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Indonesia 🇮🇩

backpacking Asia Indonesia 🇮🇩Volcano sunrises, Komodo dragons and funeral ceremonies across a vast island chain.

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Backpacking Indonesia in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
Traveling in Indonesia: what to expect

Backpacking Indonesia
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Ride three to four hours north from Yogyakarta and you can walk among Hindu temples older than Borobudur. The Arjuna group on the Dieng Plateau was built in the 7th or 8th century at roughly 2,000 metres, where dawn is cold enough for a fleece and potato fields climb straight up old crater walls. Homestays in Dieng village are easy to find, yet most foreign travelers never hear the name.

The postcard version of Indonesia is Bali, and Bali is crowded. Scooters jam the lanes around Canggu, and the south prices itself for two-week holidaymakers. Push past it and the country opens up fast. You can scramble to a volcanic rim before sunrise, watch Komodo dragons flick their tongues from behind a ranger, or sit with Torajan families at a funeral that runs for days. Then there’s the food. On Lombok I once ate plecing kangkung in a roadside warung, the water spinach so drenched in chili and lime that my lips buzzed while the evening call to prayer rolled across the rice fields. The challenges are just as real. Distances are huge, domestic flights run late, ferry safety standards vary, and an eruption can close a trail with a day’s notice.

Compared with Thailand, Indonesia asks more of you: fewer ready-made circuits, longer journeys, and less English once you leave the main islands. The Philippines shares the island-hopping headaches, but where it has around 180 languages, Indonesia has over 700, and the cultural shifts between islands hit harder. Travelers who like early starts, loose plans and figuring things out on the fly will thrive here. If you want tight schedules or a party at every stop, stick to Bali and the Gilis, or pick Thailand. Everyone else gets a country big enough to keep surprising them for months.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Indonesia
For a first trip to Indonesia, pick two or three of these five regions and go deep, because island hops eat whole days and every region below runs on its own rhythm.

Java (Yogyakarta, Borobudur, Mount Bromo)

Java holds more than half of Indonesia’s people, and you feel it on every packed platform. Yogyakarta runs on students, batik workshops and late-night street food along Malioboro, with Borobudur about an hour away for a sunrise climb among 9th-century stupas. Trains from Jakarta reach Yogyakarta in 6 to 8 hours, then roll east toward Malang for Bromo’s 4 a.m. jeep run. Expect hundreds of jeeps at the sunrise viewpoint. Culture-hungry travelers who love trains will thrive here.

Bali and Lombok (Ubud, Canggu, Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani)

Bali is the busiest and priciest stop in the archipelago, and Canggu’s scooter jams prove it. Push into Ubud instead, where families still lay palm-leaf offerings on doorsteps every morning and temple processions block the road. Bali sits about 2 hours by air from Jakarta. Fast boats then shoot you to the car-free Gili Islands in 1.5 to 2.5 hours, and Lombok rewards hikers with a 2 to 3 day haul up Rinjani’s crater rim. This corner suits first-timers easing in, then itching for sweat.

Flores and Komodo (Labuan Bajo, Komodo National Park, Kelimutu)

Labuan Bajo has boomed into a harbor town of dive shops and boat-tour touts, and Komodo tours are no longer cheap. Still, nothing beats a 2 to 3 day boat trip past Padar’s ridges, manta channels and ranger-led walks among Komodo dragons. Flights from Bali take about 75 minutes. Then the Trans-Flores road winds east through Catholic villages and the stone megaliths of Bena to Kelimutu’s colored crater lakes, a slow multi-day push. Pick this for adventurous travelers who enjoy bumpy overland stretches.

Sumatra (Medan, Bukit Lawang, Lake Toba)

Sumatra feels rougher and cheaper, and far fewer travelers make it here. Medan is hot, loud and best treated as a launchpad. Bukit Lawang, 3 to 4 hours by road, sends you trekking into Gunung Leuser National Park to spot wild orangutans, then tubing back down the river. Lake Toba sits 4 to 5 hours from Medan, with a short ferry to Samosir Island and its Batak houses with soaring saddle roofs. Flights from Jakarta take just over 2 hours. Patient travelers with strong stomachs for winding buses fit best.

Raja Ampat (Sorong, Waisai, Pianemo)

Raja Ampat, in Southwest Papua province, is the most expensive region on this list, and boat transfers drain budgets fast unless you share them. In return you get some of the richest coral reefs on Earth, the karst islets of the Pianemo viewpoint, and family-run stilt homestays where meals come included. Fly from Jakarta to Sorong in 4 to 6 hours, often via Makassar, then ride the ferry to Waisai in about 2 hours. Divers and committed snorkelers get the most out of every rupiah spent here.
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Why go?What draws travelers here

Scenery

Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire with roughly 130 active volcanoes, and that restless geology … read more 👉
Indonesia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire with roughly 130 active volcanoes, and that restless geology shapes almost every view you’ll get. Volcanic soil feeds the rice terraces of Jatiluwih in central Bali, part of the UNESCO-listed subak landscape, where village water cooperatives have steered irrigation channels down the slopes for around a thousand years. In East Java, Kawah Ijen hides an acid-turquoise crater lake, and before dawn its sulphur vents burn with electric-blue flames you can watch from the rim. Fly east to Southwest Papua and the Piaynemo viewpoint in Raja Ampat looks out over dozens of jungle-topped limestone islets scattered across glassy water. Then there are the quieter scenes: tobacco fields under Lombok’s Rinjani, cloud rolling through Toraja’s valleys, fishing villages on stilts in Flores. Chase the views early. Cloud often wraps volcanic summits by 9 am and haze flattens the colours, so first light is your best shot almost everywhere. At Ijen, rent a proper gas mask at the trailhead rather than relying on a cloth scarf, because the sulphur fumes drift unpredictably.

