Indonesia Itinerary 2025. It’s funny how places stay deep in your memory, yet you hardy think of them more than a passing thought. Until you step off a plane and feel the temperature, smell the air and hear the sounds, then they come rushing back and you’re filled with the emotions of your last visit. This is what returning to Indonesia was for me. We visited about 15 years ago when we had only been dating a year, it was our first destination on our first 6 month overseas trip. It’s where I changed from someone who dreamed of travelling into an actual traveller. Indonesia is pretty special, here is our latest itinerary!
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We decided to escape the chilly Australian winter to spend a month in beautiful Indonesia. Only a 6 hour flight from Brisbane and full of great food, people and places. This is what we did:
Table of Contents
Denpasar, Bali
We spent time in Bali on our first trip years ago, it was great but a lot has progressed in 15 years and it’s busier than before. We landed at 9pm and walked to our hotel from the airport. A little oasis in the city, we spent the night and were up off early in the morning. Spending the night near the airport made it really easy to get some quick rest before jumping on a boat in the morning. We stayed at
Nusa Penida
Two full days is enough to see Nusa Penida but we could easily have spent 3 or 4 days here. We stayed in a great spot, in the centre of the port area yet it was a quiet sanctuary with a lush garden. Here we rode our scooter across the island checking out all the stunning view points and eating Nasi goreng.
It was on an early morning scooter ride out to Klungkung Beach, the crisp wind on my face, the familiar scent of a smokey wood fire mingling with sweet incense from the mornings offerings filling the air and glimpses of a quiet village waking up as we drove through I felt happier than I had in ages. These are the tiny yet beautiful moments of travel I long for. Experiencing this familiar yet new rush to the senses was like waking up again. How I missed you Indonesia! This blog will give you the details on what to do and where to stay in Nusa Penida.
Lombok
This huge island has a lot to offer. Climbing a volcano or searching for waterfalls, there’s a natural beauty here that rivals Bali. In Lombok we only got to visit the Gili Islands but I can’t wait to come back and see the main island.
Gili T
After a 2 hour boat ride from Nusa Penida we arrived at busy Gili T. It’s not a big island. We walked the circumference in a day but you’ll find your quiet pocket to relax in. Spend the morning lying on a perfect beach, snorkel with turtles then grab some food and drinks while watching the sun sink into the sea. Yes there’s a party to be found here but only if you want to, we adopted the chill life and spent 3 gloriously relaxing days on Gili T.
Gili Air
The only place we are returning to just because we fell in love with it 15 years ago! Mike is notorious for not wanting to return to places he’s been when there’s so many new places to explore, but….he loved Gili Air as well. We were so close so why not? 3 perfect days of lying on a beach is hard to pass up. It’s smaller than Gili T and less built up, making it perfect and they have excellent sunset cocktail hours! Check out our Gili Air blog for the details on where to stay, play and drink!
Bali
We jumped on a boat in Lombok to head back to Bali. Landing in ???? We got a Grab to the centre, near the Bedegul lakes. We missed this are years ago and wanted a place to stop on our way to Java.
Ubud
We spent a couple of busy days in Ubud which is so much busier than we remember. There is tons to do here, chase waterfalls, visit rice terraces and eat incredible food. There are great coffee shops, lots of excellent dining options and a VERY good farm to do a cooking class that we highly recommend. Check out what we got up to in Ubud, it was awesome!
Bedegul
We spent 3 nights in Bedegul and it was perfect. This area is so beautiful. Full of incredible and less busy waterfalls. Get yourself a scooter or a driver and go explore the lakes, waterfalls and botanical gardens. Bedegul was a highlight of our Indonesian trip, it really felt like Bali before all the tourism went crazy. Staying in the cutest little cabins it was a dream, we love it here and really want to come back. Check out our guide to Bedegul for in-depth info.
Java
Mt Bromo, Java
You have to climb at least one volcano in your life and if that one happens to be during a magical sunrise, then we say why not! Climbing Mt Bromo was a bucket list tick that I didn’t even have on my list. It is truly spectacular and an absolute must in Indonesia. Check out our Mt Bromo blog with the full adventure!
Malang, Java
We based ourselves here for a few days to see the area. It’s a huge town which is well located to see Tempak Warerfalls, Mt Bromo and an array of other waterfalls if you have the time. The city itself is pretty interesting, you have to visit the colourful town and the blue town. This is our full blog on what to do in Malang.
Yogjogkata, Java
Yogyogkarta city is a more spiritual place. It’s famous for its large temple complexes, namely Borobudur and Prambanan Temple. There are lots of other little temples to see as well. The Main Street is a huge vibe in the evenings and comes alive with street food and markets. The cool coffee shop scene here is strong and there are some great museums to check out. Check out our detailed blog on Yogyogkarta!
Surubaya, Java
Our last stop in Indonesia on this trip. We stayed only briefly before flying back to Brisbane with a stopover in Singapore, with Singapore Airlines.
4 comments
[…] The central highland region such as Bedugul offers lakes, waterfalls, botanical gardens, and cooler climates. On quieter days, it feels like another Bali, one less touched by mass tourism. passportnomads.com+1 […]
We loved Bedugul! It is one of our favourite spots in Bali
loved that itinerary mate!
may I know why no central sulawesi there?
you should definitely visit luwuk banggai one day in Indonesia for hidden destination not many know of 🙂
Hi! we would love to visit Sulawesi and plan to travel in Indonesia further, we just need to get it organised. Hopefully we will add it in the next year. I will definitely check out luwuk banggai, it sounds awesome, thanks!