3 Weeks in Indonesia: Java, Bali and Eastern Islands

Three weeks in Indonesia lets you cover the archipelago’s full spectrum — from the urban intensity of Jakarta through Java’s ancient temples, Bali’s cultural interior, the coral-ringed islands of Lombok and the Gilis, the prehistoric Komodo landscape, and finally the remote underwater world of Raja Ampat or the cultural richness of Sulawesi. This itinerary moves west to east, using four domestic flights and a mix of ferries and private drivers.

Route overview: Jakarta (1) → Bandung (1) → Yogyakarta (3) → Mt Bromo (1) → Bali (5) → Nusa Penida (2) → Lombok (2) → Flores/Komodo (3) → Raja Ampat or Sulawesi (3).

---

Day 1: Jakarta

Arrive at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. Airport rail link to central Jakarta (IDR 70,000, 45 minutes). Spend the afternoon in Kota Tua (Old Town) — Fatahillah Square, Jakarta History Museum (entry IDR 5,000), and Cafe Batavia for a colonial-era drink (coffee from IDR 45,000). Walk through Glodok (Chinatown) for street food.

Dinner: Lara Djonggrang in Menteng — Indonesian fine dining in ornate surroundings, mains IDR 85,000–200,000. Budget option: Jalan Sabang street food strip — soto betawi, nasi uduk, martabak from IDR 15,000–30,000.

Stay: Kosenda Hotel — boutique in Wahid Hasyim area, from IDR 700,000 (approximately USD 44) per night. Budget: RedDoorz near Gambir from IDR 250,000.

---

Day 2: Bandung

Getting There

Train from Jakarta Gambir to Bandung (3 hours, IDR 100,000–180,000 for economy/executive class with Argo Parahyangan). The route passes through scenic volcanic terrain.

Exploring Bandung

Bandung sits at 768 metres elevation — noticeably cooler than Jakarta. Visit Kawah Putih (White Crater Lake), a turquoise sulphuric lake 50 km south of the city (entry IDR 75,000 as of 2026, plus IDR 50,000 for the shuttle bus from the parking area). Hire a driver for the day (IDR 350,000–400,000).

Afternoon: walk Jalan Braga — Bandung’s art deco heritage street with galleries, cafes, and colonial architecture. Stop at Gedung Sate (the State Building) for a photo of its distinctive satay-skewer-shaped roof ornament.

Lunch: Warung Nasi Ampera — Sundanese rice with dozens of side dishes (nasi timbel), IDR 20,000–40,000. Dinner: Sierra Cafe & Lounge — Western-Indonesian with city views, mains IDR 60,000–120,000.

Stay: Papandayan Hotel — central, from IDR 600,000 (approximately USD 38). Budget: Pinisi Backpacker from IDR 120,000 dorm.

---

Days 3–5: Yogyakarta

Getting There

Fly Bandung to Yogyakarta (1 hour, from IDR 400,000 with Citilink or Lion Air).

Day 3: Borobudur Sunrise

Leave the hotel at 4am. Borobudur sunrise via Manohara Resort costs IDR 450,000 (approximately USD 28) for pre-opening access from 4:30am. General admission from 6am is IDR 50,000. The world’s largest Buddhist monument — nine platforms, 72 stupas, 2,672 relief panels. Allow 3 hours. Hire a guide at the entrance (IDR 100,000–200,000).

Afternoon: Prambanan Temple (17 km east, entry IDR 50,000) — the largest Hindu temple complex in Southeast Asia. The central Shiva tower rises 47 metres. Allow 2 hours.

Lunch near Borobudur: Stupa by Plataran — Indonesian with temple-garden views, IDR 50,000–100,000. Dinner: Bale Raos inside the Kraton — royal Javanese cuisine, gudeg and tumpeng, IDR 35,000–60,000.

Day 4: Yogyakarta City

Morning: Kraton (Sultan’s Palace, entry IDR 15,000, open 8:30am–2pm) and Taman Sari Water Castle (entry IDR 15,000). Afternoon: Jomblang Cave — rappel 60 metres into a sinkhole where sunlight pierces an underground forest (IDR 500,000 per person, book ahead, max 75 visitors daily). Drive time: 90 minutes each way.

Lunch: Gudeg Yu Djum — Yogyakarta’s most famous gudeg restaurant, IDR 20,000–35,000. Dinner: Mediterranea on Jalan Prawirotaman — fusion, mains IDR 65,000–130,000.

Day 5: Yogyakarta Free Day

Sleep in after two early mornings. Options: batik workshop at Batik Winotosastro (from IDR 75,000 for a 2-hour class), silver-smithing in Kotagede village, or cycling through the rice fields south of town (bicycle rental IDR 30,000–50,000 per day). Visit Malioboro Street for souvenir shopping and street food.

