Overview
3 week Indonesia itinerary
Considering its size, 3 weeks is definitely not enough to see all of Indonesia. However, this 3 week Indonesia itinerary takes you along various highlights on the islands of Java, Bali, Lombok and Flores, including Komodo National Park. The pace of this itinerary is quite high. If you have more time, what we highly recommend for Indonesia, you can of course easily adjust and expand this route or just take it a bit easier.
This Indonesia itinerary starts in Yogyakarta, Java and ends in Labuan Bajo on Flores, but depending on where you are coming from, you can do this trip in both directions.
Day 1-3: Yogyakarta
This Indonesia itinerary starts in Java in the bustling city of Yogyakarta, or just Jogja. There is an international airport with flights from various cities in Southeast Asia.
This relatively small city is one of the most famous cities and destinations on Java, and it is mostly known for the impressive Prambanan and Borobudur temples. Not only the temples, but also the city itself is worth visiting and spending a few days. You can, for example, spend one day exploring the temples, another day visiting the fascinating Jomblang cave and the last day to explore the bustling city center.
Where to stay in Yogyakarta
The first three nights of this Indonesia itinerary are best spent in Yogyakarta. It is the perfect base to explore the sights in and around the city. There are plenty of different accommodations, such as hotels, hostels and guesthouses for every budget. We’d recommend you to stay close to the bustling Malioboro streets, where you find most of the bars, shops and restaurants.
Tickets
Discover the city during a city tour or join a cooking class!
Day 4: Travel from Yogyakarta to Malang
Day 4, you will spend almost the entire day on the train. The train ride from Yogyakarta to Malang takes about 6 hours. Fortunately, the train infrastructure in Java is very good and the trains are comfortable and clean.
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Day 5: Malang
Malang is a lovely city, located in almost the heart of East Java in Indonesia. It is the starting point for many people to visit the Bromo volcano, but there is so much more to do in Malang. For us, it was a city with a wide variety of things to do. That’s why we have provided a whole day in this Indonesia itinerary to do different things in and around Malang.
Where to stay in Malang
Malang offers different kinds of accommodations, such as hotels, hostels and guesthouses for every budget. We’d recommend you to stay in the city center, close to all the bars, shops and restaurants.
If you visit Tumpak Sewu on day 6 and Mount Bromo on day 7 on a separate tour, or just only one place with a tour, you might have to stay an extra night in Malang from day 6 to day 7.
Hotels
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Malang
Malang
Malang
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Day 6: Visit the waterfalls
From Malang you can visit the Tumpak Sewu and some other waterfalls in the area. You can do this by driving there yourself, taking a day trip or you can join a multi-day tour that includes Tumpak Sewu, Bromo and Ijen, that are planned for the upcoming days. We highly recommend this multi-day tour, because transport between these different places is also provided, saving you a lot of hassle.
The Tumpak Sewu waterfall is without a doubt one of the most impressive waterfalls in Indonesia. It looks like a massive sinkhole with water flowing down 120m over about 180°. To make it even more picture perfect, you have the impressive Semeru volcano as an incredible backdrop. Not far from Tumpak Sewu, there’s another impressive waterfall, the Kapas Biru.
Tickets
Discover the region in a unique way through our partner GetYourGuide.
Day 7: Mount Bromo
Rise and shine in the middle of the night in order to make it to Mount Bromo before sunrise. You can witness the sunrise over the breathtaking Bromo landscape from one of the viewpoints such as Penanjakan or KingKong hill. After watching a magical sunrise, you can explore the sea of sand at the base of the volcano during a jeep safari and climb your way up to the top of the crater and see this impressive volcano crater from closely.
You can use the rest of the day to travel further to the last destination on Java: Kawah Ijen.
We recommend you to visit Mout Bromo and Kawah Ijen by joining a 2-day tour or a 3-day tour including Tumpak Sewu. If you prefer to visit it on your own, be sure to read our guide to Mount Bromo
Tickets
Discover Mount Bromo during a spectacular organized tour!
