Ani MariaEveryone should visit Indonesia. I spent about two weeks in Indonesia over Summer 2017 with one of my best friends. We went late July into August, and still talk about the trip! We visited Ubud and Uluwatu in Bali, and Gili Trawangan in Lombok. It was an amazing trip and I would recommend all of these locations to anyone in a heart beat. I will certainly return to Indonesia in the future!
BALI and LOMBOK, INDONESIA
Bali is a province of Indonesia, located in the Lesser Sunda Islands. Ubud is a town located in the Gianyar Regency on the island of Bali. In other words, Ubud is situated within the larger geographical area of Bali. Uluwatu is a region located on the southwestern tip of the Bukit Peninsula of Bali, Indonesia. Bali is a must do when you visit Indonesia.
Lombok is an island located east of Bali, Indonesia, separated by the Lombok Strait. While Bali and Lombok are neighboring islands, they are distinct destinations with unique characteristics.
Ideas for your Itinerary
Here is a loose itinerary to follow when you visit Indonesia. The prices/places listed were accurate as of August 2017.
UBUD:
Ubud is a captivating town nestled amidst the lush greenery of central Bali, Indonesia. To begin with, Ubud is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, stunning natural beauty, and tranquil ambiance. Ubud has long been a haven for artists, spiritual seekers, and travelers seeking a taste of authentic Balinese life.
We spent four nights in Ubud. To that end, I think we could have accomplished everything we wanted to do in three nights instead. Ubud is certainly very touristy, given its incredible shrines, palaces, and culture. However, that should not deter you from spending some time there. Not to mention, it’s a prime location to start your Indonesian adventures as transportation to and from Ubud is easy and abundant.
Hotel in Ubud:
We stayed for 4 nights at Indira Cottages. It was the perfect location, the rooms were huge and clean! It was $177 via Booking.com for 4 nights, including (a really good, made to order) breakfast, so we each booked our own room with a king sized bed. The name of the hotel has since changed to Villa Sonia Bisma. I would not hesitate to recommend this hotel when you visit Indonesia. The location is really great, literally steps from the main street, but tucked away in a quiet corner. To this end, the pool was never crowded, and the location is solid.
Activities in Ubud:
(time in minutes is distance from my recommended hotel)
- Bara Batur Mt. Batur Hike (2:30 am – 1:30 pm, booked at $60 pp). Yes, you have to wake up super early to drive to the mountain (company will pick you up at your hotel) and you hike up in the dark, but when I tell you that you are rewarded with the most spectacular sunrise you will ever see, I promise you I am not joking. This is one of the best things I have ever done in my life – and I’ve gone on some pretty incredible hikes. If you book through the company I’ve linked, you’ll have you option of trail (we choose the “hardest” option, as we’re both experienced hikers) and a great breakfast before sunrise – one you’ll help to cook at the top by dropping eggs in boiling crater water to boil! This is my number one recommendation for you when you visit Indonesia. It is something I’ll certainly do again without hesitation.
- We hired a driver for Temple tours, rice fields, and waterfalls. Not only was it the best thing we could have done, but also it was one of the highlights of our time in Ubud! I can not recommend Gede to you enough. His WhatsApp is +62 813 38982222 and his email is gdsudarta@gmail.com All in all, he is simply the best. You can choose all the places you want him to take you to and let him bring you to some lesser known locations! I think he was with us for 8 hours and we paid like.. $50 or $60? With him we went to:
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Gunung Kawi (20K IDR entry fee)
- Tirta Empul (15K IDR entry fee)
- Goa Gajah – Elephant Cave (15K IDR entry fee)
- Coffee plantation
- We each had a palm reading (Unknown location, just trust Gede, I promise)
- Tegenungan Waterfall (20K IDR entry fee) Go as early as possible! We arrived before 8 a.m. and had the entire waterfall to ourselves for almost an hour. After swimming, you can rinse off in “holy water”. Sneak a sip to stay young 😉
- Butterfly Palace (I’d skip, but my friend loves butterflies so we went!)
- Silver Store outside of town
- This amazing restaurant that Gede brought us to where we ordered the famed crispy Duck dish! I wish I knew the name of it. It wasn’t touristy at all and the food was amazing. This is a perk of hiring a local driver!
Important Things to Note:
- You must wear maxi dress/skirt and bring scarf to cover your shoulders for some of the temples. Don’t fret – dress codes are clearly labeled at each temple/palace. Most even have free rentals. We ended up purchasing sarongs from local vendors because they were so beautiful!
- Everything is negotiable. Shop around, compare prices, and then haggle. However, be reasonable. If you can spent the $5 for a local’s handcraft good instead of spending your time and theirs trying to cut the price in half, just spend the $5.
Things I didn’t do, but would like to next time:
- Campuhan Ridge Walk (Takes about 2 hours, do at night when sun isn’t as strong / Free / 25 min walk / Starting point of the walk to the left of the entrance to Warwick Ibah Luxury Villas and Spa, just follow the path over the bridge and past the temple)
- Gitgit Waterfall (20K IDR entry fee, 20K for top)
- Angseri Hot Springs/Waterfall
From Ubud, we headed to Gili Trawangan. This required taking a bus to the docks in another town, and the a ferry to the island. We booked through Gili Getaway. They’re always running specials and we haggled via WhatsApp. I believe we paid less than $100 each for a customized roundtrip (Ubud – Gili – Uluwatu). I think you can find better prices in person!
