Self-Launched Indonesia Adventure: Java & Bali
21 days · Indonesia (Java & Bali)
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£1,460 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 21-day "Indonesia Adventure: Java & Bali" — Jakarta to Gili Trawangan via Bandung, Yogyakarta, the Bromo volcano, Red Island surf, Pemuteran, Ubud and the Gilis. Same route and experiences, booked independently with local trains, buses, ferries and self-bookable activities. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP per person, assuming shared hostel dorms/cheap private rooms, local food and public transport — no group leader, no private vehicle. Estimated total shown excludes international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Jakarta
Jakarta
Fly into Soekarno-Hatta (CGK). Complete the free electronic customs/arrival card online before landing. Take the Railink airport train (~£2) or a Grab/Blue Bird taxi (~£8) into the city. Check into a hostel in Jalan Jaksa or Menteng. In the evening try street food at a warung near Sabang Street — nasi goreng, sate ayam, es kelapa.
🚌Railink airport train ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm, Jalan Jaksa or Menteng (~£9)
- →Airport Railink train into city
- →Evening street food crawl on Jalan Sabang
- →Monas (National Monument) area stroll if time allows
Jakarta to Bandung
Bandung
Take the morning Argo Parahyangan train from Gambir station to Bandung (~2h45, £10-14, book on the KAI Access app a few days ahead). Check into a guesthouse near Jalan Braga. Afternoon wander around the colonial streets of Braga and Asia Afrika, and grab Bandung's famous batagor or mie kocok for dinner.
🚌Train Gambir–Bandung ~£12
🛏Guesthouse/hostel near Braga (~£12)
- →Argo Parahyangan scenic train
- →Braga Street heritage walk
- →Local food: batagor, siomay, mie kocok
Ciater tea plantation, waterfall and hot springs
Ciater / Bandung
Take a local angkot or Grab to Ciater (~1.5h, £8 each way shared). Visit a tea plantation for a short tour and tasting (~£3), walk to a nearby waterfall (Curug Cimahi or Sari Ater area), and soak in the Sari Ater hot springs (~£5 entry). Return to Bandung in the late afternoon.
🚌Grab/angkot to Ciater return ~£16
🛏Guesthouse/hostel near Braga (~£12)
- →Tea plantation tour and tasting ~£3
- →Waterfall walk
- →Sari Ater hot springs ~£5
Bandung to Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
Ride the scenic train east to Yogyakarta (~7-8h, £15-20; the morning Argo Wilis or Turangga are the comfiest). Arrive and settle into a hostel in Sosrowijayan or Prawirotaman. Evening drinks and local eats on Prawirotaman Street — cheap and lively.
🚌Train Bandung–Yogyakarta ~£17
🛏Hostel dorm, Sosrowijayan (~£8)
- →Scenic Java rail journey
- →Sosrowijayan/Prawirotaman street food and bars
Yogyakarta — temples and the Kraton
Yogyakarta
Rent a bicycle or scooter (~£4/day) and explore. Visit the Kraton (Sultan's Palace, ~£2), Taman Sari Water Castle (~£2), and Kota Gede silver district. Try gudeg, Yogyakarta's jackfruit curry, for lunch. In the evening catch a wayang kulit shadow puppet show (~£3).
🚌Bicycle/scooter hire ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm, Sosrowijayan (~£8)
- →Kraton Palace ~£2
- →Taman Sari Water Castle ~£2
- →Kota Gede silver workshops
- →Wayang kulit puppet show ~£3
Prambanan and Borobudur
Yogyakarta
Book a shared sunrise trip to Borobudur via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£25-30 including entry, or DIY with a Grab at 4:30am and a £22 ticket). In the afternoon visit Prambanan Hindu temple complex (~£20 entry) — a shared shuttle or Grab (~£8) gets you there. Sunset at Prambanan is spectacular.