People

Walk down any Indonesian street and the questions start within a minute: “Dari mana?” (where are you … read more 👉
Walk down any Indonesian street and the questions start within a minute: “Dari mana?” (where are you from), followed by whether you’re married and how many children you have. None of it is intrusive by local standards. It is simply how people place you, and answering with good humour wins friends fast. Kids shout “Hello mister!” at women and men alike, then collapse into giggles when you wave back. Students ask for a selfie, then your Instagram, and now and then an invitation home for dinner with their parents follows. On a long bus ride, expect a neighbour to offer you crackers or fruit from their bag and to look mildly hurt if you refuse outright; take a little, even if you aren’t hungry. The humour is gentle and constant, often self-mocking, and laughter smooths over most misunderstandings. When someone asks “Mau ke mana?” (where are you going), they aren’t asking for your itinerary. Reply “Jalan-jalan,” meaning just wandering, and watch the grin spread. Learn your numbers and “terima kasih” and every chat runs longer.

Wildlife

Indonesia straddles the Wallace Line, the deep-water boundary where Asian wildlife gives way to species … read more 👉
Indonesia straddles the Wallace Line, the deep-water boundary where Asian wildlife gives way to species with Australian roots, so you can track orangutans in Sumatra and Borneo, then fly east to islands of cockatoos, cuscuses and birds-of-paradise. In Bukit Lawang, on the edge of Sumatra’s Gunung Leuser National Park, one- or two-day jungle treks regularly cross paths with semi-wild orangutans moving through the canopy. In Kalimantan, Tanjung Puting lets you drift upriver for days on a wooden klotok boat, sleeping on deck and waking to gibbons calling across the peat swamp forest. North Sulawesi’s Tangkoko reserve brings out spectral tarsiers at dusk, primates small enough to sit in your palm, while crested black macaques forage noisily on the forest floor. Underwater, Raja Ampat holds around three-quarters of the world’s known hard coral species. Book treks only with licensed guides, keep at least 10 metres from orangutans, and turn down any operator who promises feeding or touching, since close contact passes human diseases to the apes.

Backpackers

Indonesia’s backpacker trail is long and loose, and that keeps it lively: you’ll bump into the same … read more 👉
Indonesia’s backpacker trail is long and loose, and that keeps it lively: you’ll bump into the same faces in Yogyakarta, on a Lombok volcano and again on a boat deck in Flores. Yogya’s Prawirotaman neighbourhood is the classic gathering point, with family guesthouses, street-art lanes and rooftop bars where strangers team up for sunrise trips. On Lombok, Kuta has grown into a surf-and-hostel town where people pair up on scooters to reach the breaks and swap tips over grilled corn on the beach road. Labuan Bajo’s hostels fill with travelers comparing boat crews before heading out among Komodo’s islands. The scene favours group adventures over all-night partying, though Gili Trawangan still rotates party nights between its bars through the week. For the best social experience, join a shared deck-class boat trip between Lombok and Labuan Bajo, usually three to four days of sleeping on mats under the stars and snorkelling off empty islands. Pick an operator with life jackets on board and plenty of recent reviews, because standards vary wildly.

Architecture

Indonesia’s buildings show who prayed and traded here, and the range is huge. Prambanan, completed in … read more 👉
Indonesia’s buildings show who prayed and traded here, and the range is huge. Prambanan, completed in the 9th century outside Yogyakarta, is the largest Hindu temple complex in the country, its central Shiva shrine soaring about 47 metres and wrapped in Ramayana reliefs you can follow clockwise like a stone comic strip. Across town, Taman Sari, the sultan’s 18th-century water palace, hides bathing pools and an underground mosque beneath a working neighbourhood of batik shops. In West Sumatra, Minangkabau rumah gadang houses sweep their roofs up into buffalo-horn points, and the rebuilt Pagaruyung Palace near Batusangkar is the showpiece. Jakarta’s Kota Tua and Semarang’s Kota Lama keep Dutch colonial warehouses, churches and canals, and Semarang’s recent restoration has made it a fine district to explore on foot. On Bali, every village temple greets you through a split stone gate, the candi bentar. Carry a sarong and sash, since they’re required at Balinese temples. Visit Prambanan in late afternoon, when the stone warms to orange and the open-air Ramayana ballet runs on selected evenings.

Beach life

Indonesia’s coastline runs for tens of thousands of kilometres, so the beach you want almost certainly … read more 👉
Indonesia’s coastline runs for tens of thousands of kilometres, so the beach you want almost certainly exists here, it just might take a boat to find it. Off Nusa Penida, Manta Point lets you float above reef mantas circling cleaning stations, wings spanning three metres or more. Bunaken Marine Park near Manado drops coral walls straight into deep blue water, a short swim from the boat. Karimunjawa, off Central Java’s north coast, offers white sand and calm snorkelling where most visitors are domestic weekenders. For surf and sunsets, Bali’s Bukit Peninsula stacks breaks below limestone cliffs at Uluwatu and Bingin, and the cliff-top bars fill up as the sun drops. Nightlife clusters in south Bali and the Gilis; elsewhere, evenings mean grilled fish and an early night. Outside Bali, most coastal communities are Muslim or devoutly Christian, so swimwear belongs on the sand. Throw on a T-shirt and shorts before walking into a village or warung. Mantas and strong currents go together, so dive Nusa Penida with an operator who runs proper briefings and surface marker buoys.

