Indonesia: Yogyakarta to Bali — Self-Launched Java & Bali Adventure
16 days · Indonesia (Java & Bali)
G Adventures charges £1,326
No-markup version: ~£618 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 16-day Yogyakarta-to-Candidasa trip, done independently using local trains, public buses, budget flights, share jeeps and family-run guesthouses. You'll hit the same big beats — sunrise over Borobudur from Setumbu Hill, village cycling, batik in Solo, the Mt Bromo jeep sunrise, Jatiluwih's rice terraces, Ulun Danu temple, Balinese homestays and Lemukih waterfalls — but for roughly a third of the group tour price. Costs are approximate backpacker rates in GBP per person, excluding international flights into Yogyakarta (JOG) and out of Bali (DPS). Book activities via Klook/GetYourGuide or directly with guesthouses and local operators.
Day-by-day
Arrive Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
Fly into Yogyakarta (JOG) or arrive by train from Jakarta. Yogyakarta's airport is 8km from town — take a Grab/Gojek car (~£3) or the TransJogja bus. Base yourself in the Sosrowijayan or Prawirotaman backpacker area. Grab a street-side dinner (gudeg, nasi goreng) and sort your onward tickets: Borobudur/Prambanan combo tickets and the Solo train for later in the week.
🚌Arrival airport transfer by Grab/Gojek ~£3; walk the neighbourhood
🛏Hostel or guesthouse in Sosrowijayan/Prawirotaman (dorm or private fan room)
- →Orientation walk in Sosrowijayan
- →Street food dinner
- →Buy Borobudur/Prambanan combo ticket online
Yogyakarta city & temples
Yogyakarta
Do the DIY version of the becak tour: hire a becak (cycle rickshaw) for an hour to Taman Sari water castle (~£4 negotiable), then walk through the surrounding kampung. In the afternoon take the TransJogja bus to Prambanan (~£0.50) and either explore the Hindu temple complex yourself (£20 entry, or use the combo ticket) or wait for the Ramayana Ballet performance. Alternative: book a Jomblang Cave day trip via Klook (~£40) if you want a caving adventure.
🚌Becak ~£4; TransJogja bus to Prambanan ~£0.50 each way; Grab back ~£3
🛏Same guesthouse in Yogyakarta
- →Becak ride to Taman Sari water castle
- →Prambanan temple sunset
- →Optional Ramayana Ballet
Yogyakarta → Borobudur area (Candirejo-style village)
Borobudur / Magelang
Take the public Damri bus or a shared car from Yogyakarta's Jombor terminal to Borobudur (~£2, 1.5hrs). Check into a guesthouse in Borobudur village. In the afternoon cycle to Candirejo village (~20 min by rented bike, £2) — the same community-tourism village the tour visits — and join a local village walk or cooking session arranged directly with the village cooperative. Sunset from Punthuk Setumbu area if you can get a driver cheaply.
🚌Damri bus/shared car Yogyakarta–Borobudur ~£2; bike hire £2/day
🛏Family guesthouse in Borobudur village
- →Candirejo village walk (arranged locally)
- →Cycle through rice paddies to Borobudur village
- →Optional village cooking session
Setumbu Hill sunrise & Borobudur
Borobudur / Magelang
Hire a local ojek (motorbike taxi) at 4:30am to Setumbu Hill (~£5 return) for the classic misty sunrise over Borobudur and Merapi. Walk back down and cycle to Borobudur temple for the first entry slot — book the sunrise or standard ticket on the official Borobudur website in advance (~£25–£35; the sunrise-on-temple package is pricier). Afternoon: browse the village market and rest. Evening, take a public bus or shared car onward to Solo (~£3, 2hrs) or sleep another night and travel early.
🚌Ojek to Setumbu Hill ~£5 return; Borobudur–Solo bus ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Solo (or second night in Borobudur)
- →Setumbu Hill sunrise hike
- →Borobudur temple entry
- →Traditional market browse
Solo — Javanese culture & batik
Solo (Surakarta)
Self-guided heritage day in Solo. Walk or ojek to Mangkunegaran Palace (~£2 entry), then browse Triwindhu/Pasar Gede market and the antique shops of Laweyan batik village. Book a 2–3hr batik-making workshop directly with a Laweyan batik house (~£10–15). Evening: try Solo's famous nasi liwet and tongseng from a street warung.
