Self-Launched Cycling Indonesia's Islands: Bali & Java by Bike
13 days · Bali & Java
Exodus Adventure Travels charges £2,950
No-markup version: ~£920 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 13-day two-wheel adventure through rural Bali and eastern Java — pedalling paddy fields, coffee plantations, volcano craters and hidden beaches without a tour group. You'll ride from Ubud's cultural heartland up and over Batur volcano, along the Lovina coast and coral-rich Menjangan Island, then ferry across to Java for the otherworldly Ijen crater trek, jungle trails of Meru Betiri National Park, and a well-earned beach finale in Canggu. Book your own guesthouses and homestays, hire a bike locally, use public ferries and bemos, and join day tours for the volcano trek and snorkelling. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget rates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Ubud • Bike hire and welcome
Ubud, Bali
Land at Denpasar (DPS), take a Grab or shared airport shuttle to Ubud (~£10, 1.5-2 hrs). Check into a budget guesthouse among the rice paddies for your first night. Spend the afternoon wandering Ubud's temples, art market and cafes, then sort out your bike for the week — local shops like Bali Bike Rental or Bali On Bike hire well-serviced mountain bikes for roughly £7-10/day (weekly rate ~£60). Get a good night's rest before the riding begins.
🚌Grab/shared airport shuttle Denpasar to Ubud ~£10
🛏Budget guesthouse in central Ubud, £12-18/night
- →Ubud Palace and Saraswati Temple
- →Ubud Art Market
- →Bike hire and route briefing
- →Cafe-hopping on Jalan Hanoman
Cycle paddies and villages to Tirta Empul
Ubud to Tampaksiring
Warm up with a gentle 34 km loop north of Ubud through rice terraces and traditional villages. Ride to Tampaksiring and visit Tirta Empul, the sacred water temple where Balinese bathe in holy springs — bring a sarong and hire one on-site if needed. Loop back via the quiet backroads to Pengukur-Ukur temple for a coconut-water break. Eat lunch at a warung (local eatery) for £2-3.
🚌Bike hire ~£9/day (included in weekly hire)
🛏Budget guesthouse in central Ubud, £12-18/night
- →Tirta Empul water temple
- →Pengukur-Ukur temple backroads loop
- →Paddy field cycling
- →Warung lunch stop
Climb Batur volcano • Crater rim and lava field descent
Kintamani & Lake Batur
Ride north past the Tegalalang rice terraces and climb slowly through Kintamani's coffee plantations to the crater rim of Mount Batur (1,717m), with sweeping views over Lake Batur. This is the toughest climb of the trip — pace yourself, take breaks, and enjoy the cooler mountain air. Stop for lunch at a crater-rim restaurant, then descend to a lakeside guesthouse at the volcano's base. Optional: an off-road spin across the black lava field for otherworldly moonscapes.
🚌Bike hire ~£9/day; short bemo transfer if needed
🛏Guesthouse at Lake Batur (Segara-style), £15-20/night
- →Tegalalang rice terraces
- →Kintamani coffee plantation visit
- →Mount Batur crater rim viewpoint
- →Optional lava field off-road ride
Ride the northwest coast to Lovina
Kintamani to Lovina & Bedugul
Start on the western rim of the Batur caldera and roll through villages and plantations towards Bali's northwest coast. Pass through Bondalem, Tianyar and Kubu, stop for a beach lunch, then continue along flat roads to the black-stone Ponjok Batu temple complex. Carry on through Singaraja to Lovina, famous for its dolphins and black-sand beaches, before a short transfer up to cooler Bedugul in the central highlands. ~60 km total — take it easy on the busier stretches.
