The Ultimate 10 Day Indonesia Itinerary – Island Hopping Edition

Indonesia is great for so many reasons.  It’s home to some of the world’s premier diving spots.  You can explore over 17,000 islands (but good luck even scratching the surface!).  And you can visit for history and temples.  There are also tons of adventures you can have across the country from hiking volcanoes to canyoning, and rock climbing!  If you’re planning a trip to Indonesia, it can be difficult to know where to start.  This 10 day Indonesia itinerary focuses solely on island hopping.  It’s a great itinerary for your first time to Indonesia!

 

Before reading further, don’t miss…

• Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Indonesia
• The Best Packing List for Indonesia

 

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND PURCHASING TRAVEL INSURANCE WHEN TRAVELING TO INDONESIA; GET YOURS HERE!

 

Is 10 Days Enough for Indonesia?

Realistically you could spend months in Indonesia and not even scratch the surface.  However, I think that 10-days is a good starting place for exploring the country.  If you have the time to stay longer, I would recommend it as Indonesia is an incredible country.  But if you’re limited on time, yes, 10 days is enough time to visit Indonesia and do some island hopping!

 

Cost of Visiting Indonesia for 10 Days

The great thing about Indonesia is that it can be what you want it to be.  There are amazing luxury hotels and experiences you can have, but there are equally as many amazing hostels and cheap experiences you can have.  I consider myself a “middle of the road” traveler and would say that you can expect to spend $50-$100/day including your hotel stay.  However, I would budget so that you’re able to stay in a luxury hotel in Bali before you leave the country.  Bali has some truly amazing hotels and for me, this is the cherry on top of an Indonesia itinerary.

 

How to Get to Indonesia

Indonesia has over 600 airports throughout the country, however most don’t accept major international flights.  Chances are, if you fly to Indonesia you will at least connect in Jakarta, Bali, or East Java (the three biggest airports in Indonesia).   Depending on where you’re flying from, you might also expect to connect in a larger city in Southeast Asia such as Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok or in the Middle East such as Dubai or Doha before arriving to Indonesia.

In this itinerary, you’ll be flying in and out of Denpasar in Bali.

 

Day 1 – Arrive to Bali

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 1:  Ubud

 

How to Get from the Airport to Ubud

I highly recommend booking a driver ahead of time to get you from the airport to Ubud.  The airport can be pretty crazy and if you reserve a driver ahead of time, they will be waiting with a sign that says your name.  You can reserve an English speaking driver here ahead of time; or you can request that your hotel sends someone.

The drive from the Denpasar Airport (DPS) – also known as Ngurah Rai International Airport – to Ubud is about 1-2 hours depending on traffic.

 

BOOK A DRIVER TO TAKE YOU FROM THE AIRPORT TO YOUR HOTEL HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Ubud

When looking for a hotel in Ubud the main question you need to ask yourself is whether you want to be away from the crowds or closer to the action.  If you want to be away from the crowds, do you feel comfortable renting a motorbike to get around?  Or are you okay hiring a driver to drive you around?  Personally, I like to be within walking distance of cafes and restaurants which is why I chose to stay at Vitasha Supala Ubud.  This hotel was affordable and very central – I would highly recommend it!

Other hotels in Ubud that I would recommend include…

• Bisma Eight
• Uma Kalai
• Arya Arkananta Resort & Spa
• Kastara Resort & Spa

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN UBUD HERE!

 

SPENDING THE MORNING IN BALI

Start your morning early with the goal to be at Scared Monkey Forest Sanctuary by the time it opens (at 0900) to avoid the crowds that come by 1000.  But before going to Monkey Forest, head to one of the many cafes in Ubud and start your day with a delicious breakfast!  I suggest Pison Ubud, Sunday Field, or Ivy Cafe.  From any of these cafes you can then walk to Monkey Forest.

As I mentioned earlier, I would highly recommend arriving to Monkey Forest at the time that they open – 0900.  The cost to enter is 80,000 IDR during the week and 100,000 IDR on the weekend (for adults).  Make sure you’re not wearing any flashy or big jewelry as the monkey’s are known to climb on people at times and pull on jewelry.  You can expect to spend around an hour walking around.

After leaving Monkey Forest, walk down Monkey Forest Road where you’ll find tons of quaint boutique shops and cafes.  If you need a morning coffee, I enjoyed stopping at Watercress Ubud!

 

BOOK YOUR TICKET AND A GUIDED TOUR OF SACRED MONKEY FOREST SANCTUARY HERE!

