3 Weeks in Indonesia: The Ultimate Island-Hopping Itinerary

Three weeks lets you cover Indonesia’s core island-hopping route — Bali, Nusa Penida, Lombok, the Gilis, Komodo and Flores — with enough time in each place to properly experience it rather than simply passing through. The optional final week to Raja Ampat for those with a diving focus converts the trip into one of the great travel routes in the world.

This is a journey that moves west to east, following the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands before a potential final leap northeast to West Papua.

Budget guidance throughout:

• Budget: approximately USD 70–100/day (hostels, guesthouses, warungs, public transport where available)
• Mid-range: approximately USD 150–200/day (3-star accommodation, restaurants, day tours)
• Comfort: approximately USD 300+/day (private villas, private drivers, premium experiences)

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Week 1: Bali

Days 1–3: Ubud

Fly into Denpasar (DPS). Head directly to Ubud — Bali’s cultural centre is the best base for the first days, setting the tone for the trip with temples, rice terraces and genuine Balinese culture rather than beach clubs.

Day 1: Arrive, check in, recover from travel. Walk Jalan Hanoman, dinner at a warung.

Day 2: Tegallalang Rice Terraces at 8am; afternoon Ubud Art Market, Monkey Forest. Evening: Kecak performance at Pura Dalem (smaller, more intimate than Uluwatu; approximately IDR 80,000).

Day 3: Day trip north — Tirta Empul holy spring temple, Kintamani caldera. Return via Ubud for a cooking class (approximately IDR 350,000–500,000 — make your last Ubud evening count).

Accommodation Ubud: Budget — guesthouses behind Monkey Forest Road from approximately USD 20/night. Mid-range — Alaya Ubud or Bisma Eight from approximately USD 80/night. Comfort — Four Seasons Sayan from approximately USD 500+/night.

Days 4–5: Seminyak / Canggu

Drive south (approximately 1.5 hours; private car approximately IDR 250,000–350,000). Two days on the beach, exploring the restaurant and café culture of western Bali’s coast.

Day 4: Seminyak beach, beach clubs. Sunset at Potato Head or La Plancha. Day 5: Canggu — Batu Bolong Beach, café culture, surf lesson (approximately IDR 250,000–400,000 at Echo Beach surf schools).

Days 6–7: Uluwatu

South to the Bukit Peninsula. Two days on the dramatic Indian Ocean cliffs.

Day 6: Uluwatu Temple + Kecak fire dance at sunset (approximately IDR 200,000 combined). Jimbaran fish dinner on the beach. Day 7: Morning surf at Padang Padang or Bingin (world-class breaks for intermediate to advanced surfers); afternoon free.

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Week 2: Lombok & Nusa Tenggara

Day 8: Nusa Penida — Day Trip or Overnight

From Sanur harbour, fast boat to Nusa Penida (IDR 200,000 one-way; 45 minutes). West coast circuit: Kelingking, Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach. Day trip returns to Bali; overnight on the island extends the time for Crystal Bay and Manta Point.

Return or transit to East Bali (Padang Bai) for the crossing to Lombok.

Days 9–10: Gili Trawangan

Fast boat from Padang Bai or Serangan to the Gili Islands (multiple operators; approximately IDR 350,000–600,000 per person; 2–3 hours). Disembark at Gili Trawangan — the most developed of the three Gili Islands.

Day 9: Settle in, snorkel the east coast reef (turtles year-round; mask and fins hire approximately IDR 50,000), sunset on the west beach swing. This is one of the most photographed moments in Indonesia — expect company.

Day 10: Full-day snorkelling trip circling all three Gilis (Trawangan, Air, Meno) — approximately IDR 250,000–400,000 per person, typically 5–6 hours. Meno has the most abundant turtle population; Air is quietest. Return to Trawangan for the night.

Accommodation Gili T: Budget — basic bungalows behind the strip from approximately USD 25/night. Mid-range — Pearl of Trawangan or Vila Ombak from approximately USD 80/night.

Days 11–12: Kuta Lombok

Public boat from Bangsal (Gili T pier) to mainland Lombok (approximately IDR 20,000) then public transport or shared taxi south to Kuta Lombok (approximately 2 hours; shared transport approximately IDR 100,000 per person, private approximately IDR 250,000).

Kuta Lombok (south coast) is one of Southeast Asia’s genuinely underdeveloped beach destinations — white sand bays, turquoise water, almost no high-rises.

