We created this 2 week Indonesia itinerary to show you the most impressive places of this spectacular country.
Indonesia is one of the 11 countries in Southeast Asia and it has it all. From perfect picturesque beaches to the rice fields of famous Bali, chaotic cities, extraordinary wildlife, rich cultures, and heritage. We guarantee you won’t be bored. It is by far the largest and therefore possibly the least explored country in Southeast Asia. To see everything here is nearly impossible. This is when our Indonesia 2 week itinerary comes in to help with the process of finding the right places to visit (especially for first-timers). Don’t worry, Bail is in there as well.
So if you have two weeks and want to see what Indonesia has to offer, you will have to make decisions on what to see and what to skip.
Be warned, this 2 week Indonesia itinerary is not necessarily for all-inclusive holiday makers. We give you a plan, but you are the one who has to execute it in the end. However, if you are the kind of traveler who is active, curious and into diverse experiences, you will be fine.
Furthermore, to cover different types of interests, we created 3 types of itineraries. You can choose from the LAZY ONE, MORE ADVANCED and OFF THE BEATEN TRACK itineraries.
Table of Contents
2 WEEK INDONESIA ITINERARY
The best starting point for your 2 week Indonesia itinerary for most of the travelers is Bali. It gives you the chance to acclimatise yourself before you visit places which are less touristy.
Trust us, Indonesia is not just Bali and not every place in Indonesia will be like Bali, which is a good thing. And be aware, Bali is just one of the thousands of islands making up the Indonesian archipelago. We will orient our itinerary around a few selected islands.
MOST POPULAR 2 WEEK INDONESIA ITINERARY – LAZY ONE
Let’s start with probably the most popular 2 week Indonesia itinerary: The Lazy one.
If you are looking for a perfect relaxing beach holiday without traveling to many places, then this 2 week Indonesia itinerary is perfect for you. You will have enough time to explore famous Bali and some islands around; such as Nusa Penida and the Gillis with a hint of ‘not doing anything’ beach days.
- BALI – 7 Days
- NUSA PENIDA – 3 Days
- GILLIS/LOMBOK 3 Days
BALI (5 – 7 days)
In Bali alone you can spend several weeks. We kind of did as this is where our “travel the world adventure” started. We never got bored and we took some serious time exploring the beaches in the south.
If we would have had 2 weeks in Indonesia, we would have done 5-7 days in Bali, as you can see many other islands around. That is to stay, 1 week in Bali and the area will give you the possibility to drive around Jimbaran, explore Ubud and decide if you like to explore islands such as the Gillis, Nusa Penida, Lombok. Most importantly, all of them are easily reached from Bali.
You will likely fly into Denpasar the international airport in the South of Bali. You will have two options where you want to stay for a couple of nights. It all depends on your preferences. If you like to party, look for accommodation in Seminyak or Kuta. Some people say the conditions here are perfect for first time surfers. But why not head to Jimbaran Beach in Bukit instead?
BUKIT, BALI
If you want to relax, surf (check out this movie if you are into surfing) and enjoy the most stunning beaches on Bali go stay in Bukit. Here all you need is to rent a scooter (attach your surfboard) and put your swim wear on. Moreover, take a few rupiah to have cheap food. In Bukit we took one of our best drone pictures in Southeast Asia.
UBUD, BALI
After that, head to Ubud. The cultural heart of Bali. Here it’s all about rice fields, waterfalls, temples, yoga and vegetarian/vegan cuisine. While some people say, that this is the real Bali, we are not so sure about that. Mass tourism has probably changed Ubud tremendously. We say “probably” as we don’t know how it was before. But, you can still do many things in Ubud and you should definitely spent at least 3 days there.
OUR TIP: You don’t need any tour to see rice fields. Just rent a scooter and go there yourself. The only annoying thing while you are exploring the rice fields, is that you might be stopped by the locals for ‘tips’ over and over again. Also, please, be respectful and don’t step anywhere except on the (muddy) paths.