Stay in Yogyakarta (Nights 3–5):

• Budget: Greenhost Boutique Hotel — from IDR 350,000 (approximately USD 22) per night
• Mid-range: The Phoenix Hotel — art deco, from IDR 900,000 (approximately USD 56) per night
• Luxury: Plataran Heritage Borobudur — near Borobudur, from IDR 2,800,000 (approximately USD 175) per night

---

Day 6: Mount Bromo

Getting There

Train from Yogyakarta to Surabaya (5 hours, IDR 100,000–250,000 executive class), then car to Cemoro Lawang — the village on the rim of the Bromo caldera (3 hours, arrange through your accommodation or hire a driver, IDR 350,000–500,000 from Surabaya). Alternatively, fly Yogyakarta to Surabaya (45 minutes, from IDR 300,000).

Bromo Sunrise

Wake at 2:30am for the jeep transfer to Penanjakan viewpoint (IDR 350,000–500,000 per jeep, shared between up to 5 passengers). The view at dawn across the Sea of Sand caldera with Bromo’s smoking crater, Mt Batok’s perfect cone, and Semeru erupting in the background is one of Indonesia’s defining landscapes.

After sunrise, the jeep descends into the caldera. Walk or ride a horse across the volcanic sand plain (horse IDR 100,000) to Bromo’s crater rim. The crater staircase is 250 steps — the smoking vent at the top is genuinely impressive. Bromo entry fee: IDR 320,000 for foreign visitors (weekdays), IDR 370,000 (weekends) as of 2026.

Stay: Lava View Lodge at Cemoro Lawang — basic but directly on the caldera rim, from IDR 400,000 per night. Better option: Jiwa Jawa Resort Bromo — hillside with valley views, from IDR 1,200,000 per night.

---

Days 7–11: Bali

Fly from Surabaya to Bali (1 hour, from IDR 350,000).

Day 7: Arrive — Canggu

Settle in. Surf lesson at Batu Bolong Beach (from IDR 500,000), or just walk the black sand coast. Dinner: Old Man’s — Canggu institution, beer and bar food, mains IDR 60,000–110,000.

Day 8: Ubud

Private driver day (IDR 500,000). Tegallalang Rice Terraces (IDR 15,000), Tirta Empul Temple (IDR 50,000), Monkey Forest (IDR 80,000). Lunch at Sari Organik (IDR 40,000–75,000). Dinner at Hujan Locale (IDR 95,000–185,000).

Day 9: East Bali

Hire a car with driver to explore the less-visited east coast. Besakih Temple (Mother Temple, entry IDR 60,000 — Bali’s holiest site on the slopes of Mt Agung). Tirta Gangga water palace (entry IDR 50,000). Amed — a quiet coastal strip with good snorkelling on the Japanese Shipwreck site (free entry, fin rental IDR 30,000).

Lunch: Warung Enak in Amed — grilled fish on the beach, IDR 30,000–50,000.

Day 10: Uluwatu and South Coast

Uluwatu Temple (IDR 50,000), beach time at Padang Padang, Kecak dance at sunset (IDR 150,000). Dinner at the Jimbaran Bay grills (IDR 150,000–250,000).

Day 11: Tanah Lot and Free Time

Morning at Tanah Lot (IDR 60,000). Afternoon: spa, shopping in Seminyak, or revisit a favourite spot.

Stay in Bali (Nights 7–11):

• Budget: Kos One Hostel Canggu — dorms from IDR 180,000 per night
• Mid-range: Alila Seminyak — from IDR 2,000,000 per night
• Luxury: Viceroy Bali, Ubud — from IDR 5,500,000 per night

---

Days 12–13: Nusa Penida

Fast boat from Sanur (IDR 200,000, 45 minutes). Day 12: Kelingking Beach, Angel’s Billabong, Broken Beach (driver IDR 350,000–450,000). Day 13: Snorkelling at Crystal Bay and Manta Point (from IDR 350,000 per person), then Atuh Beach in the afternoon.

Stay: Semabu Hills Hotel — ocean views, pool, from IDR 700,000 per night. Budget: Nuansa Penida Hostel from IDR 200,000.

---

Days 14–15: Lombok

Boat to Bali, then fast boat to Bangsal harbour (or direct route via Nusa Penida–Gili–Lombok operators when available). Explore south Lombok: Tanjung Aan, Mawun Beach, Selong Belanak for surfing. Visit Sasak Sade Village for traditional weaving and architecture (free, donations appreciated).

Stay: Novotel Lombok — from IDR 1,000,000 per night. Budget: Pipes Hostel dorms from IDR 120,000.

---

Days 16–18: Flores and Komodo

Fly Lombok to Labuan Bajo (1 hour, from IDR 600,000).

Day 16: Arrive Labuan Bajo, sunset at Kalong Island (IDR 100,000–150,000 for bat-watching boat trip). Day 17: Full-day Komodo trip — Rinca Island dragons, Padar Island viewpoint, Pink Beach snorkelling (from IDR 1,500,000 per person, park entry IDR 350,000). Day 18: Manta Point snorkelling and Kanawa Island (entry IDR 150,000).

