Jakarta to Ubud: Waves & Wanderlust (Self-Launched)
14 days · Indonesia
G Adventures charges £960
No-markup version: ~£915 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A do-it-yourself version of G Adventures' 14-day Java-to-Bali run for 18-39s: Jakarta's street-food energy, Bandung's tea country, Yogyakarta's temples, a night in the Tengger highlands, the Bromo sunrise, surf camp at Red Island and a slow finish in Ubud. You book the same trains, buses, homestays and surf lesson yourself and travel independently or with mates you meet on the road — for roughly a third of the tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Jakarta — street food and first impressions
Jakarta
Land at Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), complete your All-Indonesia Arrival Card online within 72 hours of arrival, and take the Damri airport bus or Grab/Gojek to a hostel in Jalan Jaksa or Menteng (£4-8). Settle in, then eat your way through a night market — sate ayam, kerak telor and es campur for under £4. If you want company, join a Jakarta street-food walking tour on GetYourGuide (~£18) or just wander Glodok's Chinatown.
🚌Airport bus ~£4 / Grab ~£8
🛏Hostel dorm in Jalan Jaksa or Menteng (£8-12)
- →Damri airport bus or Grab to hostel
- →Jalan Jaksa / Menteng evening street-food crawl
- →Optional: GetYourGuide Jakarta street-food walking tour
Jakarta to Bandung by rail
Bandung
Book the Argo Parahyangan train from Gambir to Bandung on the KAI Access app or at the station — about 3 hours through tea plantations and rice terraces, £6-10 in economy. Check into a guesthouse in the cooler northern hills or near Jalan Braga, then walk the colonial streets, grab a coffee and try Bandung's famous martabak for dinner.
🚌Train ~£8
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Bandung (£8-14)
- →Argo Parahyangan train Gambir–Bandung
- →Braga Street colonial walk
- →Martabak and local food stalls
Ciater tea country, waterfall and hot springs
Bandung / Ciater
Take a local angkot or Grab from Bandung to Ciater (~1.5 hrs, £4-6). Walk the tea plantation at Kebun Teh Ciater on a self-guided loop or pay a small farm guide (~£3), then hike to Curug Cimahi or the nearby Ciater waterfall (£2 entry) and soak in the Sari Ater hot springs (£5-7). Grab back to Bandung in the evening.
🚌Angkot/Grab return ~£8
🛏Guesthouse/hostel in Bandung (£8-14)
- →Ciater tea plantation walk
- →Waterfall hike
- →Sari Ater hot springs
Scenic train to Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
The Argo Wilis or Turangga train from Bandung to Yogyakarta takes 7-8 hours, £10-15 in economy, with volcano views most of the way. On arrival, head to Sosrowijayan or Prawirotaman for a cheap guesthouse (£8-14) and an evening of gudeg, nasi goreng and live music at a backpacker bar.
🚌Train ~£12
🛏Guesthouse in Sosrowijayan or Prawirotaman (£8-14)
- →Bandung–Yogyakarta train
- →Sosrowijayan and Prawirotaman evening
Borobudur at sunrise (or sunset)
Yogyakarta / Borobudur
Book a shared minibus or Grab to Borobudur (~1 hr, £5-8 each way) and buy the temple ticket directly (~£18, or £28 for sunrise entry). Arrive for sunrise or the quieter late afternoon. On the way back, stop in at Mendut and Pawon temples (included on the combined ticket). Rent a bike in the afternoon (£3) to ride through the rice paddies towards Plaosan.
🚌Shared minibus/Grab ~£12 return
🛏Guesthouse in Yogyakarta (£8-14)
- →Borobudur Temple Complex
- →Mendut and Pawon temples
- →Village bicycle loop
Yogyakarta heritage day
Yogyakarta
Take a Grab to Prambanan and buy the ticket on arrival or via Klook (~£17) — the Hindu complex is best in the early morning light. Back in town, visit the Kraton (Sultan's Palace, £2) and the Taman Sari Water Castle (£2), then wander Malioboro Street for street food and souvenirs. Optional evening Wayang Kulit shadow-puppet show at Sono Budoyo (~£3).
🚌Grab/taxi ~£8
🛏Guesthouse in Yogyakarta (£8-14)
- →Prambanan Hindu Temple Complex
- →Kraton Sultan's Palace and Taman Sari
- →Malioboro Street food crawl
- →Optional: Wayang Kulit puppet show
Into the Tengger highlands — Desa Ngadas
Desa Ngadas
Take a public bus or shared minibus from Yogyakarta to Malang (8-9 hrs, £8-12), then a local angkot or ojeg up to Ngadas village (2 hrs, £5-8) in the Tengger Caldera. Book a village homestay through Homestay.com, Booking.com or the local Tengger community association (£10-15 including dinner). Spend the evening with your host learning about Tengger customs and eating home-cooked food.
