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Original post

Yyllen27

7 posts

2024-10-15

Hi there,

I’m planning a trip to Indonesia between June and August 2025. I’ll be traveling solo with my two daughters, ages 9 and 13, for 7 weeks, and then solo without them for another 3 weeks.

This trip has a special meaning for me—I’ve got a break between my soon-to-be former job and launching my business. It’s my first big solo trip outside Europe with just my girls, and I’m heading to Indonesia because I’ve dreamed of discovering Bali since I was 12 (though I’m *terrified* of mass tourism!). Also, five years ago, I decided to limit myself to one flight every 10 years—this is my "big 40" trip, and it’s really important to me. I’ll probably never return to Indonesia after this.

Beyond that, I’d love to immerse myself in Balinese culture. For the rest of the trip, I’m especially drawn to nature and its grandeur. Basically, outside of Bali, I’d love to see breathtaking natural landscapes that are totally different from what I can find in Europe. I’d also love to spot some endemic wildlife (which my girls would find exciting too!). And if I can squeeze in a few "chill" days to just relax or go snorkeling in a nice, quiet spot, I’m all for it.

I’d love your advice, especially since I’d like to start in Bali (we’re arriving around June 20th—I’m hoping to avoid the peak tourist crowds from the Northern Hemisphere summer break).

Thanks!

Attila Globetrotter ·2024-10-16

Hi there,

I’d recommend combining Bali with East Java—it’s rich in history and volcanoes—and Flores Island, with its nature, volcanoes, villages, and the famous Komodo dragons.

For the beach, I really enjoyed the tranquility of southern Lombok. Though that was a while ago, so things have probably changed a lot since then...

Happy planning!

Agnès

Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !

Yyllen27 ·2024-10-17

Thanks Agnès for the info, I’ll check it out.

Do you have any specific places to recommend? thanks

Attila Globetrotter ·2024-10-17

For East Java, Yogyakarta is a great base for visiting Borobudur and Prambanan (easily accessible by public transport). A quick train or bus ride will get you to Solo, where you can visit the temples of Sukuh and Ceto amid tea plantations. Next stops: the Bromo volcano and then Kawa Ijen. (I hired a car with a driver for 3 days for this, but you can also do it via a mini organized tour or even by public transport)

From there, a ferry will take you to Bali.

To reach Flores, you’ll need to take a domestic flight to Maumere (snorkeling is possible in the area) and then head up to Labuanbajo by public transport (stopping in Moni for the Kelimutu volcano and its rice terraces, and Bajawa for the Ngada villages).

From Labuanbajo, excursions depart to see the Komodo dragons.

You can return to Bali by plane or take a mini-cruise to Lombok or Bali (I didn’t do the latter personally).

Make sure to check the dates for Idul Fitri (a festival at the end of Ramadan). All Indonesians are on the roads during this period, and the country becomes a nightmare...

Some of these suggestions are featured in this travel journal:

https://www.myatlas.com/Attila/volcans-varans-et-p-tits-clochers

Un si beau paysage : concours de photos amical de juin 2026 Rubrique Jeux Voyages C'est le moment de poster vos meilleurs clichés !

Yyllen27 ·2024-10-18

Thanks so much! I’ll look into this!

Bruno645 Regular ·2024-12-05

I agree with Attila Flores is a great family-friendly destination with lots to see. Definitely plan a day in Maumere for an unforgettable snorkeling trip! Then, cross the island from east to west by car with a driver. Next, the Komodo region for its beaches and dragons—your kids will love it. I just got back from Sumba... a beautiful destination far from the crowds, not many animals but stunning beaches and "waterfalls"... You could finish in Bali, the central area for its rice terraces and the north (Lovina) for some peace and quiet. Avoid the south and even Ubud if you don’t want to deal with traffic jams... For Flores and Sumba, I have contacts for guides and drivers if you need them... And then there’s Sulawesi...

BRUNO https://www.flickr.com/photos/46202812@N07/albums/

SO Songsam Veteran ·2024-12-05

Bali.To get to Flores, you’ll need to take a domestic flight to Maumere

It looks like direct flights from Denpasar to Maumere are a thing of the past—now you have to connect through Labuhan Bajo or Kupang.

The suggested route is good, but why limit yourself to just East Java? West Java is well worth seeing too (Pangandaran and its nearby areas, the Puncak Pass region with volcanoes, tea plantations, and a floral park...), Ujung Kulon National Park (beautiful nature and, if you're lucky, its rhinos...). If you have time, you could even make a quick 3-4 day detour to southern Borneo to see the orangutans in Tanjung Puting National Park, which is right near Pangkalan Bun—you can fly there from Surabaya, Semarang, or Jakarta.

SO Songsam Veteran ·2024-12-05

Flores (...) Maumere (...) Then the east-to-west crossing of the island by car with a driver

There’s also public transport, you just need to be a bit patient, like on all Indonesian islands outside Java.

