Which island(s) should we prioritize for 4 weeks in Indonesia?

Hi everyone,

As part of a four-month world trip with our kids (ages 6, 12, and 13), we’ll be spending four weeks in Indonesia. Choosing destinations is so tough because everything is just so appealing! We’ll be spending some time on Java and will likely make a "quick trip" to Borneo for the orangutan reserve. We also want to experience Bali’s culture and the small islands of the Lesser Sundas, with their incredible marine life... but which ones should we prioritize? For a few days of diving and relaxation, do you think we should go for Nusa Penida, the Gili Islands, or Moyo Island? Is Sumbawa complicated to explore? Is it worth taking the time to visit? Can it be crossed by car to then reach Komodo National Park? Anyway, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Our goal is to avoid overly touristy spots (but not places that feel too unsafe with the kids), to discover local culture and villages, and to be amazed both underwater and above. Thanks so much for your help!

Hello,

When?

Hello,

When?

July-August... Peak tourist season, unfortunately...

Good evening,

Java on the go + Tanjung Puting + Bali on the go + Sumbawa on the go + Komodo and surroundings + returning to Bali always by road, that’s at least 8 weeks, not 4.

a "quick trip" to Borneo for the orangutan reserve.

In July-August, it’ll be crowded. Plan for at least 3 nights if you go through an agency. It’s expensive. Or 6 nights if you organize everything yourself. It won’t end up being much cheaper than going through an agency.

Is Sumbawa complicated to explore?

No. The road that crosses it isn’t a problem. After that, when you leave this main road, it gets a little to a lot more complicated depending on the places.

Is it worth taking the time to explore it?

Yes. Don’t expect any must-see sites, but you’ll find it interesting to leave the main road. Even in July-August, you’ll be left in peace because most travelers fly directly from Bali to Flores.

Is it drivable to get to Komodo National Park afterward?

So, drivable, yes—eastward as far as Sape, where you take the daily ferry to Labuhan Bajo (no stop at Komodo). It’s in L. Bajo that you organize your trip to Komodo and the snorkeling islands (in July-August, book in advance through an agency or talk to boat captains).

With kids: Direct to Flores (flight from Jakarta or Denpasar) or direct to Bali (Denpasar). Local agency in Labuan Bajo for Komodo and visits to part (west) of Flores. Return in stages: Flores → Lombok → Bali. Beaches in Lombok. Lombok to Bali by ferry. If you have a few days left, Bali to Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida by speedboat.

and probably make a "detour" to Borneo for the orangutan reserve.

I don’t think this round trip just to see orangutans is a good option.

Hi there,

In one month, it's not possible to cover all the islands. Travel times are long, and flights can be unpredictable.

Arrive on the east side of Java and depart from Lombok.

A rough itinerary could be: Yogyakarta, Bromo, Kawa Ijen, ferry to Bali, explore Bali, flight to Flores, explore Flores, Flores-Lombok cruise, end your trip in Lombok.

Good evening everyone,

Thanks for your replies. I didn’t mention that we’re arriving from Australia directly to Bali (Denpasar Airport) and leaving for France from Jakarta at the end of our stay. That’s why it’s a bit tricky to organize, since Bali is right in the middle of the area we want to visit. I’m well aware that it’s unrealistic to try to visit all the islands in a month—that’s not the goal. But I listed all the destinations we’re interested in so you could help me pick the ones that are *really* worth stopping at. It’s so hard to decide when you don’t actually know the places!

Cheers,

So Bali first, then a flight to Flores, then back to Lombok by cruise, then a flight to East Java (Yogya-Bromo-Kawa Ijen). Finally, return to Jakarta.

I’ve also been to Sulawesi (south) and Sumatra. I think I preferred Flores and East Java.

Any ideas, maybe from this travel journal?

Thanks! That’s good to know (because Sulawesi was tempting me too!! But for another trip).

About the Flores-Lombok cruises, is safety a given? Because I’ve read online that local boats and the sea can sometimes be quite dangerous. If it were just adults, I wouldn’t think twice, but with kids (including one who’s only just learned to swim recently), we’re obviously a bit more cautious...

I can’t really comment on the cruise since I’ve only been to Rinca from Flores. There was actually an issue with the boat, too...

But it’s definitely important to choose your provider carefully because Indonesia isn’t exactly known for following all safety regulations. (Local airlines were on the blacklist for a long time, after all.)

Hi there,

Back in the summer of 2012, we spent a month exploring the islands of Java and Bali with our two 13-year-olds.