Food

Indonesian food hits hard and fast: sambal on everything, smoky satay, and coconut-rich curries that … read more 👉
Indonesian food hits hard and fast: sambal on everything, smoky satay, and coconut-rich curries that vary from island to island. Start with rendang from West Sumatra, beef slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk and spices until it turns dark and almost dry. In a Padang restaurant, staff stack a dozen small plates on your table and you pay only for what you touch, so sampling several dishes costs little. Yogyakarta’s gudeg simmers young jackfruit in palm sugar and coconut milk until it’s sweet and soft, and it’s often eaten late at night. Java gave the world tempeh, and you’ll find it fried crisp with chili in nearly every warung. On Bali, babi guling, spit-roasted pork with crackling skin, is the lunch to queue for. Night markets bring out martabak manis, a thick sweet pancake folded around chocolate, cheese or both. Eat where the plastic stools are full and the turnover is fast, because busy stalls mean fresh food. Ask for “tidak pedas” if you want it mild, and expect it to still bite.

Low cost

Most backpackers in Indonesia spend around US$25 to 40 a day, covering a dorm or homestay room, three … read more 👉
Most backpackers in Indonesia spend around US$25 to 40 a day, covering a dorm or homestay room, three local meals and regional transport. Java, Sumatra and Flores sit at the lower end, while Bali and the Gilis push you to the top, mostly because of accommodation and Western-style cafes. The savings come from how ordinary life works here. Family-run homestays are everywhere and usually include breakfast, so you start the day fed. Warung meals of rice, vegetables and a protein cost a small fraction of what you’d pay at a tourist restaurant, and they’re often tastier. Local buses, angkot minibuses and economy trains keep getting around cheap on Java and Sumatra. The big expenses are domestic flights, guided volcano treks and multi-day boat trips, so budget for those separately. Java, Sumatra and Flores stretch your money furthest. Travel with a partner or a small group you meet along the way and you can split private drivers, boat charters and guides, which often cuts those costs in half and opens up places public transport doesn’t reach.

Uniqueness

With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia has whole regions where you might be the only foreign face … read more 👉
With more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia has whole regions where you might be the only foreign face for days. On Sumba, east of Bali, villages still bury their dead in carved megalithic stone tombs beside clan houses with towering thatched peaks. Each February or March, the island hosts Pasola, a ritual battle in which hundreds of horsemen hurl blunt wooden spears at each other to bless the coming harvest. In Papua’s Baliem Valley, reachable only by flights into Wamena, Dani farmers tend sweet potato gardens on terraced slopes, and multi-day treks follow footpaths and swaying bridges between highland villages. Even in better-known areas, a short ride off the main road lands you in villages where kids stop playing football to stare and the warung owner insists you sit down for tea. Pasola dates are set by local priests based on when sea worms called nyale wash ashore, so keep your Sumba plans flexible by a week or two and ask your guesthouse to confirm the days once you arrive.

⭐ HighlightsKey places and experiences

  • Borobudur: Arrive before the tour buses and the 9th-century Buddhist monument rises out of Central Java’s palm groves in grey, stepped tiers. Nine stacked platforms carry 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues, and walking clockwise around the galleries traces a pilgrim’s path toward the 72 bell-shaped stupas at the summit. Access to the upper levels is now limited by a daily quota, and everyone climbs in woven sandals handed out at the entrance; they scratch softly against volcanic stone that is still cool from the night. On clear mornings, Mount Merapi trails a thin plume of smoke on the horizon.
  • Mount Bromo: Jeeps grind up to the Penanjakan viewpoint around 3:30 am, and the crowd is real, hundreds of people in rented jackets stamping their feet in the dark. Stay anyway. As the light comes up, Bromo’s smoking cone appears inside the vast Tengger caldera, with Semeru, Java’s highest peak, puffing behind it. Afterwards you cross the Sea of Sand, a flat plain of grey volcanic grit, and
… read more 👉
  • Borobudur: Arrive before the tour buses and the 9th-century Buddhist monument rises out of Central Java’s palm groves in grey, stepped tiers. Nine stacked platforms carry 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues, and walking clockwise around the galleries traces a pilgrim’s path toward the 72 bell-shaped stupas at the summit. Access to the upper levels is now limited by a daily quota, and everyone climbs in woven sandals handed out at the entrance; they scratch softly against volcanic stone that is still cool from the night. On clear mornings, Mount Merapi trails a thin plume of smoke on the horizon.
  • Mount Bromo: Jeeps grind up to the Penanjakan viewpoint around 3:30 am, and the crowd is real, hundreds of people in rented jackets stamping their feet in the dark. Stay anyway. As the light comes up, Bromo’s smoking cone appears inside the vast Tengger caldera, with Semeru, Java’s highest peak, puffing behind it. Afterwards you cross the Sea of Sand, a flat plain of grey volcanic grit, and climb a stairway of roughly 250 steps to the crater rim. Sulphur catches in your throat, a deep, steady rumble rises from the vent, and Tenggerese horsemen wrapped in sarongs wait below to offer you a ride back.
  • Komodo National Park: The rangers carry forked wooden sticks, and five minutes on Rinca or Komodo Island explains why. Dragons up to three metres long sprawl in the shade near the ranger huts, flicking yellow tongues and ignoring you in a way that feels faintly menacing. By August the park’s hills turn gold and the dry grass crunches underfoot. Most boat trips from Labuan Bajo pair the dragons with the hike up Padar Island, where a steep 30 to 45 minute climb puts three curving bays below you, each fringed with sand of a different colour. Start early, because the Padar ridge has no shade and fills up by mid-morning.
  • Tana Toraja: In the highlands of South Sulawesi, death is a long social event. Families keep deceased relatives at home for months or even years until they can afford a proper funeral, and these ceremonies draw hundreds of guests, plus water buffalo and pigs, over several days. Visitors are welcome if they come with a local guide and a small gift for the host family, usually a carton of cigarettes or a bag of sugar. Between funerals, you’ll find tongkonan houses with soaring boat-shaped roofs and buffalo horns stacked up their front posts, while wooden tau tau effigies stare out from the cliff graves at Lemo. Woodsmoke drifts over the paddies, and the roosters start long before dawn.
  • Lake Toba: Around 74,000 years ago a supervolcano erupted here, and the crater it left is now a lake about 100 km long with an island roughly the size of Singapore in the middle. That island, Samosir, is where you stay. Tuk Tuk’s guesthouses sit right on the shore, with jetties you can jump from in the morning, when the lake lies glassy and cold enough to make you gasp. The Batak people here are mostly Protestant, and on Sundays hymns carry across the water from village churches. At Ambarita, stone chairs mark the spot where village elders once held court and passed judgement.
For somewhere further off the map, look at the flour-white beaches of the Kei Islands, the cold, clear dive sites around Alor or the Banda Islands, and I would pick Banda first for its nutmeg forests and the chance to stand on Run, the speck of land the English gave up to the Dutch in 1667 while keeping Manhattan.
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🧭 RoutesLogical itineraries covering the highlights

