My kids are dreaming of discovering Indonesia this summer—they’ll be celebrating their 15th and 20th birthdays! For the occasion, I was thinking of Sulawesi, a bit farther from Bali’s crowds.

I usually plan my trips myself, but I’ll admit I’m a little lost when it comes to transportation and logistics. We’d be there for about 18 days.

I’ve looked into guided tours, but the prices are pretty high. North or south for 3 weeks? Anyone have any firsthand experience to share?

Hi everyone, I’m planning a trip to Indonesia (Java and Bali) and I’d like to explore on my own, but I’m struggling to find contacts for French-speaking guides—not for a full tour, but for short visits ranging from a few hours to maybe 2-3 days. I checked GetYourGuide and Klook, which seem to fit my needs, but I don’t see any French-speaking guides. Where can I find French-speaking guides locally?

If anyone has any info or tips, I’d really appreciate it! Cheers

Hello, I need your help. We’re a family of four (kids aged 5 and 8), and we’re really excited to explore North Sulawesi for three weeks in August! We’re planning to visit Manado, Bunaken, Tangkoko, the Togian Islands, and possibly Makassar and Bira. Does anyone know how to get from the Togian Islands to Makassar without too much hassle/difficulty? (Fast boat, stops, etc.)

Hi there, I’m looking for information about a ferry that runs between Pam (or Fam) Island and Sorong every Saturday morning. We’re traveling in February–March. It’s been tough to find precise details, especially whether it still exists! If you have any info on this ferry, thanks in advance! Evelyne

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! !

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!

Hi everyone, I’m happy to be back on the forum, and to be honest, I’ve missed being able to share with this amazing community 😛

I’m starting to plan a trip for September 2025 with my wife. I’d love to visit Bali, and I’ve been reading the forum posts.

Can you tell me if September is a good time to visit Bali?

We’re in our sixties, not exactly high-level athletes, but we do travel quite a bit. We don’t like changing hotels every day—we prefer to stay in one central spot and explore the area around it. If we need to move to make the most of it, I think twice max would be fine.

I’m going to contact a French-speaking guide (I read about it on the forum) to get an idea of pricing and options, but I’d really love to hear from people who’ve already stayed there during this period and get some tips on finding accommodations.

Thanks for your help—I’ll keep reading the Bali posts now 😉

Hi everyone, I’m trying to make sure this provider is reliable—they organize private tours in Bali with French-speaking guides. I’m currently in touch with them for a 15-day/14-night trip in May 2026. If you’ve heard of them, I’d really appreciate your feedback—it’ll help put my mind at ease (or not...). Looking forward to your replies,

Hello, We’d like to take a cruise to see the orangutans and monkeys in Tanjung Puting National Park, CENTRAL KALIMANTAN, Borneo. There’ll be 2 adults and a 6-year-old child. Do you have any affordable contacts with a French-speaking guide? We contacted eko_harwanto@yahoo.fr, but he’s not available. Have you done any other activities or visits in the area?

Thanks for your feedback

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

🙂 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! ❤️

Hello, We’re planning our trip for next summer, which will be based in Komodo, then Alor, and back to Bali to catch our international flight. To secure that flight, we’re planning to spend our last two full days (actually 3 nights) in Bali. We’ve already visited Bali twice—first time 30 years ago and the second time 12 years ago—and we don’t want to revisit the must-see spots (and definitely not Ubud; I had a bit of a shock there 12 years ago). What could you recommend for activities and hotel locations? We’re looking for fairly exclusive experiences, not too physically demanding since we’re not as young as we used to be. We’re big fans of good food and beautiful landscapes. Can we find a driver/guide for these two days? Thanks in advance for your recommendations

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.

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 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

Hi there,

I’m reaching out not for myself for once😛, but for a family member who’s heading to Bali in a month and has a thousand questions. Since she doesn’t spend much time online and I don’t know this part of the world at all, I thought I’d ask for feedback here. Here’s what she’s planning:

Departure Arrival > UBUD UBUD UBUD UBUD UBUD - PEMUTERAN PEMUTERAN PEMUTERAN - MUNDUK MUNDUK MUNDUK - SIDEMEN SIDEMEN SIDEMEN - SEMINYAK SEMINYAK - DENPASAR - Flight to Komodo FLORES/KOMODO/RINCA FLORES/KOMODO/RINCA Flight to DENPASAR - SANUR Departure

She knows UBUD is very touristy but plans to stay there and take day trips from there. Her main question: is it worth going to Flores just for Komodo? Agencies apparently offer mini-cruises for 2-3 days... Type of trip: 2 adults, no kids. They like taking their time and don’t want to rush. I think they don’t mind touristy spots but still hope to find some authenticity. Thanks for your thoughts!

