Self-Launched: The Ultimate Adventure in Java and Bali

Fly into Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA). Take a Blue Bird taxi or Grab app ride to the Prawirotaman district (~£5–8). Check into a well-reviewed guesthouse or boutique hostel in the area — try Greenhost Boutique Hotel or The 1O1 Yogyakarta Tugu for mid-range comfort, or Melia Purosani area hostels for budget. Ease in, explore the neighbourhood on foot and grab dinner at a local warung.

🚌Grab taxi or Blue Bird from Yogyakarta Airport to Prawirotaman (~£5–8)

🛏Greenhost Boutique Hotel or similar guesthouse in Prawirotaman (~£20–30/night) or budget hostel (~£8–14/night)

• →Airport Grab/taxi to Prawirotaman district
• →Check into guesthouse or mid-range hotel
• →Evening stroll and dinner at a local warung

Visit Kraton (Sultan's Palace) independently — entrance ~£1.50. Walk to Taman Sari Water Palace (~£1). Lunch at a local restaurant in central Yogyakarta (~£3–5). In the afternoon, book a Borobudur Temple guided tour via GetYourGuide (self-bookable, includes summit access, ~£15–20). Return to Yogyakarta by evening for a wander through the Malioboro street market and street food.

🚌Hire a local driver or join a shared tour to Borobudur (~£8–12 return shared minibus); Grab for local trips

🛏Same guesthouse as Day 1

• →Kraton Sultan's Palace self-visit (~£1.50 entry)
• →Taman Sari Water Palace (~£1 entry)
• →Borobudur Temple hike via self-booked tour (~£15–20 via GetYourGuide)
• →Evening Malioboro street market and street food

Book a cycling rice paddy tour with local operators (e.g. via GetYourGuide or direct with local guides, ~£15–20 including Plaosan Temple stop and cultural visits). Lunch near Prambanan (~£3–4). Visit Prambanan Temple independently (entry ~£15). Transfer to Gunung Kidul by shared minivan or hire car (~£8–12) for an afternoon hike up Nglanggeran Ancient Volcano — entry and guide fee ~£4–6.

🚌Shared minivan or local driver to Prambanan and Gunung Kidul (~£8–12)

🛏Same guesthouse in Yogyakarta, or guesthouse near Prambanan (~£15–25/night)

• →Cycling tour through rice paddies and cultural stops (~£15–20)
• →Plaosan Temple visit (included in cycling tour)
• →Prambanan Temple visit (~£15 entry)
• →Nglanggeran Ancient Volcano hike (~£4–6 guide/entry fee)

Catch the 07:30 Yogyakarta–Mojokerto train via the KAI (Indonesian Railways) app or at the station (~£8–12, ~4 hrs). Book in advance online at kai.id. From Mojokerto, take a shared minibus or hire a local car to Cemoro Lawang village at the foot of Mount Bromo (~£10–15, ~2.5 hrs). Check into a guesthouse with great Bromo views — try Café Lava Hostel or Bromo Permai Hotel (~£12–22/night). Early night ahead of tomorrow's 4am start.

🚌KAI train Yogyakarta–Mojokerto (~£8–12); shared car/minibus to Cemoro Lawang (~£10–15)

🛏Café Lava Hostel or Bromo Permai Hotel, Cemoro Lawang (~£12–22/night)

• →Morning train Yogyakarta to Mojokerto via kai.id (~£8–12)
• →Shared minibus or local car to Cemoro Lawang (~£10–15)
• →Check in and rest at Bromo guesthouse

Wake at ~03:30 and hire a shared 4x4 jeep from your guesthouse to a sunrise viewpoint (~£8–12 shared). Descend into the Tengger Caldera and hike across the Sea of Sand to the crater rim of Mount Bromo (~300m ascent, ~11km total). Entry to the national park costs ~£10. Lunch at Lava View Lodge or a local warung (~£4–6). Afternoon free to rest at the guesthouse.

🚌Shared 4x4 jeep from guesthouse (~£8–12 shared)

🛏Same guesthouse as Day 4

• →Shared 4x4 jeep to sunrise viewpoint (~£8–12 shared)
• →Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park entry (~£10)
• →Hike across Sea of Sand to Bromo crater rim (~11km)
• →Lunch at Lava View Lodge

Arrange a shared car or join a local tour to Madakaripura Waterfall (~£8–12 shared transport). Entry ~£2; pack a raincoat as the circular waterfall creates constant spray. A short hike leads through jungle to the falls (~8km, 2hrs). Continue east by hired car or shared transport to Ketapang on Java's east coast (~£10–15, 5–6 hrs). Find a budget guesthouse or mid-range hotel with sea views overlooking the Bali Strait (~£15–25/night).