Day 8: Kawah Ijen, Java
Another day, another sunrise mission. Around 02:00am, you can start to hike up Mount Ijen, see the unique Blue Fire and watch the sunrise over world’s largest acidic volcanic lake.
After sunrise, you will be back down from Kawah Ijen around 7-8am. From here, it’s only 30 minutes to the port, where you can take the ferry to Bali and continue your journey to Ubud.
Tickets
Discover the region in a unique way through our partner GetYourGuide.
Day 9-11: Ubud
Ubud is located almost in the heart of Bali. It is a place where you can find peace and tranquility, as well as the greatest adventures. The town is surrounded by beautiful green landscapes and there are endless things to do for literally every kind of traveler. Some of the most popular sights are the Tegalalang Rice Terrace and Ubud Monkey Forest, but there are plenty of other places to visit in Ubud. That is why we have provided 3 days in this Indonesia travel route.
Where to stay in Ubud
From budget hostels to unique resorts, there are plenty of options to stay in Ubud for every budget. You can choose to sleep in the bustling center close to all the shops and restaurants, or you can stay a little bit out of the center, in the middle of the lush green jungle environment and rice terraces.
If you are looking for more tranquility and prefer to stay a little further away from the hustle and bustle, we can highly recommend Stone House. It’s a beautiful secluded and quiet stay but perfectly located to explore Ubud and all its interesting sights.
Day 12-13: Uluwatu or Sidemen
From Ubud, you can take a transfer to Uluwatu, in the south of Bali or Sidemen, in the east. Uluwatu is a more vibrant destination with sun, sea and beach, while Sidemen is more of a place to see authentic Bali and completely relax.
Uluwatu is known to be home to the best beaches in Bali, and offers clear blue waters, trendy areas, white sand beaches and so much more. With its legendary surfing waves, it is also known as a real surfer’s mecca. Even if you are not a surfer, there are so many other fun things to do in this area. It is the ideal place to take some rest in the middle of your trip.
Sidemen is, without a doubt, one of the most untouched and laid-back places in Bali. This tranquil village is filled with beautiful rice fields and spectacular views of Mount Agung. It is an off the main tourist destination, where you can experience an authentic part of Bali and slow down at the same time. You can enjoy a trekking through the rice fields, participate in a silver workshop or visit some other beautiful places in and around Sidemen.
Where to stay in Uluwatu
There are plenty of options to stay in Uluwatu for every budget. You can choose to sleep in the bustling center, or you can stay a little bit out of the center where you can enjoy the peace and quiet. Nothing is really very far in Uluwatu. If you prefer to stay a little further away from the hustle and bustle, we can highly recommend White Tortoise Eco Villas. It’s a beautiful secluded stay with 5 hilltop villas, offering the most beautiful views of Uluwatu and still close to all the sights.
Where to stay in Sidemen
From budget homestays to unique resorts, there are plenty of options to stay in Sidemen for every budget. You will even find several options where you can wake up with a beautiful view in the middle of the rice fields or stay in unique bamboo houses. There is literally something for everyone.
Day 14-15: Nusa Penida
It’s time to leave Bali to explore another island: Nusa Penida. By speedboat, it takes around 30 minutes to 1 hour to reach Nusa Penida, depending on which port you’re taking the boat from. If you’re coming from Uluwatu, it’s best to catch a boat in Sanur. Coming from Sidemen, Kusumba or Padang Bai are your best options.
Nusa Penida is a small island located southeast of Bali. It is known for its stunning landscapes, rugged cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and most of all: its magical beaches. Kelingking Beach and Diamond Beach are two of the most famous places to visit on Nusa Penida and definitely must be visited on the island. Two days give you enough time to see all the highlights, both in the north and south of Nusa Penida. Alternatively, you can spend one day on Nusa Penida and the other day on Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.
Where to stay on Nusa Penida
Most accommodations, bars and restaurants are located in the northwest of the island. This is therefore more of the ‘bustling center’ of the island, where most things happen when you’re not exploring.
