Hi there, what do you think of this itinerary, please? Do you think it’s doable? We’re two adults—it’s our honeymoon trip! 🙂 Our main interests lean more toward nature and landscapes than cultural visits (though we won’t rule out one or two temple visits).

01/10/2025 W 10:30 AM – Departure from CDG (overnight flight) 02/10/2025 Th 11:25 AM – Arrival in Denpasar -> Ubud (south of the city) – overnight in Ubud 03/10/2025 F – Excursions around Ubud – overnight in Ubud 04/10/2025 Sa – Excursions around Ubud (Jatiluwih) – overnight in Ubud 05/10/2025 Su – Excursions around Ubud – overnight in Ubud 06/10/2025 M – Ubud -> Amed – overnight in Amed 07/10/2025 Tu – Amed – overnight in Amed 08/10/2025 W – Amed -> Padangbai – overnight in Padangbai 09/10/2025 Th – Padangbai -> Gili Air (first morning boat) – overnight on Gili Air 10/10/2025 F – Gili Air – overnight on Gili Air 11/10/2025 Sa – Gili Air – overnight on Gili Air 12/10/2025 Su – Gili Air -> Nusa Lembongan – overnight on Nusa Lembongan 13/10/2025 M – Nusa Lembongan – overnight on Nusa Lembongan 14/10/2025 Tu – Nusa Lembongan – overnight on Nusa Lembongan 15/10/2025 W – Nusa Lembongan – overnight on Nusa Lembongan (or return to Bali depending on sea conditions) 16/10/2025 Th – Jimbaran or Seminyak – overnight in Jimbaran or Seminyak 17/10/2025 F – Jimbaran -> Denpasar – departure at 6:45 PM (overnight flight) 18/10/2025 Sa 8:00 AM – Arrival at CDG – overnight at home

Thanks in advance for your feedback! [;]

Hello everyone!

In early July, we’re heading to Indonesia for a solid three weeks as a family (my partner and I are in our fifties, and we have two daughters aged 17 and 20). We’ll be arriving and departing from Denpasar. Our itinerary is still entirely up in the air, and we’d like to explore islands other than Bali (we’ve already been there a few years ago).

I’d love to gather your tips and great recommendations to help us plan our route. For now, we’re thinking of visiting Lombok, Flores, and the Komodo archipelago. Here are some of our questions: - I visited Lombok myself back in 1999. I loved it, but I’ve been reading very mixed reviews in recent travel journals. Some are as enthusiastic as I was back then, while others are much more lukewarm (due to the overly strict and visible influence of the island’s governor on the population and because of massive hotel projects—I’m not sure if they’re on hold, underway, or completed). What’s the current situation? Is Lombok still a must-visit? And do you have any tips (hotels, places to visit, health, etc.)? - Still on Lombok, I did the Rinjani trek back then. I remember the hike wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t as tough as what I’ve read in quite a few recent travel journals... My partner and I are in decent shape, but that’s about it, and especially, my partner and our two daughters really don’t like the cold. What’s your experience with this trek? And do you have a trekking agency to recommend? (If we do it, I think we’d want to make sure we have good support, including quality gear, tents, jackets, etc.) - Flores and Komodo would be a completely new experience for all of us. Any tips and recommendations are welcome (sightseeing, accommodations, transport, etc.)! In particular, we’d like to explore the Komodo archipelago with a trusted agency that will take the time to show us the archipelago’s treasures in good conditions (safety and "decent" comfort). Do you know of any such agencies? - Are there other nearby islands you’d recommend? Any advice on places to visit and where to stay?

We’ll have three weeks on the ground... and we like to mix sightseeing with downtime where we just enjoy the moment. So we’re not looking for an overly packed itinerary, but still something rich (no point traveling so far just to lie on a sunbed all day ;-))

Thanks so much in advance for your advice!

Albin

Hi there,

I arrive in Jakarta on July 24th and want to head to Flores Island the next day. Do you know which airlines offer direct flights to Labuan Bajo (or elsewhere)? Is it possible to book tickets directly on Indonesian airline websites (I get the feeling that when connecting from France, access is blocked...)

Also, are there direct flights from Maumere or Ende back to Jakarta for the return trip, or do I have to go back through Labuan Bajo?

