Self-Launched Indonesia: Java & Bali
23 days · Indonesia
G Adventures charges £2,058
No-markup version: ~£1,400 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 23-day self-launched version of G Adventures' "Java & Bali" trip, running from Yogyakarta to Candidasa and covering the same headlines: sunrise at Borobudur's Setumbu Hill, a batik workshop in Solo, the Mt Bromo jeep sunrise, the Ijen crater turquoise lake, Kalibaru's spice plantations, and then Bali's rice terraces, temples, hot springs and beach days. Instead of a private tour vehicle and CEO you'll use Java's excellent tourist trains and buses, local guides booked directly, and hostels/guesthouses in the same towns. Costs are rough backpacker estimates and assume you share a dorm or twin room; they exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
Fly into Yogyakarta's Adisutjipto/YIA airport and take the Trans Jogja bus or a Grab to a hostel in the Sosrowijayan or Prawirotaman area. Settle in, get a sim card, then walk Jalan Malioboro in the evening and grab a first plate of gudeg from a street stall.
🚌Airport bus/Grab ~£2
🛏Hostel dorm in Sosrowijayan (£7-10)
- →Arrive and check into hostel
- →Evening stroll on Jalan Malioboro
- →Street food dinner
Yogyakarta: Kraton, Taman Sari & becak
Yogyakarta
DIY day in the old city. Hire a becak (cycle rickshaw) driver directly for a couple of hours to see the Sultan's Kraton and the Taman Sari water castle — agree a price first, expect around 100-150k IDR. Later, grab local street food on Jalan Kauman or take a Gojek to a warung for a cheap dinner.
🚌Becak and Gojek ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Sosrowijayan (£7-10)
- →Kraton Palace entry
- →Taman Sari water castle
- →Becak tour of old town
- →Street food crawl
Candirejo village and on to Magelang
Magelang
Take a Gojek/Grab or local bus to Candirejo village (about an hour from Yogya) and book a village guide at the entrance on arrival — a short walk through the farming plots and a local lunch. Continue to Magelang by angkot or Grab, and stay near Borobudur for an easy pre-dawn start tomorrow.
🚌Grab/angkot ~£8
🛏Guesthouse near Borobudur (£10-14)
- →Candirejo village walk with local guide
- →Local Javanese lunch
- →Transfer to Magelang
Setumbu Hill sunrise, Borobudur and bikes to Solo
Solo (Surakarta)
Get up at 4am and take a Grab to Setumbu Hill for the sunrise over Borobudur's jungle-covered stupas. Descend, hire a bicycle in Wanurejo village to loop the rice paddies and traditional market, then visit Borobudur temple itself (book a timed slot via the official Borobudur website or GetYourGuide, ~£22). In the late afternoon take a train or bus to Solo (about 1.5-2 hours).
🚌Grab + train ~£9
🛏Hostel in Solo (£8-11)
- →Setumbu Hill sunrise hike
- →Wanurejo village bike loop
- →Borobudur temple entry
- →Train to Solo
Solo: Mangkunegaran, markets and batik
Solo (Surakarta)
Walk Solo's heritage core: Mangkunegaran Palace (cheap entry, check timings), Triwindhu market and the batik workshops of Laweyan village. Book a short batik-making class directly with a Laweyan workshop (around 150-250k IDR) or via GetYourGuide — you'll take home a wax-resist square you made yourself.
🚌Walking and local bemo ~£3
🛏Hostel in Solo (£8-11)
- →Mangkunegaran Palace visit
- →Triwindhu market
- →Laweyan village batik workshop
Overland to Ngadas, Mt Bromo's foothills
Ngadas Village
Long travel day east. Take a morning train Solo to Malang (about 4 hours, ~£6), detour to Alun-Alun Malang and the colourful Jodipan rainbow village, then book a shared tourist shuttle or ojek up to Ngadas village (2 hours) where you'll sleep in a community homestay — arrange via your homestay or a Malang tour desk.
🚌Train + shared shuttle ~£14
🛏Ngadas village homestay, shared bathroom (£8-10 incl. simple meals)
- →Train to Malang
- →Alun-Alun Malang & Jodipan village
- →Transfer to Ngadas homestay
Bromo sunrise by jeep and Sea of Sands hike
Ngadas Village / Mt Bromo
Book a 4x4 jeep through your homestay the night before (shared 4-6 people, roughly 500-700k IDR per person including Penanjakan viewpoint). Leave at 3:30am, catch sunrise at Penanjakan, then hike the Sea of Sands up to Bromo crater rim. Picnic breakfast, return to Ngadas for a village walk past the temples and holy forest.
