Overview
Indonesia is more than 17,000 islands spread across a distance wider than the continental United States, and most visitors see only one of them. Bali earns its popularity, with rice terraces, Hindu temples and surf, but a trip that adds Java's temples and volcanoes, the Gili Islands, or the dragons and reefs of Komodo shows how varied the country is. With two weeks, pair Bali with one other island; trying to cover three or more means spending your trip in airports and on ferries.
Main regions
Bali. Start with our Bali destination page and the 5-day Bali itinerary. Ubud for rice terraces, temples and yoga; Uluwatu and the Bukit peninsula for clifftop temples and surf; Canggu and Seminyak for cafés and nightlife; and the quieter east (Sidemen, Amed) for volcano views and snorkeling. Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan are a 30–45 minute fast boat away.
Lombok and the Gili Islands. Lombok, Bali's eastern neighbor, is less developed, with the Rinjani volcano trek and empty southern beaches around Kuta Lombok. The three car-free Gili Islands are for snorkeling with turtles, diving and doing very little.
Java. Yogyakarta is Indonesia's cultural heart and the base for Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple, and the Hindu temples of Prambanan. Further east, sunrise over Mount Bromo and the blue flames of the Ijen crater are two of Southeast Asia's great volcano trips.
Flores and Komodo. Labuan Bajo is the gateway to Komodo National Park: Komodo dragons, pink-sand beaches and some of the richest dive sites in the world, usually seen on a two- or three-day boat trip.
Sumatra and the far east. Orangutans in the jungle around Bukit Lawang in Sumatra, and the remote islands and reefs of Raja Ampat in West Papua for serious divers.
Best time to visit
- April to October (dry season): the best time for almost everywhere, with sunny days and lower humidity. July and August are the busiest months in Bali, with the highest prices; book villas and Komodo boat trips early.
- November to March (wet season): heavy afternoon or overnight downpours, high humidity and rougher seas, especially from December to February. Prices drop, the landscape is greener, and mornings are often clear.
- April, May, June and September are the sweet spots: dry weather without peak-season crowds.
Plan around Nyepi, Bali's Day of Silence (early March in 2027): for 24 hours the whole island shuts down, including the airport, and visitors must stay inside their hotels. The night before brings huge ogoh-ogoh parades.
Getting around
- Domestic flights: the only practical way between islands for long distances. Garuda, Citilink, Lion Air and its sister airlines connect Bali with Yogyakarta, Labuan Bajo, Lombok and Jakarta in one to two hours.
- Fast boats: link Bali with Nusa Penida, Lombok and the Gilis. Choose established operators, don't board overloaded boats, and avoid crossings in rough weather.
- In Bali: hire a private car and driver for day trips (roughly 600,000–900,000 rupiah a day). Grab and Gojek work across the island, though some areas ban app pickups, and traffic in the south is heavy, so allow extra time.
- Trains in Java: comfortable and reliable, linking Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Surabaya.
- Scooters: widely rented, but you need a motorcycle license and an International Driving Permit to ride legally, police checkpoints are common in Bali, and travel insurance rarely pays out without both.
Visa basics
Citizens of the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia and around 90 other countries can get a Visa on Arrival for 500,000 rupiah, valid for 30 days and extendable once for another 30. You can buy it online in advance as an e-VOA on the official immigration site (evisa.imigrasi.go.id), which saves queuing at the airport. All arrivals must also complete the free All Indonesia digital arrival card within three days before landing. Visitors to Bali pay a separate one-time tourist levy of 150,000 rupiah through the official Love Bali site. Your passport needs at least six months' validity.
Typical daily costs
Prices as of September 2026, at about 17,900 rupiah to the US dollar:
- Budget (500,000–800,000 rupiah, about $28–45): hostel dorm or homestay, warung meals (nasi campur for 25,000–50,000 rupiah), scooter or Grab bikes.
- Mid-range (1.2–2.5 million rupiah, about $67–140): a boutique hotel or private pool villa (outside peak season), restaurant meals, a driver for day trips.
- Comfort (4 million+ rupiah, about $225+): resort hotels, fine dining, private boats.
Bali's south coast and Ubud cost the most; Java and Lombok are noticeably cheaper. Big-ticket items: Borobudur is 455,000 rupiah for foreign visitors to climb the temple (with a mandatory guide), and a shared two- or three-day Komodo boat trip typically costs a few hundred dollars. Carry cash for warungs and small shops; cards work in hotels and larger restaurants.
Top destinations
- Bali: start with the Bali destination guide and the full Bali travel guide for where to stay, temples and day trips.
- Nusa Penida: Kelingking Beach cliffs and manta ray snorkeling.
- The Gili Islands: car-free islands for snorkeling and diving.
- Yogyakarta: Borobudur at sunrise and the Prambanan temples.
- Komodo National Park: dragons, reefs and island-hopping by boat.
Continuing through Asia? Singapore is about two and a half hours from Bali by air, and Bangkok about four. Or let our trip planner build a day-by-day Indonesia route around your dates.