🚌Shared transport/Grab to both temples ~£12
🛏Hostel dorm, Sosrowijayan (~£8)
- →Borobudur sunrise
- →Prambanan Hindu temple complex
- →Ratu Boko optional
Yogyakarta to Ngadas village
Desa Ngadas
Take a bus or shared minivan toward Malang/Probolinggo and connect up to Ngadas, a Tengger village on the edge of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (~7h total, £10-14). Book a homestay direct through a local guesthouse in Ngadas or via Klook/Agoda (~£10). Evening home-cooked dinner with a Tengger family and a walk through the village.
🚌Local bus/minivan combo ~£12
🛏Local homestay, Ngadas (~£10)
- →Travel to the Tengger highlands
- →Village walk in Ngadas
- →Home-cooked Tengger dinner
Ancestor Trail trek to Mount Bromo
Ngadas / Cemoro Lawang
Hire a local Tengger guide for the Ancestor Trail trek to the Bromo crater rim (~£15-20 per person for a small group; ask your homestay to arrange). Walk through the Sea of Sand and up to the smoking crater. Continue to Cemoro Lawang and check into a basic guesthouse with volcano views.
🚌Walking; local transfer to Cemoro Lawang ~£4
🛏Guesthouse, Cemoro Lawang (~£14)
- →Ancestor Trail guided trek
- →Mount Bromo crater rim walk
- →Tengger temple offerings viewpoint
Sunrise at Bromo viewpoint, then to the coast
Cemoro Lawang / Red Island (Banyuwangi area)
Up at 3:30am for the sunrise viewpoint hike (Penanjakan — on foot ~1.5h, or a shared jeep ~£10 split). Watch dawn break over the caldera, then descend to the crater. Later take a bus to Probolinggo and onward toward Banyuwangi / Red Island (~6h, £10). Overnight at a beachside surf camp (~£12).
🚌Bus Probolinggo–Banyuwangi ~£10
🛏Beachside surf camp (~£12)
- →Pre-dawn sunrise hike to Bromo viewpoint
- →Sea of Sand crossing
- →Crater climb
Surf lesson at Red Island
Red Island (Pantai Pulau Merah)
Book a beginner surf lesson at your camp or with a local instructor (~£12-15 including board). The long, gentle beach break is perfect for learning. Afternoon exploring the fishing village, more surfing, or a hammock nap.
🚌Walking
🛏Beachside surf camp (~£12)
- →Beginner surf lesson ~£14
- →Fishing village walk
- →Sunset on the beach
Cross to Bali — Pemuteran
Pemuteran, Bali
Take a bus to Ketapang harbour, ferry across the Bali Strait to Gilimanuk (~£1, 45min), then a bus or shared bemo west to Pemuteran (~3h, £6). Pay the Bali tourist levy (~£8) online beforehand. Settle into a guesthouse near the beach and just relax.
🚌Bus + ferry + shared bemo ~£12
🛏Guesthouse, Pemuteran (~£14)
- →Bali Strait ferry crossing
- →Beach time in Pemuteran
Pemuteran snorkelling and beach
Pemuteran
Snorkel the famous Pemuteran Bay coral restoration project from the shore (~£5 board hire), or join a boat trip to Menjangan Island (~£25-30 including permit and equipment). The rest of the day is beach and cheap warung meals.
🚌Walking/boat
🛏Guesthouse, Pemuteran (~£14)
- →Pemuteran Bay snorkelling ~£5
- →Menjangan Island boat trip optional ~£28
- →Beach lounging
Pemuteran to Ubud
Ubud
Travel east across Bali to Ubud by bus or shared minivan (~4h, £10-12). Check into a homestay in Ubud centre (~£14). Wander the Campuhan Ridge Walk at sunset and eat at a local warung — babi guling or nasi campur.
🚌Bus/minivan to Ubud ~£11
🛏Homestay, Ubud (~£14)
- →Road transfer to Ubud
- →Campuhan Ridge Walk
- →Ubud night market
Ubud — rice terraces and temple
Ubud
Cycle or scooter to the Tegallalang rice terraces (~£5 entry + £4 scooter). Visit the Tirta Empul water temple (~£4) and the Puri Lukisan art museum (~£3). Afternoon free for yoga (~£8 drop-in) or a spa massage (~£10).
