Backpacking Indonesia Travel Guide (tips + Secrets • 2022)

Traveling Indonesia

Monday, March 28, 2022

As a vast archipelago nation composed of over 17,000 islands, Indonesia is one of the most fascinating countries in the world.

Somehow they all come together across a vast distance to form one nation. (The country’s motto is Bhinneka Tunggal Ika, meaning “Unity in Diversity,” and there’s perhaps no better way to summarize Indonesia.)

With such unique cultures and landscapes, each island feels like its own country. Honestly, with so much to do and see in Indonesia, it’s difficult to narrow down an itinerary while backpacking Indonesia, which is why we’re here to help!

Backpacking Indonesia is an adventure like no other. For starters, you can climb active volcanoes, encounter orangutans in the jungle, visit ancient temples, and enjoy world-group diving. All along the way, you’ll be welcomed in by some of the most friendly people out there while you enjoy the varied and delicious cuisine. Best of all, you can easily backpack Indonesia on a budget.

I’ve spent nearly six months traveling in Indonesia now (four months of that I was living in Bali) so I have plenty of knowledge bombs to drop your way!

Let’s get to it.Why Go Backpacking in Indonesia?

While Bali has been attracting tourists en masse for decades, there’s so much more to Indonesia than this one most famous island. Bali is popular for a reason – and you should most definitely visit Bali – but backpacking Indonesia is all about getting out there and discovering the other islands.

You can’t see it all in one trip though, so it’s best to view your first trip to Indonesia as exactly that. Trust me, you’ll be planning your next one before it’s even over. After reading this in-depth Indonesia travel guide, you’ll be ready for the trip of a lifetime.An unforgettable adventure awaits.

As I mentioned earlier, Indonesia is made up of 17,000 islands, so there’s no shortage of things to do in Indonesia. I’ve broken down some of Indonesia’s best and most popular places to visit below. Heading Off-Grid? • Download This Guide as a PDF!

Sign up to The Broke Backpacker’s EXCLUSIVE VIP AREA below and download our top backpacking guides as PDFs – go offline with peace of mind!Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking Indonesia

Below I have mapped out 5 epic itineraries that are meant to be added on to one another. Since many people only have a week or two to visit Indonesia, I have mapped out how to spend your time the most efficiently. Many backpackers receive a 1-month visa on arrival, so I also have an itinerary for how to spend 4 weeks in Indonesia.

Finally, it is possible to get an 8-week visa ahead of arrival. If you are lucky enough to have 2 months, check out the fifth itinerary! With thousands of islands, you can truly spend a lifetime exploring Indonesia. These itineraries will at least keep you busy for weeks on end.Backpacking Indonesia 10-Day Itinerary #1: Exploring BaliA few highlights of Bali with some insentif extras!

If you’ve got 10-12 days for Indonesia, you’re best sticking to one island. There is plenty to do. Many people spend their entire month-long visa on Bali and it’s never enough – the island is pretty big and there’s a ton of variety!

I’d recommend spending your first couple of nights exploring the Canggu area and enjoying the beach and nightlife. Many backpackers get stuck here, and never leave, but don’t neglect the rest of beautiful Bali! From there, head up to Ubud for a few nights and be sure to include some adventures, like climbing Mt. Batur for sunrise, exploring the rice plantations, visiting the Monkey Forest, and getting your yoga on.

Add a couple nights in Amed for diving and snorkeling, and then loop back around to the south. Chill out in the laid-back town of Sanur. Uluwatu’s surfing beaches are the best breaks in Bali for more advanced surfers and boasts a stunning coastline and pretty good, yet chill, nightlife.

Many a flight has been missed and many a visa extended by travelers visiting Bali. It’s the kind of place that just sucks you in and makes you never want to leave. I should know, as I ended up moving there for a year on my third visit since short trips just weren’t cutting it!

Bali is epic, so research your trip!Backpacking Indonesia 2-Week Itinerary #2: Java + BaliSee the best of Java and Bali!

