Self-Launched Ultimate Adventure in Java and Bali

Touch down at Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA). Take the official airport taxi or a pre-booked GrabCar into the Prawirotaman district (~£5–8). Check into a well-reviewed guesthouse or boutique hostel in this artsy neighbourhood — options like Kampoeng Djawa or Merbabu Guesthouse offer private rooms with AC from around £18–25/night. Grab a cheap bowl of gudeg (young jackfruit stew) at a warung on Jalan Prawirotaman and get an early night — adventures start tomorrow.

🚌Official airport taxi or GrabCar from YIA to Prawirotaman ~£5–8

🛏Mid-range guesthouse in Prawirotaman (e.g. Merbabu Guesthouse or similar), private room ~£20/night

• →Arrive YIA, take official taxi or Grab to Prawirotaman (~£5–8)
• →Check in to guesthouse/mid-range hotel in Prawirotaman
• →Explore the neighbourhood, eat at a local warung

Start with breakfast at your guesthouse or a local café. Walk or take a becak (cycle rickshaw) to the Kraton (Sultan's Palace, entrance ~£1.50) and then stroll to Taman Sari Water Palace (~£1). Grab lunch at a local warung — nasi campur or gado-gado for under £2. In the afternoon, join a shared minibus tour to Borobudur Temple (~£4 return from Yogyakarta) — book via the local bus terminal or a hostel noticeboard. Buy the combined Borobudur entry ticket (~£20, includes summit access). Hike up the full monument and take in the panoramic views. Return to Yogyakarta by shared minibus and spend the evening exploring Jalan Malioboro's street food scene.

🚌Walk/becak locally; shared minibus to Borobudur ~£4 return

🛏Mid-range guesthouse in Prawirotaman, private room ~£20/night

• →Visit Kraton Sultan's Palace (~£1.50 entry)
• →Explore Taman Sari Water Palace (~£1 entry)
• →Lunch at a local warung (~£2)
• →Shared minibus to Borobudur Temple (~£4 return)
• →Borobudur Temple entry and hike (~£20)
• →Evening street food stroll on Jalan Malioboro

Book a local cycling tour of the rice fields and villages east of Yogyakarta — many guesthouses and local operators offer these for ~£15–20pp, including a visit to Plaosan Temple and stops at tofu/tempeh production houses and a gamelan workshop. Lunch is typically included. In the afternoon, take a shared taxi or join a local tour minibus to Prambanan Temple (~£4 entry). From there, arrange transport with your guide or rent a scooter (~£6/day) to reach Nglanggeran Ancient Volcano in Gunung Kidul for a sunset hike (entry ~£2). Return to Yogyakarta by shared taxi or ojek (motorbike taxi).

🚌Cycling tour includes transport; shared taxi/scooter to Prambanan and Nglanggeran ~£8

🛏Mid-range guesthouse in Prawirotaman, private room ~£20/night

• →Local cycling tour through rice fields and villages (~£18 including lunch)
• →Visit Plaosan Temple, tofu/tempeh production and gamelan house
• →Prambanan Temple entry (~£4)
• →Hike Nglanggeran Ancient Volcano (entry ~£2)
• →Sunset views from the caldera

Take the morning Argo Wilis or Mutiara Selatan train from Yogyakarta to Surabaya or Malang (~4hrs, ~£10–15 in executive class — book via KAI Access app or kai.id). From Probolinggo (change if needed), take a shared minibus or local bus to Cemoro Lawang, the village at the foot of Mount Bromo (~£3–5, takes ~2hrs). Check into a budget guesthouse or homestay in Cemoro Lawang — rooms from £15–22/night, most with incredible volcano views. Get an early night; tomorrow starts at 3:30am.