Thanks and have a great evening

Hi there! We’ll be in Bali from July 28, 2025, to August 28, 2025, and we’d love to know which spots are worth visiting. If anyone has a travel journal or tips to share—especially since we’ll be spending our first week in Uluwatu—thanks in advance for your replies!

Hi everyone, so glad the forum’s back up! I’m planning a trip for next June but I’m still torn between Papua and Papua New Guinea. Solo backpacking trip, about 3 weeks (trekking, culture, and a tiny bit of beach time). It’s still tough to find recent info—anyone know if backpacking is doable there? Thanks in advance for your tips! carpediem

🙂 Hi everyone!

Hope you're all doing well! It's been a while since I last traveled, but I'm finally heading out again soon!

For those familiar with SOUTHEAST ASIA, I'm planning to leave in mid-June (with the trip ending at the latest in November), and I don’t have a precise idea of exact places or itineraries yet. The thing is, this period is usually the rainy season...

Any advice? I was thinking of Malaysia or Indonesia, like Sulawesi, for example (all countries and islands in Southeast Asia interest me except Bali).

Any recommendations? I’m doing my research online, but if anyone here has the time and knowledge, I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks everyone, take care and stay happy! ❤️

Hi everyone. I’ve been wondering about the safety of the crossing between Gili Gede in Lombok and Bali via Gili Gateway. I need to get to Bali in early September, and the 2-hour crossing is appealing, but given recent boat incidents, I’m questioning the safety and navigation conditions. If anyone has any info, I’d love to hear it! Flying is still an option... Thanks

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are staying in Flores at the end of March/beginning of April—can anyone give me an idea of the daily rate for a car with a driver? As for shared taxis, are they easy to find for trips beyond a few kilometers?

If you have any contacts for friendly drivers, I’d love to hear them...

Thanks in advance! !

Hello,

We’re heading to Bali as a family (5 people) for about twenty days, from mid-August to early September. Since our English is pretty limited, we’d like to hire a French-speaking driver or guide to accompany us on certain days and show us around the island, picking us up directly from our various hotels.

That said, I imagine this kind of service is probably more expensive than taking a local taxi, right?

Also, which Uber-like app should we use there? And for bookings, which website should we look for accommodations on?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Hi there!

Phew, this feels really strange—it’s my very first post after the forum’s long closure... like stepping back into that carefree pre-COVID time...

I’m trying to plan a short trip (just under two weeks) to Flores at the end of March, beginning of April, and I’ve got *so* many questions... - **Transport**: From what I’ve gathered, the only flights to Maumere are from Denpasar (or Labuan Bajo), right? Did I get that right? And for getting around the island, I was thinking of hiring a car with a driver for the main routes (we don’t ride motorbikes...). Any idea what the going rate is? And do you have any trusted contacts to recommend? - **Timing**: Even though the best season is later, is the weather still manageable at that time—especially for snorkeling with calm seas and good visibility? - **Komodo archipelago cruise**: I was considering a 3-day, 2-night cruise at the end of the trip, from Labuan Bajo to Komodo. Something comfortable (cabin with private facilities). I saw what Captain Komodo offers on the Alcira—has anyone tried it? Otherwise, any other recommendations?

Yeah, I know it’s a lot of questions! Usually, I travel a bit more spontaneously, but the transport logistics are making me a little nervous—we only have two weeks, so if it takes 5 flights and 3 days of travel just to get to Maumere, we might have to pick a more accessible destination...

Thanks in advance!

Cyrille

Hello! So glad to see the forum back up and running! We just got back from a trip to Sumba in early November—spent a little over a week exploring this lesser-known island from east to west. It’s the perfect destination for anyone looking to escape overtourism. Feel free to ask any questions—everything’s still fresh in my mind, so I’d be happy to help if I can.

My itinerary: - Arrival in Tambolaka - The lagoon, beaches, villages, and stunning waterfalls…

Happy to share more! Check out my photos on my Flickr

Hi there, I’m planning my trip to Flores, Indonesia with a 6-year-old child. I’ve contacted driver-guides who are quoting astronomical prices for one week. Is a guide really necessary? Or would a driver who knows the area well be okay? Do you think I should book from France, or wait and arrange it day by day once I’m there? What’s the average price?

