CoconutCecci

Welcome to my itinerary for one of the world’s most diverse countries, Indonesia!

📍Indonesia

It’s time to share my itinerary for Indonesia to help you plan your own trip! Indonesia is a huge country so this post series will only cover the locations I explored: Bali, Gili islands, Lombok, Labuan Bajo and Komodo. Hopefully I get a chance to return some day and explore more of this beautiful country!

Indonesia is most famous for its magnificent nature – from lush national parks to world-class underwater wonders, hundreds of islands and some animals and species you can only encounter here. Indonesian people are super friendly and the price level generally low. I felt very safe during my whole trip. 

As Indonesia is a huge country, the traditions and religion varies from place to place. It is important to read about your planned destination before because the attitude towards acceptable clothes and for example alcohol can vary greatly. Another important research point when visiting is the ferry companies. These vary greatly when it comes to safety and travel comfort.

🌤️Weather

Indonesia has a tropical climate, with two main seasons:

• Dry Season: May to October 
• Rainy/Wet Season: November to April 
• Except for Raja-Ampat that has reverse seasons!

🛃Documentation needed

• Visa (apply for evisa to skip queues 
• Health declaration 
• Customs declaration 

💵Money

Most places have plenty of ATMs and accept cards. You’ll need cash in remote locations though!

🛜Internet

Many hotels and restaurants have wifi but I would recommend buying a local Sim-card from the airport (Telkomsel).

🚖Transportation

• Grab or Gojek
• Domestic flights are cheap and frequent 
• Ferries between islands, but often slow and weather-dependent 
• Renting a scooter is popular in Bali/Lombok

💧Water

Do not drink tap water!

📍Gili islands 

Just off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia, lies a trio of dreamy islands known as the Gili Islands – Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air. Each has its own personality, but if you’re looking for a vibrant mix of beach life, diving, nightlife, and breathtaking sunsets, Gili Trawangan is a good choice. If you’re looking for a bit quieter island but still want to have several restaurants and some beach parties, Gili Air might be the one for you. Or, if you’re looking for a very quiet paradise, Gili Meno is your match! Gili meno is mostly visited by honeymooners and families. The islands are very close to each other and you can obviously visit them all!

📍Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan is the largest and most popular of the three islands. It’s known for its laid-back yet lively vibe and stunning coral reefs. 

🗺️ Where to stay in Gili T?

Roughly speaking Gili T has two main areas for visitors, the one where the ferries stop (main area/ eastern side) and the sunset side (western side). The main area is the busiest with best facilities: hotels, restaurants, dive centers and tour companies to choose from. The beach is good and sandy. The sunset side is a bit more peaceful but becomes the main spot during sunset hours. There are also many hotels, restaurants and beach bars to choose from. The beach here is beautiful but there is some coral so wear swimming shoes!

🛵Transportation 

In the internet it is said that there are no motorized vehicles on the island. Well, nowadays there are electric scooters you can rent and these are quite popular. Many visitors choose bicycles and if you have a heavy luggage you can take a horse-drawn cart.

⛴️Getting here

Fast boats run daily from Bali and Lombok. The crossing from Bali takes around 1.5–2.5 hours depending on departure point. The shortest ride from Bali is from Padangbai and the best company with big ferries where you stay dry and without any seasickness is Eka Jaya.

🐠Activities 

Gili T has a lot of activities to keep you busy if that’s what you want but it offers the perfect beaches and pools to relax as well. Many restaurants have pools for their customers as well.

✔️Diving

Gili T and Gili A are famous for diving. All the dive sites are 10-15 minutes away so diving here is easy and doesn’t take the whole day. My favorite dive site here is Shark Point. Trawangan Dive is a great center to dive with!

✔️Snorkeling

Snorkeling here is also good and there are many boat tours to join. The water is a pleasant 28 celcius so you can just lay on your stomach and watch the marine life!

✔️Watching the sunset

Watching the sunset and sundowners is a whole activity itself with lively beach bars.

✔️Enjoy the nightlife

After all, you’re on the party island so go and enjoy fire shows and other parties along the beach!