🚌Shared 4x4 jeep ~£30
🛏Ngadas village homestay (£8-10)
- →Jeep to Penanjakan viewpoint
- →Bromo crater hike
- →Sea of Sands crossing
- →Ngadas village walk
Bus down to Surabaya
Surabaya
Shared shuttle or bus from Ngadas/Tumpang to Surabaya (about 2.5-3 hours, ~£6). Check into a hostel near Gubeng station. Spend the afternoon wandering the old Arab quarter around Ampel Mosque, the Chinese quarter and the Suramadu bridge waterfront — or just rest after two pre-dawn starts.
🚌Shared shuttle/bus ~£6
🛏Hostel in Surabaya (£8-12)
- →Bus to Surabaya
- →Ampel & old town wander
- →Warung dinner
Surabaya walking tour and train to Kalibaru
Kalibaru
Do a self-guided or free-walking-tour loop of the historic port area, then visit the House of Sampoerna. In the afternoon take the train east to Kalibaru (roughly 4 hours, £6-9) — the ride climbs through coffee country into East Java.
🚌Train ~£8
🛏Guesthouse in Kalibaru (£9-13)
- →Surabaya historic quarter walk
- →House of Sampoerna
- →Train to Kalibaru
Kalibaru spice plantations on foot
Kalibaru
Hire a local guide at one of the Kalibaru plantation estates or through your guesthouse for a 2-3 hour walk through rubber, coffee and spice gardens — pepper, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon. Afternoon free for a nap or a rice-paddy cycle.
🚌Walking / bicycle hire ~£3
🛏Guesthouse in Kalibaru (£9-13)
- →Plantation walking tour
- →Rice paddy cycle or free afternoon
De Djawatan Forest and Banyuwangi
Banyuwangi
Continue east to Banyuwangi (bus or shared car, 2-3 hours, ~£6). Stop at the De Djawatan forest — a stand of giant trembesi trees that look straight out of a fantasy film — en route. Evening free: eat at a local warung near the harbour, and pre-book your Ijen trip for tomorrow.
🚌Bus/shared car ~£6
🛏Guesthouse in Banyuwangi (£9-13)
- →Transfer to Banyuwangi
- →De Djawatan forest stop
- →Book Ijen tour
Ijen Crater sunrise hike
Banyuwangi
Join a shared Ijen tour (bookable via your guesthouse or GetYourGuide/Klook, roughly £25-35 including jeep, gas mask and guide). Pickup around midnight, 1.5-hour hike to the rim for the blue-fire glow and the turquoise acid lake at dawn, passing the sulfur miners hauling loads up the crater. Back by mid-morning for breakfast and a long sleep. Optional afternoon: Baluran National Park by jeep or the city's Boom Beach.
🚌Shared Ijen jeep ~£30
🛏Guesthouse in Banyuwangi (£9-13)
- →Ijen crater sunrise hike
- →Sulfur miners viewpoint
- →Afternoon rest
Ferry to Bali and on to Pemuteran
Pemuteran, West Bali
Cross to Bali by ferry from Ketapang to Gilimanuk (about 1 hour, £1-2), then a shared shuttle or bemo along the north coast to Pemuteran (2-3 hours, ~£8). Afternoon on the black-sand beach or a gentle snorkel off the shore reef.
🚌Ferry + shared shuttle ~£10
🛏Guesthouse in Pemuteran (£10-15)
- →Ketapang-Gilimanuk ferry
- →North coast transfer
- →Beach afternoon
Menjangan Island snorkelling and Banjar hot springs
Pemuteran / Banjar
Book a Menjangan Island snorkelling boat trip direct with a Pemuteran dive shop (roughly £30-40 including boat, gear and lunch) — the reef walls are some of Bali's best. Afterwards, soak at Banjar hot springs (cheap entry, ~50k IDR) and stop at Beji Temple.
🚌Local bemo/scooter ~£5
🛏Guesthouse in Pemuteran (£10-15)
- →Menjangan Island snorkelling
- →Banjar hot springs
- →Beji Temple
Singaraja market and Ulun Danu Beratan
Bedugul / Munduk area
Head east along the coast to Singaraja for the traditional morning market, then climb into the mountains to Ulun Danu Beratan temple on its lake (entry ~£3.50). Overnight in the cool hill country around Bedugul or Munduk.