Also, do you think the daily drives won’t be too long?

Thanks

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, we’ve planned our itinerary, but how does it work on the ground for getting a taxi? For example, we want to go to Borobudur Temple for sunrise—how do we get a taxi that early? Same question for other cities—is there a website to contact a taxi? We don’t want organized tours. We’re used to renting a car, but we’re a bit lost here... Thanks so much for your help!

Sumatra at a leisurely pace, from mid-April to the end of May—pure bliss! Outbound/inbound flight to Kuala Lumpur to reach Medan, then our stops: Medan - Berastaggi - Toba / Ambarita - Ketambe - Pulau Nias / Teluk Dalam - Bukittinggi - Harau Valley - Padang / Rimba. A journey shaped by the ethnic groups: the Bataks around Berastaggi and Toba, the Ono Niha on Nias Island, and the Minangkabaus starting from Bukittinggi. Christians in the north and Muslims in a matrilineal society at the end of the trip. Rare animals in their natural habitat, orangutans in the canopy and hawksbill turtles within snorkeling distance. Though Sumatra isn’t a hotspot for Western tourists, it’s incredibly easy to explore Indonesia’s largest island. Since there were four of us and the journeys are very long (avg. 30 km/h), we opted for taxis between regions and rented scooters on-site; 3 days trekking in the primary forest of Gunung Leuser and guesthouses for accommodation the rest of the time, meals at local warungs. As I struggled to find info on Nias Island before our trip (thanks to Filemich for reassuring me about this stop), I’ll focus on this destination! We took an overnight ferry (https://www.wjl-line.com) from Sibolga to Teluk Dalam, in a 4-person cabin, and stayed at Taman Baloho Indah guesthouse, a bit outside the town and by the Indian Ocean—I highly recommend it. You can reach Erwin, the owner (a name from Dutch colonization), via WhatsApp at +62 812 6074 2874. He rents scooters and can also take you fishing if you ask, then you get to enjoy the fish cooked by his wife. Thanks to our guide Nitra (WhatsApp: +62 822 1383 9300), a young woman passionate about her history, we explored the east coast to visit a megalithic site, then crisscrossed the island’s interior for several days, from village to village, all still very traditional. She lives in Bawomataluo, the most famous of them. She was our gateway to her world, its rituals, and customs. We spent a week on the island—absolute heaven! Don’t hesitate to ask me about places, accommodations, or contacts for taxis or guides from our long stay—I’d be happy to answer!

I’d love to get some feedback on our itinerary—it’s probably pretty basic! This is our second trip to Asia and our first to Indonesia. We have three kids aged 20, 18, and 12. We land in Jakarta at 4 PM, spend 3 nights/2 days there, then take the train to Yogyakarta for 3 nights/2 days, followed by the train to Surabaya for 2 nights/1 day, then the train to Bromo for 1 day/1 night, a private driver to Ijen for 2 nights/2 days, then on to Bali (Ubud) for 4 nights/3 days, followed by Gili Air for 3 nights/2 days, Senggigi (Lombok) for 2 nights, and finally 5 nights in Kuta. I’m considering cutting the 2 nights in Senggigi to just keep Kuta and extend it to 7 nights. In Lombok, I’m not sure how to get around since I’m not comfortable with scooters... Your thoughts on all of this, and any advice, are more than welcome—don’t hesitate!

For those wondering why cities like Jakarta and Surabaya: we don’t often get the chance to visit big Asian cities, so we wanted to include that discovery in our trip. The trains between Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Probolinggo are booked. The return flight from Lombok to Jakarta is also set. Accommodations are booked but flexible (same for the trains).

Thanks!

Hi there, we’re planning to spend a month in Lombok in July 2026 and would love to hear your thoughts on Gili Gede.

We really enjoy snorkeling, preferably from the beach (so we don’t have to rely on renting a boat). On the side, we also love short hikes of a few hours—like to waterfalls or through rice fields (max 5–6 hours round trip). We’d like to stay in small family-run hotels away from the crowds (but with a pool, since our kids love spending their evenings there).

Do you think Gili Gede checks at least 2 of these 3 boxes (snorkeling + small family-run hotels away from the crowds)? Would you recommend a better spot in Lombok that ticks all 3 boxes?