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN BALI

As for the afternoon, I would recommend visiting one of the famous Hindu temples in Ubud.  Continue to walk down Monkey Forest Road where you’ll come to Ubud Palace (this palace is free to enter and nothing special, but if you’re nearby you might as well check it out).  You’ll also be near the Ubud Art Market which is fun to check out!  From here, make a left and head to Ubud Water Palace.  To enter, it costs 50,000 IDR and the water palace is absolutely beautiful, but aside from walking around there isn’t much else going on.  While I appreciated the architecture, if you don’t want to spend the money – you aren’t missing out.  (Also, the price of your ticket includes appropriate dress so you don’t need to come prepared ahead of time).

The real highlight of your afternoon in Ubud (and why I recommend comfortable shoes) is to walk the “Sweet Orange Walk Trail” through rice fields until you reach Sweet Orange Warung for lunch.  To get to Sweet Orange Walk Trail leave Ubud Water Palace and turn left where you’ll walk through the Prianka Ubud Art Market.  After about 15 minutes of walking, you’ll climb a pretty steep hill where you’ll then reach a more serene area of rice paddies and palm trees.  From there you’ll notice signs that say “Sweet Orange” and if you don’t simply put “Sweet Orange Warung” into your phone to reach the cafe.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN BALI

As far as spending the evening in Ubud, head back down to Monkey Forest Road and stop at Belle Wine Bar & Grazing Boards for wine and cheese before dinner.  For dinner suggestions, I have two places that I would highly recommend.  The first is Plant Bistro – a gorgeous, plant based restaurant in the hills of Ubud.  If you’re plant based or vegan or you’re interested in exploring these foods – I highly recommend making a reservation here.  Otherwise, I absolutely loved the Greek restaurant Nostimo Greek Grill Ubud.  It’s fun, lively, and has amazing Greek food!

 

For more information on visiting Ubud, don’t miss…

• How to Spend One Day in Ubud

 

Day 2 – Bali

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 2:  Ubud

On your second day in Ubud, I suggest going on a tour or hiring a driver to take you north to some of the lesser known waterfalls.  Here are some tours/activities I’d recommend…

• Take a yoga class at The Yoga Barn
• Visit Tegalalang Rice Terrace
• Take a private Balinese cooking class
• Visit the waterfalls
• ATV ride + Gorilla Cave + waterfall
• ATV ride & white water rafting
• Visit water temples and rice terraces
• Full-Day Spiritual Cleansing and Shamanic Healing Tour
• River Cave Tubing Adventure with Lunch

 

Day 3 – Travel from Bali to Gili Air

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 3:  Exploring Gili Air

 

How to Get to Gili Air

From Bali, you can take a ferry to Gili Air.  The boat will take around 4-5 hours depending on how many stops it makes.  Your best bet is to leave from Padang Bai harbor (less congested) or the Sanur port (very crowded).  Depending on traffic it will take you about an hour to get to each ferry port.

To purchase a ticket, you can ask your hotel to help you (there will usually be a small fee for this) or you can book online here, here or here.

Once you arrive to Gili Air, depending on where you’re staying on the island and how much luggage you have, you can either walk or there will be horse-driven carriages available at the port.

 

BOOK YOUR TICKET FROM BALI TO GILI AIR HERE!

 

Where to Stay in Gili Air

When deciding where to stay in Gili Air, there are a few things to consider.  First, do you want something quiet?  Head north.  Do you want to step out on the beach each morning?  Make sure to book a beachside property.  Do you want to be around the action?  Stay in the south.

I stayed at Jago Gili Air and would absolutely recommend it to anyone staying on Gili Air.  The rooms are comfortable, clean, the wifi works well, and I loved that I was near tons of restaurants and it was easy walking distance to the beach.  I also stayed in the north one night at Ardi Beltza Gili Air.  It was a bit more rustic and the wifi was spotty, but if you want something more quiet and off the beaten path it’s also a great choice.

If the above choices are full or don’t suite you, here are some other properties I was eyeing…

• Hani Hideaway
• The KOHO Air Hotel
• PinkCoco Gili Air
• La Boheme

 

Of note, Indonesia is a Muslim country and there is a mosque in the middle of Gili Air.  Because of this, you might hear the call to prayer throughout the day/night.  Just something to be aware of and something to pay attention to when reading reviews about the hotels on the island.

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN GILI AIR HERE!

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN GILI AIR

Once you arrive to Gili Air and check into your hotel, I recommend renting a bike (this should cost around 50,000 IDR/day) and riding around the island.  Stop for lunch at Gili Coffee Roasters or Pachamama Organic Cafe before heading to the beach!