Hotels
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Day 16-18: Senggigi
To get from Nusa Penida to Lombok, you have to take the speedboat to Bangsal harbor on Lombok. This boat trip takes approximately 2 hours. From Bangsal, it is then another half hour drive to Senggigi.
Senggigi is a popular tourist area located on the west coast of Lombok. It has some beautiful beaches and a big range of accommodations, from luxury resorts to budget-friendly guesthouses. It is the perfect base to explore Tetebatu and the Benang Stokel waterfall in central Lombok on a day trip. You can also spend a day at Nipah or Pandanan beach or join a snorkel trip to the nearby Gili Islands.
Alternative: Another option is to travel from Nusa Penida to Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, or Gili Air. You can spend one or two nights here before traveling to Senggigi, instead of taking a day trip.
How to get to the Gili Islands from Lombok: You can take a ferry from the port in Bangsal to one of the Gili Islands. You can book your ferry directly on 12go.asia or Getyourguide. Alternatively, you can book also book a one day trip to the Gili Islands from Lombok.
Where to stay in Senggigi
In Senggigi you have a wide variety of accommodations. You will find budget-friendly guesthouses, but also more expensive luxurious resorts and hotels. There is plenty of choice and every type of traveler will find something to their liking here.
Activities
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Day 19-21: Komodo & Flores
The last days of your Indonesia itinerary can be spent on a multiple day boat tour from Lombok to Flores, stopping at various islands, including Komodo island along the way. We thought it was a fantastic experience, which also includes a visit to Komodo national park, and is at the same time your transport between Lombok and Flores. Win-win-win!
Tip: If you do not have enough time or would prefer to spend a little more time at a different location, you can also choose to fly from Lombok to Labuan Bajo on Flores. From Labuan Bajo you can easily visit Komodo during a day trip, but you will also have time to do other things in and around the city.
Meet the Komodo Dragons
Pink Beach
Padar island
How to get around Indonesia
To get from island to island on this route, you will have to travel by boat. You can often check the boat schedules and book online, or go to a local booking office.
The different islands have different modes of transportation, mainly to get around between the different regions and cities.
Within the cities, the best ways to get around is by renting a scooter. If you are not sure about driving a scooter yourself, you can often use Grab or Gojek, hire a private driver or join a tour.
Prices for a scooter rental vary between 60,000 IDR to 120,000 IDR for 24 hours, depending on the area.
Java
The best way to move from city to city on Java is by train. All the main cities on Java are connected by an excellent train system. The trains are comfortable, fast, clean and relatively cheap. You can book your train tickets in advance online.
Bali and Lombok
To move between different areas or cities on Bali and Lombok, you can often book a shuttle bus. If this is not available for your route, you can take a private driver or taxi. You can check for shuttle buses on 12Go.Asia or go to a local booking office.
By air
Most of the major cities in Indonesia have a domestic or even an international airport and have flights arriving from other major cities in Southeast Asia.
Best time to visit Indonesia
Indonesia experiences only two seasons: wet season and dry season. In the past, these periods were perfectly defined. Unfortunately, it happens more often that weather conditions are mixed up and less predictable due to global warming. Therefore, it is more difficult to say when the best time to travel to Indonesia is based on the weather alone. Luckily, due to its location, Indonesia experiences high temperatures all year round.
The best time for this Indonesia itinerary is generally between April and October, during dry season. Know that the months of July and August are high season with the biggest crowds. Therefore, the most ideal perios is the shoulder months May, June, September and October. Most of the time, you can expect dry weather during dry season.
Yet, the rainy season also has its advantages: Nature is much greener, the waterfalls even more impressive, less crowds and lower prices. Temperatures remain high, at an average of 28°C, but the days will feel more humid. On top of that, the boat from Lombok to Labuan Bajo along Komodo might not sail during rainy season because it is too dangerous. So, the best time to travel to Indonesia depends entirely on what you prefer and what you plan to do in this beautiful country.
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