The 14-Day Bali Temples and Surf Route


Two weeks on one island, moving from black-sand surf beaches to the cool highlands, rice terraces and cliff temples of the south. Short transfers and long stays keep it relaxed enough for a first trip to Asia.
  • Sunset at a sea temple cut off by the tide
  • A lakeside water temple in Bali’s cool highlands
  • Spring-water purification with Balinese pilgrims
  • A royal water garden in the east

👉 explore this 14-day route

The 21-Day Volcanoes and Islands Route


Three weeks crossing from Java’s ancient temples to smoking craters, then onward by ferry and fast boat to Bali and Lombok. Expect early alarms and sulfur-scented dawns, balanced with car-free island days and quiet beaches.
  • The world’s largest Buddhist monument at dawn
  • Sunrise over the Bromo caldera
  • Blue fire inside a working sulfur crater
  • A crater-rim camp on Lombok’s great volcano

👉 explore this 21-day route

The 30-Day Orangutans to Dragons Route


A month spanning five islands, from Sumatran rainforest and a supervolcano … read more 👉

The 14-Day Bali Temples and Surf Route


Two weeks on one island, moving from black-sand surf beaches to the cool highlands, rice terraces and cliff temples of the south. Short transfers and long stays keep it relaxed enough for a first trip to Asia.
  • Sunset at a sea temple cut off by the tide
  • A lakeside water temple in Bali’s cool highlands
  • Spring-water purification with Balinese pilgrims
  • A royal water garden in the east

👉 explore this 14-day route

The 21-Day Volcanoes and Islands Route


Three weeks crossing from Java’s ancient temples to smoking craters, then onward by ferry and fast boat to Bali and Lombok. Expect early alarms and sulfur-scented dawns, balanced with car-free island days and quiet beaches.
  • The world’s largest Buddhist monument at dawn
  • Sunrise over the Bromo caldera
  • Blue fire inside a working sulfur crater
  • A crater-rim camp on Lombok’s great volcano

👉 explore this 21-day route

The 30-Day Orangutans to Dragons Route


A month spanning five islands, from Sumatran rainforest and a supervolcano lake to Java’s cities and the rugged roads of Flores. It’s the deep version of Indonesia, with wildlife encounters and remote villages alongside the classics.
  • Jungle trekking among wild Sumatran orangutans
  • Island life on a vast volcanic lake
  • Komodo dragons and pink-sand beaches
  • Tricolored crater lakes on Flores

👉 explore this 30-day route

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Indonesia

The best months for backpacking Indonesia are May, June and September, when Bali, Java and the Nusa Tenggara islands are dry and sunny but the July and August crowds, and room rates that climb roughly 30 to 50 percent, are absent. That pattern covers most of the country. Maluku and parts of central Sulawesi flip it, getting their heaviest rain from May to August, while northern Sumatra’s wettest stretch runs roughly September to December.
  • Rainy season (November to March): Expect hot, sticky mornings and heavy afternoon or overnight downpours, with January and February the wettest months in Java and Bali. Guesthouses discount 20 to 40 percent outside the Christmas to New Year spike, and rice terraces are at their greenest. Some volcano treks close, ferry crossings get rough and rural roads in Flores and Sumatra turn to mud, so this is a season for slower, culture-focused trips.
  • Early dry shoulder (April to June): Rain tapers off, starting in Lombok and Flores, and skies are mostly clear by May while the landscape stays lush. Prices hold close to low-season levels until late June, when Indonesian school holidays begin and domestic travel picks up. Trekking, surfing and island hopping all come into their own.
  • Peak season (July and August): The driest, sunniest weeks across the southern islands, with cool nights in the highlands. European summer holidays push Bali, the Gili Islands and Labuan Bajo to capacity, budget rooms fill days ahead and Komodo boat tours can sell out. The weather is at its most reliable, but you pay more for it and share every viewpoint.
  • Late dry shoulder (September and October): Still dry through most of September, hotter and more humid in October, with the first storms arriving late in the month. Crowds thin fast once European schools restart and rates fall back, so you get peak-season weather at shoulder prices, the best value of the year.
Pack a fleece or light down jacket even for a beach-heavy trip: dawn at Bromo’s viewpoints or on Rinjani’s crater rim can drop close to 5°C in the dry season, and a sarong will not cut it at 4 a.m.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: fair for travelingAPRApril: good for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: excellent for travelingJULJuly: good for travelingAUGAugust: good for travelingSEPSeptember: excellent for travelingOCTOctober: highly recommended for travelingNOVNovember: fair for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
!2016-02-17 05.48.33rotateda50