Something that I really enjoyed about Gili Air was not only is there plenty of space to just lie on the sand, but I like that there are many lounge chairs and umbrellas to enjoy without needing to pay.  It is expected that you purchase food/drink when you use the lounge chairs, but there is no minimum spend and no extra charge for the chair itself.

My two favorite places to lounge under an umbrella are the areas around Scallywag and Gili Lambing Bungalows and Bar.  For a more chill experience (with shade but no official lounge chairs) head northwest between Camilla Beach Club and Hakuna Matata.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN GILI AIR

Once evening hits, make sure to watch the sunset from one of the beach restaurants/bars.  For the best sunset views, you’ll want to visit the northwest of the island.  If you land somewhere between Camilla Beach Club  and Island View Bar & Bungalow, you’ll get the best sunset views.  If you want to have dinner on the beach, I recommend heading to Hakuna Matata, which is also a great place to watch the sunset.  On a clear day, you can actually see Bali from Hakuna Matata which is pretty cool!

 

For more information about visiting Gili Air, don’t miss…

• 10 of the Best Things to Do in Gili Air

 

Day 4 – Gili Air

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 4:  Snorkeling the Gili Islands

 

SPENDING THE MORNING IN GILI AIR

Get up early to enjoy your only full day in Gili Air.  I recommend starting your day with breakfast at Kopi Susu – a beautiful and delicious cafe where you can make your own breakfast board.  Make sure to go early because the snorkeling tours start around 1000 am!

If you want to get some movement in, you can also start your day with yoga at H20 Yoga or Flowers and Fire Yoga Garden.  Or you could visit The Gym Gili Air where you’ll have access to cardio machines and weights.

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN GILI AIR

One of the highlights of the Gili islands are snorkeling/diving in the pristine waters.  If you don’t dive, I highly recommend going on a snorkeling tour around the three Gili islands – Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili T.  You’ll see tons of stands around the island advertising snorkeling tours; the tours cost 50,000 IDR/person and last from 1000-1500.  Around 1300 you’ll be dropped off on Gili Meno for lunch.

 

BOOK A PRIVATE OR SHARED SNORKELING TOUR HERE!

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN GILI AIR

For dinner, I recommend grabbing cocktails on the beach for sunset at Mowie’s Gili Air Bar and having dinner at ITALY Pizza & Cucina.  If you’re craving local food, Shendy’s Food & Better Drinks is incredible.

If you’re up for it, you might even be able to catch a movie on the beach at Lagoon Beach Club & Resto or Ombak Paradise.

 

Day 5 – Travel from Gili Air to Nusa Penida

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 5:  Pandan Beach

 

How to Get to Nusa Penida

From Gili Air, the easiest way to get a ticket to Nusa Penida is to ask the men at the ticket counter near the port.  Know that you must reserve your spot a day in advance, so don’t wait for the last minute to do this!  The boat ride should be around 3-4 hours depending on how many stops there are along the way.

To get to your hotel from the port, I recommend booking a taxi with your hotel ahead of time.  If you wait, the drivers at the port charge a LOT of money (for reasons unknown to me).  For example, my hotel charged 150,000 IDR from the port to my hotel and the drivers at the port wanted to charge me more than double that (350,000 IDR).

 

Where to Stay in Nusa Penida

I stayed at Meket Bungalows in the west of the island and would highly recommend it.  These no-fuss bungalows are incredibly charming and the hotel staff were so kind.  Plus you have an incredible view of the jungle and on a clear day you can see the ocean.  You can rent motorbikes from here or one of the staff members can drop you off and pick you up from Crystal Bay for free.  However, other than that there are limited things to do near the hotel and if you aren’t comfortable driving a motorbike, that limits your options (especially at night).  More hotels that I was eyeing in Nusa Penida include…

• Santen Beach Bungalows
• Merta Beach Bungalow by Bukit Vista
• Surya Chandra Beach Bungalow
• MAUA Nusa Penida
• Sea La Vie Resort

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN NUSA PENIDA HERE!

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN NUSA PENIDA

Once you arrive to Nusa Penida and check into your hotel and head straight to Crystal Bay.  However, don’t stop there!  Instead continue to Pandan Beach.  To reach Pandan, once you’ve arrived to Crystal Bay and you’re on the sand and looking out at the ocean, you’ll turn left and when you come to the cliffside you’ll notice a set of stairs leading up.  The hike is around 15 minutes and isn’t too hard (you’ll go up for a while, walk along a flat path, then descend down).  I do suggest bringing water as it can get very hot!

