Self-Launched Indonesia: Sacred Wild Isles — Bali & Flores
8 days · Bali & Flores, Indonesia
Exodus charges £5,940
No-markup version: ~£790 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Experience Indonesia's most soul-stirring corners — sacred Bali and wild Flores — without the premium guided group price tag. This self-launched version traces the same extraordinary journey: private temple blessings, Komodo dragon encounters, Indigenous Manggarai villages, coral snorkelling, and volcanic sunrises. You'll swap the Signature Guide and luxury Signature Stays for equally characterful boutique guesthouses and direct-booked local experiences, cutting the cost by more than half while keeping every essential moment intact. Domestic flights, speedboat day trips, and shared transfers are all bookable independently. Estimated costs are approximate and based on current budget-to-mid-range traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Ubud — rice terraces, jungle air, and a royal Balinese evening
Ubud, Bali
Take a pre-booked airport taxi or the Perama shuttle bus from Ngurah Rai International Airport to Ubud (~£8–12). Check in to a mid-range boutique guesthouse or villa in the rice terrace belt — areas around Penestanan or Sayan offer stunning paddy views at a fraction of resort prices. For your welcome evening, book a 'Royal Dinner at a Balinese Home' experience via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences (~£35–50pp), which typically includes a traditional Legong dance performance and authentic home-cooked meal in a noble family compound.
🚌Airport taxi or Perama shuttle bus to Ubud (~£8–12). Taxis within Ubud via Grab app (~£2–4).
🛏Bisma Cottages, Komaneka Cottages, or similar boutique villa guesthouse in Ubud rice terrace area (~£30–50/night)
- →Arrive at Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali
- →Transfer to Ubud by pre-booked taxi or Perama shuttle (~£8–12)
- →Check in to a boutique guesthouse or villa near Penestanan or Sayan rice terraces
- →Book a Balinese royal home dinner with Legong dance performance via GetYourGuide or Airbnb Experiences (~£35–50pp)
Balinese spirituality — temple blessing, rice fields, and a cooking class
Ubud & surrounds, Bali
Start with a morning yoga class at one of Ubud's many studios — Yoga Barn offers drop-in sessions from ~£8. Then hire a local driver (easily arranged via your guesthouse for ~£25–35 for the day) to visit the Subak Guliang irrigation temple area. Temple blessings by local priests can be arranged locally or through Airbnb Experiences (~£15–25pp). In the afternoon, join a Balinese cooking class — Paon Bali or Casa Luna Cooking School offer excellent farm-to-table classes including a market visit and rice field walk, typically ~£30–40pp including lunch.
🚌Hire a local driver for the day via guesthouse or Klook (~£25–35 for full day).
🛏Same boutique guesthouse in Ubud (~£30–50/night)
- →Morning drop-in yoga session at Yoga Barn or similar (~£8)
- →Hire a local driver for the day via guesthouse (~£25–35)
- →Visit Subak Guliang temple area and arrange a local blessing experience (~£15–25pp via Airbnb Experiences)
- →Balinese cooking class at Paon Bali or Casa Luna (~£30–40pp, includes lunch)
Your Bali Signature Day — volcano, temples, cycling, or offerings
Ubud & surrounds, Bali
Today is fully yours to shape. All four experiences below are bookable independently and represent excellent value. Option 1 — Mount Batur sunrise trek: Book via GetYourGuide (~£25–35pp including guide and breakfast on the summit). Option 2 — Besakih Temple and gamelan/dance workshop: Hire a driver (~£25–35) and book a private workshop via Airbnb Experiences (~£20–30pp). Option 3 — Rice terrace cycling tour: Book via Klook or GetYourGuide (~£20–30pp including lunch). Option 4 — Canang sari offering workshop: Widely available via Airbnb Experiences (~£15–20pp). Dinner is at your leisure — Warung Ibu Oka or Locavore are local favourites at very different price points.