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 everyone on the forum, happy to be back! I’m planning a 15-day trip to Flores in October. I’m coming from Bali, which I know well, as well as Lombok and Sulawesi, but it’s my first time in Flores. I’d love to hear about your experiences—what should I see? How long should I stay at each stop? I travel at a relaxed pace and won’t be renting a scooter. I enjoy walking, exploring, and taking it easy—not just lounging on beaches. For some trips, I can hire a driver and car if public transport is complicated. Thanks for your tips! 🙂

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 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 there,

My partner and I are planning a trip to Indonesia in September-October 2026. It’ll be our first time in Asia, and we’re thinking of hitting the classic spots in East Java and Bali, then wrapping up with a cruise around Komodo for some snorkeling/diving. Here’s a rough draft of our itinerary—I’m wondering if it’s doable.

20/09: Flight from Jakarta to Yogyakarta, arrive around noon, afternoon/evening and overnight in Yogyakarta. 21/09: Borobudur 22/09: Prambanan 23/09: Travel to Bromo (Cemoro Lawang) 24/09: Bromo 25/09: Kawa Ijen 26/09: Travel to Bali, overnight in Pemuteran 27/09: Excursion to Pulau Melujan, overnight in Pemuteran 28/09: Travel to Munduk, overnight in Munduk 29/09: Explore Munduk and surroundings, overnight in Munduk 30/09: Explore Munduk and surroundings, overnight in Munduk 01/10: Route to Ubud (via Pura Ulu Danau Bratan, Jatiluwih?), overnight in Ubud 02/10: Explore Ubud and surroundings, overnight in Ubud 03/10: Explore Ubud and surroundings, overnight in Ubud 04/10: Travel to Denpasar, flight to Labuan Bajo, overnight in Labuan Bajo 05/10: Komodo cruise 06/10: Komodo cruise 07/10: Komodo cruise, flight to Denpasar in the late afternoon/evening or overnight in Labuan Bajo. 08/10: Flight to Denpasar (if not taken the day before), afternoon in Jimbaran, overnight near Denpasar 09/10: 10:00 AM flight Denpasar - SIN, overnight in Singapore 10/10: Flight SIN-YQB

Thanks for your thoughts—and for your time!

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!

Hello everyone!

It’s such a pleasure to be back on VoyageForum after so many years. A long time ago, I used it to plan and share a wonderful trip between Namibia and Botswana.

This time, I’m preparing a family trip for next summer (two parents, a 15-year-old boy, and an 11-year-old girl) that’ll be our big Christmas gift. I already have the flight tickets: we arrive in Denpasar on July 13th and return from Singapore on August 12th.

Our main focus is Indonesia, but since we don’t often get the chance to travel this far, I wanted to take the opportunity to stop in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore on the way back. It’ll give my kids—especially my son, who’s passionate about geography—a taste of these two major cities.

We prefer quiet spots (no need for party vibes or trendy places), though the girls (yes, there are two of them!) still enjoy discovering local crafts, souvenir shops, and the like. We don’t mind organizing things ourselves—I actually love doing that—and I assumed it’d be easy to arrange transport between hotels by booking through them. We’re not chasing cultural discoveries (one beautiful temple is enough; no need to see all 35, even if they’re stunning).

After reading tons of websites, guides, and forum posts, I’ve put together an itinerary I’d love to get your thoughts on. It’s already changed many times… and I’m sure it’ll change again! The goal is to avoid obvious mistakes, see if we’re trying to do too much, or if some places aren’t worth the effort. Here’s what it looks like so far:

- **Day 1**: Arrival in Denpasar in the late afternoon. Transport to a hotel outside Denpasar.

- **Days 2–5 (4 days)**: Bali. We’d like to stay in one or two quiet spots, away from the southern area, to explore the famous rice terraces, temples, and maybe do some light hiking.

- **Day 6**: Transfer to Lombok by fast ferry from Padang Bai (to avoid going back to the busy southern port, since I’ve heard traffic there is chaotic).