If you like to see the real UNTOUCHED Bali, head up to the north coast, where not many tourists go.
CLIMB MOUNT BATUR
If you like to climb Mount Batur and experience one of the most beautiful sunrises in your life then this is your trip.
We took this tour from Jimbaran and it was really awesome. The only downside, is that we had to wake up at 01:30 am. But trust us, it’s worth the sacrifice. Not to mention, that this is a perfect trip accessible from many places in Bali (Kuta, Legian, Jimbaran, Canggu, Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Sanur, Ubud). You can click here for some options for tours.
BALI INSTAGRAM TOUR
If you are into social media and hunting perfect photos, Bali has many instagram-able locations. You can definitely check some Instagram tours HERE. These tours will take you to the most scenic and Instagram-worthy sights around Bali, such as Gates of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Jungle swing, Tukad Cepung waterfall and Tegalalang Rice fields.
GILI AIR/LOMBOK (3 DAYS)
If you like peaceful island atmosphere, great snorkeling and beautiful beaches then you need to head to “the Gilis”. Gili Air in particular is a true tropical paradise in Indonesia and here are all the reasons why you should visit the Gilis.
The Gilis archipelago consists of three islands: Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno. We spent 4 days on Gili Air and we totally loved it. Gili Trawangan is more for party animals and Gili Meno is the complete opposite. That is why we think that Gili Air has the perfect mix. From relaxing, to paddle boarding, snorkelling and diving, you can do so many things there.
HOW TO GET TO GILIS
The fastest way to get to Gilis is by speed boat. We had a good experience with Bluewater Express. For our proposed itinerary you should head to the Gilis straight from Ubud and return to the South of Bali. You will be picked up in Ubud early morning and taken to the east coast of Bali where a boat departs to the Gilis. On your way back you can return to the South of Bali (Seminyak/Kuta/Jimbaran). Or you continue onwards to Lombok, which is beautiful as well.
READ MORE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GILI AIR.
NUSA PENIDA (1 – 2 DAYS)
Nusa Penida is one of the most famous day trips from Bali.
It’s very easy to get there although with traffic in Bali you might need half a day to just get to the harbour. Many people come to visit Nusa Penida and famous T-Rex just for a day, but we would definitely recommend you to stay at least 2-3 days to enjoy this gorgeous island. Check some tours from Bali to Nusa Penida HERE.
ADVANCED (CULTURAL) 2 WEEK INDONESIA ITINERARY
This advanced 2 week itinerary Indonesia will give you an opportunity to discover more about Indonesian culture and places which are off the radar. Moreover, you will relax around the best beaches in Bali, explore some of unique Flores and dig into culture in two of the most impressive Indonesian temples around Yogjakarta.
YOUR JOURNEY
- BALI – 5-7 Days
- FLORES – 3 Days
- YOGJAKARTA – 3 Days
BALI (5 DAYS)
Start your trip in Bali, spend 5 days to aclimatize yourself and explore one of the best beaches in Bali in Bukit, explore Ubud and head for a day trip to Nusa Penida.
Then fly to Flores from Denpasar Airport (Bali) for your 3 day adventure in Flores.
FLORES (3 DAYS)
Flores is another big island in the Indonesian archipelago and it packs many highlights. Forged by active volcanoes and eroded by the ocean, Flores has many incredible places to offer. And if you would like to see breathtaking views like this one, a secret pink beach, then make sure you go there. It is also quite easy and cheap to get there.
HOW TO GET TO FLORES
There are regular flights from Bali (Denpasar) to Labuan Bajo (Komodo Airport). We flew with NamAir and it was only $90 return per person.
Komodo Airport is located only a few km from the city so it will take you around 15 mins to get to your accommodation. If you arrive earlier, head straight to the Tourist Information Center (easily found on Google Maps) and book your tours for the next 2 days.