🚌Local driver hire or scooter rental (~£5–8/day) for independent exploration.
🛏Same boutique guesthouse in Ubud (~£30–50/night)
- →OPTION A: Mount Batur sunrise trek via GetYourGuide (~£25–35pp)
- →OPTION B: Besakih Temple visit + private gamelan or dance workshop (~£45–65pp total)
- →OPTION C: Rice terrace and village cycling tour via Klook (~£20–30pp)
- →OPTION D: Canang sari offering workshop via Airbnb Experiences (~£15–20pp)
- →Dinner at leisure in Ubud — try Warung Ibu Oka (budget) or Locavore (splurge)
Fly to Flores — arrive in Labuan Bajo and settle beside the sea
Ubud → Denpasar → Labuan Bajo, Flores
Take a taxi or Grab from Ubud to Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar (~£8–12, allow 1.5–2 hrs). Book your own domestic flight from Denpasar (DPS) to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) — Lion Air, Batik Air, and Citilink typically run this route for £40–70pp if booked in advance. On arrival in Labuan Bajo, take a local taxi or ojek (motorbike taxi) to your guesthouse (~£3–5). The Labuan Bajo waterfront has excellent mid-range options: Jayakarta Suites or La Prima Hotel. This evening, explore the harbour-front warung restaurants — fresh seafood here is exceptional and inexpensive (~£8–12 for a full dinner).
🚌Grab taxi Ubud → Denpasar Airport (~£8–12). Domestic flight DPS → LBJ (~£40–70pp, book via Traveloka or Skyscanner). Local taxi on arrival (~£3–5).
🛏Jayakarta Suites Komodo or La Prima Hotel Labuan Bajo (~£25–40/night)
- →Taxi or Grab from Ubud to Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar (~£8–12)
- →Domestic flight Denpasar (DPS) to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) — Lion Air/Batik Air/Citilink (~£40–70pp)
- →Taxi to guesthouse on arrival (~£3–5)
- →Evening seafood dinner at harbour-front warung (~£8–12)
Komodo National Park — dragons, pink beach, and snorkelling reefs
Komodo National Park, Flores
Book a Komodo National Park day trip — the most cost-effective approach is to join a shared speedboat tour bookable directly through Labuan Bajo harbour agents or via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£40–60pp including park entry, ranger guide, snorkelling gear, and lunch). Tours typically cover Rinca Island (Komodo dragon habitat and conservation zone), Pink Beach (snorkelling over coral rich in parrotfish, clownfish, and sea turtles), and Taka Makassar sandbar. National Park entry fee is ~£15pp (payable separately). This is one of Indonesia's unmissable wildlife encounters — the dragons are wild and genuinely extraordinary.
🚌Shared speedboat day trip departs from Labuan Bajo harbour — included in tour price. Return by early evening.
🛏Jayakarta Suites Komodo or La Prima Hotel Labuan Bajo (~£25–40/night)
- →Shared speedboat day trip to Komodo National Park via harbour agent or GetYourGuide (~£40–60pp)
- →Guided trek on Rinca Island with park ranger to spot Komodo dragons
- →Snorkelling at Pink Beach over coral reefs
- →Relaxed stop at Taka Makassar sandbar
- →Komodo National Park entry fee (~£15pp, payable separately)
Manggarai culture, Todo village, and Rangko Cave swim
Todo Village & Rangko Cave, Flores
Hire a private driver from Labuan Bajo for the day (~£25–35) to reach Todo village (~2.5hrs). This traditional Manggarai settlement with circular clan houses (mbaru niang) is openly welcoming to respectful visitors — a local guide from the village itself can be engaged on arrival for a small fee (~£5–10). Sample traditional cakes and learn about spider-web rice field divisions (lingko). Return via a lunch stop in a local warung before continuing to Rangko Cave. A wooden motorboat ride to Rangko Cave is bookable locally (~£8–12pp) — the glowing tidal pool inside is one of Flores' hidden highlights. Return to Labuan Bajo for a relaxed evening at a beachfront restaurant.