🎆Parties

Gili T is also called “The Party Island” and for a good reason! My favorite locations are:

• Pink Sunset Kiss (DJ, fireshow, saxophonist)
• Rabbit Jump Gili (pool & foam party, DJ)

There are several good ones and sometimes you just have to roam around and see where people are right now because that changes each night.

⏳How long to stay?

If you’re just staying in Gili T, I would recommend 4 nights. If you want to see all the islands, a week is better.

📍 Lombok 

Lombok is known to be a hotspot for surfers and people wanting to explore the islands. It’s a big island but most tourists prefer to stay in Kuta Lombok where there are many hotels and restaurants. Lombok has beautiful lush mountains that creates a dramatic landscape.

✈️How to reach?

Lombok is a 2,5-3,5 hour ferry ride away from Bali but if you’re prone to seasickness you can also fly here, domestic flights are cheap and take only 50 minutes. If you come with a ferry you still have a 2-hour drive to Kuta. From the airport, Kuta is 30 minutes away. 

🏄‍♀️What to do in Lombok?

✔️Surfing

Whether you’re a beginner looking for soft rolling waves at Selong Belanak or an experienced surfer chasing barrels in Gerupuk or Mawi, Kuta is a surf haven. You’ll see boards strapped to scooters everywhere!

✔️Scooter Adventures

Rent a scooter (you’ll need it!) and head off to explore the coastline and its coconut palm forests, dusty hills and cliff-top ocean views. 

✔️Best Beaches

• Tanjung Aan – turquoise waters and soft white sand
• Mawun Beach – a peaceful cove perfect for a quiet swim
• Bukit Merese – one of the best sunset spots in all of Indonesia

✔️Diving 

Diving in Lombok is good but usually done in the east coast so it’s an hour drive from Kuta. However, the dive centers do provide transportation.

✔️Nightlife 

In Lombok there is very little nightlife so if you’re looking for that, go to Gili T or Bali.

🏩Accommodation 

For the perfect hotel with stunning pools, pool bar and floating breakfast options I recommend El Tropico .

⏳How long to stay?

For me, 3 nights would be enough.

📍Labuan Bajo & Komodo

Tucked away on the western tip of Flores Island, Labuan Bajo is the gateway to Komodo National Park — a place where the last dragons roam and coral reefs thrive. Once a sleepy fishing village, Labuan Bajo has evolved into one of Indonesia’s top travel destinations, drawing adventurers, divers, and island hoppers from around the world.

🐉Komodo dragons

The Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, best known as the home of the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. These prehistoric predators can be spotted on Komodo Island and Rinca Island, often sunbathing or slowly roaming the dry savannah landscapes. Guided treks with rangers allow you to safely witness these creatures up close.

🦈Diving

Komodo is equally famous below the surface. The park is considered one of the best diving and snorkeling destinations in the world. Expect vibrant coral walls, manta rays, reef sharks, turtles, and massive schools of fish. The diving here requires that you have the advanced certification.

Top dive sites include:

• Batu Bolong – a colorful pinnacle full of marine life
• Manta Point – where you can often swim alongside majestic manta rays
• Castle Rock & Crystal Rock – thrilling sites with strong currents and big fish action
• Cauldron/Shotgun – experience the famous Komodo current by hanging on to a rock/reef hook

The issue is that all these dive sites require a few hours boat trip one way to reach. If you’re diving from Labuan Bajo on day trips, you should definitely book a dive center with a speedboat (most use slow, traditional wooden boats). The distance is why many people opt for a liveaboard, which is probably the best option for diving but beware of the condition of these boats. Even the ones marketed as “luxury” boats really don’t meet that standard and these are far from the modern liveaboards in Egypt and Maldives. If you’re like me and care for comfort, I’d recommend staying in a hotel and doing daytrips with speedboat. This is also the most cost-effective way to stay and dive.

Even snorkelers can enjoy world-class reefs in spots like Pink Beach and Taka Makassar.

⛰️Padar island and Pink beach

Labuan Bajo is the perfect base for island-hopping tours, which can range from day trips to multi-day tours where you sleep in the boat. Highlights include:

• Padar Island – famous for its three-colored beaches and panoramic viewpoint, hiking here requires sneakers and moderate fitness 
• Pink Beach
• Komodo dragons 
• Snorkeling

These boat tours often include meals, snorkeling gear, and sunrise/sunset views. If you opt for overnight tours, keep in mind the same as for the liveaboards: the condition of the boat isn’t usually too luxurious but if you’re used to backpacking, you probably don’t have a problem. 