- **Days 6–11 (5 days)**: Lombok. We’d especially like to climb Mount Rinjani (we’re in good enough shape for it) and spend 2–3 days in a nice, quiet seaside spot (I was thinking of the southern Gilis near Lembar or the beautiful beaches in the south of the island).

- **Day 11**: Flight from Lombok Airport to Labuan Bajo.

- **Days 12–14**: 3-day/2-night cruise to Rinca and the various "hot spots" of Komodo National Park.

- **Day 15**: Labuan Bajo. I was thinking of doing a beginner’s diving excursion.

- **Day 16**: Flight back to Denpasar, then transfer to Banyuwangi by bus/boat (apparently possible via Express Bahari).

- **Day 17**: Morning visit to Ijen Crater, then return to the same hotel to relax for the rest of the day.

- **Day 18**: Transfer to a base camp for a sunrise visit to Mount Bromo on Day 19. - **Day 19**: Visit Bromo. We’d like to spend the whole day there to enjoy the site once most people have left. - **Day 20**: Transfer to Surabaya or Yogyakarta. - **Day 21**: Flight to Medan, then transfer to Bukit Lawang. - **Days 22–25**: Bukit Lawang. Jungle trek for 2–3 days and some downtime for 1–2 days. - **Day 23**: Transfer to Dumai. - **Day 25**: Boat from Dumai to Malacca.

The rest isn’t as relevant here.

I have a few big doubts, especially: - Is it worth spending 4 days in Bali and 5 in Lombok, or would it be better to focus on just one island? If so, we’d probably lean toward Lombok—it seems quieter, and Rinjani is calling our name…

- I’m counting on the Komodo trip to explore the islands and marine life in the area. It sounds like a true paradise (manta rays, turtles, Komodo dragons…). From what I’ve read, snorkeling in Bali or Lombok doesn’t offer the same experiences. Do you think that’s really the case? I’ve seen some unflattering comments about Labuan Bajo… Originally, I wanted to do the Lombok–Flores crossing by boat, but the "mandatory" whale shark stop in Sumbawa seems controversial, so I ruled it out.

- For the stretch between Days 16 and 21, I’m not sure about the best way to organize things to enjoy Ijen and Bromo without being in constant rush mode or sleeping for just 3 days. I can’t decide whether to stay near the crater (the hotels seem basic—is it worth spending 2 nights there?) or farther away, even if it means more travel. I’ve also considered skipping Bromo to attempt the Semeru climb. There are also some nice spice plantations nearby (Margo Utomo in Kalibaru). Any thoughts?

Anyway, thanks for making it this far! :-)

Looking forward to reading your replies! !

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! [;]

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!

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 everyone! I’m planning a little trip to Indonesia for my 40th birthday. My tickets are already booked, and I arrive in Bali on the evening of March 26. I saw that Nyepi is on the 29th, so I decided to leave Bali and come back later.

I’ve made arrangements to go to Nusa Penida, but they observe Nyepi there too! So I’m thinking of leaving Nusa Penida on the evening of March 28 and would like to visit southern Lombok (especially Gili Gede and Ekas). My issue is that I can only find fast boats to Bangsal (the north of the island). Do you know if there are any transport options to southern Lombok (like Kuta Lombok)? In this southern region, do you have any great tips? I’m looking for places to go, but also drivers to take us around and hotels.

Thanks in advance and have a great day!

Hi there, After visiting southern Sumatra in 2020 (Padang area, Bukkitinggi, Lake Maninjau), we’re heading north in two weeks to explore. We’ll arrive in Medan after Singapore. Then we plan to go to Bukit Lawang, Berastagi, and Lake Toba before finishing up on Pulau Weh. Yeah, I know three weeks is short, but we like taking our time now that we’re in our fifties 😄. My questions: - Which direction should we do the loop: Medan → Bukit Lawang → Lake Toba → Medan (we’ll be traveling by taxi)? - Can I buy the Medan/Banda Aceh flights just 10 days in advance while we’re there? Any airline to prefer? Thanks in advance to anyone familiar with this part of the world 😊

Hi there.

I’m planning to visit Bali at the end of September. I’d love to hear your tips on renting a scooter.

Is it possible to explore the island just using this mode of transport? Are gas stations easy to find? Do I need an international license? (It takes a long time to get one, and I don’t have it yet.) I’ll be staying in Ubud. Any rental places you’d recommend?

Thanks so much!!!

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