WHAT TO SEE IN FLORES
FULL DAY BOAT TOUR TO RINCA ISLAND, PADAR AND KELOR ISLANDS
We spent 3 days in Flores and we did 2 boat tours. The first tour was to see amazing Rinca Island where you can see fascinating Komodo dragons, Padar Island, and secret pink beach.
Be Aware: If the news coming out of Indonesia are right Komodo National Park will be temporarily shut down for tourists. Allegedly over 40 Komodo Dragons were stolen and sold on the black market. While there are conflicting reports on the whole story make sure to check that before you visit. However, even without the Komodo dragons there is plenty of other amazing things to see in Flores. (May 2019)
READ MORE: ULTIMATE GUIDE TO FLORES ISLANDS
FULL DAY BOAT TOUR TO KOMODO NATIONAL PARK & SNORKELING WITH MANTA RAYS
The second tour we did was to Komodo National Park and snorkeling with manta rays. If you want to save time and make sure to see komodo dragons we recommend to chose Rinca Island for the day trip and skip Komodo National Park as Rinca is less touristy.
EXTRA TIP: Further, instead of the second boat tour you can go diving. However, if you are not a certified diver, you can still do a discover dive and admire manta rays. If you are interested in getting your open water certificate read HERE to find the perfect place to get certified.
YOGJAKARTA (3 DAYS)
If you are craving for culture and want to get to know more about Indonesian history, then you need to visit the world’s largest Buddhist temple Borobudur. Another must-see, is the Hindu temple Prambanan. Both are nearby Yogjakarta on central Java.
HOW TO GET TO YOGJAKARTA
You can reach Yogyakarta (Yogja) from Labuan Bajo. There are no direct flights and you will change planes on Bali. However, prices should be still cheap.
BOROBUDUR TEMPLE
Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and together with Bagan in Myanmar and Angkor Wat in Cambodia belongs to the most impressive archeological sites of Southeast Asia (and the world). This temple was built in the 9th century by the Sailendra Dynasty.
Borobudur is so large that it consists of nine stacked platforms, and the whole compound has more than 570 Buddha statues.
OUR TIP: We recommend to take 1 day each to explore both temples as they are quite distant from each other and with Indonesian traffic you never know.
The best thing is to wake up early and watch an incredible sunrise at Borobudur. We decided to stay 1 night at Griya Harja Homestay. The hotel staff took us for free to Borobudur at 5 am so we could enjoy sunrise.
PRAMBANAN TEMPLE
Prambanan Temple is part of UNESCO World Heritage and is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. This temple was built in 850 CE during the reign of the Hindu Sanjaya Dynasty. It is dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator, the Preserver and the Transformer.
Prambanan Temple is located northeast of the city of Yogja. We would definitely recommend to come in the afternoon and stay for a sunset.
Make sure to hire a guide (if you have time) once you get to Prambanan. Naturally we were hesitating, but we are super happy that we had an awesome guide to explain us all about Ramajan story and other interesting things.
If you have only 1 day, then you can return to Yogjakarta to visit Prambanan for sunset. However, this will be a bit stressful and you might not have enough take to fully enjoy the time wandering around the compound and get to know the stories.
OUR TIP: Bring a student ID to save some money on the tickets. Foreigners pay much more, so make sure to take the ID. Also, you can buy a combi ticket for both temples. Let’s assume you visit first Prambanan and then Borobudur. This way you can skip the queue for tickets at Borobudur and take full advantage of the sunrise.
OFF THE BEATEN TRACK 2 WEEKS ITINERARY INDONESIA
If you do not want to visit touristy Bali and explore rather places in Indonesia which are off the beaten track then this 2 week itinerary Indonesia is for you. We have to say, that this one is our favorite one. Why? Because we love to explore unknown places.