💰 Costs (as of 2026)How expensive it really is

Most budget travelers in Indonesia spend US$20 to 35 a day, and Bali's tourist hubs push you toward the top of that range while Java and Flores keep you near the bottom.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$4 to 12 per nightA dorm bed in Yogyakarta runs about US$4 to 7. In Canggu or Ubud, expect US$7 to 12, and pool hostels charge more. Prices are close to Vietnam and a little under Thailand. You pay less by booking several nights direct at small homestays (losmen), where breakfast is often included.
MealsUS$4 to 10 per dayStreet food beats self-catering here. A plate of nasi goreng or mie ayam at a warung costs US$1 to 2, and nasi campur with a few side dishes costs US$1.50 to 3. Indomaret and Alfamart sell instant noodles for about US$0.25 and a 1.5-liter water for around US$0.40, but cooking rarely saves money when a full warung meal costs this little. Western cafés in Bali charge US$5 to 8 a plate, which is Bangkok pricing.
Local transportUS$2 to 8 per day (average)Economy trains are the cheapest way across Java: Jakarta to Yogyakarta costs roughly US$9 to 15. A short Gojek or Grab motorbike ride costs US$1 to 2. Scooter rental in Bali is US$4 to 6 a day, and the
… read more 👉
Most budget travelers in Indonesia spend US$20 to 35 a day, and Bali's tourist hubs push you toward the top of that range while Java and Flores keep you near the bottom.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$4 to 12 per nightA dorm bed in Yogyakarta runs about US$4 to 7. In Canggu or Ubud, expect US$7 to 12, and pool hostels charge more. Prices are close to Vietnam and a little under Thailand. You pay less by booking several nights direct at small homestays (losmen), where breakfast is often included.
MealsUS$4 to 10 per dayStreet food beats self-catering here. A plate of nasi goreng or mie ayam at a warung costs US$1 to 2, and nasi campur with a few side dishes costs US$1.50 to 3. Indomaret and Alfamart sell instant noodles for about US$0.25 and a 1.5-liter water for around US$0.40, but cooking rarely saves money when a full warung meal costs this little. Western cafés in Bali charge US$5 to 8 a plate, which is Bangkok pricing.
Local transportUS$2 to 8 per day (average)Economy trains are the cheapest way across Java: Jakarta to Yogyakarta costs roughly US$9 to 15. A short Gojek or Grab motorbike ride costs US$1 to 2. Scooter rental in Bali is US$4 to 6 a day, and the public ferry from Java to Bali (Ketapang to Gilimanuk) costs under US$1 for foot passengers. Fast boats from Bali to the Gilis cost US$15 to 30 and will blow up a daily average.
ActivitiesUS$0 to 25 per day (average)Foreigner entry fees and guided treks drive most of this cost. Borobudur's grounds cost US$25 for foreign adults, while Mount Bromo costs around US$13 on weekdays and more on weekends. A 3-day Rinjani trek package on Lombok runs US$150 to 250. Beaches, rice terraces and village walks are mostly free. I’d skip paid Bali day tours, rent a scooter, and spend the savings on one guided volcano trek.
MiscellaneousUS$2 to 5 per day (average)Visa on arrival costs about US$31, and Bali adds a one-time tourist levy of around US$9 to 10. A tourist SIM with 20 to 30 GB costs US$10 to 15, or less at a city phone shop. Laundry costs about US$1 per kilo. A large Bintang costs US$2.50 to 3.50 in Bali, which adds up faster than anything else.
Total Daily BudgetUS$20 to 35Java, Sumatra and Flores sit at US$20 to 25 if you stay in homestays and eat at warungs. Bali and the Gilis land at US$30 to 35. That makes the country about as cheap as Vietnam, cheaper than Thailand and Malaysia, and similar to the Philippines once you count boat fares.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutIndonesia Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (460 pages) contains:
✅ 153 highlights, ranked by travel appeal
✅ Optimized 14, 21 & 30-day travel routes
✅ Cities, national parks, landmarks, beaches
✅ How to get around
✅ Offline-friendly for travel without Wi-Fi
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📅 Plan smarter in minutes, not weeks
✅ Month by month travel advice
✅ Festivals & national holidays
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🗺️ Go to the right places, skip the overrated ones
✅ Honest pros & cons of destinations
✅ Top hikes, parks & viewpoints
✅ Lesser-known places most travelers miss
✅ Clear “worth it vs skip it” guidance

🛏️ Travel smoothly without rookie mistakes
✅ Best areas to stay
✅ Transport systems explained simply
✅ Common scams & safety advice
✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
✅ 52 Essential phrases & customs
✅ Festivals worth planning around
✅ Traveler-friendly historical context
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🛏️ Where to stay?Choosing the right base for your trip