Thanks so much in advance! Fanny

Hi there, I’m heading to Indonesia for a month this summer and will spend a few days on the island of Lombok.

I initially planned to spend 3 nights in Senaru to explore the surrounding area (village, waterfalls, etc.—but no volcano trek) for 2 days and then take a day trip by scooter to discover Sembalun (mainly the Bukit Selong viewpoint) before returning to sleep in Senaru. After that, I’d head to Kuta Lombok.

But I’m considering two other options: 1) Stop at the Bukit Selong viewpoint with the taxi that’ll take us from Senaru to Kuta (though I’m not sure if it’s a big detour). 2) Stay only 2 nights in Senaru, then spend one night in Sembalun before heading to Kuta.

What do you think? Should I stick with my original plan (visiting Sembalun as a day trip by scooter from Senaru) or go for one of the other two options?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

My full Indonesia itinerary (Lombok, Flores, and Bali) 🇮🇩

Hi everyone, When we travel abroad, we usually rent a car to be independent with our itinerary and free with our timing. But we get the feeling that it’s not so simple in Indonesia. Is it feasible, for example, to drive from Bali to Komodo National Park by car? What are the roads like? Can you rent and return cars on these smaller islands? Thanks for your replies.

Hi there. To make the most of Lake Toba, is it better to find accommodation on the lake’s shores (which one?) or on Samosir Island? Thanks for your tips!

Hi everyone,

Family of 4—2 adults and 2 kids (11 and 15) who are well-traveled. We’re planning a 15-day trip to Indonesia and would love your thoughts on our itinerary. We love discovering local culture, food (!!), seeing beautiful landscapes, and keeping an active pace. We’re not the type to lounge on the beach for 5 hours or spend ages by the pool when we’re halfway across the world. Also, we try to avoid places "ruined" by mass tourism (like Holbox in Mexico, which we loved 10 years ago but not at all on our last visit, or Phi Phi in Thailand, completely destroyed by mass tourism).

Special note: we love traveling by train :)

Here’s what we’ve planned so far:

**Day 1** Arrival in Jakarta, then domestic flight to Yogyakarta. Settle in Yogyakarta.

**Day 2** Borobudur in the morning, then exploring nearby villages.

**Day 3** Prambanan in the morning, followed by culinary discovery / market / local vibe in Yogyakarta.

**Day 4** Train to Jombang, then driver/bus to the Bromo area. Overnight stay.

**Day 5** Sunrise at Bromo, exploring the volcano and sea of sand. Relax in the afternoon.

**Day 6** Travel to eastern Java, then train, ferry, and road to reach Sidemen in Bali.

**Day 7** Sidemen

**Day 8** Sidemen

**Day 9** Sidemen

**Day 10** Transfer to Gili Air (car to the port + fast boat?)

**Day 11** Gili Air

**Day 12** Gili Air

**Day 13** Transfer to Ubud

**Day 14** Ubud

**Day 15** Return to Bali airport, flight to Jakarta, then international flight.

Does this itinerary seem coherent for a family? Does it feel too packed or well-balanced? Would you make any changes to certain stops, durations, or transfers?

Thanks so much for your tips and experiences!

Hi there,

I’m heading to Bali in May and would love to spend 2 or 3 days in Munduk. What are some things we can do around Munduk? Also, do you know if hikes can be organized from there?

Thanks in advance!

hi there, I’m looking for info on the Banggai Islands as an alternative to the Togians in Central Sulawesi. I’d like to compare the two destinations in terms of activities, accommodations, and access—the Togians seem gorgeous but very (too?) touristy (lots of resorts and already fully booked for July), while Banggai seems much more off the beaten path. I’m planning to go in July, traveling with 5 people including older teens. Thanks so much for your ideas, tips, or suggestions about Banggai!

Hi there,

I saw on the naturist vacations website that there’s a naturist center in Bondalem. That site doesn’t seem to have been active for a long time. Do any of you know it? Is it still open? Thanks for your replies,

Best regards,

Hi there.

I’m planning to explore Bali solo for two weeks. I’m too late to get an international permit... Is it a good idea to get around with Bluebird taxis? Rates, schedules, reliability...

Thanks for your input! !