YOUR JOURNEY
- YOGJAKARTA – 3 Days
- FLORES – 3 Days
- KARIMUNJAWA – 7 Days
Firstly, start your trip by flying to Yogjakarta. Second, explore Yogjakarta and 2 very impressive temples: Prambanan and Borobudur.
After that, fly to Flores and spend 3 days exploring breathtaking islands, seeing the world’s largest lizard the komodo dragon and amazing beaches. And then, enjoy the ultimate paradise and perfect beach time on Karimunjawa.
KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS (5-7 DAYS)
The Karimunjawa Islands are located north of central Java and one of our highlights in Indonesia.
That is to say, this was definitely one of the most challenging places to get to in Indonesia, but also one of the most rewarding ones. Not to mention, there are barely any tourists and the place is absolutely breathtaking. Once you decide to travel to this paradise make sure to reserve AT LEAST 5 days. Unfortunately, in order to get to Karimunjawa you need around 1 day each way. But it is absolutely worth it. Above all, those pictures speak for themselves.
READ MORE: ULTIMATE KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS ITINERARY.
Moreoever, Karimunjawa has a laid back atmosphere. Also, this is where we did one of the best snorkeling tours ever. Make sure to hire a scooter and explore this island on your own. There are not many hotels but we stayed in Ayu Hotel and we totally loved it.
OUR TIP: Make sure to come back to Yogja at least 1 day before your flights back home. As we mentioned, sometimes boats coming from Karimunjawa to Jepara harbour might get canceled, and on certain days, they don’t go at all. You can still hire a private boat, but it’s more expensive. So make sure to check the boat schedule HERE and plan your journey accordingly.
EXTRA TIPS ON INDONESIA
Now that you have your 2 week Indonesia itinerary planned, here is some useful info to make your travels smoother.
WHEN TO VISIT INDONESIA
The best time to visit Indonesia is from July to September. July is when the dry season starts. We were there from mid of August to end of September and we had mostly sunny days without much rain.
IS INDONESIA SAFE?
We felt pretty safe during our 6 weeks travels in Indonesia. Indonesian people are very friendly. However, as everywhere else, be careful when it comes to your belongings. Be careful being overcharged for literally everything. Locals tend to ask for more just because you are a foreigner. However, we didn’t have any problems and we didn’t hear anyone who was in danger in any way.
IS RIDING A SCOOTER SAFE?
Traffic in Indonesia can be dangerous, chaotic and scary! At some point you will notice that there are no rules. The general rule is: “who comes first, goes first!” So always wear a helmet. Also, make sure you check the scooter before you rent it. We know a couple who had a bad accident in Bali as their breaks didn’t work properly. We recommend you to have good and reliable travel insurance. You never know what can happen. We use World Nomad insurance which is one of the best travel insurances out there. Check rates HERE. And most importantly, never drink and drive.
INDONESIAN CURRENCY
Indonesian currency is rupieh IDR and 1 USD = 14,354.82 IDR.
IS INDONESIA AFFORDABLE?
Absolutely! Indonesia is one of the cheapest countries we visited during our Southeast Asia travels. You can easily find nice rooms for $25-30 a night, renting a scooter is about $6 a day, a meal $5, 1 hour massage $11 and flights are affordable too.
HOW MUCH MONEY WE SPENT IN INDONESIA FOR 6 WEEKS?
Just to give you an idea, Indonesia is very budget friendly. We traveled in Indonesia for 6 weeks. All together we spent 1.200€. This includes all our accommodation, ground transportation, food, trips and 5 flights we took.
WHAT SIM CARD TO GET?
Sim-cards at the airport are a bit more expensive, but they will register your sim-card. We got ours in the city which was cheaper but it wasn’t registered and we had problems with it after. Looking back, we would rather get pre-paid sim-cards at the airport or find a proper store in Bali which can do it for you. We had pre-paid sim-cards from Telkomsel.
To sum up, we hope, that you enjoyed the article. Let us know which one of the 2 week Indonesia itinerary you choose.
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