Best of Java & Sailing Adventure — Self-Launched
15 days · Java & Bali (Jakarta to Sanur)
G Adventures charges £2,100
No-markup version: ~£741 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself take on G Adventures' 15-day "Best of Java & Sailing Adventure": Jakarta's old Batavia and harbour, Bandung's volcanic highlands, Yogyakarta's Prambanan and Borobudur, a homestay in Ngadas village and the Mt Bromo sunrise, then a fly-and-ferry hop to Bali and the Gilis. Instead of a private van and a chartered 17m catamaran, you'll use Indonesia's excellent budget trains (Argo Parahyangan, Jakarta–Bandung), Angkut/bus and shared transfers on Java, a cheap domestic flight from Surabaya, and public fast boats plus island-hopping day trips around Nusa Lembongan, the Gilis and west Lombok. You can book guided temple sunrise/dusk trips and snorkelling day trips individually via GetYourGuide/Klook or directly with guesthouses. Costs are rough backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Jakarta
Jakarta
Land at Soekarno-Hatta and take a metered Bluebird or Silverbird taxi (or the Damri bus / airport rail link to central Jakarta for a fraction of the cost) to a hostel in Jalan Jaksa, Menteng or Kota Tua. Grab a nasi goreng or sate dinner at a warung and get an early night. No group welcome meeting — just you and the city.
🚌Airport taxi Bluebird ~£6-8 (or Damri bus ~£2)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse, Jalan Jaksa / Menteng
- →Airport transfer to central Jakarta
- →Evening wander around Jalan Jaksa food stalls
Jakarta old town, then train to Bandung
Jakarta → Bandung
Self-guided walk through Kota Tua (the former Batavia): Fatahillah Square, the Wayang Museum, the old Dutch warehouses and the Sunda Kelapa harbour with its wooden pinisi schooners. In the afternoon take the Argo Parahyangan or a Panoramic train from Gambir to Bandung (about 3 hours) — book on the Traveloka or KAI Access app a day or two ahead. Evening: optional angklung orchestra performance or a wander around Braga Street.
🚌Jakarta–Bandung train, economy ~£6-10 (3h)
🛏Guesthouse, Bandung (Jalan Braga / Dago area)
- →Self-guided Kota Tua & Sunda Kelapa walk
- →Argo Parahyangan train to Bandung
- →Optional angklung orchestra show (~£6)
Bandung highlands, overnight train to Yogyakarta
Bandung → Yogyakarta
Morning in the cool highlands: take an angkot or Grab to Lembang for the Tangkuban Perahu crater rim, or skip it and do the tea plantations around Ciwidey if you want fewer crowds. Afternoon back in the city, then board the evening train to Yogyakarta (around 7-8 hours, sleeper/executive ~£12-18). Book on KAI Access; alternative is a daytime Argo Wilis or a cheap flight.
🚌Angkot/Grab to Lembang, then night train Bandung–Yogyakarta ~£15
🛏Sleeper seat on night train (or budget guesthouse in Yogya if you take a daytime train)
- →Tangkuban Perahu crater viewpoint
- →Optional Ramayana dance or cycling tour if you arrive earlier
Prambanan at golden hour
Yogyakarta
Base yourself in the Sosrowijayan or Prawirotaman backpacker area. Take a Trans Jogja bus or Grab to Prambanan and explore the 244-temple Hindu complex at your own pace — late afternoon is quieter and the light is better. Combine with nearby Plaosan or Ratu Boko sunset if you have energy. Book entry via Klook (~£8-10) or pay at the gate.
🚌Trans Jogja bus/Grab to Prambanan ~£2-3 return
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Sosrowijayan / Prawirotaman
- →Prambanan temple complex (entry ~£9)
- →Optional Ratu Boko sunset
Borobudur sunrise and Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
Book a shared sunrise trip to Borobudur through your guesthouse (~£15-22 including entry and transfer) — the pre-dawn climb/hilltop view over the world's largest Buddhist sanctuary is the highlight. Back in town by mid-morning: free time for the Kraton (Sultan's Palace), Taman Sari water castle, and Malioboro street food in the evening.
🚌Shared sunrise minivan to Borobudur ~£15-22 incl. entry
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Sosrowijayan / Prawirotaman
- →Borobudur sunrise (shared trip)
- →Kraton & Taman Sari self-guided
- →Malioboro street food crawl
Cross Java's farmland to Ngadas village
Ngadas
Take a shared Angkut/van or public bus from Yogyakarta to Malang or directly toward Tumpang, then a local ojek/angkot up to Ngadas (about 7-8 hours total with changes). Alternatively book a budget shared tourist transfer through your guesthouse if you don't want the changes. Stay in a village homestay (look for community homestays in Ngadas, roughly £10-15 with meals) and take a late afternoon walk through the terraced fields and Tengger villages.
🚌Bus/angkot combo Yogyakarta–Tumpang–Ngadas ~£8-14
🛏Village homestay, Ngadas (multi-share)
- →Village walk through Ngadas terraces
- →Tengger culture evening with host family
Mt Bromo sunrise and on to Malang
Ngadas → Malang
Up at 2:30am for the classic pre-dawn walk/jeep across the Sea of Sand to the King Kong Hill viewpoint over Mt Bromo. Bring a buff or mask for the dust and a fleece — it's cold. Walk or jeep back to Ngadas for breakfast, then travel down to Malang for the night. Optional: continue to the Whispering Sands and the Bromo crater rim if you're feeling energetic.