🚌Bike hire ~£9/day; short bemo transfer to Bedugul ~£3
🛏Guesthouse near Bedugul/Lovina, £15-22/night
- →Ponjok Batu sea temple
- →Coastal village cycling
- →Lovina black-sand beach
- →Bedugul highlands
Monkey forest, twin lakes, monastery and hot springs
Bedugul to Pemuteran
Begin with a steep 3 km climb to the Monkey Forest (or transfer to the top if your legs need mercy), for views over the twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan. Then enjoy a long, mostly downhill day with panoramas over Bali's north coast. Visit Bhrama Arama Vihara, Bali's only Buddhist monastery, and soak in the open-air Banjar Hot Springs — a perfect post-ride reward (~£1 entry). Finish at the beachfront village of Pemuteran (68 km).
🚌Bike hire ~£9/day
🛏Beach cottage in Pemuteran (Adi Assri-style), £18-25/night
- →Twin lakes viewpoint
- →Brahma Vihara Arama monastery
- →Banjar Hot Springs
- →Pemuteran beachfront
Snorkel Menjangan Island • Ferry to Java
Pemuteran to Bondowoso, Java
Take an optional flat pedal or short transfer to Labuan Luang harbour, then board a local boat to Menjangan (Deer) Island in Bali Barat National Park — famous for its coral gardens and tropical fish. Join a local snorkelling trip (~£15-20 including gear and boat, or book ahead via GetYourGuide/Klook), with diving available at extra cost. Afterwards, transfer to Gilimanuk Harbour and catch the public ferry to Ketapang in Java (runs 24h, ~£1, 45 mins), then take a bemo/bus ~3 hrs to Bondowoso.
🚌Local boat, public ferry Gilimanuk-Ketapang ~£1, shared bemo to Bondowoso ~£5
🛏Budget hotel in Bondowoso (Ijen View-style), £15-20/night
- →Menjangan Island snorkelling
- →Coral reef and marine reserve
- →Public ferry across Bali Strait
- →Arrival in East Java
Cycle the slopes of Ijen volcano
Bondowoso to Jampit Catimor
The most demanding ride of the trip: ~40 km climbing roughly 1,500 m up the slopes of Ijen. Start on flat road through Sempol, then climb steadily through coffee plantations on partly broken pavement. Take it slow, refuel with a light lunch en route, and visit one of Indonesia's largest coffee plantations on the way. End in the remote village of Jampit Catimor, where you'll stay in a simple homestay in a colonial building on a working coffee estate. Optional sunset stroll if time allows.
🚌Bike hire ~£9/day
🛏Basic homestay at Jampit Catimor coffee plantation, £12-18/night (incl. simple meals)
- →Ijen volcano climb
- →Coffee plantation tour
- →Remote Jampit village homestay
- →Optional sunset walk
Sunrise trek to Ijen crater • Ride down to Ketapang
Ijen to Ketapang
Rise in the small hours for a guided trek up Ijen's crater rim — a 3 km packed dirt path — to see the famous electric-blue flames and the 200 m-deep turquoise acid crater lake ringed by sulphur miners (book a local guide ~£15-20, or join a GYG/Klook Ijen trek). Note: descending into the crater is unsafe due to toxic fumes. Return to the start, then cycle down the volcano (~30 km) to your hotel in Ketapang, arriving for lunch and a well-earned free afternoon.
🚌Bike hire ~£9/day; local 4x4/jeep shuttle to crater trailhead ~£5
🛏Mid-range hotel in Ketapang (Ketapang Indah-style), £20-28/night
- →Ijen crater rim sunrise trek
- →Blue flame and acid lake viewpoint
- →Downhill volcano cycling
- →Free afternoon in Ketapang
Cycle to Meru Betiri National Park
Ketapang to Rajegwesi Beach
Transfer to the ride start, then pedal ~50 km through rural villages mixing off-road and paved surfaces, with views of coffee, cacao and rubber plantations. Cross a 10 km trail before reaching Rajegwesi Beach — the fishing-village gateway to Meru Betiri National Park, where you may see the day's catch being unloaded. Camp on the beach tonight; bring or rent basic camping gear (tents, mats, sleeping bags) through a local operator, or upgrade to a nearby guesthouse if you prefer a bed.