🚌Scooter hire ~£4
🛏Homestay, Ubud (~£14)
- →Tegallalang rice terraces
- →Tirta Empul water temple ~£4
- →Puri Lukisan Museum
- →Optional yoga class ~£8
Ubud — cooking class and Kecak dance
Ubud
Morning Balinese cooking class booked via GetYourGuide or Klook or directly with a local school (~£25-30 including market visit and lunch). Later, head to a temple for a Kecak dance performance (~£10-12), best seen at Uluwatu or Pura Dalem Taman Kaja in Ubud.
🚌Walking/local taxi ~£4
🛏Homestay, Ubud (~£14)
- →Balinese cooking class ~£27
- →Kecak dance performance ~£11
Ubud to Bulian (Kubutambahan), north Bali
Bulian / Kubutambahan
Travel north via Kintamani for views of Mt Batur, or straight up to Bulian near Kubutambahan (~3h, £12). Visit the Gitgit waterfall en route (~£3). Stay at a village guesthouse (~£12) and join a home cooking class / buffet dinner with the hosts (~£10).
🚌Shared minivan north ~£12
🛏Village guesthouse, Bulian (~£12)
- →Gitgit waterfall visit ~£3
- →Village homestay cooking session ~£10
- →Village walk
North Bali to Ubud / Monkey Forest
Ubud
Return south to Ubud (~£11) and visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~£5) — keep bags zipped and don't carry food. Evening free or a second Kecak performance if you missed it.
🚌Shared minivan ~£11
🛏Homestay, Ubud (~£14)
- →Monkey Forest Sanctuary ~£5
- →Ubud Palace and market
Ubud free day
Ubud
A flexible day: Mt Batur sunrise hike (~£30 with guide, 2am start), a bike tour through villages and rice fields (~£25), or simply coffee shops, galleries and the Yoga Barn. Book anything you fancy the day before via GetYourGuide.
🚌Local taxi/walking ~£4
🛏Homestay, Ubud (~£14)
- →Mt Batur sunrise hike optional ~£30
- →Downhill cycling tour optional ~£25
- →Ubud cafes and galleries
Ubud to Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan
Take a shared shuttle to Padang Bai (~1.5h) and the fast boat to Gili Trawangan (~2h; combined ticket ~£25-30 booked via Klook or directly with a boat operator). Arrive and check into a beach bungalow or hostel (~£15). Sunset drinks on the west side.
🚌Shuttle + fast boat ~£28
🛏Beach hostel/bungalow, Gili Trawangan (~£15)
- →Fast boat to the Gilis
- →Sunset on Gili Trawangan's west beach
Gili Trawangan — turtles, bikes and yoga
Gili Trawangan
Cycle the island loop (~£3 bike hire, 1.5h) and snorkel with turtles at Turtle Point (~£10 gear or ~£18 boat trip). Optional morning yoga (~£9). Evening beach BBQ and the famous beach bars — there are no cars on the island.
🚌Bicycle hire ~£3
🛏Beach hostel/bungalow, Gili Trawangan (~£15)
- →Snorkelling with turtles ~£15
- →Island bicycle loop ~£3
- →Optional yoga ~£9
- →Beach BBQ dinner
Departure / onward to Bali
Gili Trawangan
Catch the fast boat back to Bali (Padang Bai or Serangan, ~£25) or continue island-hopping to Gili Air/Meno or Lombok. If flying home, allow a full transfer day to Denpasar airport. Book your boat the day before and confirm the departure time.
🚌Fast boat Gili Trawangan–Bali ~£25
🛏None (departure day) — or ~£15 if you stay an extra night
- →Fast boat back to Bali
- →Optional onward to Lombok or Gili Air
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,460 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 21 days | 21 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £890 per person (38%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,460
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 Adventure: Java & Bali cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,460 per person for 21 days in Indonesia (Java & Bali). 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,460 — a saving of roughly £890 (38%) per person.
How long is the Indonesia (Java & Bali) trip?+
This itinerary runs 21 days, covering 21 day-by-day stops through Indonesia (Java & Bali).
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 adventure, backpacker, culture trip through Indonesia (Java & Bali), 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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