🚌Shared Bromo jeep from Ngadas ~£12-18 (or walk), then angkot to Malang ~£2
🛏Guesthouse or hostel, Malang
- →Mt Bromo sunrise viewpoint
- →Sea of Sand crossing
- →Optional crater rim walk
Fly to Bali, sunset in Sanur
Malang → Sanur
Morning bus or shared transfer from Malang to Surabaya Juanda airport (~2h, £3-5), then a budget flight to Denpasar with Lion Air, Citilink or Batik Air (from ~£25-40 if booked early). Grab to Sanur (~£6-8) and spend the afternoon on the beach, dinner at a beachfront warung and a walk along the boardwalk at sunset.
🚌Bus to Surabaya ~£4, flight to Denpasar ~£30, Grab to Sanur ~£7
🛏Budget guesthouse or hostel, Sanur
- →Sanur beach & boardwalk
- →Sunset on the sand
Fast boat to Nusa Lembongan
Nusa Lembongan
Instead of boarding a catamaran at Serangan, take a public fast boat from Sanur Beach to Nusa Lembongan (~30-40 min, £10-14 one way, several departures daily — book locally or on Klook). Settle into a budget bungalow, then rent a scooter or bicycle (£4-6/day) and explore Dream Beach, Devil's Tear and the mangrove forest at Jungut Batu.
🚌Sanur–Nusa Lembongan fast boat ~£12 one way
🛏Bungalow or guesthouse, Jungut Batu / Mushroom Bay
- →Fast boat crossing
- →Dream Beach & Devil's Tear
- →Mangrove forest by kayak (~£6)
Snorkelling Lembongan and on to the Gilis
Nusa Lembongan → Gili Trawangan
Morning snorkel trip from Lembongan to Manta Point and Crystal Bay with a local boat crew (~£15-20, book the night before on the beach). Afternoon: fast boat or the local island-hopping connection onward toward Lombok/Gili Trawangan (via Padang Bai or Serangan — roughly £25-30, 2-3 hours). Check in to a Gili T hostel or bungalow near the sunset side of the island.
🚌Snorkel boat ~£18, fast boat to Gili Trawangan ~£27
🛏Hostel or bungalow, Gili Trawangan
- →Manta Point & Crystal Bay snorkelling
- →Fast boat to the Gilis
Gili Trawangan free day
Gili Trawangan
No cars on the Gilis — rent a bicycle (£3-4/day) and ride the loop, stopping at the famous sunset swings on the west coast, snorkelling the coral off Turtle Point, or taking a beginner dive with a PADI centre (~£35-45). Evening: night market satay and grilled fish near the art market, then a beach bar.
🚌Bicycle rental ~£4
🛏Hostel or bungalow, Gili Trawangan
- →Cycle the island loop
- →Turtle Point snorkelling
- →Optional intro dive (~£40)
- →Gili night market
Snorkel the three Gilis
Gili Trawangan / Gili Meno / Gili Air
Join a shared three-island snorkel boat trip (roughly £15-20 including gear and a beach lunch) covering Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno (the underwater statues and turtle sanctuary) and Gili Air. Afternoon back on Trawangan for a siesta or a hammock. Optional: sunset kayak or a beach BBQ on the sand, the local version of the catamaran's farewell dinner.
🚌Three-island snorkel boat ~£18
🛏Hostel or bungalow, Gili Trawangan
- →Three Gili snorkel trip
- →Gili Meno underwater statues
- →Beach BBQ dinner (optional)
Cross to Lombok and the southwest Gilis
Lombok (Senggigi / Gili Gede area)
Take the public boat from Gili Trawangan to Bangsal on Lombok (~£1-2, 20-30 min), then a bemo or Grab to Senggigi or south to the quiet Gili Gede, Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak cluster. Book a cheap local boatman for a day of island-hopping and snorkelling the lesser-known southern Gilis (~£15-20 per group). Overnight in a homestay near Gili Gede or back in Senggigi.
🚌Public boat Gili T–Bangsal ~£2, bemo/Grab to Senggigi ~£5-8
🛏Homestay or budget bungalow, Gili Gede / Senggigi
- →Island-hop boat to Gili Nanggu & Gili Sudak
- →Snorkelling
- →Senggigi beach walk
West Lombok then back to Bali
Lombok → Sanur
Morning at leisure: kayak at Senggigi, hike to one of the Malimbu viewpoints, or explore the Lingsar or Batu Bolong temples. Afternoon fast boat from Bangsal or Lembar back to Padang Bai or Serangan in Bali (~£20-25), then Grab to Sanur for the last night. Alternatively fly Lombok–Denpasar for ~£25-30 if the seas are rough.
🚌Fast boat Lombok–Bali ~£22, Grab to Sanur ~£7
🛏Budget guesthouse, Sanur
- →Malimbu viewpoint
- →Batu Bolong temple
- →Fast boat back to Bali
Depart from Sanur
Sanur → Denpasar
Final swim, a coffee on the boardwalk, then Grab to Ngurah Rai airport (about 30-40 minutes, £6-8) for your onward flight. Extend in Sanur or Ubud if you've got time — Ubud is a cheap 1-hour ride away.
🚌Grab to Denpasar airport ~£7
🛏—
- →Last beach morning
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£741 | £2,100 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,359 per person (65%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£741
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 Best of Java & Sailing Adventure — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £741 per person for 15 days in Java & Bali (Jakarta to Sanur). 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 £2,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £741 — a saving of roughly £1,359 (65%) per person.
How long is the Java & Bali (Jakarta to Sanur) trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Java & Bali (Jakarta to Sanur).
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, culture, beaches trip through Java & Bali (Jakarta to Sanur), 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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