🏘️Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo is a nice, pretty modern base offering some nice hotels with pools and good restaurants. Seaesta Komodo has a nice restaurant and pool bar. Pool is a must because Labuan Bajo has no beaches. There’s not much nightlife probably because all the tours and activities start early in the morning.

✈️ How to Get There

Labuan Bajo is accessible by air with regular flights from Bali and Jakarta. The airport is just minutes from town.

💸Cash

All the park fees must be paid in cash so keep that in mind!

⏳How long to stay?

4-5 nights is a good amount of time depending of course how many activities you want to do would be enough.

📍Bali

Why so many people go on holiday to Bali year after year? Because Bali has something for everyone and the areas are very different from each other so there are always new places to discover! Also, Bali is super cheap, safe and the locals remarkably friendly. Let’s go over the different areas to help you choose your match!

🌾 Ubud 

Nestled in the lush jungle of Bali, Ubud is the spiritual and cultural center of the island.

What to expect:

• Rice terraces, rainforest hikes and tranquil rivers.
• Yoga retreats and holistic healing.
• Art markets, galleries and temples (Goa Gajah and Tirta Empul, for example).
• Slower pace, ideal for wellness and creativity. Also cheaper than most beach destinations in Bali popular among digital nomads.

🏖️ Canggu 

Canggu has exploded in popularity, especially among digital nomads and content creators.

What to expect:

• Black sand beaches, surf breaks and beach clubs.
• Hip cafes, coworking spaces and plant-based eateries.
• Boutique shopping and vibrant nightlife. Many of Bali’s most popular pool party clubs are located here (Finns Beach Club, for example)
• Can get quite crowded and have a lot of traffic.

⛱️ Seminyak 

Just south of Canggu, Seminyak offers luxury and fun!

What to expect:

• Upscale beach resorts and villas.
• Trendy bars, stylish boutiques and high-end restaurants.
• Famous beach clubs like Potato Head and Ku De Ta.
• Can get quite crowded and have a lot of traffic.

⛰️ Uluwatu 

Perched on dramatic limestone cliffs, Uluwatu offers a more rugged, dramatic version of Bali.

What to expect:

• Iconic surf breaks and quiet coves.
• World-class cliffside resorts and beach clubs (like Single Fin and Savaya).
• The Uluwatu Temple and its mesmerizing Kecak fire dance.
• Epic sunsets and fewer crowds (outside of hotspots).

🌴 Sanur

Located on Bali’s east coast, Sanur is calmer than many other beach towns in Bali and perfect for a more laid-back stay.

What to expect:

• A long beachfront promenade, ideal for walking and cycling.
• Calm waters for swimming and paddleboarding.
• Laid-backed cafes and restaurants.
• Family-friendly places, slower pace

🎉 Kuta & Legian 

Kuta and Legian are Bali’s tourism center offering great hotels, restaurants and nightlife and a long sandy beach.

What to expect:

• Good hotels and shopping.
• Wild nightlife.
• A younger crowd.
• Good beginner surf waves and beach vendors.
• Budget-friendly options

🐠 Northern Bali 

Far from the crowds, Northern Bali offers a slow pace and a more local lifestyle.

What to expect:

• Dolphin-watching tours and snorkeling.
• Diving, especially wrecks.
• Black sand beaches and waterfalls.
• Very affordable stays and fewer tourists.
• Slow living, no nightlife

⛲️ Nusa Dua

Calm area with beautiful beaches and luxury resorts.

What to expect:

• High-end resorts and restaurants
• Fewer crowds
• Slower pace, very little nightlife

🗺️ General Tips:

• For popular restaurants and beach clubs, reserve in advance!
• Download Grab and Gojek for affordable rides. Many people don’t like to rent scooters here as the traffic is so chaotic. Also, reserve enough time for getting around, a 5km car ride can ride can take an hour!
• Stay in a few different areas to explore different sides of Bali
• For Bali, the amount of time you need depends on what you want to see or do: If it’s just one stop during your trip, 4 nights is enough but if you really want to explore the different parts of the island, 2 weeks is better.