🚌Private driver hire Labuan Bajo → Todo → Rangko → Labuan Bajo (~£25–35 for the day). Short wooden motorboat to Rangko Cave (~£8–12pp).
🛏Jayakarta Suites Komodo or La Prima Hotel Labuan Bajo (~£25–40/night)
- →Private driver hire for the day (~£25–35)
- →Guided visit to Todo village — meet Manggarai community, see mbaru niang circular houses, sample traditional cakes (~£5–10 local guide tip)
- →Lunch at local warung (~£4–6)
- →Wooden motorboat to Rangko Cave and swim in the tidal pool (~£8–12pp)
- →Evening at a beachfront restaurant in Labuan Bajo (~£8–12)
Return to Bali — coral restoration and a farewell feast in Candidasa
Labuan Bajo → Bali (Candidasa/Amed)
Take a morning flight back from Labuan Bajo (LBJ) to Denpasar (DPS) (~£40–70pp). Transfer by taxi or shuttle to Candidasa or Amed on Bali's quieter eastern coast (~£15–25). This stretch of coast is the home of Ocean Gardener and other reef restoration projects — book a snorkelling or dive session with Ocean Gardener directly via their website (~£25–40pp), which includes a guided explanation of coral gardening and restoration methods. In the evening, explore Tenganan Pegringsingan village (a 15-min taxi from Candidasa, free entry, small donation welcomed) — one of Bali's most ancient Bali Aga villages. Close the night with a farewell dinner at a local beachside restaurant featuring Balinese and Lombok dishes (~£10–15).
🚌Domestic flight LBJ → DPS (~£40–70pp, book via Traveloka). Taxi or tourist shuttle DPS → Candidasa/Amed (~£15–25).
🛏The Watergarden Hotel, Candidasa or similar boutique hotel (~£25–45/night)
- →Morning domestic flight Labuan Bajo (LBJ) → Denpasar (DPS) (~£40–70pp)
- →Shuttle or taxi to Candidasa or Amed on east Bali (~£15–25)
- →Coral restoration snorkel session with Ocean Gardener (~£25–40pp, book direct)
- →Visit Tenganan Pegringsingan Bali Aga village (~£2–5 donation)
- →Farewell dinner at beachside restaurant (~£10–15)
Farewell Indonesia — final breakfast and airport transfer
Candidasa/Amed → Ngurah Rai Airport, Bali
Enjoy a final breakfast at your guesthouse — many east Bali hotels serve breakfast with sea views at no extra cost. Pre-book a taxi or use Grab for the transfer back to Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar (~£20–30, allow 2–2.5hrs from Candidasa). Alternatively, the Perama tourist shuttle to the airport is a cheaper option (~£8–10). Savour the last views of Bali's coastline before departing. Indonesia's layers of ceremony, wildlife, and coastal life will stay with you long after the flight home.
🚌Perama shuttle (~£8–10) or private taxi (~£20–30) from Candidasa/Amed to Ngurah Rai Airport.
- →Final breakfast at guesthouse
- →Pre-book taxi or Perama shuttle to Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar (~£8–30 depending on option)
- →Allow 2–2.5 hours travel time from Candidasa to airport
Self-launched vs. Exodus
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£790 | £5,940 |
| Duration | 8 days | 8 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £5,150 per person (87%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus-style trips? Check them out here.~£790
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Indonesia: Sacred Wild Isles — Bali & Flores cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £790 per person for 8 days in Bali & Flores, Indonesia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Exodus?+
Yes — Exodus charges around £5,940 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £790 — a saving of roughly £5,150 (87%) per person.
How long is the Bali & Flores, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 8 days, covering 8 day-by-day stops through Bali & Flores, Indonesia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, wildlife, adventure trip through Bali & Flores, Indonesia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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