🚌Bus ~£10, angkot ~£6
🛏Tengger village homestay, twin-share (£10-15 with dinner)
- →Yogyakarta–Malang public bus
- →Angkot/ojek to Ngadas village
- →Tengger homestay dinner with local family
Village walk and the Ancestor Trail to Bromo
Desa Ngadas / Cemoro Lawang
Walk Ngadas village in the morning with your host or a village guide (£3-5), visiting the fields, market and temples. Then hike the Ancestor Trail across the caldera floor to Cemoro Lawang (4-5 hrs, mostly flat but dusty — a local guide costs £10-15 and is worth it). Check into a Cemoro Lawang guesthouse (£12-18). After lunch, take a shared jeep down to the Bromo crater (£8-10 shared) and climb the 250 steps to the smoking rim.
🚌Shared jeep to crater ~£8
🛏Guesthouse in Cemoro Lawang (£12-18)
- →Ngadas village walk
- →Ancestor Trail trek to Cemoro Lawang
- →Mount Bromo crater walk
Sunrise over Bromo, then south to Red Island
Bromo / Red Island
Set a 3:30am alarm and hike or take a shared jeep up to King Kong Hill or Penanjakan viewpoint (~£5-8) for the classic Bromo sunrise. Back to the guesthouse for breakfast, then travel south: bus from Cemoro Lawang to Probolinggo (£2), then bus to Jember or Lumajang (£3), then local transport to Red Island beach (Pulau Merah) (£4). Check into a surf camp dorm or beach bungalow (£8-12).
🚌Shared jeep ~£6, buses ~£9
🛏Surf camp dorm / beach bungalow at Pulau Merah (£8-12)
- →Sunrise viewpoint hike to Penanjakan/King Kong Hill
- →Bus journey to Red Island (Pulau Merah)
Learn to surf at Red Island
Red Island (Pulau Merah)
Book a beginner surf lesson directly at a beachfront surf school in the morning (~£15-20 for 2 hrs including board and instructor — Pulau Merah has learner-friendly waves and a famous right-hand break). Spend the afternoon in a hammock, swimming, or hiking up the red rock hill behind the beach for sunset (free). Eat grilled fish at the beach warungs.
🚌Walking
🛏Surf camp dorm / beach bungalow (£8-12)
- →2-hour beginner surf lesson
- →Pulau Merah beach and hill sunset
- →Fishing village wander
Cross to Bali — beach time in Pemuteran
Pemuteran
Bus or shared minivan from Pulau Merah to the Ketapang ferry port at Banyuwangi (~3 hrs, £5), then the public ferry across to Gilimanuk (£1). From Gilimanuk take a bemo or Grab north along the west coast to Pemuteran (~1 hr, £6). Pay the Bali tourist levy (150,000 IDR / ~£8) online via the Love Bali portal in advance. Check into a guesthouse (£10-16) and do nothing but swim, snorkel and eat seafood.
🚌Bus ~£5, ferry ~£1, bemo/Grab ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Pemuteran (£10-16)
- →Ketapang–Gilimanuk ferry
- →West Bali coast transfer to Pemuteran
- →Beach and snorkelling afternoon
Drive to Ubud
Ubud
Shared minivan or Grab from Pemuteran to Ubud (~3.5 hrs, £10-14 — book a shared shuttle through your guesthouse for the cheapest rate). Check into a hostel or guesthouse in central Ubud (£10-18) and spend the afternoon exploring the Campuhan Ridge Walk (free) and the Ubud market. Optional Medahan Village community visit via a GetYourGuide or local operator (~£20).
🚌Shared shuttle ~£12
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Ubud (£10-18)
- →Pemuteran–Ubud shared shuttle
- →Campuhan Ridge Walk
- →Ubud Art Market
- →Optional: Medahan Village community visit
Rice terraces, cooking class and offerings
Ubud
Walk the Tegallalang rice terraces early (£3 entry, £5 taxi) or cycle the northern Ubud rice-field loop with a rented bike (£3). In the afternoon join a Balinese cooking class booked via GetYourGuide or Cookly (~£25-30, includes market tour and lunch). Optional: join a prayer-offering workshop at a local foundation or temple (£10-15). Evening at a Kecak dance performance (£10).
🚌Bike rental ~£3, taxi ~£5
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Ubud (£10-18)
- →Tegallalang rice terraces
- →Balinese cooking class with market tour
- →Optional: prayer-offering workshop
- →Kecak dance performance
Depart Ubud
Ubud / Denpasar
Slow morning at a Ubud café, then a shared shuttle or Grab to Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS) — about 1.5 hrs, £10-14 shared. If your flight is late, squeeze in a final waterfall (Tegenungan, £3) or a last massage (£6-8).
🚌Shared airport shuttle ~£12
🛏None (departure day)
- →Ubud–DPS airport transfer
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£915 | £960 |
| Duration | 14 days | 14 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £45 per person (5%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£915
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 Jakarta to Ubud: Waves & Wanderlust (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £915 per person for 14 days in Indonesia. 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £960 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £915 — a saving of roughly £45 (5%) per person.
How long is the Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 14 days, covering 14 day-by-day stops through Indonesia.
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, backpacker, culture trip through Indonesia, 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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