For Java, we went through a small agency that organized a circuit with a driver. One really fun thing to do with kids is visiting Meru Betiri National Park—our goal was to see turtles laying eggs on the beach and, the next morning, watch the babies head into the sea.

In Bali, we dove from the north to the south of the island, ending with a dive to see manta rays. The dives were amazing! We’ve shared some photos here under *Photo Gallery* → *Underwater Photos* → *Bali 2012*. On days we weren’t diving, we got around and visited the island with a driver. It was a great solution for us because the price was the same as renting a car, and we didn’t have to deal with the car on diving days. Our driver, Putu, even showed us his farm and some less touristy spots.

Hi there, I’d recommend limiting the number of islands you plan to visit. Bali and the Gili Islands aren’t a great idea for the time you’re considering—they’ll be packed with tourists. Sumatra could be a good option if you want to see orangutans, and there are also some nice smaller islands. The key is not to try to do too much and end up spoiling the experience. I’ve sent you a DM.

Hi there, If you're a diving fan, Nusa Penida is the place to go: head to Manta Point (Batu Lumbung) to see manta rays in abundance! !

One cool thing to do with kids is exploring Meru Betiri National Park, with the ultimate goal of watching turtles lay their eggs on the beach and seeing the babies head to the sea in the morning.

Thanks for the tip! About the car with a driver, yes, that’s an option we’re considering. Did you book it on the spot or in advance? (I’m worried about the timing and the number of tourists then)

Nusa Penida definitely interests us more than Bali at first glance (even though we’ll still spend a couple of days in Bali to see this famous island).

Thanks for the info! About the car with a driver, yes, it's an option we're considering. Did you book it on the spot or in advance? (I'm worried about the season and the number of tourists at that time)

If it's for the driver in Bali, we booked directly on the spot. It was the people we were staying with at Lake Bratan who gave us his phone number. We're still in touch with him. If you're interested, I can give you his phone number.

Thanks. Would you happen to have an email address instead?

Thanks. Would you happen to have an email address instead?

I’m not sure if this email is still active, but here it is: megapacang@gmail.com.

Another important piece of info, in my opinion. If you're heading to Bali and have a car (with or without a driver) and (as you mentioned) you're looking for spots that aren't too touristy, avoid staying in the south of the island—even Ubud is overcrowded, while there are still plenty of peaceful places in the heart of nature! Sure, you need a vehicle, but the island's interior offers calm and lush nature in the north, close to waterfalls and not far from the northern beaches (Lovina Beach). Stay somewhere like Munduk, for example. Check out Villa Manuk (it's really secluded)—you could all stay there.

Sumatra might be a good idea if you want to see orangutans.

Sumatra is a nice island, but you can't really say that seeing orangutans there is all that exciting.

Around Bukit Lawang, it’s already become quite industrialized in terms of encountering these animals.

It's better to go to Ketambe. Everyone agrees that Bukit Lawang is a tourist trap.

Thanks for the info! 👍

Hi there, I see that apart from a couple of very quick mentions, no one’s talked about Java—as if it’s a dirty word not to be spoken—even though it’s right between your arrival and departure airports and offers the highest density of things to see in the entire archipelago. Here’s a little itinerary showing that Java also has plenty to keep you busy.

After Bali: - Arrival in Banyuwangi and 4 nights there and in the surrounding area, including visits to Kawah Ijen and Meru Betiri National Park (recommended by Girardinpho) - Cemoro Lawang for 1 or 2 nights to see Bromo, - Continue to Surabaya for 1 night as a transit stop - Flight to Pangkalan Bun (Borneo) and its Tanjung Puting National Park, famous for its orangutans (+ easier with an agency), 3 to 4 nights - Flight to Semarang for 1 night as a transit stop - Boat to the Karimunjawa Islands for 3-4 nights there - Return to Semarang, then continue by train to Surakarta (Solo) for 2-3 nights - Bus to Yogyakarta with a stop along the way to visit Prambanan, which is on the route (you can leave your bags in a small eatery for a small fee) - Yogyakarta for 5 nights, and don’t forget to plan a day trip to Nepal Van Java with an agency. - Pangandaran for 3-4 nights for its beaches and the Green Canyon - Bandung and the Puncak Pass area for 4-5 nights total - Bogor for 2 nights - Access and visit to Ujung Kulon National Park for 4-5 nights total - Jakarta for 1 night

Oh no, that’s 5-6 weeks!... 😎

You're right about Java—it’s an island with tons to discover and lots of variety. But I remembered they wanted to see orangutans, which is why I suggested Sumatra.