The reason I recommend Pandan Beach over Crystal Bay is because it is so much smaller, quieter, and less crowded.  Plus the beach and water is stunning with cliffs on both sides of you.  It’s truly a hidden gem!

Once you arrive you will have the option to purchase lounge chairs with an umbrella (100,000 IDR for a set of two), fresh coconuts, and around lunchtime you can purchase chips and other drinks.

By the way, I do recommend coming with water shoes (depending on the tide, there are rocks) and a lightweight towel.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN NUSA PENIDA

For cocktails at sunset and a delicious dinner, head to AMARTA Penida.  This restaurant is beautiful and also has a pool overlooking the bay and Nusa Lembongan.  It’s also a good option for the day if you don’t quite feel like heading to the beach but instead want to enjoy lunch and a pool swim.

 

For more information about Nusa Penida, don’t miss…

• 8 Things to Do in Nusa Penida
• The Best Nusa Penida 2 Day Itinerary

 

Day 6 – Nusa Penida

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 6:  Kelingking Beach & Diamond Beach

 

SPENDING THE MORNING IN NUSA PENIDA

On your only full day in Nusa Penida I recommend starting your day early so you can explore the highlights of Nusa Penida before spending the afternoon at one of the beach clubs.  To start, if you don’t feel comfortable on a motorbike, you’ll want to hire a driver to take you around.  I used Ketut (his WhatsApp is – +62 812-3670-269) and would recommend him!  If he is busy for the day, here are some more options…

• West part of the island
• East part of the island
• “Instagram” tour of island
• Customizable tour of island

If you’re able to hire Ketut, make sure you tell him you want to start your day early and be at Kelingking Beach by 0700.  I recommend this because by 0900 Kelingking gets unbearably crowded with day trippers.  While I loved viewing Kelingking from the above, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend climbing down to the beach.  Not only are there hundreds of steps but at times it isn’t recommend to get in the water due to the currents.  To park at Kelingking, you’ll need to pay 10,000 IDR.

After Kelingking, make your way to Nusa Penida’s second most popular attractions – Diamond Beach.  Again, I personally don’t think it’s worth it to hike down to the bottom, but instead I’d recommend viewing Diamond Beach from above.  Diamond Beach does not get as crowded as Kelingking Beach (I think this is because it’s on the east side of the island so it’s harder for day-trippers to get to) but it can still draw a crowd – especially in the afternoon.  To enter, you’ll need to pay a fee of 35,000 IDR/person and you’ll get a small bottle of water (although I recommend bringing more if you plan to hike down to the beach).

The reason I don’t recommend hiking down to Diamond Beach is because it’s very dangerous once you pass the stairs; you’re required to essentially rock climb and use ropes to reach the beach.  And getting down isn’t the hard part, it’s getting back up.  Not to mention, once you reach the beach you aren’t “allowed” to swim (of course you can get in, but there are locals there that whistle if you go too far) because of the dangerous currents and sea rocks.  If you’re still set on going down, please wear sturdy tennis shoes and go very slowly.

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN NUSA PENIDA

Once you’ve seen Nusa Penida’s most popular attractions, spend the rest of your day lounging at one of the beach clubs!  Some beach clubs that I recommend include…

• Cactus Beach Club & Restaurant
• NOME Beach Club
• Penida Colada

If you’ve hired Ketut for the day, he should be able to wait for you and take you home once you’re done.  However, if you’re planning on staying well into the night, you might want to discuss this with him ahead of time.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN NUSA PENIDA

If you’re at one of the beach clubs, I suggest staying in the area (most of the beach clubs are in the north) for dinner.  In the northern part of the island you’ll have tons of restaurants to choose from!

 

Day 7 – Travel from Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 7:  Exploring Nusa Lembongan

 

How to Get to Nusa Lembongan

The boat from Nusa Penida to Nusa Lembongan is very short, only about 15-minutes.  I would ask your hotel to help set you up with a ticket as this will be the easiest way!

Once you arrive to Nusa Lembongan, make sure you’ve asked your hotel to have a taxi waiting for you upon arrival.  The ride to your hotel should not cost more than 150,000 IDR.

 

Where to Stay in Nusa Lembongan

Where you stay in Nusa Lembongan depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for.  If you want to be near the beach, I recommend booking a hotel near Dream Beach or Mushroom Bay Beach.  If you want to be walking distance from the Main Street in town with tons of bars and restaurants, you want to be near Jl. Jungutbatu street/Jungutbatu Beach.  And, the southern part of the island that faces Nusa Ceningan has particularly beautiful views!  Lastly, I would also recommend the eastern side of Nusa Ceningan.