🚌Bike hire ~£9/day; transfer to trailhead ~£4
🛏Beach camping (local operator gear rental ~£10-15) or basic village guesthouse, £10-15
- →Meru Betiri National Park gateway
- →Rajegwesi fishing village
- →Cacao and rubber plantations
- →Beach camping
Off-road to Pulau Merah beach • Return to Ketapang
Pulau Merah to Ketapang
Final riding day: follow coastal off-road trails past Green Bay and its hidden beach to Pulau Merah, a laid-back surf and swimming spot. Mostly flat with a few rolling hills — soak it up. Arrive around lunchtime and spend the early afternoon swimming, exploring the village or simply relaxing on the sand. Then take a ~2 hr transfer back to Ketapang for your last night on Java.
🚌Bike hire ~£9/day; shared transfer Pulau Merah to Ketapang ~£6
🛏Mid-range hotel in Ketapang (Ketapang Indah-style), £20-28/night
- →Green Bay hidden beach
- →Pulau Merah beach swim
- →Off-road coastal cycling
- →Village exploration
Ferry back to Bali • Transfer to Canggu
Ketapang to Canggu, Bali
A relaxed start, then a short 15-min drive to Ketapang Harbour for the public ferry to Gilimanuk on Bali (30-45 mins, ~£1). From there, take a Perama shuttle bus or Grab across the island to Canggu (~4 hrs with a lunch stop, ~£10-12). Settle into a beach guesthouse for your final two nights and unwind after 10 days of cycling volcanoes and jungles.
🚌Public ferry ~£1; Perama shuttle/Grab Ketapang to Canggu ~£11
🛏Beach guesthouse or budget hotel in Canggu, £18-28/night
- →Public ferry across Bali Strait
- →Scenic drive to south Bali
- →Canggu beach arrival
Free day in Canggu and Seminyak
Canggu & Seminyak, Bali
A full free day to recover and play. Canggu's Batu Bolong and Echo Beach are great for surfing lessons (~£20-25 for a 2-hr beginner lesson), beach lounging, yoga studios, and the island's best cafe scene. Stroll the boutiques along Jalan Pantai, sip a smoothie bowl, catch sunset at a beach bar, or take a short Grab to Seminyak for shopping and nightlife. Optional half-day tours to Uluwatu or Tanah Lot can be booked online.
🚌Grab/Gojek around Canggu/Seminyak ~£3-6/day
🛏Beach guesthouse or budget hotel in Canggu, £18-28/night
- →Surf lesson at Batu Bolong
- →Beach time and sunset bars
- →Yoga and cafe scene
- →Optional Uluwatu/Tanah Lot tour
Trip ends in Canggu
Canggu, Bali
Enjoy a final breakfast, pack up your bike if you hired it, and make your way to Denpasar airport (Ngurah Rai, DPS), about 45-60 mins south. If you want to extend by a few days, consider hopping over to the Gili Islands by fast boat (~£20-25 one-way) for white sands and turquoise water before flying home.
🚌Grab to Denpasar airport ~£8-10
🛏N/A - departure day
- →Final breakfast in Canggu
- →Optional Gili Islands extension
- →Airport transfer
Self-launched vs. Exodus Adventure Travels
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Exodus Adventure Travels | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£920 | £2,950 |
| Duration | 13 days | 13 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,030 per person (69%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Exodus Adventure Travels-style trips? Check them out here.~£920
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 Self-Launched Cycling Indonesia's Islands: Bali & Java by Bike cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £920 per person for 13 days in Bali & Java. 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 Exodus Adventure Travels?+
Yes — Exodus Adventure Travels charges around £2,950 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £920 — a saving of roughly £2,030 (69%) per person.
How long is the Bali & Java trip?+
This itinerary runs 13 days, covering 13 day-by-day stops through Bali & Java.
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, hiking trip through Bali & Java, 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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