Java - Bali Trip in Spring

Hi there, I’m so excited to reopen the Asia/Indonesia forum! We’ve got a trip planned for spring, and we’re planning to spend a few days on Java before wrapping up in Bali. For Java: Yogyakarta / Bromo / Ijen For Bali: Ubud / Amed See you all on the forum soon!

Hi there, For Bromo / Ijen, I’m planning to book an agency. Do you know the going rates and any reliable agencies? In Bali, we’re looking for a driver. Have a great evening

Hi SLC, When I visited Bromo, I booked with an agency, but I can’t remember its name. That said, prices are pretty similar across different companies. I paid 35 € back in 2018. The company picked me up from the hotel in a Jeep Wrangler around 3 AM. On the way, we picked up two other people to head to the viewpoint facing the volcano, where we watched the sunrise—a must-see spectacle. It was crowded, but there was enough space for everyone to find a quiet little spot. It gets *very* cold up there between 4 and 5 AM. After that, we descended into the valley with the option to climb up to the volcano, stopping for photos and such along the way. It’s honestly a great experience for the price :) For Ijen, I had my own scooter, so I went on my own. I saw a lot of people with agencies there too, and it’s the same deal: arrive around 4 AM for the sunrise, since it’s about a 45-minute hike to the summit. Another amazing experience.

Hi,

We visited the island of Java with the Java Exotic agency. We were very satisfied. For Bali, we explored the island with a driver named Putu, a really friendly guy who showed us some amazing and non-touristy spots. I’m not sure if his email is still current, but here it is: megapacang@gmail.com.

Thanks so much. I’ll contact them.

Thanks so much

hi there

we just got back from Indonesia in November, and we were all delighted by the kindness, honesty, and hospitality of the people. in Yogyakarta, we were a bit disappointed—we should’ve gone to Bromo instead, but it was still nice. on Bali, my daughter and sister-in-law did Mount Batur for around thirty euros, leaving at 2 AM—it was great. having been to Bali (Amed) in 2019 and Ubud this year, we still prefer Amed. Even though there’s more to see in Ubud, it’s just too crowded and a bit of a tourist factory. no need to look for a driver in Bali—just download the Grab app (like Uber). Prices are really low, even lower outside Bali. For example, on Lombok, we paid 10,000 rupiahs for 5 km, which is about 0.60 €. Once you’ve got a driver, you can negotiate for the whole day. Grab works in almost all of Asia, and it’s super easy to use with fixed prices. from Bali, I recommend stopping by Nusa Ceningan to swim with manta rays (a tour is mandatory) and Gili Meno to see turtles—no tour needed, just head to the north of the island in the late afternoon or early morning, and you’ll spot them just 1.5 meters from the shore. these two islands are the quietest.

Hi there! Last year, when we arrived in Yogya, we booked a package with BorobudurSunrise: a one-day tour that included a hotel pickup at 8 AM, a visit to Borobudur, then a jeep ride to Mount Merapi (so much fun!), followed by the Prambanan site. It was a fantastic day on a private tour, with a very reasonable price, and you pay at the end of the day. After that, I spent a week in Sulawesi before returning to Java (Surabaya), where the same agency was waiting for us for a two-day tour to Bromo and Ijen. They even took us to the port for the ferry to Bali (40 minutes). Again, payment was made at the ferry terminal... I was really happy with this agency (driver + guide). They even gave me a free train ticket from Yogya airport to the city center.

Hello. So happy the forum’s back up—I missed it! We spent last October in Java. I actually think it’s a shame most travelers only spend a few days there. The island feels way more authentic than Bali, with fewer hassles, lower costs, and such a variety of landscapes! But hey, everyone travels their own way. For Bromo, I think it’s a bummer to pay just to end up in a herd for the sunrise and climb. We arrived on our own in Cemoro Lawang around noon. We went up to the summit of Bromo in the afternoon—it was gorgeous, and we had the place to ourselves. The next morning at dawn, we walked to the sunrise viewpoint (just a little below where the guides stop). It didn’t cost us a thing (not even an entrance fee), and we really enjoyed it. We left Cemoro early that afternoon. If you’d like more details, just ask…

Hi, A few years ago, we went through the Pink House Tour and Transport agency in Surabaya. The English-speaking driver was waiting for us at Surabaya Airport to take us to Bromo. The next day, we went to Kawa Ijen, then took a ferry and were dropped off in Ubud. However, I had booked the hotel rooms in advance. After a few days in Bali, we took a boat to the Gili Islands, then returned to France from Lombok Airport. The English-speaking agency Pink House still exists—I just checked online. You can always ask for a quote.

Thanks so much! It’s really great to be able to do as much as possible on your own, off the beaten path. Finding yourself alone in a remote and unexpected place is always a pleasure.

Thanks, I just checked out their website.