GILI TRAWANGAN
When you visit Indonesia, you’ll have to stop on Gili Trawangan! Affectionately known as Gili T, it is a mesmerizing tropical island nestled in the Lombok Strait, just off the coast of Lombok, Indonesia. This car-free paradise is renowned for its pristine beaches, turquoise waters, and lively (read: party) atmosphere, making it an ideal destination.
Hotel on Gili T:
We stayed for 5 nights at The Exile which was such a great spot in the west coast (best sunsets). We booked directly through their website. The hotel had the most incredible food, so we ate lunch there every after noon on the beach. We stayed in one of the AC rooms. The AC worked great, the room was big and clean, and the semi-outdoor bathroom was amazing. I would definitely stay here again! It was an easy commute by bike or foot to the east coast, where most of the entertainment, shopping, restaurants/bars, parties are.
We really loved Gili. We just relaxed and spent every single day on the beach, which is exactly what we wanted to do.
Activities on Gili T:
- On our second day there (after the first was spent on the beachfront of the hotel!) we rented bikes and rode around the entire island (this would probably take 1.5 hours if you did it without stopping). In truth, we made a day of it by stopping at all the cute beaches and shops we passed along the way. We even ended up renting snorkels at one beach!
- Go shopping downtown! There are lots of cute spots to pop into. We spent an afternoon just strolling around. Pituq Cafe was a great place to grab a bite!
- We booked a snorkel trip off the island. You’ve got to snorkle when you visit Indonesia! In fact, we snorkeled in a few different spots – off T and Air. We saw turtles and some fish, but nothing too overwhelming. We stopped for lunch on Gili Air and enjoyed the beach for a bit there. I do regret not making a point to go to Wreck Point near Mentigi Beach.
- Visit the Night Market. The selection of fish is crazy and it is so fun to walk around the market! After eating local for a couple nights, we found a great burger place in the middle of all the chaos.
- We enjoyed the sunset drum circle outside of the hotel every night, along with good music and vibes. In conclusion, Exile is a hotspot that many who aren’t staying at the hotel come to hang out at!
- I went to the Turtle Conservation and learned all about how tirelessly the locals work to keep the turtle population safe and thriving.
Important Things to Note:
- The reef around the Gilis is unfortunately dead. In brief, this was really devastating to witness in person. If you’re expecting coral, then you’re a few years too late.
- A huge earthquake shook Lombok in 2018. It destroyed a lot on the mainland. The islands avoided the worst of the disaster, but still received quite a scare and suffered some destruction. They’ve begun rebuilding since then.
Things I didn’t do, but would like to next time:
- Get a PADI Certificate on one of the islands.
- Hike to the viewpoint on the southern end of the island for a view of the entire island
- Visit Gili Meno and Gili Air
- Rent a paddle board
ULUWATU
Uluwatu is a captivating destination in Bali, Indonesia, renowned for its stunning beaches, mesmerizing sunsets, and rich cultural heritage. It’s a must when you visit Indonesia.
Hotel on Uluwatu:
We stayed for 4 nights at Uluwatu Cottages, which we found and booked through Booking.com, for $365, and shared one room. We also rented a moped to get around. This was another winner of a hotel that I would not only recommend, but return to myself! Lounging by the huge infinity pool before or after the beach was great. The rooms were large and clean! I do highly recommend renting a moped or a car when you’re here, as Uluwatu a lot more low key and spread out than the other areas of Bali. Things are further away from each other.
Activities on Uluwatu:
- Our visit to Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple was the highlight of our time here. We arrived around 4:15 for the Kecak dance performance. The dance is based on the famous epic Hindu story of the Ramayana and is a must on your visit to Indonesia. The dance happens nightly at sunset, but fills up quickly so arrive early to get a good seat! We sat in the upper left hand section. Due to that, we were granted us a perfect view of the performance and of the sunset over the ocean. The temple is located on a cliff and boasts beautiful ocean views!
- We went to Uluwatu Point which is directly under Single Fin. It’s really neat to go through the cave and wade in the water, but it’s also rocky and the tide is strong. We only saw really skilled, local surfers out in the water. It is not a swimming spot and I wouldn’t recommend surfing there unless you’re skilled and with a local.
- Visit Padang Padang Beach, great for laying out to tan and safe for swimming
- Visit Dreamland Beach. You can even hike here!
- We went to Single Fin twice. Another key point – it’s a big party on Sunday nights and does truly have a great view of sunset.
Things I didn’t do, but would like to next time:
- Day trip to Nusa Penida
- Visit GreenBowl Beach
WHEN I GO BACK TO INDONESIA SOMEDAY, I WANT TO GO TO..
- Seminyak
- Canggu
- Padar (third largest island in Komodo National Park and a great place to hike)
- Kelimutu Volcanic Craters on Flores island. Despite a chemical reaction from nearby volcano gas activity, these three color changing lakes can be aqua, emerald, chocolate, or red and are very beautiful.
- Sendang Gile Waterfall & Tiu Kelep Waterfall. Due to their location in Northern Lombok, you’ll enjoy a great hike between the two waterfalls!
- Heaven’s Gate
- Floating Market in Lok Baintain Kalimantan
The beach not your scene? Try a trip to Scotland instead!