Thanks for this detailed itinerary! We’ve actually planned to spend some time on Java, which really appeals to us (though more like ten days than 5 weeks!!). We’ll take a closer look at this.

How do you plan such an itinerary on Java? I imagine it’s complicated to ask a driver to cross the island from east to west! That famous site that’s supposed to let you book train connections only shows me flights. How can we organize the itinerary at least a little (we have the kids with us, which keeps us from being too "chill" about it)? Bus? Driver? Train?... I found a rental car, but it’s way too expensive. Thanks for any help you can give us.

I once rented a car with a driver from Yog to the ferry terminal for Bali. 3 days - 2 nights. To go from Yog westward, the bus. Public transport goes everywhere. For comfort and speed, though...

How do you plan such an itinerary across Java? I imagine it’s complicated to ask a driver to cross the island from east to west!

How? I feel like my answer won’t thrill you: the same way you’d do it in any other country. Do you *really* want to do everything by car? Otherwise, I’d be happy to help you figure out the best transport options (bus, train, agency, or hiring a driver for specific legs) based on the stops you want to connect—but which ones would you keep from the list I shared earlier? Don’t be too ambitious with just 10 days. Where are you heading during your 18 days *before* Java?

At the moment, we're still in the planning phase and haven't decided yet. But regarding the destinations you mentioned, the things that interest us are Meru Betiri National Park (though it's really remote and hard to access without a driver), Mount Bromo, the city of Malang, Tanjung Puting, the Karimunjawa Islands, and Yogyakarta with its surroundings. Then Jakarta at the end of our trip (a day or two to see friends).

I'm seriously considering skipping the Komodo Islands (with some regret, though) to focus more on Bali (a little), Nusa Penida, and Java. That would mean spending more time on Java, but nothing's set in stone yet, as I said.

As for transportation, it's not as simple as elsewhere... When we used to travel backpacking as a young couple, we'd jump from one transport to another very spontaneously, deciding everything on the spot at the last minute. But now we have three kids with us and flight schedules to stick to (we can't get stuck in the middle of Java and miss our return flight). Since we've had kids, we've only traveled in Europe and always rented a car, which was easy and quick to arrange remotely. In fact, for Polynesia and Australia, where we're also heading, our transport is already booked (campervan or car + ferries and/or flights). But for Guatemala and Indonesia, organizing this from afar is much more complicated... Unless we go through agencies, but the prices are way too high for us.

That's why I'm here, and why I have these questions! ;)

Actually, for transportation, you don’t need to plan everything in advance—except, I think, if you choose Java and want to take the train, because it seems you have to book that ahead of time. For everything else, it’s much easier to figure things out as you go. Anyway, buses often leave when they’re full, and reservations don’t really make sense. Your host will always find a solution—sometimes the bus even passes right by your accommodation. There’s always an option, whether it’s a bus or a shared (or even private) taxi. It’ll be much simpler to do it this way with your kids.

I had noted that he wanted to see orangutans, which is why I suggested Sumatra.

We didn’t go there (to Bukit Lawang) knowing it was already a bit of a zoo... I can’t imagine it being any better in Borneo... Taking a flight just to go that far just to see orangutans when you can see these animals in pretty much any zoo in "almost" the same conditions—I’m really questioning it...😉 My son, on the other hand, was blown away by the Komodo dragons devouring a goat carcass in a ravine, right in the middle of the forest on Komodo. Animals from prehistory that size, in the wild—you only see that on the two islands of Komodo and Rinca, and the landscapes are still pretty unique. Back to choosing between Java and Bali (for example), of course, it’s very debatable... Having experienced Bali at different times, I’ve always enjoyed spending a few days there, trying to stay a bit away from the crowds (some beaches and Ubud lately). The advantage of Bali (especially with kids!) is first of all the convenience, a peaceful atmosphere (Hinduism plays a big part in that). The food is also more varied and, in my opinion, better than on the other islands. You can attend lots of festivals (Galungan, Kuningan, Saraswati, etc.) and ceremonies (like Legong, for example), cremations, etc... All in all, if you want to see a bit of both, it’s best to stay in eastern Java and take the ferry to Bali

Thanks for your latest replies. Regarding Borneo’s natural park, it seems to me that even if there are lots of tourists, seeing these endangered animals in their natural habitat rather than behind bars in a zoo must have a different emotional impact... The reviews I’ve read are pretty enthusiastic. But we’re still hesitating because it really "eats up" 3 or 4 days out of our four weeks. As for Java or Bali, I think we’ll do both, but we won’t stay too long in Bali (since it’s packed in August). I think we’ll focus more on Nusa Penida. Komodo is still my big dilemma: I really want to discover this place and the quirky creatures that live there, but it adds extra travel time too... It’s tough to decide with so many amazing options... We’ll have to come back! 😉😉

Regarding Borneo’s natural park, I think that even if there are a lot of tourists, seeing these endangered animals in their natural habitat rather than behind bars in a zoo must have a completely different emotional impact...