Day 11: Tanjung Aan beach (free; the most beautiful bay on the south coast); Selong Belanak for surf (board hire approximately IDR 100,000/hour; beginner-friendly gentle break).

Day 12: Hire a scooter (approximately IDR 80,000/day) and explore the headlands east of Kuta: Mawun Bay, Mawi Bay, Gerupuk (surf launch point and paddling bay). The coastal road is rough but manageable on a scooter; the views are outstanding.

Days 13–14: Labuan Bajo (Flores)

This is the biggest transport leg of the trip. Options:

• Fly: Lombok (LOP) → Labuan Bajo (LBJ) via Denpasar; approximately 3 hours total with connection; fares from approximately IDR 600,000–1,200,000 (as of 2026)
• Fast boat Lombok → Sumbawa → Flores: 2-day overland option for serious adventurers; not recommended for most visitors

Fly to Labuan Bajo. Afternoon arrival; check in; book your Komodo boat tour for Day 15–16.

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Week 3: Komodo, Flores & (Optional) Raja Ampat

Days 15–16: Komodo National Park — Boat Trip

2-day/1-night traditional boat tour from Labuan Bajo. Standard itinerary: Komodo Island (dragon viewing), Rinca Island (more dragons), Pink Beach (snorkelling), Manta Point. Budget operator from approximately USD 80–120 per person per day; premium from approximately USD 150–250.

Park entry: approximately IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor (as of 2026).

Days 17–18: Flores Overland — Ruteng & Bajawa

Drive east from Labuan Bajo. If time is limited, focus on one of these two stops:

Ruteng (3 hours from Labuan Bajo): spider web rice fields at Cancar village; cool mountain climate; interesting stopover for a night.

Bajawa (4 hours from Ruteng): Ngada traditional megalithic villages (Bena, Wogo); Soa hot springs.

For a direct Week 3 option without the overland, skip Ruteng/Bajawa and fly Labuan Bajo → Denpasar on Day 17, connecting to Raja Ampat via Sorong on Day 18.

Days 19–21: Raja Ampat — Optional Diving Extension

For divers, this extension is the highlight of the entire 3-week trip.

Fly Labuan Bajo → Denpasar → Sorong (SOQ) on Day 19 (total approximately 4–6 hours with connection; fares from approximately IDR 1,500,000–3,000,000 as of 2026). Fast boat Sorong → Waisai (approximately IDR 120,000; 2 hours).

Days 19–21 (3 nights minimum): base at a resort on Kri or Mansuar Island. Day dives to Cape Kri (world’s most species-dense reef), The Passage (underwater channel), Manta Sandy (manta cleaning station). Resort with 2–3 dives/day from approximately USD 150–250/night per person.

Raja Ampat Marine Park entry: approximately IDR 1,000,000 per person per year (as of 2026).

Day 21: Return to Sorong and fly home, or fly Sorong → Denpasar for a final Bali night before international departure.

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Full Budget Summary

Week	Budget estimate	Mid-range estimate
Week 1 (Bali)	USD 490–700	USD 1,050–1,400
Week 2 (Lombok/Gilis/Flores)	USD 490–700	USD 1,050–1,400
Week 3 (Komodo + optional Raja Ampat)	USD 700–1,050	USD 1,400–2,100
Total 21 days	USD 1,680–2,450	USD 3,500–4,900

Internal flight costs approximately USD 100–400 across the route depending on how far in advance you book. Estimates as of 2026. Exchange rates fluctuate — verify IDR/USD before travel.

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Transport Overview for the Full Route

Leg	Transport	Approximate Cost	Time
DPS → Ubud	Car	IDR 250,000–350,000	1.5 hours
Ubud → Seminyak	Car	IDR 250,000–350,000	1.5 hours
Sanur → Nusa Penida	Fast boat	IDR 200,000 one-way	45 min
Padang Bai → Gili T	Fast boat	IDR 350,000–600,000	2–3 hours
Gili T → Kuta Lombok	Boat + car	IDR 120,000–300,000	2.5 hours
Kuta Lombok → Labuan Bajo	Fly via DPS	IDR 600,000–1,200,000	3 hours
Labuan Bajo → Sorong (Raja Ampat)	Fly via DPS	IDR 1,500,000–3,000,000	4–6 hours

All prices as of 2026. Book internal flights at least 2 weeks ahead for best fares.