🚌Shared car or local tour from Bromo to Madakaripura then Ketapang (~£18–27 total)

🛏Local guesthouse or mid-range hotel in Ketapang (~£15–25/night)

• →Madakaripura Waterfall hike (~£2 entry + ~£8–12 shared transport)
• →Scenic drive east to Ketapang coast (5–6 hrs)

Arrange a local guide through your guesthouse or book via GetYourGuide for a coffee plantation hiking tour (~£15–20, includes lunch at a local home). The 10km hike winds through hillside plantations, jungle paths and villages around the Ijen Plateau. If it's harvest season, see beans being hand-sorted and cloves dried on mats. A family-style lunch with Javanese coffee is included. Return in the afternoon for pool time at your guesthouse.

🚌Local guide arranges transport from guesthouse (usually included in tour)

🛏Same guesthouse as Day 6

• →Guided coffee plantation hike with local guide (~£15–20 including lunch)
• →Village cultural stops along the trail
• →Afternoon relaxation at guesthouse

Wake at ~06:00 and arrange a shared 4x4 or local tour to Paltuding trailhead for Kawah Ijen (~£8–12 shared). National park entry ~£8. Hike to the electric-blue crater lake (~13km, 3–4 hrs). Descend and drive to Ketapang ferry terminal (~1 hr). Take the public Ketapang–Gilimanuk ferry (~£1.50, 30–45 mins). From Gilimanuk, take a shared bemo or bus to Lovina (~£3–5, ~2 hrs). Check into a guesthouse in Lovina, a relaxed beach town on Bali's north coast (~£15–25/night).

🚌Shared 4x4 to trailhead (~£8–12); public ferry (~£1.50); shared bus to Lovina (~£3–5)

🛏Guesthouse or mid-range hotel in Lovina (~£15–25/night)

• →Kawah Ijen crater hike via shared 4x4 tour (~£8–12 + £8 park entry)
• →Ketapang–Gilimanuk public ferry (~£1.50)
• →Shared bemo/bus from Gilimanuk to Lovina (~£3–5)

Book a Menjangan Island snorkelling day trip directly through your guesthouse or via GetYourGuide (~£30–45 per person, includes boat, two snorkelling sessions, gear and picnic lunch). The trip takes ~2 hrs each way by traditional wooden boat. Snorkel the vibrant coral reefs, look out for sea turtles and reef sharks. Return to Lovina by late afternoon — lounge by the pool, walk the beach at sunset or treat yourself to a cheap Balinese massage (~£5–8).

🚌Traditional wooden boat to/from Menjangan Island (included in day trip)

🛏Same guesthouse as Day 8

• →Menjangan Island snorkelling day trip (~£30–45 inc. boat, gear and lunch)
• →Two snorkelling sessions on coral reefs
• →Balinese massage back in Lovina (~£5–8)

Book a Munduk canyoning half-day tour via GetYourGuide or local operators (~£40–55, includes safety equipment, guides, abseiling, waterfall jumps and a natural hot spring soak). After the adventure and lunch (~£3–5 local warung), arrange a shared tourist shuttle or hire a driver to Ubud (~£10–15, ~2.5 hrs). Check into a beautiful mid-range villa or boutique guesthouse in Ubud with a pool (~£25–45/night). Spend the evening exploring Ubud's streets.

🚌Shared tourist shuttle from Munduk area to Ubud (~£10–15)

🛏Mid-range pool villa or boutique guesthouse in Ubud (~£25–45/night)

• →Half-day canyoning in Munduk (~£40–55 via GetYourGuide)
• →Natural hot spring soak (included in canyoning tour)
• →Shared shuttle or driver to Ubud (~£10–15)

Start the morning with a yoga class at one of Ubud's many studios — Yoga Barn is the most famous (~£10–12 drop-in). Spend the morning wandering Ubud's art galleries, Monkey Forest, traditional market and boutique shops. In the afternoon, join a Balinese cooking class (e.g. Lobong Culinary Experience or similar, ~£25–35 via GetYourGuide or direct booking) — prepare authentic dishes and enjoy the farewell meal you've cooked together.

🚌Walking and Grab scooter/taxi within Ubud (~£2–5)

🛏Same guesthouse/villa as Day 10

• →Morning yoga class at Yoga Barn or similar studio (~£10–12)
• →Self-guided exploration of Ubud market, art galleries and Monkey Forest (~£3–5 entry)
• →Balinese cooking class with farewell meal (~£25–35)

Enjoy a leisurely final breakfast in Ubud. Depending on your flight time, hire a Grab car or pre-arrange a local driver to Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) International Airport (DPS) — roughly 1.5 hrs from Ubud (~£12–18). If you have time before heading to the airport, squeeze in a final stroll, a last coffee or a quick browse of the Ubud market.

🚌Grab car or local driver from Ubud to Denpasar Airport (~£12–18, ~1.5 hrs)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final exploration of Ubud at leisure
• →Grab car or pre-arranged driver to Denpasar Airport (~£12–18)