Here is our one month itinerary for backpacking Indonesia. With more than 6,000 islands to choose from and slow travel in between, you'll have to have a plan to make the most of your time and money.
It's easy to spend one month on any one island, so our itinerary is best for those who want to get a feel for the country as a whole. (Check out our tips for backpacking Indonesia while you're at it.) We have plenty of beach time, trekking, culture, and off-the-beaten path destinations built in, so your trip is sure to be an epic one!
- Because traveling between islands can be slow and expensive, it's best to start at one side of Indonesia and work your way across. We suggest starting at the west in Java.
- If you haven't explored a lot of ruins in Asia, make time to visit Borobudur and Prambanan outside of Yogyakarta.
- Make your way eastward towards Bali, stopping at Bromo for some trekking around the active volcano crater. The tribal horses here are some of the most beautiful we've ever seen!
- Take a ferry to Bali and allow a week for some surfing and yoga. Check out the beaches on the Bukit Peninsula and avoid Kuta if you can. Ubud may be touristy, but its culture and nearby trekking opportunties make it worth a stay.
- Use our tips to travel overland from Bali to Flores, stopping on Lombok to hike the spectacular Rinjani Volcano. If you're looking for some bungalows on an island, make sure to budget time for the Gili Islands.
- Some of the best diving in Indonesia is in Komodo National Park, so if you're looking to see Komodo dragons and manta rays, make your way to Flores. Flores boasts a more back-to-basics and less touristy travel experience and many travelers go all the way east to check out the tri-colored crater lakes of Kelimutu.
You'll need a lot more than one month to really see Indonesia, but this itinerary gives you a taste of a few different islands. That way, when you come back, you'll have a favorite to return to.
Do you have any Indonesia backpacking tips of your own? Share them by leaving a comment!
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