🚌Train Yogyakarta to Probolinggo ~£12; shared minibus to Cemoro Lawang ~£4

🛏Budget guesthouse or homestay in Cemoro Lawang (e.g. Cafe Lava Hostel or Bromo Permai), ~£18/night

• →Morning train Yogyakarta → Probolinggo/Surabaya (~£12, book on KAI Access app)
• →Local bus/shared minibus Probolinggo → Cemoro Lawang (~£4)
• →Check in to homestay/guesthouse, rest and prepare for early start

Rise at 3:30am and arrange a shared jeep from your guesthouse — most homestays in Cemoro Lawang organise shared jeeps to the Penanjakan sunrise viewpoint for ~£8–12pp. Watch sunrise over the Sea of Sand and volcanic peaks. Descend into the Tengger Caldera, buy your national park entry ticket (~£6), then walk or rent a horse (~£5) across the Sea of Sand to the base of Mount Bromo. Climb the 250 steps to the crater rim and peer into the smoking volcano. Walk back across the caldera and grab lunch at Lava View Lodge or a local warung (~£4). Spend the afternoon resting at your guesthouse.

🚌Shared jeep for sunrise ~£10; on foot across caldera

🛏Budget guesthouse or homestay in Cemoro Lawang, ~£18/night

• →Shared jeep to Penanjakan sunrise viewpoint (~£10pp)
• →National park entry fee (~£6)
• →Hike across the Sea of Sand to Bromo crater rim
• →Optional horse ride across the sand (~£5)
• →Climb 250 steps to crater rim and explore
• →Lunch at Lava View Lodge or local warung (~£4)

Early breakfast then arrange shared transport or join a local day-tour that includes a stop at Madakaripura Waterfall en route east (~£8–12pp, organised from Cemoro Lawang guesthouses). Wear clothes you don't mind getting wet — pack a waterproof. Entry to the waterfall is ~£1.50. After the magical circular waterfall hike, continue east to Banyuwangi/Ketapang by shared minibus or a combination of local buses (~£5–8 total). Check into a mid-range guesthouse in Banyuwangi with views toward Bali (~£20/night).

🚌Shared tour transport to Madakaripura ~£10; local bus to Banyuwangi ~£6

🛏Mid-range guesthouse in Banyuwangi (e.g. Mahkota Hotel or similar), ~£20/night

• →Shared transport to Madakaripura Waterfall (~£10 including transport from Cemoro Lawang area)
• →Waterfall entry fee (~£1.50)
• →Hike through the gorge to the 'eternal waterfall'
• →Onward bus/shared transport to Banyuwangi (~£6)

Book a local guided plantation hike through your guesthouse or a Banyuwangi tour operator (~£18–22pp, usually includes local guide, lunch at a family home, and coffee tasting). You'll wind through patchwork coffee, clove and cocoa plantations on the Ijen Plateau, stop at a local family home for a freshly cooked lunch, and sip strong sweet Javanese coffee. In the afternoon, return to your guesthouse in Banyuwangi. Rest up — tomorrow is another very early start for Kawah Ijen.

🚌Local transport to/from plantation trailhead included in tour (~£20)

🛏Mid-range guesthouse in Banyuwangi, ~£20/night

• →Local guided coffee plantation hike (~£20pp including guide and lunch)
• →Visit coffee processing, see clove drying and bean sorting
• →Lunch at a local family home with Javanese coffee
• →Sweeping views across the Ijen Plateau
• →Rest at guesthouse in the afternoon

Wake at 5am for the drive to Paltuding trailhead (~£5 shared transport or organised from your guesthouse). Pay the national park/crater entry fee (~£5). Hike the 3km trail to the vivid turquoise crater lake — plan to arrive mid-morning to avoid the worst crowds. Descend and return to Banyuwangi/Ketapang port. Take the regular public ferry from Ketapang to Gilimanuk, Bali (~£1, runs every 30 minutes, ~45 mins crossing). From Gilimanuk, take a public bus or shared bemo to Lovina (~£3–5, ~2hrs). Check into a beachside guesthouse in Lovina (~£18–22/night). Grab dinner at a seaside warung.