🚌Bemo/shared car ~£10
🛏Homestay in Bedugul/Munduk (£10-15)
- →Singaraja traditional market
- →Ulun Danu Beratan temple
Lemukih trek and the Munduk waterfalls
Munduk / Lemukih
Do the Lemukih village trek — rice terraces, jungle and waterfalls with a local guide arranged in the village (~£12-18). Alternatively walk the Munduk waterfall trail on your own. Slow afternoon with mountain views and strong Balinese coffee.
🚌Local transport ~£5
🛏Homestay in Bedugul/Munduk (£10-15)
- →Lemukih village trek
- →Waterfall walk
- →Cafe afternoon
Jatiluwih rice terraces to Ubud
Ubud
Take a shared car or scooter down to the Jatiluwih rice terraces — the island's grandest, thali-shaped UNESCO landscape (entry ~£3.50) — and walk an hour or two of the trail. Then continue by bus/shuttle to Ubud (about 2 hours, ~£6).
🚌Shared car/bus ~£9
🛏Hostel in Ubud (£8-14)
- →Jatiluwih rice terrace walk
- →Transfer to Ubud
- →Evening in Ubud centre
Ubud: monkey forest, market and temples
Ubud
Ubud on foot and scooter: the Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud art market, Saraswati Temple, and if you want to go further, a Grab out to Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu. In the evening catch a legong dance performance at Ubud Palace (tickets ~£6 at the gate).
🚌Scooter/Grab ~£5
🛏Hostel in Ubud (£8-14)
- →Monkey Forest
- →Ubud art market
- →Gunung Kawi Sebatu temple
- →Legong dance performance
Penglipuran village and Balinese cooking class
Ubud / Bangli
Ride out to Penglipuran, a beautifully preserved bamboo-roofed village near Bangli (entry ~£2). Back in Ubud, join a small-group Balinese cooking class booked via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£25) — market visit, spice paste, satay and a shared feast.
🚌Scooter/Grab ~£8
🛏Hostel in Ubud (£8-14)
- →Penglipuran village visit
- →Balinese cooking class
Batur area and a village family experience
Kintamani / Ubud
Optional pre-dawn Mt Batur sunrise trek (book directly with a local guide, ~£30) or a jeep alternative, then a village family visit in Medahan — welcome cake and tea, market, temple and rice paddy walk, bookable locally or via GetYourGuide (~£15). Return to Ubud for the night.
🚌Shared car ~£8
🛏Hostel in Ubud (£8-14)
- →Mt Batur sunrise trek (optional)
- →Medahan village visit
- →Rice paddy walk
Tanah Lot and down to Candidasa
Candidasa
Stop at Tanah Lot temple on its sea rock at the start of the day (better still, near sunset — swap the order if you prefer), then take a bus or shared shuttle across the south and up the east coast to Candidasa (3-4 hours, ~£10). Check into a beach guesthouse.
🚌Bus/shared shuttle ~£10
🛏Guesthouse in Candidasa (£10-15)
- →Tanah Lot temple
- →Transfer to Candidasa
- →Beach sunset
Blue Lagoon snorkelling or Candidasa cooking class
Candidasa
Snorkel the Blue Lagoon at Padangbai just up the coast — the coral gardens are a short drive away and trips can be booked at any Candidasa dive shop (~£20-25 with gear). Alternative: a Balinese cooking class or a lazy beach day with the book you've been carrying since Yogyakarta.
🚌Local bemo/Grab ~£5
🛏Guesthouse in Candidasa (£10-15)
- →Blue Lagoon snorkelling
- →Optional cooking class
- →Beach time
Depart from Bali
Candidasa / Denpasar
Final morning swim, then a shared shuttle or Grab up to Denpasar airport for your flight home (2-2.5 hours, ~£10-14). Have your Bali tourist levy proof saved on your phone.
🚌Shuttle/Grab to airport ~£12
- →Beach morning
- →Transfer to Denpasar airport
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,400 | £2,058 |
| Duration | 23 days | 23 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £658 per person (32%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,400
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 Indonesia: Java & Bali cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,400 per person for 23 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 £2,058 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,400 — a saving of roughly £658 (32%) per person.
How long is the Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 23 days, covering 23 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, culture, hiking 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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