backpacking Asia
Indonesia

Backpacking Indonesia in 2025

A complete guide for backpacking in Indonesia with best places to go, best time to visit, what to bring and safety advice.

Welcome to Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago where backpackers discover a tapestry of cultures, lush landscapes, and vibrant cities. Pros? Immerse in diverse traditions, explore ancient temples, and trek through lush rainforests. Indonesia offers budget-friendly living, but varying infrastructure quality may pose challenges. Yet, the unparalleled island-hopping possibilities and the warmth of the locals make it a backpacker's haven. For those seeking a harmonious blend of adventure and cultural immersion, Indonesia stands out as a unique destination, promising an array of experiences across its diverse and captivating islands.
Best known for:Known for: scenery | people | wildlife
Best time to visit: April-October

Why to go?
Why backpacking in Indonesia

Scenery

Indonesia offers a diverse range of breathtaking sceneries that are perfect for exploration. One of the most popular destinations is Bali, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant coral reefs, and lush rice terraces. Visitors can also explore the …

Read more

People

The people of Indonesia are known for their warm and welcoming nature, making them incredibly hospitable. They have a deep-rooted culture of kindness and respect towards others, which is evident in their interactions with both locals and foreigners. …

Read more

Wildlife

Indonesia is great for seeing wildlife because it is home to a diverse range of unique and exotic species. With its vast and varied landscapes, including rainforests, coral reefs, and volcanic islands, Indonesia offers a wide array of habitats for …

Read more

Backpackers

The backpacker scene in Indonesia is vibrant and diverse, with a mix of budget travelers, adventure seekers, and cultural enthusiasts. Popular destinations such as Bali, Yogyakarta, and the Gili Islands attract backpackers from around the world, …

Read more

Architecture

Indonesia is home to a variety of ancient ruins and interesting architecture, including the Borobudur Temple in Central Java, which is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple features intricate carvings …

Read more

Beach life

Indonesia is great for beach life and snorkeling because it boasts some of the most diverse and pristine marine environments in the world. With over 17,000 islands, Indonesia offers an abundance of beautiful beaches, crystal-clear waters, and …

Read more

Food

The food in Indonesia is so good because of its diverse and rich culinary heritage. The country’s cuisine is influenced by a wide variety of cultures, including Chinese, Indian, Arabic, and European, resulting in a unique fusion of flavors and …

Read more

Cheap

The average costs for backpacking in Indonesia can vary depending on the traveler’s preferences and travel style. On average, budget travelers can expect to spend around $25-35 per day, which includes accommodation in hostels or guesthouses, meals …

Read more

Uniqueness

Exploring Indonesia offers a unique and off the beaten track experience due to its diverse and relatively untouched natural landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and the opportunity to immerse oneself in local traditions. From the pristine beaches of …

Read more

💡 Highlights
Top-5 things to do in Indonesia

Lonely Planet

Bali: Explore the beautiful beaches, lush rice terraces, and vibrant culture of this popular island destination.
Borobudur Temple: Visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site, the largest Buddhist temple in the world, to marvel at its intricate architecture and stunning views.
Komodo National Park: Go on a thrilling adventure to see the famous Komodo dragons, the world’s largest lizards, in their natural habitat.
Raja Ampat Islands: Dive into the crystal-clear waters of this marine paradise, known for its rich biodiversity and vibrant coral reefs.
Ubud: Immerse yourself in the cultural heart of Bali, where you can explore art galleries, traditional markets, and experience traditional Balinese dance and music performances.

🌆 Cities: Bandung, Denpasar, Jakarta, Yogyakarta

🎎 Festivals: Bali Arts Festival, Baliem Valley Festival, Jember Fashion Carnival, Nyepi Festival, Toraja International Festival of Culture

🏔️ Hikes: Baliem Valley, Ijen Crater, Kelimutu, Mount Bromo, Mount Rinjani

🏞️ National parks: Bali Barat, Bromo Tengger Semeru, Gunung Leuser, Komodo, Lorentz

🏝️ Regions: Bali, Borneo, Flores, Gili Islands, Java, Lombok, Papua, Sulawesi, Sumatra

Stories

🌤️ When to go?
Best time to go backpacking Indonesia

The best time to visit Indonesia for backpacking is during the dry season, which generally runs from April to October. This period offers sunny weather and lower chances of rain, making it ideal for outdoor activities and exploring the country's natural attractions. However, it's worth noting that Indonesia experiences different climates across its various regions, so it's important to research and plan accordingly based on the specific areas you intend to visit.JANFEBMARNOVDEC

detailed advice per month

Risk level: medium (50%)
Safety advice for Indonesia

There's an ongoing risk of terrorist attack in Indonesia. Be alert to possible threats. Take official warnings seriously and follow the advice of local authorities. Popular tourist areas may be the target of terrorist attacks.