🚌Shared transport to Paltuding ~£5; public ferry ~£1; bus to Lovina ~£4

🛏Beachside guesthouse in Lovina (e.g. Rini Hotel or Bali Taman Beach Hotel), ~£20/night

• →Shared transport to Paltuding trailhead (~£5)
• →Kawah Ijen national park entry (~£5)
• →Hike to the turquoise crater lake and crater rim
• →Public ferry Ketapang → Gilimanuk (~£1)
• →Public bus/bemo Gilimanuk → Lovina (~£4)

Book a Menjangan Island snorkelling day trip through your guesthouse or directly with a local operator in Lovina (~£25–35pp, including transport to the park, boat, two snorkel sessions, equipment hire, national park fee and lunch on the boat). The coral reefs here are some of Bali's finest — look out for turtles, reef sharks and huge tropical fish. Return to Lovina in the afternoon. Spend the rest of the day at the beach, get a cheap Balinese massage (~£6), and watch the sunset from the black sand shore.

🚌Day trip transport included in tour price (~£30 all-in)

🛏Beachside guesthouse in Lovina, ~£20/night

• →Menjangan Island snorkelling day trip (~£30pp all-in from Lovina)
• →Two snorkel sessions on vibrant coral reefs
• →Picnic lunch on the boat
• →Optional: Balinese massage in Lovina (~£6)
• →Sunset on Lovina's black sand beach

Book a canyoning experience in Munduk through GetYourGuide or directly with a local operator such as Bali Sobek or a Munduk-based guide (~£35–45pp, includes guide, equipment, safety gear and lunch). You'll abseil waterfalls, slide down natural rock chutes and soak in natural hot springs — an absolute highlight. After the adventure, arrange onward transport to Ubud by shared tourist shuttle (book through your guesthouse or Perama/Kura-Kura bus, ~£8–10). Check into a mid-range guesthouse or boutique homestay in Ubud (~£25–35/night). Explore the Ubud streets before dinner.

🚌Canyoning transport included in tour; shared shuttle to Ubud ~£9

🛏Boutique guesthouse or homestay in Ubud (e.g. Bisma Cottages or Pondok Pundi), ~£30/night

• →Canyoning in Munduk with local operator (~£40pp including guide, gear and lunch)
• →Abseil waterfalls, swim natural pools, soak in hot springs
• →Shared tourist shuttle Munduk → Ubud (~£9)
• →Explore Ubud centre in the evening

Start the day with a morning yoga class — Ubud has dozens of studios offering drop-in sessions for £6–10 (try The Yoga Barn or Radiantly Alive). Spend the rest of the morning exploring Ubud's art market, galleries and Monkey Forest at your own pace (Monkey Forest entry ~£3). Grab lunch at one of Ubud's excellent warung cafés (~£3–5). In the afternoon, join a Balinese cooking class — book directly or via Airbnb Experiences/GetYourGuide (~£20–28pp, typically includes market visit, hands-on cooking of 5–6 dishes, and eating what you cook for dinner). A fantastic farewell feast!

🚌All on foot or short walk within Ubud

🛏Boutique guesthouse or homestay in Ubud, ~£30/night

• →Morning yoga drop-in class (~£8 at The Yoga Barn or similar)
• →Explore Ubud Art Market, galleries and boutique shops
• →Ubud Monkey Forest visit (~£3)
• →Lunch at a local warung (~£4)
• →Balinese cooking class including market visit and dinner (~£25pp)

Enjoy a final breakfast at your Ubud guesthouse or a rooftop café with rice field views. Spend any remaining free time soaking up the magic of Ubud. When ready, arrange a pre-booked GrabCar or private taxi to Denpasar Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) — around 1.5hrs from Ubud, ~£12–18 depending on traffic. Confirm your pick-up time the night before. What an adventure!

🚌GrabCar or pre-booked taxi Ubud to DPS Airport ~£15

🛏Check out

• →Final breakfast in Ubud
• →Free time — last wander through Ubud or relax at guesthouse
• →GrabCar or taxi Ubud → Denpasar Airport (~£15)