Many people will fly into the capital, Jakarta before backpacking Indonesia. Rather, you can immediately catch a flight to Bali, travel to Yogyakarta to explore for a couple of days. Here you can visit the famous Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple. Make sure to explore the volcano Mt Bromo too.

With an extra week, head to Bali and complete the first itinerary!Backpacking Indonesia 4-Week Itinerary #tiga: Bali to Flores

After dua weeks exploring Bali, travel to the beautiful area of Lombok and the Gili Islands too, just a couple hours by boat away. Each of the three islands has a totally different vibe. You can reference the Lombok section below.

Next, we head to Flores, where you can arrange trips to Komodo National Park to see the infamous komodo dragons.Backpacking Indonesia 8-Week Itinerary #4: Indonesia Highlights

If you are able to snag an 8-week visa for Indonesia, the world is your oyster. You can start by following the Bali itinerary and merging with the Flores route. You can also catch a flight to Sumatra.

Here, visit the orangutan sanctuary in Bukit Lawang and the stunning Lake Toba.

Also on tap here is world-class diving at Pulau Weh. This tiny island is located at either the beginning or end of Indonesia, depending on which way you’re looking at the map. You’ll have to pass through the town of Banda Aceh to reach here, which is the only place in Indonesia that has Sharia Law in place. This definitely isn’t the place to come party while backpacking Indonesia, but the juice is worth the squeeze if you get to Pulau Weh.

What is the One Item Every Traveller NEEDS???

There is one item every traveller NEEDS. Some travellers don’t even know they need it, but those travellers need it more than anyone.

What is this forgotten essential of the backpacker-life? SPOILERS! Guess you’ll just have to click the button to find out. 😉

Find Out What It Is!Places to Visit in IndonesiaBackpacking Bali

Let’s start out with the crown jewel of backpacking in Indonesia – Bali. The Island of the Gods has been drawing in tourists by the thousands for decades now, who flock here for waves, spirituality, beautiful scenery, and epic nightlife. This makes for an interesting mix of surfers, yogis, gap year travelers, digital nomads, honeymooners, retirees, and party animals.

Although it may look tiny on the map, Bali is actually quite a large island with many different areas to explore. There’s much more to it than the beaches, including terraced rice fields, several lakes, and a couple of active volcanoes. Some choose to base in one town and take day trips to see more of the island, while others prefer to bounce around and stay in a few places. Whatever you do, make sure you get out of that beach chair to see more of the island than the super touristy areas.

You’ve got so many options for things to see and do that you could easily spend all 30 days of your visa-free stay exploring Bali and do something different on every one of them. Go surfing down on the Bukit peninsula, balance your chakras in Ubud, dive in Amed, party in Seminyak, or take a yoga course with the Santosha Institute on Nusa Lembongan.

Above all else though, you will want to chill out in my favourite spot for backpackers – Canggu.Surfers wait for the last wave in Canggu.

If you are keen to get, or stay fit on your holiday – check out WanderFit Retreats in Bali – these are run by my friend Will Henke – one of the best coaches I’ve ever trained with. WanderFit are pretty different from other fitness retreats in Bali in that you get insane bang for your buck…

One of the best places to base yourself for your Bali stay is Canggu. This beach town just north of Seminyak has been gaining in popularity in recent years, especially amongst the surfer and digital nomad communities. Here you’ll find smaller crowds than the other beach towns, so you won’t have so much competition for the waves. There are countless options for accommodation, yoga, dining, and nightlife, and a whole bunch of other awesome things to do in Canggu.

Luxury villa accommodation, daily training from awesome coaches, surf lessons, snorkelling with manta rays, hikes and plenty of excursions to check out Bali’s best-known attractions and best kept secrets – what’s not to love!Train and explore with like-minded people in an island paradise…

Backpacking Indonesia Travel Guide (tips + Secrets • 2022)

dewa kipas Monday, March 28, 2022 edit Tags: travel