Indonesia

A seventeen day journey through Indonesia that links surfy Canggu, East Java’s volcano and waterfall belt, temple and rice terrace days in Ubud, and a final island hop through Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Gili T.

This itinerary traces a rough horseshoe around southern Indonesia. You start in Canggu, which is Bali’s unofficial backpacker and surf hub, then jump over to East Java for a hard hitting sequence of waterfalls and volcanoes. Madakaripura and Tumpak Sewu feel like natural cathedrals, while Mount Bromo and Ijen serve up the classic Indonesian highland drama that most people only see in photos.

Once the big hikes are done, you pivot back into Bali’s greener heart around Ubud. Here the pace drops slightly. It becomes more about temples, rice terraces, yoga classes and long lunches, with the option of a sunrise climb on Mount Batur if you still have energy.

The trip ends out at sea, moving through Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida and Gili Trawangan, where days are mostly about viewpoints, scooter loops, snorkelling with turtles and sunset bars.The route is designed for independent travellers who are happy with early alarms, basic guesthouses and a bit of transport chaos in exchange for serious scenery and a sense of moving through the real Indonesia.

Indonesia is almost impossibly varied, so this route focuses on a region where you can experience that variety without spending half your trip on planes. It combines three distinct “worlds” in one continuous line.

First there is Canggu. It is not the most traditional place in Bali, but it is an easy landing. You get used to scooters, cashless apps, warungs and beach sunsets in a zone built for travellers.

From there you are into East Java, which feels very different. The pace slows, the landscapes become vertical and green, and the population is majority Muslim. Malang’s colourful kampung districts, Madakaripura’s canyon walls and Tumpak Sewu’s amphitheatre of waterfalls show a side of Indonesia that is louder, wetter and more rural than anything in Canggu. Bromo and Ijen are early starts and big reward days, and they anchor the “adventure” part of the trip.

The second half is all about Bali and the small islands. Ubud sits at the centre, with Hindu temples, rice terraces and a strong yoga and wellness culture. It gives you space to recover from the Java missions while still feeling active and engaged. The Nusa islands and Gili T are your soft landing at the end. Here the focus is sea cliffs, snorkel boats, beach cafés and bike loops. You leave with a sense that you have actually crossed a region, not just flown between a couple of hubs.

This is not a luxury itinerary. It is built around homestays, hostels, scooters and local drivers, with the occasional splurge if you want one. For travellers who like volcanic sunrises and island sunsets in the same trip, it is a very efficient way to see a big slice of Indonesia.