Two Weeks in Indonesia Travel Itinerary

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Indonesia has exceeded all of our expectations. The country is diverse, beautiful, extensive, historic, and has fantastic people.

If you’re after nature, there are dense jungles, endangered species you won’t find almost anywhere else and some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world.

If you’re after history, some of the largest and oldest temples, ancient trading ports, and traditional villages are hidden away from the tourist trail.

We’ve only just scratched the surface of this incredible country, travelling slowly through a handful of islands.

I know many people don’t get beyond Bali, which is understandable. With its rich culture, incredible surf, endless rice paddies and towering volcanoes. But if I was coming to Indonesia for two weeks, here’s how I would spend my time (with a few optional extras thrown in because there’s just too much to see!).

Two Week Indonesia Itinerary Overview

Arrive in Sumatra, transfer to Bukit Lawang. Stay: Bukit Lawang.
Hike to see orangutans. Stay: Gunung Leuser National Park.
Hike back to Bukit Lawag. Stay: Bukit Lawang.

Optional extra: Tuk-Tuk on Lake Toba.

Fly to Java. Stay: Yogyakarta.
Tour Prambanan and Borobodur temples. Stay: Yogayakarta.
Travel to Malang. Stay: Malang.
Day trip to Tumpak Sewa Waterfall. Stay: Malang.
Travel to Mount Bromo.
Sunrise at Bromo, then transfer Bali. Stay: Ubud.

Optional extra: Climb Mount Ijen.

Choose your own adventure. Stay: Ubud.
Snorkelling trip. Stay: Ubud.

Optional extra: Gili Islands.

Travel to Lombok. Stay: Kuta, Lombok.
Surf lesson or beach day. Stay: Kuta.

Optional extras: Tetebatu Rice Fields or Mount Rinjani.

Departure

Sumatra - Days 1 to 4

Your first stop is a surprising one. Medan, Sumatra. This city isn’t the greatest introduction to Indonesia, but you want to head straight into the jungle from the airport. Destination: Bukit Lawang on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park.

This little town feels like someone carved a wedge into the earth. A river runs through the bottom of the wedge, and small, locally owned hotels carve their way up the banks.

The town is small, and you can easily wander back and forth along the river. Look out for troops of Thomas's leaf monkeys and the ubiquitous macaques. The first are beautiful and shy. The second will steal food from your hotel balcony.

We stayed at Hotel Orangutan, and it was terrific. The team met us on the road into town, guided our driver to where to park, and then walked us to the hotel. We were central enough to walk to other restaurants, but a restaurant is also on-site.

The following day, you’ll want to head into the Gunung Leuser National Park in search of orangutans. For the best chance of spotting orangutans and to get a whole jungle experience, I’d recommend a two-day/overnight hike. Even on the one-day hike, we saw several orangutans close up and other jungle creatures. But I wish we’d spent the night in the jungle!

*Orangutan eating leftover fruit in Sumatra*

Make sure you come back via the river. The trip is exhilarating and one of the most fun things we’ve done.

Be discerning when choosing your tour provider. We thought that all tours would be similar, as a local government body sets the price. However, I wish we’d done more research on providers before we left.

Our guide (and most others) threw our leftover lunch and fruit skins into the jungle. This encourages the orangutans to be reliant on tourists and is changing their natural behaviour. It also risks them coming into contact with human diseases.

Overall, the Bukit Lawang orangutan experience is excellent, but we’ve shared more about seeing orangutans in the wild.

You’ll spend Night Three back in Bukit Lawang. Day Four is a big travel day. You’ll head back to Medan and catch a flight to Yogyakarta on the island of Java. Although it’s the next island over, Indonesia is a sprawling country. Get the direct flight if you can, rather than messing around with transfers.

Optional Extras: Tuk-Tuk on Lake Toba

If you have extra time head to Tuk-Tuk. After several days hiking through the jungle, the quiet pace of Tuk-Tuk would be a welcome reprieve. This tiny town is set on an island inside Lake Toba—an island on a lake on an island! The views are fantastic, and a few interesting museums are dotted around.

We recommend staying at Romlan Guesthouse for a laid-back vibe. You can grab delicious local food at Hora’s Restaurant or a fantastic pizza at Tuktuk Pizza Ebikal.

Java - Days 5 to 9

You’ll wake up in the capital of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (sometimes spelt Jogjakarta and often shortened to Yogya/Jogya). This historic town is still home to a sultan but what we’re really here for is even older.

Yogya is home to two incredible ancient temples, Prambanan and Borobudur. Prambanan Temple is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia, built in the 9th century. Borobudur is from the 8th century and is one of the largest Buddhist structures in the entire world.

Both of these temples are outside of Yogya and, unfortunately, in the opposite direction from each other. I’d recommend booking a tour for both. You could book separately and do one for sunrise, the other for sunset. Or just get a half-day/full-day tour.

If you have more time in Yogya, check out Taman Sari (a water palace where the Sultan would holiday). We also enjoyed the Vredeburg Museum, learning more about Indonesia’s struggle for independence from the Dutch.

We wouldn’t recommend the puppet show or palace, but others really enjoyed both. Check the reviews before you commit.

You’ll also notice we’ve skipped straight past Jakarta. We haven’t visited and have never been recommended to visit. It’s a big city, and I presume you’ve seen one of those before. One thing this itinerary is missing though is a good national museum, as those are in Jakarta.

On Day Six, we’re hitting the road again, heading for the highland town of Malang. We did this journey on the bus, which is quite local. Be prepared to be dropped on the outskirts of town. There are taxi drivers there that you can bargain with to get into town. Check Grab's price to ensure you’re getting a fair deal.

Due to its elevation, the Dutch liked this place, which they filled with beautiful colonial architecture. It’s also home to the colourful Jodipan village, which is worth a visit for the pictures and to grab a coffee.

