2 Weeks in Indonesia: The Ultimate Itinerary (With or Without Bali)
Last Updated: August 2026
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to purchase through our links at no cost to you. This helps fund Slower Travels without costing you a cent!
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, gorgeous beaches, 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 were coming to Indonesia for two weeks and wanted to maximise my time, 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 TobaFly 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
Skipping Bali this time?
Jump to our alternative Lombok routing →Before You Go: Indonesia Essentials
When to visit
Indonesia is a vast country spanning multiple time zones and weather patterns, so there's no one-size-fits-all answer. For Bali and Lombok, the wet season runs from December to February, while August is peak tourist season. We love visiting just after the wet season (March-April) when everything is lush and green, the crowds have thinned, and prices drop. If you're heading to Sumatra, check the weather patterns in the specific region before committing to dates.
Stay connected with an eSIM
Skip the chaos of finding a SIM card at the airport after a long flight. An eSIM gives you data the moment you land, making it easy to book rides, message accommodation, and navigate unfamiliar cities. We recommend Saily as your best option for Indonesia — reliable coverage across the islands and easy to set up before you leave home.
Don't skip travel insurance
If you're coming to Indonesia, you're probably up for some adventuring — which carries some risk. Whether it's a motorbike accident in Bali, a ferry delay, or a sudden illness, having travel insurance means you don't need to worry about the what-ifs. We use SafetyWing for our travels in Indonesia — it's designed for long-term travellers and covers you across multiple countries.
Getting around
This itinerary includes domestic flights, trains, buses, and ferries. We prefer to travel slowly where we can — it reduces our carbon footprint and gives you a much richer experience of the country. There's something special about watching Java's countryside roll past from a train window or island-hopping by ferry that you just don't get from flying everywhere.
Visa requirements
Indonesia offers a 30-day visa on arrival, which you can now apply for online before you travel. This saves you one less queue at the airport when you land. The visa can be extended once for another 30 days if you decide to stay longer (and trust us, you might want to).
Looking for a stopover on your way to Indonesia? Why not check out Bangkok? Here’s a 24-hour itinerary to help you make the most of your stopover.
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, 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 the parking spot, and then walked us to the hotel. We were central enough to walk to other restaurants, and there was also a restaurant 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 up close 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 their exposure to 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 will 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.
Locals in Tuk-Tuk
The views from Romlan Guesthouse
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, dating back to the 8th century, is one of the largest Buddhist structures in the world. Both are absolutely breathtaking.
Prambanan Temple at Sunset
Borobudur Temple
Both of these temples are outside Yogya and, unfortunately, in opposite directions from each other. We were travelling slowly, so did these on separate days. If you’re doing this itinerary, you’ll visit both in one day. I’d recommend organising a tour so you don’t have the added challenge of driving between them yourself. You could book separately and do one for sunrise, the other for sunset. Or just get a half-day/full-day tour and take the planning stress out of your day.
Prambanan is a more independent experience, although a local girl came up and offered to give us a tour. Borobudur is a more organised experience where you’re in a tour group, wear special shoes to avoid damaging the stones, and are walked through the structure with explanations of the reliefs. I’d recommend both, but if you only have time for one, I’d visit Borobudur.
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, where we learned 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. If they’re a must for your trip, stop there first and then catch the train down to Yogya.
On Day Six, we’re hitting the road again, heading for the highland town of Malang. We made this journey by bus, which is quite local. Be prepared to be dropped off 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.
The Dutch liked this place due to its elevation. It became a holiday destination for them to escape the worst of the heat in Indonesia. So it’s filled with beautiful colonial architecture and cute Indonesian alleyways. 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. It is a bit of drive so worth making it. a full day experience if you have the time.
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. A jeep took us part of the way up the hill and then there were horses and motorbike taxis offering to take us higher. The view across the plains and over to Bromo was spectacular. There are plenty of local people selling coffee and snacks up the mountain if you want a snack or a hot drink too.
Sunrise over Mount Bromo
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 is a unique experience in Indonesia. 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 would definitely recommend the train over driving. The trains are comfortable, give you space to walk around, and you can enjoy watching the countryside roll past the windows.
Skipping Bali this time?
