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Hilly islands and turquoise bays in Komodo National Park, Flores

Sample journey · 16–20 days

Indonesia — temples, volcanoes & island seas

Yogyakarta, Bali beyond the obvious & Komodo National Park

Photo: Johnny Africa / Unsplash

Illustrative journey ideas — not bookable packages. No prices, dates or accommodation are implied.

Indonesia is thousands of islands, each keeping its own rhythm. On Java the culture of the royal courts and the craft of batik are still alive; on Bali daily life is still shaped by offerings and temple festivals; and further east, around Flores, dry hills drop into a turquoise sea.

This sample journey links three very different islands by internal flights that usually take an hour or two. On Bali it steers away from the busiest areas towards quieter valleys and highlands, and it ends with time by the sea. It's easy to adapt: more adventure, more rest, or different islands entirely.

The route

The journey

  1. Yogyakarta
  2. Sidemen & Ubud
  3. Munduk
  4. Labuan Bajo & Komodo
  5. Bali coast
  1. A stone Buddha among bell-shaped stupas at Borobudur, Java

    01Days 1–4 · Yogyakarta

    Temples, a royal court and batik

    Yogyakarta is usually reached via Jakarta or another regional hub. Borobudur early in the morning, while mist still lies around the volcanoes, the towers of Prambanan in evening light, the Sultan's palace and batik workshops in the old town. For more nature, a morning on the slopes of Mount Merapi.

  2. Green rice terraces and small huts in the Sidemen valley, Bali

    02Days 5–8 · Sidemen & Ubud

    Bali beyond the obvious

    A short flight to Bali and on to the Sidemen valley in the east of the island: rice terraces beneath Mount Agung, weaving workshops and walks between villages. Then a few nights around Ubud: an evening of traditional dance, a water temple, an early market and, if you like, a Balinese cooking class.

  3. A temple on the shore of Lake Tamblingan and wooden canoes on a misty morning, Bali's highlands

    03Days 9–10 · Munduk

    Cool highlands and crater lakes

    High in Bali's hills, above lakes Bratan and Tamblingan, the air is cooler and the pace slower. Trails through coffee and clove plantations, forest waterfalls and a dugout canoe on the lake early in the morning. A good place to catch your breath before the sea.

  4. A Komodo dragon walking along a sandy beach on Komodo Island

    04Days 11–14 · Labuan Bajo & Komodo

    By boat among the islands

    A flight of roughly an hour and a half from Bali to Labuan Bajo on Flores. From there, days or a night aboard a boat in Komodo National Park: a ranger-led walk among Komodo dragons, a morning on Padar Island, snorkelling on coral reefs and, with luck, manta rays, though sightings are never guaranteed.

  5. The coastal village of Amed and boats in the bay beneath Mount Agung, east Bali

    05Days 15–17 · Bali coast

    Last days by the sea

    Back on Bali, a quieter stretch of coast: the fishing villages of Amed in the east, with reefs close to shore, or the clifftops of the Bukit Peninsula in the south. A few days with no schedule before the flight home.

Experience highlights

  1. 01

    Borobudur at first light

    The world's largest Buddhist monument, ringed by volcanoes and morning mist.

  2. 02

    The Sidemen valley

    Rice terraces, weavers and village paths: a Bali where life still turns around the fields.

  3. 03

    Komodo dragons with a ranger

    A walk with a park ranger among the world's largest lizards in their natural habitat.

  4. 04

    Morning on Padar Island

    A short, steep climb to a ridge overlooking three bays of different colours.

First, we listen. Then, we explore what's possible.

Make it your own

  • More active

    Sunrise at Mount Bromo in East Java, a climb up Mount Batur on Bali, or scuba-diving days in Komodo.

  • Different islands

    Instead of Komodo, Lombok and the quiet Gili islands, or a boat journey around Raja Ampat in eastern Indonesia.

  • With children

    Fewer transfers, villas with pools on Bali, batik and cooking classes, and day trips to Komodo rather than a night aboard.

  • More time to rest

    A longer finale at a quiet beach villa or secluded resort, especially lovely for a honeymoon.

Practical considerations

  • The dry season on these islands usually runs from about April to October, though conditions vary between islands and from year to year.
  • Internal flight schedules sometimes change, so it's wise to leave a buffer between flights and before the international departure.
  • Modest dress is needed at temples; on Bali a sarong is often provided.
  • Sea conditions in Komodo depend on season and wind, and the captain may adjust the boat route.

General guidance only. Seasons, weather and wildlife are never guaranteed, and travel requirements are always worth checking before you go.

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