Indonesia has a deep supply of hostels and family-run guesthouses (homestays), with dorm beds typically running Rp 100,000 to 250,000 (US$6 to 15) and simple private rooms from about Rp 200,000 (US$12). On Bali, Canggu has the most design-forward hostels, surf breaks and late bars but also clogged scooter traffic, Kuta is the cheapest and loudest base and is close to the airport, and Ubud trades nightlife for quiet rice-field lanes, yoga studios and easy access to temples. In Yogyakarta, Sosrowijayan puts you steps from Malioboro and the train station in cheap but noisy alleys, while Prawirotaman … read more 👉
Indonesia has a deep supply of hostels and family-run guesthouses (homestays), with dorm beds typically running Rp 100,000 to 250,000 (US$6 to 15) and simple private rooms from about Rp 200,000 (US$12). On Bali, Canggu has the most design-forward hostels, surf breaks and late bars but also clogged scooter traffic, Kuta is the cheapest and loudest base and is close to the airport, and Ubud trades nightlife for quiet rice-field lanes, yoga studios and easy access to temples. In Yogyakarta, Sosrowijayan puts you steps from Malioboro and the train station in cheap but noisy alleys, while Prawirotaman is calmer, leafier and better for cafes, and on Lombok and the Gili Islands you will find hostels clustered along the main beach strips, where Gili Trawangan is the party island and Gili Air the mellow one.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Indonesia


Best quality hotels in Indonesia

🚌 Getting aroundWhat moving around is really like

A typical Java travel day is a 7 to 8 hour train ride from Yogyakarta to Malang in a reclining air-conditioned seat, costing Rp 100,000 to 450,000 (about US$6 to 28) depending on class. Off Java, things get messier: the postcard idea of breezy island-hopping meets Bali traffic that turns 30 km into two hours and boat fares set at several times the local rate. Still, the volcano views from a Javanese train window and the open deck of a cheap public ferry make the effort part of the fun.
  • Trains (KAI):
… read more 👉
A typical Java travel day is a 7 to 8 hour train ride from Yogyakarta to Malang in a reclining air-conditioned seat, costing Rp 100,000 to 450,000 (about US$6 to 28) depending on class. Off Java, things get messier: the postcard idea of breezy island-hopping meets Bali traffic that turns 30 km into two hours and boat fares set at several times the local rate. Still, the volcano views from a Javanese train window and the open deck of a cheap public ferry make the effort part of the fun.
  • Trains (KAI): The backbone of Java. Economy runs Rp 80,000 to 200,000 and executive Rp 250,000 to 650,000; Jakarta to Yogyakarta takes 6.5 to 8 hours, and the Whoosh high-speed line zips from Jakarta to Bandung in about 45 minutes from roughly Rp 200,000. Book on the KAI Access app or Traveloka with your passport, up to 45 days ahead. Air-conditioning is set to arctic, so keep a hoodie handy, and weekend and holiday seats sell out fast.
  • Buses and “travel” minibuses: Your main option on Sumatra, Lombok and Flores. Overnight buses between Java cities cost Rp 200,000 to 350,000 for 9 to 12 hours, while door-to-door shared minivans charge Rp 100,000 to 250,000 for 3 to 8 hour hops such as Labuan Bajo to Ruteng. Book through redBus, Traveloka or your guesthouse. Drivers overtake on blind bends, so take motion-sickness tablets and grab a front-row seat if you can.
  • Ferries and fast boats: Public ferries are dirt cheap, with Ketapang to Gilimanuk (Java to Bali) taking about 1 hour for around Rp 10,000 and Padang Bai to Lembar (Bali to Lombok) taking 4 to 5 hours for roughly Rp 50,000. Fast boats from Bali to the Gilis take 1.5 to 2.5 hours and cost Rp 300,000 to 600,000. Pick operators with visible life jackets, and skip crossings when swells are big.
  • Domestic flights: Low-cost carriers make long hops affordable, such as Jakarta to Bali in 2 hours for US$45 to 90, or Denpasar to Labuan Bajo in about an hour for US$50 to 100. Compare fares on Traveloka or Tiket.com. Baggage allowances vary between 0 and 20 kg, and delays are routine, so never book tight connections.
  • Ride-hailing (Gojek, Grab): Motorbike taxis cost Rp 10,000 to 30,000 for a typical city ride, while cars cost Rp 30,000 to 100,000. Pay in cash or through the app, and get a local SIM so drivers can message you. Some Bali areas, including parts of Ubud and Canggu, ban app pickups to protect local taxi groups, so walk a block away before booking.
To cross the country efficiently, ride the train along Java’s spine from Jakarta to Yogyakarta and on to Surabaya, then fly the big water gaps east or north. Two or three cheap flights save you a full day per leg compared with bus-and-ferry combos.
Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK), Indonesia’s main gateway, sits about 30 km (19 miles) northwest of central Jakarta, and the airport train is the cheapest reliable way in.
  • Soekarno-Hatta Airport Rail Link (about 45 to 55 minutes to BNI City/Sudirman, Rp 70,000, around US$4.50): ride the free Skytrain from your terminal to the airport rail station, buy at the ticket machines with a card or e-money, and note the last trains leave around 23:00.
  • DAMRI airport bus (60 to 120 minutes depending on traffic, about Rp 80,000, around US$5): buy your ticket at the DAMRI counter outside arrivals and board for Gambir, Blok M or other hubs, with the Gambir route running through the night.
  • Blue Bird taxi (45 to 90 minutes, roughly Rp 200,000 to 300,000 including tolls, US$12 to 19): queue at the official Blue Bird rank outside arrivals, insist on the meter and expect to pay toll fees on top of the fare.
  • Grab or Gojek (45 to 90 minutes, roughly Rp 150,000 to 250,000, US$9 to 16): book in the app and walk to the signed ride-hailing pickup zone, paying by card in the app or in cash to the driver.
If you land late at night, skip the touts in the arrivals hall and head straight to the Blue Bird rank or the 24-hour DAMRI bus to Gambir.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
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🔒 Safety (risk Level: medium)Common concerns and things to watch out for

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Indonesia is generally safe for solo travelers, as violent crime against tourists is rare, and the most common risks are scooter accidents, bag snatching from passing motorbikes in Bali and Jakarta, and drink spiking or methanol-laced arak in party areas. Solo women usually travel without serious problems, though catcalling happens, and dressing modestly outside Bali along with using app-based rides at night reduces unwanted attention. Same-sex relations are not criminalized nationally except in Aceh, where sharia law applies, but public attitudes are conservative, so LGBTQ+ travelers tend to keep a low profile outside Bali, which has a relaxed and established gay scene around Seminyak. A new criminal code in force since January 2026 penalizes sex outside marriage, but only upon complaint by a spouse, parent or child, and is not expected to affect tourists in practice.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
View details 👉
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source: www.gov.uk

✈️ VisaDo you need a visa to visit?