Stay: Sylvia Resort Komodo — from IDR 800,000 per night. Budget: Ciao Hostel dorms from IDR 130,000. Luxury: Ayana Komodo from IDR 4,500,000.

---

Days 19–21: Raja Ampat or Sulawesi

Choose one of two destinations for your final three days.

Option A: Raja Ampat

Fly Labuan Bajo to Sorong (via Makassar, total approximately 5 hours, from IDR 1,200,000). From Sorong, take a public ferry to Waisai on Waigeo Island (IDR 130,000, 2 hours) or a fast boat (IDR 350,000, 45 minutes). Raja Ampat marine park entry fee: IDR 1,000,000 for foreign visitors as of 2026.

Raja Ampat has the highest recorded marine biodiversity on earth — over 1,500 fish species and 500+ coral species. Stay at a homestay on Arborek or Kri Island (from IDR 600,000–900,000 per person per night including meals). Snorkelling directly off the jetty reveals extraordinary reef life. A boat trip to Pianemo (karst island viewpoint, 1.5-hour hike) and Fam Islands lagoons costs approximately IDR 2,000,000–3,000,000 for a full day shared between 2–4 people.

Option B: South Sulawesi

Fly Labuan Bajo to Makassar (1.5 hours, from IDR 600,000). Explore Fort Rotterdam (entry IDR 10,000) — the best-preserved Dutch colonial fort in Indonesia. Drive to Tana Toraja (approximately 8 hours from Makassar, or fly to Palopo and drive 3 hours).

Tana Toraja is one of Indonesia’s most culturally distinctive regions — known for elaborate funeral ceremonies, cliff-face burial sites, and traditional Tongkonan houses with sweeping boat-shaped roofs. Visit Ke’te Kesu village (entry IDR 20,000), the hanging graves of Lemo (entry IDR 20,000), and Londa Cave burial site (entry IDR 20,000, plus IDR 20,000 for a kerosene lamp guide).

Stay in Tana Toraja: Toraja Heritage Hotel — from IDR 600,000 per night. Budget: Pia’s Poppies from IDR 200,000 per night.

---

Budget Summary

Category	Budget	Mid-Range	Luxury
Accommodation (21 nights)	IDR 5,000,000 (USD 313)	IDR 21,000,000 (USD 1,313)	IDR 63,000,000+ (USD 3,938+)
Food (21 days)	IDR 2,100,000 (USD 131)	IDR 6,300,000 (USD 394)	IDR 15,000,000+ (USD 938+)
Domestic flights (4)	IDR 2,500,000 (USD 156)	IDR 3,500,000 (USD 219)	IDR 6,000,000 (USD 375)
Boats & ferries	IDR 2,500,000 (USD 156)	IDR 3,500,000 (USD 219)	IDR 6,000,000 (USD 375)
Activities	IDR 4,000,000 (USD 250)	IDR 7,000,000 (USD 438)	IDR 15,000,000+ (USD 938+)
Local transport	IDR 2,000,000 (USD 125)	IDR 5,000,000 (USD 313)	IDR 8,000,000+ (USD 500+)
Total (21 days)	USD 1,130–1,250	USD 2,900–3,100	USD 7,000+

All prices approximate as of 2026.

---

Practical Tips

• Pacing: Three weeks is long enough that rest days matter. Build in at least two half-days with no agenda — particularly after the early starts at Borobudur and Bromo.
• Luggage: Pack light. Internal flights have strict baggage limits (7–10kg cabin, 15–20kg checked). A 40–50L backpack or soft bag is more practical than a rigid suitcase for boat transfers and island guesthouses.
• Connectivity: Telkomsel has the widest coverage across this route. Buy a SIM at Jakarta airport (from IDR 100,000 for 15GB). Signal is patchy in rural Flores, Raja Ampat, and Tana Toraja — download offline maps before leaving Bali.
• Health: Bring mosquito repellent for all destinations, particularly Flores and Sulawesi where dengue is more prevalent. Tap water is not safe to drink anywhere in Indonesia — buy bottled or use a filter bottle.

Booking a guided day tour on arrival lets you get oriented quickly before exploring independently — most operators include hotel pickup. Bookaway covers inter-island ferries, buses, and trains — search your route, compare departure times, and get tickets confirmed instantly. Before you travel, sort travel insurance for Indonesia — medical evacuation cover is important given the archipelago’s geography and remoteness of some destinations.

More Indonesia Itineraries

• 1 week in Indonesia — the essentials in seven days
• 2 weeks in Indonesia — the classic Bali-to-Komodo island-hop
• 10 days in Indonesia — a focused 10-day route
• Sumatra adventure itinerary — Lake Toba, Bukit Lawang, and the Sumatra highlands
• Eastern Indonesia adventure — Flores, Sulawesi, and the Banda Sea
• Sulawesi diving itinerary — Bunaken, Togean Islands, Lembeh Strait, and Wakatobi