Hi everyone, I’m currently working on a 30-day itinerary for May/June 2027. 10 days in eastern Java (Malang, Bromo, waterfalls, Meru Beriti Park, Banyuwangi, and Ijen), a short transit in Ubud for a few days, then Flores before heading back to Jakarta. We’ll spend 15 days in Flores (the classic route: Moni, Bajawa, Riung, Ruteng, ending in Labuan Bajo). I’d love some firsthand feedback on flights to Maumere or Ende from Bali Denpasar. I know there are no direct routes and that you have to connect through Labuan Bajo or Timor (I think), which isn’t an issue in itself. But I’ve read here and there that flights to these destinations can be delayed—or worse, canceled—and that it’s better to fly in and out of Labuan Bajo, which isn’t exactly ideal... Thanks for any tips or experiences you can share!

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your contributions on the forum—they’ve really helped me plan my trip. There are four of us friends heading to Sulawesi for 20 days. Based on all your advice, I’ve put together the following itinerary:

July 30: Makassar – sightseeing July 31: Makassar – sightseeing + overnight bus to Rantepao August 1–7: Tana Toraja with a guide August 7: Tana Toraja to Tentena + visit Tentena August 8: Early departure with a private driver to Ampana, then ferry to the Togian Islands August 9–15: Togian Islands (2 different resorts) August 15: Depart Togian Islands for Luwuk August 16: Flight Luwuk to Makassar August 17: Rammang Rammang August 18: Stroll in Makassar, then return home

Overall, what do you think?

I also have a question about the connection between Tentena and the Togian Islands: Is it doable to leave early in the morning as planned and still be sure not to miss the ferry?

Thanks in advance for your feedback! :)

Hi, I’m planning a week-long trip with my husband to Flores Island in September 2026. Does anyone have a contact for hiring a private driver for about 5 days between Maumère and Labuan Bajo? Thanks in advance

Hi everyone, First post in years on the forum—I’m so happy it’s back up and running!

I’ve been wrestling with this question for weeks now: Flores or Sulawesi?

I’m leaving in July for 24 days, followed by 2 weeks around Makassar/Wakatobi for work. For the first part, I’m traveling with my family (my partner + 3 kids aged 6 to 14).

I’ve had a long-time dream of Komodo, but I’m worried it’s become super touristy... though the crossing to Maumere still sounds amazing. I’m also not thrilled about all the internal flights.

On the other hand, since I’ll be in Sulawesi anyway, I’m thinking a crossing from Gorontalo to Luwuk via the Togians (maybe even a few days in Banggai) + a detour to Toraja (which I visited 10 years ago) could be an incredible trip too.

For my family, this is their first trip to Indonesia, so I’d love it to feel *mythic* ;).

Any advice is welcome—I’m really struggling to decide! I know it’s a choice between two great options...

Thanks!

Hi, I’m traveling with my 13-year-old son in June and July 2025 for 6 weeks—2 weeks in Flores and 4 in Sulawesi. I don’t want a super "roots" trip because long transport times eat up too much time, so I’d prefer to use only private or shared drivers whenever possible since I’ve read that public transport really slows you down. That said, I don’t want to hire the same driver for the whole trip because I think it’d be way over budget.

My first question is about transport times and approximate costs. I’d like to double-check the times I’ve seen because it’s not clear to me whether they’re for private vehicles or public buses: - Labuan Bajo – Denge (Wae Rebo): 5–6 hours ???? - Denge – Ruteng: 3 hours ???? - Ruteng – Bajawa: 4 hours ???? - Bajawa – Moni (Kelimutu Volcano): 3.5 hours ???? - Moni – Koka Beach: 1.5 hours ???? - Maumere – Koka Beach: 2 hours ????

My second question is about the Maumere–Makassar ferry. It’s impossible to find a clear answer—PELNI’s website shows only about 2 ferries per month, but Rome2Rio mentions a daily departure (with a return the next day, like the Labuan Bajo–Makassar route, I assume). I’d really like to avoid flying since it’s so expensive on this route.

My third question: I’ve read that flight tickets are more expensive when bought from France than from Indonesia. Has anyone else heard this?

Thanks so much for your help! This is my first post on the forum in ages, so I hope the length doesn’t scare anyone off.

Best, Vanessa