Most visitors, including those from the US, UK, EU, Canada and Australia, need a Visa on Arrival (e-VOA), which costs IDR 500,000, is valid for 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days, while ASEAN citizens can enter visa-free. It’s best to apply online through the official Indonesian immigration portal before you fly, though the visa can also be bought at the counters in major airports such as Jakarta and Bali, and your passport must be valid for at least six months. Travelers to Bali also pay a separate tourist levy of IDR 150,000, which can be paid online in advance.

source: evisa.imigrasi.go.id
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?Packing essentials for the trip

Pack for humid heat in the 28 to 33°C range, with quick-dry fabrics and a light rain shell for the wet season from roughly November to March, when afternoon downpours are a daily event. Don’t forget warm layers: sunrise at Bromo can dip to around 5°C, and Rinjani’s crater rim gets close to freezing, so a fleece, beanie and gloves earn their space even on a beach trip. Shoulders and knees need to be covered at temples, mosques and in conservative regions like Aceh and rural Java, so lightweight long trousers and a sarong are smart choices. Sturdy sandals that can handle wet rocks, boat landings and slippery temple steps are more useful than heavy boots unless you plan multi-day treks, and reef-safe sunscreen is worth packing since it’s pricey on small islands.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

View the full list 👉

🙋 FAQThings travelers often ask

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Indonesia can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Indonesia itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

Indonesia has no mandatory vaccinations for most travelers, except yellow fever proof if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. Make sure your routine shots are up to date (tetanus-diphtheria, MMR), and doctors commonly recommend hepatitis A and typhoid for street food and hepatitis B for longer stays. Consider pre-exposure rabies vaccine, since rabies is present on Bali and Flores and monkeys and dogs are common, as well as Japanese encephalitis if you plan extended time in rural areas. Malaria prevention is advised for Papua and parts of East Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, but not for Bali, Jakarta or the main Java cities. Dengue occurs nationwide, so pack strong DEET or picaridin repellent and see a travel clinic 6 to 8 weeks before departure.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Indonesia, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

Use your right hand to eat, give and receive things, since the left is considered unclean, and point with your thumb rather than your index finger. Take off your shoes before entering homes and mosques, and wear a sarong and sash at Balinese temples, which are often lent or rented at the entrance. Don’t touch anyone’s head, step on the small canang sari offerings on Bali’s sidewalks, or climb on temple structures for photos, and note that menstruating women are traditionally asked not to enter Balinese temples. Public displays of affection are frowned upon for all couples, and losing your temper in public is seen as embarrassing, so calm smiles get far better results in disputes. Women should cover their shoulders and knees outside beach areas, especially in Aceh, where headscarves are expected for Muslim women and modest clothing is enforced for everyone, and same-sex couples should avoid physical affection in public. During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking and smoking in public in Muslim areas during daylight hours.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Indonesia.
  1. Nasi goreng: Fried rice with sweet soy sauce (kecap manis), shallots, chili and usually a fried egg on top. It’s eaten at any hour, from street carts to hotel buffets, and is the dish most Indonesians name as their national plate.
  2. Rendang: Beef slow-cooked for hours in coconut milk and spices until almost dry and deeply caramelized. It comes from the Minangkabau of West Sumatra and is served at weddings and holidays, and you’ll find it in every nasi Padang restaurant.
  3. Sate: Skewers of chicken, goat or beef grilled over charcoal and served with peanut or soy sauce. Madura-style sate carts are found in every Javanese town after dark, and on Bali look for sate lilit, minced fish wrapped around lemongrass.
  4. Gado-gado: Blanched vegetables, tofu, tempeh, boiled egg and rice cakes smothered in peanut sauce. It’s Jakarta’s classic lunch and the easiest filling meal for vegetarians.
  5. Soto ayam: Turmeric-yellow chicken soup with rice noodles, lime and crunchy shallots. Every region has its own version, and it’s the go-to breakfast at roadside stalls.
  6. Nasi Padang: A plate of rice topped with your pick from a window display of curries, greens and sambal. Originating in West Sumatra, these restaurants are everywhere and offer the best value meal in the country.
  7. Babi guling: Balinese spit-roasted suckling pig stuffed with turmeric, chili and lemongrass, served with crackling and lawar. Pork is rare in Muslim-majority Indonesia, which makes this Bali’s signature ceremonial feast.
Tap water in Indonesia is not safe to drink, and locals don’t drink it either, instead boiling it or buying 19-liter refillable water jugs for home use. Tourists should stick to bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth if they have a sensitive stomach. Many hostels, cafés and refill stations in Bali, the Gilis and Yogyakarta let you refill your bottle for Rp 3,000 to 5,000, and ice in established restaurants is generally made from purified water.
The main language in Indonesia is Javanese. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Javanese skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for Indonesia includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