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people occur regularly and can turn violent with little notice. Expect traffic delays and restricted access to locations if there are protests. Avoid protests and demonstrations and monitor local media for the latest updates.

There's been tension, including demonstrations and violence, in towns within the provinces of Papua, Papua Pegunungan, Papua Tengah and Papua Selatan in recent years. Armed groups have stated that they're targeting foreigners, including Australians. Our ability to provide consular support in these provinces is limited. Armed groups have killed a foreign pilot and shot at aircraft, including commercial planes, in remote airports in Papua Pegunungan and Papua Tengah provinces.

Many of Indonesia's volcanoes are active and can erupt without warning. Adhere to exclusion zones around volcanoes, which can change at short notice, and follow the advice of local authorities. Domestic and international flights can be disrupted. Monitor Indonesia's Volcano Observatory Notice for the latest volcanic activity (Bahasa Indonesia and English), Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre for updates.

Petty and violent crime occurs in Indonesia. Opportunistic crime, such as pickpocketing occurs. Drinks may be spiked or mixed with toxic substances. Crimes involving taxis and taxi drivers occur. Solo women are at higher risk. Be alert in taxis, public transport, crowds, bars and nightclubs.

Legal disputes over real estate are common, including in Bali. Before entering into an agreement or providing financial details, do your research and get legal advice.

Natural disasters such as severe weather, floods, landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis occur regularly. Weather conditions can change quickly during the wet season (October – April). Regularly check weather reports, monitor media and speak to your travel provider before continuing with planned activities. Follow the advice of local authorities.

When undertaking adventure activities, ensure that functioning safety equipment is available, that you have travel insurance and that your policy covers you for these activities.

source: smartraveller.gov.au

source: www.gov.uk

Indonesia
My tips to get you on the way!
Does Indonesia sound like your next backpacking destination? Use these steps to get you on the way.

Get inspiration 📚
While guidebooks used to be the backpacker’s holy grail for finding accomodation, nowadays that’s more conveniently accomplished online. However, guidebooks remain an excellent resource for familiarizing oneself with the country, gaining inspiration, and discovering itineraries. I enjoy reading them before my travels and then leaving them behind at home when I embark on my journey.

Lonely Planet

Prepare your trip ✅
Before embarking on your journey, several essential checks are crucial: passport, visa, vaccinations and insurance. Some countries mandate that your passport remains valid for 3 to 6 months post your return. Additionally, it is important to verify the specific visa requirements for Indonesia. These differ per country of origin. While you can handle visa arrangements independently, online visa services streamline the process as they know exactly what’s needed for each country. Indonesia may require certain vaccinations. Make sure to timely check which ones you still need. Lastly, if you don’t have a travel insurance yet, Safety Wing is a good choice as they are tailored for backpackers.

Check visa requirements for Indonesia

Check vaccination requirement for Indonesia

Get your travel insurance

Book your flight ✈️
The flight may be the most expensive part of your trip. Therefore it’s worth spending a bit of time finding the right one. Flight search engines like Skyscanner and Kayak are the best to compare all possible options. A good tip is to be flexible with your exact travel dates. Traveling one or two days earlier/later may save you some bucks. Also booking about three months in advance can help making the best deal for you (though I’m not the best one myself to follow this advice as I tend to decide last-minute). A final tip would be to check airports in neighbouring countries. Not necessarily for cost saving but it can be intriguing to journey into Indonesia, travel overland to one of its neighbours and fly back home from there.

Book your first night(s) 🛌
Depending on your travel style, you can either plan a detailed day-to-day route and pre-book your accommodations, providing peace of mind, or opt to book them spontaneously, offering greater flexibility to adjust your plan. Personally, I am a big fan of the latter approach, but I always ensure to book the first night(s) in advance.

Hostelworld

Expedia

My personal packing list 🎒
author

Over 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.

Money & Documents
Passport, visa (originals + some photo copies)
Passport photographs
Credit and debit cards (on world profile)
Cash (US$ or €)
Money belt
Vaccination proofs

Clothing
Light, quick-dry clothing
No jeans, too heavy
Ultralight rain/wind jacket
Thermo underwear
Quick-dry towel
Sunglasses

Electronics
Mobile phone + charger
Power bank
Travel adapter
Local sim card (buy it on arrival)

Health
Toothbrush
Deo
Sunscreen, lips sunburn
Anti-diarrhea
Paracetamol
Blister plasters
Anti-mosquito (DEET)
Toilet paper
Nail scissors

Others
Small number lock
Waterproof packing cubes (for dirty clothes)
Card game(!)
Ear plugs
Travel pillow