🚌Ojek/Grab around town ~£4 total; walking
🛏Budget hotel or guesthouse in Solo
- →Mangkunegaran Palace
- →Triwindhu/Pasar Gede market
- →Laweyan batik village workshop
Solo → Ngadas via Malang
Ngadas Village (Mt Bromo foothills)
Take a morning train Solo–Malang (2.5hrs, ~£5) or a bus. In Malang, do the short walk around Alun-Alun Tugu square and visit Jodipan colourful village (£1 donation). Then take a public bus or shared travel car to Tumpang, and an ojek up to Ngadas village on the Bromo caldera rim (~total £5–7, 2hrs). Arrive late afternoon; your Ngadas homestay host can arrange the 3am jeep for tomorrow.
🚌Train Solo–Malang ~£5; bus/shared car Malang–Tumpang ~£2; ojek to Ngadas ~£3
🛏Simple village homestay in Ngadas (shared bathroom)
- →Alun-Alun Malang
- →Jodipan rainbow village
- →Sunset from Ngadas rim
Mt Bromo sunrise jeep & crater hike
Ngadas / Bromo
Book a shared 4x4 jeep from Ngadas the night before (~£15–20pp shared, or a private jeep ~£40 split between 3–4 people). 3:30am departure for Penanjakan viewpoint for sunrise, then hike the Sea of Sands and climb the 250 steps to Bromo crater rim. Picnic breakfast at Teletubbies Hill (Bukit Teletubbies). Back in Ngadas by late morning: DIY walking tour of the village, holy forest and Mbah Sedek's tomb, plus coffee at a village warung.
🚌Shared 4x4 jeep ~£15–20pp; walking
🛏Village homestay in Ngadas
- →Bromo sunrise from Penanjakan
- →Crater rim hike
- →Teletubbies Hill picnic
- →Ngadas village walk
Ngadas → Surabaya → fly to Bali (Seminyak)
Seminyak, Bali
Early shared car/ojek down to Tumpang or Malang, then bus or train to Surabaya's Juanda airport (SUB) (~£5–8 total). Fly SUB–Denpasar (DPS) on Citilink/Lion Air — book ahead for ~£25–40 one-way. Pay the Bali tourist levy (£7.50) online via Love Bali before arrival. From DPS, take a Grab (dodging the tout zone — walk to the arrivals exit and order) or the Kura-Kura bus to Seminyak (~£3–6). Easy evening: beach sunset at Double Six and warung dinner.
🚌Shared car/bus to Surabaya ~£6; flight SUB–DPS ~£30; Grab DPS–Seminyak ~£5
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Seminyak (dorm or fan room)
- →Flight to Bali
- →Seminyak beach sunset
- →Jalan Kayu Aya food wander
Seminyak → Munduk via Jatiluwih & Ulun Danu
Munduk, North Bali
Hire a scooter (£5/day) or book a private driver for the day (~£35 split with other travellers via hostel noticeboard — GetYourGuide also lists Jatiluwih + Ulun Danu day tours from £25pp). Route: Jatiluwih Rice Terraces (UNESCO, £3 entry), Baturiti fruit market, Ulun Danu Beratan temple (£3.50), and the Twin Lakes viewpoint near Wanagiri (£1.50). Arrive Munduk by evening — it's cool and misty up here, so bring a layer.
🚌Private car with driver ~£35/day split, or scooter hire £5 + petrol £2
🛏Munduk guesthouse with valley views
- →Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
- →Baturiti fruit market
- →Ulun Danu Beratan temple
- →Twin Lakes viewpoint
Munduk → Bulian village homestay
Bulian, North Bali
Morning soak at Banjar Hot Springs (£2.50), then browse Pasar Anyar Singaraja and the Beji Temple complex (£1 donation). Continue to Bulian village (Grab ~£6 will do the short hops). Book a community homestay room directly through the village's tourism cooperative or via a homestay platform (~£12–15/night) and join the afternoon village walk and a canang sari (offering-making) workshop with your host family (~£5).