If you've already done Bali, or you're saving it for another trip, this itinerary flexes easily. From Mount Bromo, fly straight to Lombok instead of routing through Bali. To keep the charm of the train through the countryside, take the train back to Surabaya for your flight. This way you’ll gain four extra days on Lombok to actually slow down, rather than rushing through.
Here's how we'd spend them:
Trek Mount Rinjani. With the extra days, you've now got room for the proper three- or four-day summit trek rather than just eyeing it from a distance.
Base yourself in Tetebatu. Rice paddies, waterfalls, and Rinjani views without the crowds, this easily fills two unhurried days.
Add Sembalun. Stay a night, hike Pergasingan Hill for sunrise over Rinjani, and you've got one of Lombok's best views without the summit trek.
Skip Bali entirely and this becomes a proper three-island itinerary: Sumatra, Java, and a much deeper look at Lombok, with all the time you'd have spent on Bali's beaches redirected to its quieter, less-visited sister island instead.
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. We saw the Kecak Fire Show, and it was so mesmerising. It follows the story of Sita and Ram, so worth having a little understanding of that to add some depth to the show.
There are plenty of accommodation options in Ubud. You can go for a luxury resort nestled in rice terraces. Or check out local homestays to feel like you’re part of the local Balinese culture.
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. It’s a fun way to spend half a day getting up close with the local residents. Make sure you keep your valuables tucked away. There are guides around the forest too, to keep an eye on everyone and they will also help you sit with the monkeys for photos if you want.
Looking for enlightenment? Try one of the many yoga studios in town (we love Alchemy Yoga and Meditation Centre and Yoga Barn) or Pyramids of Chi for a unique sound-bath experience.
Want to immerse yourself in Balinese culture? Book a tour to the Water Temple. Expect to bathe in the healing natural spring waters. Follow the guides, as there is etiquette to this ancient ritual, such as which spouts to bathe under (some are reserved for funeral rites).
Want to get the famous swing-over-the-rice-terraces shot? Grab your scooter and drive north to Tegallalang. There are plenty of spots that offer swings as well as cafes with excellent views over the terraces. These have become quite commercialised, so don’t expect a quiet village atmosphere. Head to Tetebatu on Lombok for that.
Hungry? There’s so much excellent food in Ubud that we can't begin to list it all out here. Wander around town and look for the busy spots. One of our favourites was Sun Sun Warung for great local food.
Or head to one of the many spas for a day of pampering. The Balinese understand healing through bodywork, so the massages are excellent here.
Friendly locals in Ubud
Traditional Balinese Temple
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. The two main options from here are Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan. Nusa Penida wins in terms of wildlife. There are manta rays here! But it is a longer boat ride and is much busier. So you may want to weigh up your options and decide if you’re also planning on snorkelling elsewhere (The Gili Islands are an excellent optional extra as your next stop) or if seeing the mantas are a must for you.
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!
The Gili Islands make a great transition if you’re doing a Bali and Lombok itinerary. You can take the ferry from Bali to the islands and then a small local boat when you’re ready to travel onward 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. We love a slow boat cruise, but the ferries aren’t like that.
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 referred to as 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.
You have a few options here for where to stay. Check out Dejama Glamping Resort for the perfect place to unwind and relax. Book one of the hotels in the central part of Kuta if you want to be near all the action (and delicious food). Or stay out by one of the beaches if you want to wake up to the sound of the waves.
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.
Sunset at Selong Belanak, Lombok
There are plenty of other breaks nearby for the more advanced surfers. Tanjung Aan is popular with newbies that are ready to take on something a little bigger. Mawi is great for more experienced 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 northern Lombok. You can attempt base camp or push to the challenging summit over a three- or four-day hike. Or stay in Sembalun and hike Pergasingan Hill next door to watch the sunrise over Mount Rinjani.
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.
Trekking through rice fields in Tetebatu
Planning a trip to Lombok?
Make packing the easiest part of your travels.
Get The Lombok Packing Guide — a beautifully designed, printable checklist with insider tips on what to bring, what to skip, and how to travel lighter.
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 Komodo Island. The flight to Labuan Bajo (the gateway to Komodo National Park) on 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!
There are four run clubs and a walk club operating in Kuta, Lombok. Here's the full guide to days, start times, and how to get involved.