I can imagine it, but personally, the idea of a guided tour or following in a line one after the other wouldn’t work for me. It’s true that if you *really* want to see them, a group guided tour is the only way (or so I assume). I prefer seeing animals without searching for them—it’s the surprise that moves me.

For Komodo, the trip is indeed long. I was lucky enough to go when it was still quiet, and we could stay on the island in a modest guesthouse, isolated in the middle of nature and surrounded by deer.

Honestly, the reservations you have about visiting orangutans are the same ones I have about Komodo: what I’ve read in recent traveler accounts makes me a little nervous... Some travelers feel it’s become a tourist trap. Some even mention the theory that rangers deliberately drug the dragons so tourists can get close and take selfies!!! If that’s what it’s like, I really don’t want to be part of that circus... So I’m really torn. The marine life and the unique landscapes of Padar and Rinca are tempting, but I don’t want to support a kind of tourism I don’t agree with...

If you're doing Bali and Java, don’t do more—except for Nusa Penida and the other Gili Islands, which are often grouped together (even though they’re part of Lombok). Take the time to explore the cool, less crowded spots on each island instead of flocking to the famous tourist hotspots with millions of other travelers who’ll be there this summer. You’ll see you won’t have enough time to do it all as it is.

Otherwise, I’ll confirm that Komodo and Labuan Bajo have become huge tourist machines. The dragons? Just tourists taking selfies. Labuan Bajo? A travel agency every 5 meters. But the snorkeling and diving are still exceptional.

Do what real Indonesia lovers do—come back another time for Flores and Komodo, then another time for Sumatra, etc. You can’t do it all in one go; it’s like saying, "I’ll visit all of Europe in a month." That wouldn’t make sense either.

Of course, I’m totally aware of that. Especially since we’ll be on a four-month round-the-world trip, and the idea isn’t to rush through all the “must-see” spots at breakneck speed and burn ourselves out. But there’s no guarantee we’ll be back, so when you’re as indecisive as I am, faced with so much beauty and curiosity, it’s tough to decide!

Don’t worry, you’re going to have an amazing time. And the best way to do that is to take your time and really live each moment. If you have young kids, it means you’ve still got many years of travel ahead of you. Four months might not be enough for a round-the-world trip, but it’s already a great start to slow down and experience a different pace of life.

Don’t leave with the feeling that you’re going to miss out on something—you’ll actually live more intensely than usual. And yes, you *will* miss out on countless incredible experiences and places, the world is vast and fascinating. But that’s a good thing—it’ll leave you with plenty of excitement for future trips.

That’s why I recommend focusing on a few islands. It’ll be easier when you come back to say, "Let’s go to Sumatra or Flores," rather than, "We really want to see what we missed in Java, Bali, Flores-Komodo, etc." Plus, you’ll discover there are some insane things to do in Sulawesi, the Moluccas, Papua, Raja Ampat, and more.

Have an amazing trip!

No doubt about it! I’m squeezing my eyes shut really tight to avoid looking too much at Raja Ampat and Sulawesi—just because I’m way too tempted!! Thanks anyway for your replies and your thoughts. I totally agree with your point of view.

Hi there, If you're heading to Java with kids, you *have* to go to Sukamade to see the green turtles nesting. I was there twice last year in September and November. The turtles still come, even if there are fewer than a few years ago. For both kids and adults, it’s an unforgettable memory. It’s really off the beaten path (Betiri Park), and there are only two lodges to stay overnight. The easiest way is to go through an agency that organizes everything.

The turtles still come even if there are fewer of them than a few years ago.

Maybe there are fewer because they’re just fed up with being disturbed by dogs during nesting? Of course, that’s just a hypothesis.

If you're camping, I find that Bukit Lawang is more reliable than Ketambe, even for kids. In Ketambe, there are still local guides and assistants who bathe in the river—I saw it myself. Yet, they use the same water for drinking and cooking. It's real.

Not at all. You misread my message. There are only 2 basic lodges on-site, and getting there is no walk in the park. That means it’s limited in terms of crowds. Plus, it’s highly regulated. The nesting beach is only accessible with a ranger and at set times. Once you’re there, you have to wait patiently for the turtles to settle in before observing them from a distance. Flash photography is prohibited.