Avoid the south and even Ubud if you don’t want to get stuck in traffic jams...

Totally agree, especially in July-August. Luckily, Bali has plenty of rice terraces beyond the tourist-overcrowded ones in Ubud.

PachaLT ·2025-01-18

Hello, What a beautiful project you have in mind! If you don’t have to return to Indonesia, I’d recommend spending a few days with the Mentawai (Flower People) on Siberut Island (west of Sumatra). It’s an experience you and your girls will never forget—it’s the complete opposite of "Bali’s beach tourism." Happy planning for your trip!

Patrick

Marifb Veteran ·2025-01-26

If you don’t travel often and won’t be returning to Indonesia, I’d recommend focusing right away on the top spots and avoiding Bali—or at most, spending just one week there. Bali has a fascinating culture, but unfortunately, it’s completely overrun with tourism, especially during the time you’re planning to travel. Instead, aim for the highlights: Sulawesi, Sumatra, Flores, or Papua with the Raja Ampat islands. Also consider the Moluccas, while Borneo is a bit trickier to visit (though Indonesians are so friendly they always make travel easier). I’ll let you do some research so this trip can truly feel extraordinary.

Marifb

Yyllen27 ·2025-03-20

Hi, thanks for your feedback and sorry for my late reply. I’m refining my trip: I was thinking of seeing the orangutans in Sumatra. Is it better in Borneo?

Yyllen27 ·2025-03-20

thanks for your feedback. Bali is a childhood dream and I really want to go (even if it means being disappointed). I’ve carefully read your guide and hope to visit the spots that are best suited to avoid tourists.

Yyllen27 ·2025-03-20

Thanks for the advice. I actually considered this option at length. Did you do it? Is it very off-the-grid? My older daughter was already extremely stressed by the poverty in Cuba during our trip, and I’m a bit worried about the living conditions with the Mentawai. Do you have any photos to share? Thanks

PachaLT ·2025-03-21

Hi Nelly, We spent 3 weeks in Sumatra. A 3-day trek in Bukit-Lawang (with a guide) to see orangutans (which we saw easily). For the trek, it’s physical—hot, humid, slippery, with camping by the river—but doable (we’re 73). But seeing them less than 5 meters away is still something else compared to TV. To visit the Mentawai people and stay with them, a guide is mandatory. Take the boat from Sumatra to Siberut Island (4 hours). From the dock to the pirogue departure point, it’s a 15-minute scooter ride (with a driver). Then 2 hours by motorized pirogue. And that’s where it gets tough (but we were there in November, at the start of the monsoon): 2 hours of walking through mangrove mud (for less than 3 km). For your kids, go during the dry season (otherwise, 20 to 30 cm of mud). Welcome into the Uma (house) of the chief and shaman to discover their way of life (hunter-gatherers). Sleep under a mosquito net (but above the animals—pigs, chickens, dogs...). Meals are adapted for tourists, but you can eat like them: grilled sago, sago flour, sago larvae (your choice—raw or cooked)... An unforgettable experience, with simple, welcoming hosts... But I won’t tell you everything, Patrick

Patrick

Mékong Globetrotter ·2025-04-08

Hi there, Regarding Bali, you won’t escape the tourists, but the south is definitely to be avoided. It’s very polluted because greater Denpasar is overcrowded, which leads to monstrous traffic jams—maybe the worst in the country. Plus, aside from Nusa Dua, the beaches are disgusting, littered with stray dogs everywhere. Lots of scammers and stress, and of course, it’s still expensive if you don’t know the area. I recommend arriving by ferry at Gilimanuk, as from there you can head straight to Lovina and Munduk, then Amed in the east, where you can go snorkeling. You’ll also avoid paying the 150,000 IDR tourist tax—a total rip-off when you see the state of the beaches.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mekong69/sets/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-UPh_7iIlQ

PachaLT ·2025-08-18

Hi there, so what did you end up choosing, and did you like it? A little feedback would be great.....

Patrick

Yyllen27 ·2025-08-18

Thanks for your message. Unfortunately, I had to cancel my trip 2 weeks before departure because I needed emergency colon surgery. I spent June and July in the hospital and recovering—so far from Indonesia! I hope to go next summer! Thanks for your help

PachaLT ·2025-08-19

Get well soon!

Patrick

Jojoone1 Globetrotter ·2025-08-24

Wishing you a speedy recovery too, we're keeping our fingers crossed for next year! 🤞

« Tout le monde s'interroge sur comment laisser une meilleure planète à nos enfants, mais on devrait plutôt penser à laisser de meilleurs enfants pour notre planète. » Clint Eastwood

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Solo mom: 10 weeks in Indonesia, including 7 weeks with kids (ages 9 and 13)

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