Kawi Temple — a 10th-century temple with rock-cut shrines in a river valley (entry IDR 50,000, 300 steps down and back up).

Lunch: Sari Organik — reached via a walk through rice fields, serving organic Indonesian food, IDR 40,000–75,000.

Day 6: Uluwatu and South Coast

Drive to the Bukit Peninsula (2 hours from Ubud). Uluwatu Temple (entry IDR 50,000), Padang Padang Beach, and the 6pm Kecak dance (IDR 150,000). Dinner at the Jimbaran seafood grills (IDR 150,000–250,000 per person).

Day 7: Canggu and Tanah Lot

Surf lesson at Batu Bolong Beach (from IDR 500,000 for 2 hours), cafe hopping in Canggu (try Crate Cafe — bowls IDR 55,000–85,000), and late afternoon at Tanah Lot Temple for sunset (entry IDR 60,000).

Where to Stay: Bali (Nights 4–7)

Ubud (Nights 4–5):

• Budget: Pondok Pundi Village Inn — from IDR 350,000 per night
• Mid-range: Bisma Eight — from IDR 1,200,000 per night
• Luxury: Viceroy Bali — from IDR 5,500,000 per night

Canggu/Seminyak (Nights 6–7):

• Budget: Kos One Hostel — dorm from IDR 180,000 per night
• Mid-range: Hotel Indigo Seminyak — from IDR 1,500,000 per night
• Luxury: The Legian Seminyak — from IDR 4,800,000 per night

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Days 8–10: Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park

Getting There

Fly Bali to Labuan Bajo (1 hour 45 minutes, from IDR 700,000 one-way with Citilink or NAM Air as of 2026). Labuan Bajo is a small fishing town on the western tip of Flores — the gateway to Komodo National Park.

Day 8: Arrive and Explore Labuan Bajo

Afternoon: walk the waterfront, visit the small Bajo Komodo Fishing Market for fresh seafood. Take a sunset trip to Kalong Island (Bat Island) where thousands of flying foxes leave their roost at dusk — short boat trips from the harbour cost approximately IDR 100,000–150,000 per person.

Dinner: Made in Italy Labuan Bajo — surprisingly good Italian on the waterfront, mains IDR 80,000–160,000. For Indonesian, Happy Banana serves grilled fish and nasi goreng from IDR 35,000–70,000.

Day 9: Komodo National Park — Komodo and Rinca Islands

Full-day boat trip to Komodo National Park. Group day trips (shared boat, 8–12 passengers) cost from IDR 1,500,000 per person (approximately USD 94) as of 2026, typically including:

• Rinca Island — ranger-guided trek (approximately 2 hours) to see Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Rinca generally has more reliable dragon sightings than Komodo Island itself. Park entry fee: IDR 350,000 for foreign visitors as of 2026 (weekdays; IDR 500,000 on weekends).
• Padar Island — hike to the hilltop viewpoint (30–45 minutes, moderate difficulty) for the iconic three-bay panorama. This is one of Indonesia’s most photographed views.
• Pink Beach — one of only seven pink-sand beaches in the world, coloured by red coral fragments. Excellent snorkelling directly off the beach.

Snorkelling gear is provided on most day trips. The underwater visibility around Komodo is typically 15–30 metres with abundant marine life including manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, and vast coral gardens.

Day 10: Second Komodo Day or Departure

Option A: Book a second day trip to visit Manta Point — where oceanic mantas feed on plankton in the channel between Komodo and Flores. Snorkelling here is world-class but currents can be strong. Alternatively, visit Kanawa Island (IDR 150,000 entry) for a relaxed final day of snorkelling on a pristine reef.

Option B: Early departure — Labuan Bajo airport has direct flights to Bali and Jakarta.

Where to Stay: Labuan Bajo (Nights 8–10)

• Budget: Ciao Hostel — social atmosphere, harbour views, dorm beds from IDR 130,000 (approximately USD 8) per night
• Mid-range: Sylvia Resort Komodo — hillside with bay views, from IDR 800,000 (approximately USD 50) per night
• Luxury: Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach — private beach, infinity pool, from IDR 4,500,000 (approximately USD 282) per night

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Budget Summary

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Luxury
Domestic flights (3)	IDR 1,600,000 (USD 100)	IDR 2,400,000 (USD 150)	IDR 4,000,000 (USD 250)
Accommodation (10 nights)	IDR 2,500,000 (USD 156)	IDR 12,000,000 (USD 750)	IDR 45,000,000+ (USD 2,813+)
Food (10 days)	IDR 1,000,000 (USD 63)	IDR 3,000,000 (USD 188)	IDR 8,000,000+ (USD 500+)
Activities & entry fees	IDR 2,500,000 (USD 156)	IDR 4,000,000 (USD 250)	IDR 8,000,000+ (USD 500+)
Local transport	IDR 1,000,000 (USD 63)	IDR 3,000,000 (USD 188)	IDR 5,000,000+ (USD 313+)
Total (10 days)	USD 538–600	USD 1,500–1,600	USD 4,300+

All prices are approximate and reflect rates as of 2026.

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Practical Tips

• Domestic flight bookings: Indonesian budget airlines (Lion Air, Citilink, NAM Air) offer cheap fares but limited baggage. Book through the airline website or Traveloka app for the best prices. Luggage add-ons cost IDR 50,000–100,000 per 10kg.
• Borobudur sunrise: Book the Manohara Resort sunrise package at least 3 days ahead during June–August — it sells out.
• Komodo park fees: Entry fees have changed several times since 2022. Verify the current rate before budgeting — the trend has been upward.
• Cash: Labuan Bajo has ATMs but they sometimes run empty. Withdraw enough rupiah in Bali to cover your Komodo days.
• Altitude and heat: Java’s temples and Komodo’s hiking involve sun exposure. Carry water, sunscreen, and a hat at every stop.