Get your local basic phrases 👉

Get the Travel Guide -


English is widely spoken in Bali, the Gili Islands, Labuan Bajo and central Yogyakarta, where hostel staff, tour operators and most café workers handle it comfortably, and middle-class Jakarta also tends to speak it well. Younger Indonesians are often keen to practice, so students may strike up conversations on trains and at temples. In rural Java, Sumatra, Flores and Sulawesi, expect very little English beyond numbers and “hello mister.” Bahasa Indonesia is the language to learn: it uses the Latin alphabet, has no tones and is easy to pick up, so a dozen phrases like terima kasih (thank you), berapa (how much) and tidak pedas (not spicy) go a long way, backed by Google Translate with the Indonesian offline pack downloaded.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Indonesia is IDR (Rp).
ATMs are easy to find in every city, tourist town and most mid-sized towns, with the BCA, Mandiri, BNI and BRI networks the most reliable, though remote areas like Moni on Flores or smaller islands may have none, so carry enough cash. Local banks typically charge foreign cards a fee of Rp 20,000 to 50,000 per withdrawal on top of your home bank’s fees, and most machines limit withdrawals to Rp 2.5 to 3 million, so take out the maximum each time and decline the machine’s offered currency conversion. Cards are accepted in malls, hotels, chain restaurants and many Bali cafés, often with a 2 to 3% surcharge, but warungs, markets, homestays, buses and boats are strictly cash-only. US dollars are the most widely exchanged foreign currency, with euros a close second, and only crisp bills from 2009 or later fetch the best rate. Exchange money only at banks or licensed money changers marked “Authorized Money Changer,” and avoid the small booths in Kuta and Ubud that advertise unrealistic rates and use sleight-of-hand counting tricks.
Tipping in Indonesia is not mandatory, but it is appreciated, and many mid-range restaurants already add a 5 to 10% service charge plus 10% tax, shown as “++” on the menu. In local warungs, people generally just round up the bill, while drivers, trekking guides and porters typically receive Rp 50,000 to 100,000 per day for good service. Rounding up taxi fares to the nearest Rp 5,000 or 10,000 is common practice, and hotel porters usually get around Rp 10,000 to 20,000.

🧩 Nearby countriesSimilar backpacking destinations

📸 PhotosMoments captured along the way

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Photographed by: Johan Kruseman

Observations and takeaways

Bali, more than Australian surf dudes and beer pong

Bali, more than Australian surf dudes and beer pong

Indonesia | Indonesia started with a culture shock, but then it felt like returning to the Western world. I arrived in Kuta, Bali, which is like Scheveningen for Australians. But even the Germans were abundant here. There was nothing else to do but play beer pong for two nights. Something in me told me that there must be more Indonesian culture to discover tha...
Read more
Climbing the non-forgiving Rinjani volcano

Climbing the non-forgiving Rinjani volcano

Indonesia | Indonesia, without claiming this is a unique poetic discovery, I would call the land of islands and volcanoes. From Gili Air, a small paradise island perfect for snorkeling, cocktails, and tuna steak, Mount Rinjani, a continuously smoking, sometimes active volcano, beckoned. One day, I looked from my beach chair at this mighty volcano, and the next...
Read more
How a non sea-worthy wreck still brought us to the Komodo Islands

How a non sea-worthy wreck still brought us to the Komodo Islands

Indonesia | Everyone was silent. Totally stunned. Early in the morning, we, a group of thirty people, stared at a rundown wooden shack. It floated, so you could call it a boat. Sometimes we looked enviously at the boat from the other group. Theirs had everything you‘d call a boat, or so we wanted to believe. Ours floated. The lifeboat, supposed to fit four out...
Read more

Why I needed to ask a guy to become a Flores citizen to extend my own visa

Indonesia | I believe there‘s no meal in the world that can attract as much attention after a while as pizza made with local ingredients. And by pizza, I mean the kind only Italians can make. Usually, there‘s no Italian around at that moment, let alone the right original Italian ingredients. But this time we got lucky. We found an Italian guy, complete with a ...
Read more
Don’t try and climb a waterfall – learnt it the hard way

Don’t try and climb a waterfall – learnt it the hard way

Indonesia | After all the effort to extend my visa for another month, today marked the first day of these hard-fought extra thirty days in Indonesia. It would also be the last day I‘d see anything of Indonesia other than the inside of a hostel or hospital. While walking to a waterfall, I slipped, twisted, and fell several meters down. Just as abruptly as I ha...
Read more
More stories

We 💚 feedbackThe bottom line on traveling here

Indonesia runs at its own speed, and the trip gets better the moment you stop fighting that. Ferries leave when they’re full, a two-hour drive turns into five, and someone will still share a clove cigarette and a joke while you wait. Much of the country lives beyond the islands everyone names, and towns with no hostel at all often give the warmest welcomes. A small warning: volcano access rules change with activity levels, so check the local alert status before any summit hike, and walk away from any guide who offers to sneak you past a closure. The one strategic move that improves everything is choosing fewer islands. Two regions in a month beats six in a rush, and you’ll spend your days exploring instead of sitting in departure halls.

✈️ When did I visit Indonesia?
As part of my 1.5 year travel around the world trip, I visited Indonesia twice (and it was worth it): first in September 2015 and a bit later again in January and February 2016. While my visit dates back, this guide is continuously refined using feedback from locals and current backpackers (last update: 19 October 2026)

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Indonesia, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



🙋‍♂️ Give feedback

👋 Meet the founderWho’s Behind Take Your Backpack?

Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

The goal is to provide realistic, experience-driven guidance — not generic itineraries — so you can explore destinations with better context, clearer expectations, and more confidence.

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