21 days in Indonesia: Top 3 Itineraries

Start in Jakarta, Indonesia’s sprawling, vibrant capital. Then make for the mighty Mount Bromo—an active volcano on the east coast of Java. It’s well worth the effort to wake up in the wee hours and journey to see the spectacular sunrise over the caldera. From there it’s on to the architecturally rich cities of Malang and Surakarta, including a stop at the 9th-century Hindu temple complex, Prambanan. Yogyakarta—often shortened to ‘Jogja’—is the crown jewel of Javanese culture. Visit the Kraton, (the sultan’s palace) and mighty Borobudur. This pyramid-shaped wonder is the world’s largest Buddhist temple and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Java, it’s onto Bali! Skip the crowded southern tip of the island and head north to the tranquil beach town of Lovina. Travel through the heart of rural Bali to Kintamani visiting temples and Lake Batur. Take time out in cultural Ubud and discover Bali’s rice terraces. Your final day in Bali is at the seaside enclave of Candidasa before traveling by speedboat to Lombok. Explore the famed pink beaches, lush jungles, and temples of Lombok before relaxing on Gili Trawangan, a tiny island just off the Lombok coast and one of Indonesia’s most loved beach resort destinations.

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This journey is the perfect combination of sightseeing and relaxation and a deep-dive into Bali life. Get off the beaten path, discover the cultural highlights of Bali and have plenty of time to relax on the beach. Begin in Ubud, the cultural heart of the island. During these three weeks in Bali, explore artist villages, wander through rice paddies, and visit the ancient Hindu water temple of Tirta Empul and participate in the purification ritual. Soak up the lush landscapes of Bali with a rafting excursion and visit the famed Jatiluwih rice terraces. Visit Besakih, Bali’s most important Hindu temple, perched on the side of a still active volcano. Hike through the lush hinterland around Lovina before heading south to visit two of Bali’s most impressive attractions—the sea temple, Tanah Lot, and Uluwatu, a temple perched on a dramatic seaside cliff. Spend the final week of your three week vacation soaking up the sun and relaxing on the beaches of south Bali. Here you can indulge in local and international cuisine, enjoy wellness activities, spa treatments and vibrant nightlife. See more Bali holiday packages.

This three-week adventure covers the highlights of Java and Bali with many special touches including a unique homestay, a visit to a tea plantation, and surf and cooking lessons. Start in Jakarta, Southeast Asia’s largest city, before basking in the tranquility of rural Java. In Yogyakarta, discover traditional Javanese crafts such as batik, a traditional form of dyeing fabric with wax, colorful murals and buzzing markets. Visit Borobudur, a Buddhist temple that rivals Angkor Wat with the towering Mount Merapi, an active volcano, dominating the background. Climb to the crater of simmering Mount Bromo and watch the sunrise over the magnificent landscape. Bali is Indonesia’s only Hindu-majority island and has a culture completely unique from the rest of this vast archipelago. There will be plenty of time to immerse yourself in Bali’s famed nightlife and relax on the beach, but you’ll also discover the temples, culture and lush countryside of the island. After nearly three weeks of travel, finish with a few relaxing days on the vehicle-free island of Gili Trawangan. See more tours of Indonesia.

A vast treasure trove of natural and cultural wonders, Indonesia is the ideal country to tackle for a three week vacation. While transport connections are constantly improving, Indonesia is a country that still operates on ‘island time’ so embrace slow travel as you hop between lush jungles, towering volcanoes, culturally rich cities and palm-fringed beaches. While it’s entirely possible to get around using local buses, trains, flights and ferries, it can be challenging for the uninitiated, so why not consider a fully-guided tour of the archipelago? Take all the stress and guesswork out of unpredictable transportation and sit back and enjoy the remarkable beauty and diversity of the world’s largest island nation.

For those considering a personalized itinerary, reach out to our local travel experts for a customized Indonesia holiday.

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