Here are some hotels I’d recommend…

• Nusa Veranda Sunset Villas
• Aurora Beach View
• Water Blow Huts
• Sunset Coin Lembongan
• Helly’s Secret Garden Cottage

 

BOOK YOUR STAY IN NUSA LEMBONGAN HERE!

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN NUSA LEMBONGAN

After checking into your hotel, head to Dream Beach for a quick dip in the ocean.  Dream Beach was quieter than some of the other beaches, a bit more hidden, and felt secluded as small cliffs were on both sides of you.  There are not any beach chairs to rent at Dream Beach but you can pay 50,000 IDR to the hotel near the beach and use their chairs and swimming pool.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN NUSA LEMBONGAN

When you leave Dream Beach, head straight to Sandy Bay Beach Club for sunset cocktails and dinner!  Depending on what time it is, you can also use the pool here (which looks out over the ocean).

 

For more information on visiting Nusa Lembongan, don’t miss…

• Is Nusa Lembongan Worth Visiting?  A Complete Guide!

 

Day 8 – Nusa Lembongan & Nusa Ceningan

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 8:  Beach Clubs + Nusa Ceningan

 

I do recommend having a motorbike for this day so that you’re able to explore all around Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan!  The cost should be around 80,000 IDR/day.

 

SPENDING THE MORNING IN NUSA LEMBONGAN

For your first morning in Nusa Lembongan, head for breakfast at Let’s Bake – French Bakery.  From there, drive your motorbike across the yellow bridge which connects Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.  I recommend driving around Nusa Ceningan (in my opinion, the views are the most beautiful from this island) before making your way to Suku Beach Club.

 

SPENDING THE AFTERNOON IN NUSA LEMBONGAN

Suku Beach Club was one of the most stunning beach clubs I visited!  It’s located in Nusa Ceningan, however the only downside is that there is a minimum spend of 250,000/person and a 3-hour time limit.  If you stay over 3 hours, you have to spend 250,000 again for another 3 hours.

I recommend showing up around 1300 for lunch and then staying your allotted 3 hours.  Once your time is up, head to The Island Ceningan Beach Bar.  The Island is located just north of Suku, also on Nusa Ceningan.  Not only is there no minimum spend here, but the views are beautiful and you’re able to get into the ocean from here.  Not to mention, this is probably one of the best sunset spots on the island.

 

SPENDING THE EVENING IN NUSA LEMBONGAN

After you watch the sunset, get back on your motorbike, drive back to Nusa Lembongan to have dinner at Curry Traders – an Indian restaurant in Nusa Lembongan.

 

Day 9 – Travel from Nusa Lembongan to Bali

HIGHLIGHTS OF DAY 9:  Luxury Hotel Stay

 

How to Get to Bali

From Nusa Lembongan, the boat ride back to Bali is only 15-30 minutes.  You can purchase a ticket online here or here.  And don’t forget to book a ticket that will allow you to arrive to the ferry port closest to your hotel in Bali!

 

BOOK YOUR FERRY TICKET TO BALI HERE!

 

Because it’s your last day in Bali before leaving, I recommend checking into a luxury hotel to enjoy some downtime before returning home.  I love ending my trip with a nice hotel because one, it gives me something to look forward to even though it’s my last day on vacation.  And two, Bali has some incredible luxury hotel stays.  You should definitely treat yourself to one!

I stayed at Nirjhara located in the Tabanan neighborhood and would highly recommend this 5-star, luxury resort.  Not only is it a good choice because of the property itself, but it’s only about an hour drive from the Sanur ferry port and a hour drive to the airport.

 

Don’t miss…

• Staying at Nirjhara Bali – What You Need to Know
• 12 of the Best Hotels in Bali

 

Day 10 – Depart Bali

As your last day in Bali, check out of your hotel and head back to the airport.  (If you have time to kill before your flight and you want to squeeze in one last activity in Bali, make sure to check out this list of the tours I recommend!).

If your trip isn’t over and you’re heading to another country in Southeast Asia, don’t miss my guides to Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Malaysia!

 

Indonesia Essentials – What You Need & Need to Know About Visiting Indonesia

 

I hope that this 10 day Indonesia itinerary helps guide your travels and provides a good jumping off point for exploring the country!  If you have any questions about visiting Indonesia, let me know in a comment below!

 

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For more information on things to see and do in Indonesia, make sure to check out my Instagram page/highlight reel by searching “#ppinindonesia” or under my highlights for “Indonesia”; alternatively, head to my TikTok and search for the saved “Indonesia” highlight

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