We also really enjoyed strolling the local streets near our hotel. The locals don’t see many Westerners and were warm and welcoming.

But we’re not here for the architecture. We’re here for the waterfalls. Bali has nothing on Tumpak Sewu. On Day Seven, you’ll spend time travelling through the countryside to see this epic waterfall. Tours can include other falls and caves in the area, depending on your time and budget. We sadly missed this as part of our Java experience, as we became ill and couldn’t make it. Please go and soak up all the vibes and let me know how it was!

Head back to Malang and rest before setting off on your Mount Bromo adventure the following day.

You will spend Day Eight getting most of the way to Mount Bromo to see sunrise the following day. Your tour company will pick you up from Malang, and you’ll spend the night at Ngadisari, right at the foot of the mountain. This town is elevated, so you will be cold. Come prepared!

We weren’t able to do the hike, but instead sat across from Mount Bromo and watched the sunrise. It was a gorgeous view. There are plenty of local people selling coffee and snacks up the mountain. There are also horses to help you get from the car park to the viewing point.

Optional Extras: Mount Ijen

If climbing an active volcano wasn’t enough excitement for you, then you’ll want to add this to your itinerary: Mount Ijen. This volcano is home to the infamous blue fire and looks absolutely incredible. You can arrange tours that include both Mount Bromo and Ijen, or head to Banyuwangi and book your trip there.

Day Nine, we’re on the road to our third Indonesian island. You have a few options for making this journey. A fantastic train service will take you to the port city of Banyuwangi. Then you’ll need a ferry across the Strait and a driver to get you to Ubud. Alternatively, you can arrange a driver to take you the whole way.

I just mentioned the train as we travelled Java on the train and loved it. It’s a delightful way to get across the island and see the countryside whizzing past.

Bali - Day 10 to 13

Welcome to Bali, Island of the Gods. You’ll feel how different this place is compared to Sumatra and Java as soon as you arrive. The smell of incense (do your best to avoid standing on the offerings you’ll see scattered everywhere) and the Hindu temples everywhere remind you that this small island never converted to Islam.

Most people head south to the beaches, but with this itinerary, we’re saving our relaxing for Bali’s little sister. Instead, we’re here for culture. Catch a traditional dance show in the evening to see how they keep their culture alive.

There is a lot to do in Ubud, so consider Day Ten as a choose-your-own-adventure.

Want to see monkeys? Head to the Monkey Forest in town.
Looking for enlightenment? Try one of the many yoga studios in town (we love Alchemy Yoga and Meditation Centre and Yoga Barn).
Want to immerse yourself in Balinese culture? Book a tour to the Water Temple.
Want to get the famous rice terraces shot? Grab your scooter and drive north to Tegallalang.
Hungry? There’s too much excellent food in Ubud for us to begin listing it out here.
Or head to one of the many spas for a day of pampering.

We’ve spent a lot of time inland for a country made of islands. It’s time for that to change! Day Eleven is about being out in the beautiful ocean and experiencing another side of Bali. Today is your chance to take a snorkelling day trip. Nusa Penida is high on my list of places to visit (I haven’t been yet!), but you can also head to Nusa Lembongan snorkelling too.

Optional Extras: The Gili Islands

If you have a few extra days, you’ll want to head to the Gili Islands. Technically part of Lombok, not Bali, these three small islands are idyllic. Made up of three islands (each smaller than the last), Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air offer slightly different experiences (Gili T is the party island, Meno is for honeymooners, and Air is more family friendly). But the main drawcard is the sandy white beaches where you can snorkel with turtles without getting in a boat!

It’s also a great transitional option to stop at the Gilis. There are so many ferry options from Bali to get here. And then it’s a short second boat to make it to Lombok.

*The views from the top of Gili Trawangan*

If you’re not heading to the Gili Islands, Day Twelve is a short flight to our fourth and final Indonesian island, Lombok. Although there are ferry options, the flight is the most convenient for such a short holiday.

Lombok, Day 13 - 14

Our final full day is spent in a place that is special to us - where we’re making a home! Kuta, Lombok, is often called a smaller version of Bali. It’s got laidback beach vibes, but it’s much less developed. If you’re looking for a place to slow down and relax, you’ve come to the right place.

For the perfect day out on the beach, head to Selong Belanak. The white sand curves around in a perfect semicircle. The beach is lined with warungs so that you can get authentic local food. You can hire a sun lounger for the day and have coconuts (or cocktails) delivered. There's a gentle baby-wave breaking if you want to learn to surf.

There are plenty of other breaks nearby for the more advanced surfers.

Optional Extras: Mount Rinjani and Tetebatu

If you’re not yet sick of climbing volcanoes, then you need to check out Mount Rinjani. This active volcano is the second highest in Indonesia and towers over the north of Lombok. You can attempt base camp or push to the challenging summit over a three- or four-day hike.

Want something a little less strenuous? From the village of Tetebatu, you can admire Rinjani while strolling through rice paddies and bathing in waterfalls. All without the crowds of Bali.

Departure

And that’s it: Day Fourteen, and time to leave.

I hope this two week itinerary shows you just how much there is to do in Indonesia. Remember, this only covers four of the islands. There’s still so much to this beautiful country.

If you’re looking for more, I would add on Komodo Island. The flight to Flores from Lombok is short or you can take tours directly from Kuta!

You could spend much longer in each of the locations mentioned above, too. We travelled most of this in reverse at a much slower pace. This meant we could enjoy the trains, stop in small towns, and see what this part of Indonesia has to offer. If you can travel more slowly, I recommend it!

In the comments, let us know which item from this list you're most excited about. Or, if you’ve got a favourite spot in this part of Indonesia, let us know!