🚌Grab/scooter between Munduk–Banjar–Singaraja–Bulian ~£8 total
🛏Community homestay in Bulian (shared bathroom)
- →Banjar Hot Springs
- →Pasar Anyar Singaraja market
- →Beji Temple
- →Village walk & offering workshop
Lemukih trek → Kintamani
Kintamani
Hire a local guide in Lemukih village (~£12–15 for a half-day, arrange via your Bulian host) and trek through rice terraces, durian and coffee plantations, down the natural waterslide rock chute, and to the twin Lemukih waterfalls for a swim. Lunch at a local warung. Afternoon: Grab or shared car east to Kintamani (~£10). Settle into a guesthouse with a view of Mt Batur and Lake Batur.
🚌Local guide £12–15; car Bulian–Kintamani ~£10
🛏Kintamani guesthouse with caldera view
- →Lemukih rice terrace & plantation trek
- →Natural waterslide
- →Waterfall swim
- →Warung lunch
Mt Batur sunrise → Penglipuran → Ubud
Ubud
Book the Mt Batur sunrise trek on Klook/GetYourGuide (£25–30 including guide, headtorch, breakfast and hotel pickup) — pick-up is 2am. Alternatively take the jeep sunrise option (~£30). Back by 9am for a nap and check-out. Midday: stop at Penglipuran village (£3) and Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu (£3) en route to Ubud (Grab ~£8 or included in an organised transfer). Arrive Ubud, check into a hostel on Jalan Hanoman or Penestanan and walk the Campuhan Ridge at sunset.
🚌Batur hike transfers included; Grab Kintamani–Ubud ~£8–10
🛏Ubud hostel or budget guesthouse
- →Mt Batur sunrise trek
- →Penglipuran village
- →Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu
- →Campuhan Ridge sunset
Ubud free day — rice terraces, monkeys, offerings
Ubud
Hire a scooter (£5) and ride to Tegallalang rice terraces (£2), the Sacred Monkey Forest (£5), and Tegenungan waterfall (£3). Optional: join the Widya Guna Foundation offering-making workshop via GetYourGuide (~£15) or book a Medahan village walk. Evening: Kecak dance at Ubud Palace (~£8) or a Balinese cooking class (~£20–25 via Klook, includes market tour). Ubud warungs do great babi guling for £2–3.
🚌Scooter hire £5 + petrol £1.50
🛏Same Ubud hostel/guesthouse
- →Tegallalang rice terraces
- →Monkey Forest
- →Tegenungan waterfall
- →Optional Kecak dance or cooking class
Ubud → Candidasa
Candidasa
Slow morning in Ubud (market, yoga drop-in ~£8). Around midday take a Perama shuttle or Grab/private car east to Candidasa (~£8–12, 1.5–2hrs). Check into a beachfront family guesthouse — Candidasa is quiet, low-key and cheap compared with the south. Afternoon swim and sunset beers on the terrace.
🚌Perama shuttle or Grab Ubud–Candidasa ~£10
🛏Beachfront guesthouse in Candidasa
- →Ubud morning market
- →Transfer east
- →Beach swim & sunset
Blue Lagoon snorkelling & cooking class
Candidasa
Book a Blue Lagoon snorkelling trip directly with a Candidasa dive shop (~£18–25 including gear, boat and guide) and spend the morning over coral and reef fish. Afternoon: join a Balinese cooking class at a local guesthouse (~£20, includes market run and eating what you make). Or simply take the coastal path between Candidasa's two headlands for a free walk.
🚌Walk or short ojek to snorkel jetty ~£2
🛏Same Candidasa guesthouse
- →Blue Lagoon snorkelling
- →Balinese cooking class
Depart Bali
Candidasa → Denpasar (DPS)
Final morning swim, then transfer to Denpasar airport — Perama shuttle or Grab (~£15–20, 2hrs; allow 3hrs in traffic). If you have a late flight, stop at Sanur or Ubud en route for a last meal. Fly home from DPS.
🚌Grab/Perama shuttle Candidasa–DPS ~£17
🛏None (departure day)
- →Morning beach swim
- →Transfer to airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£618 | £1,326 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £708 per person (53%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£618
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 Indonesia: Yogyakarta to Bali — Self-Launched Java & Bali Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £618 per person for 16 days in Indonesia (Java & Bali). 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 £1,326 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £618 — a saving of roughly £708 (53%) per person.
How long is the Indonesia (Java & Bali) trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through Indonesia (Java & Bali).
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 Indonesia (Java & Bali), 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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