Independent travel around Bali. Holidays in Indonesia: grand tour of the islands Independent travel to Indonesia

Indonesia is seventeen thousand islands, at first it is impossible to cover or even understand.

Even after traveling for two weeks island state Indonesia, flying, moving from island to island on high-speed boats, water taxis (medicines for seasickness will not be superfluous), it is difficult to imagine such an incredible number of islands:

"We visited six islands, each very different from the others... and there are 17,000 others?"

Combined with the cultural perception of this daunting, vast but hospitable archipelago. Languages, religions and social norms vary greatly from village to village, city to city, beach to beach, but they all coexist under Indonesia's magically idealistic slogan, "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika" - "Unity in Diversity."

When people talk about traveling to Indonesia, the vast majority of them are actually talking about traveling to the island of Bali, which, while attracting incredible numbers of tourists, is one of the most famous, most visited tropical resorts in the world, and for good reason. If you're planning a trip to Indonesia, your itinerary should include Bali.

That's why this guide - five places you should visit in Indonesia - is focused on the island of Bali. Thanks to the international airport, traveling becomes much easier. Its proximity to East Java, Lombok and the Gilis Java, Lombok and the Gilis Islands makes it a good regional travel destination and will suit every type of traveler - from honeymooners staying at the Intercontinental to backpackers living on $15 a day.

While there are tens of thousands of truly amazing temples, beaches, and amazing villages to visit in Bali, we've settled on five that we recommend (all prices in US dollars).

1. Java's Cultural Capital: Yogyakarta

Yes, it is a huge, annoying, noisy city - but here life moves at a special speed, which is different from other places on the island of Java, and besides, the cultural riches of Jogyartha will amaze any traveler.

If you have just landed in South-East Asia, do not overdo it on the first day of your stay. You can find a wonderful bungalow with a pool for less than $20 - I would recommend Delta Homestay, which is located away from the busy streets of Pravirotaman in a quiet valley. Go for a walk and grab something to eat: start at Via Via, a tourist-friendly restaurant (also a local souvenir shop, tourist agency and a hotel, yoga studio), one of best places in Jogja.

On the second day, travel to Kraton, the Sultan's palace.

If you are near Kraton, check at the souvenir shop about them in the temple, it is thanks to them that Jogya becomes really fun. The important Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the amazing Hindu temple of Prambanan are both outside the city limits and are worth devoting a full day to each - although it can be done in one day if you start early and stick to a tight schedule.

Movement: Walking long distances in Yogyakarta can be extremely tiring, given the condition of the sidewalks and the volume of traffic on the roads. In this case, use a bekak (bicycle rickshaw), but for longer distances, it will be useful to take a taxi or rent a scooter.

2. Art village on the island of Bali: Ubud

Don't linger on Ubud's charming, somewhat commercial main street - there are plenty of places to visit in this fun, relaxing art village on the island of Bali. At your disposal are numerous bars and restaurants, souvenir shops and spas - feel how different this village is from Jogja.

Undoubtedly, it is smaller in size. Hinduism predominates here, as throughout, unlike most of Indonesia, where Islam is widespread, however, both cultures and religions are beautiful in their own way, filled with historically vibrant and diverse events and stories. Just by walking down the street you can feel the difference between the two.

Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Reserve - a popular place among tourists, where monkeys are everywhere - macaques, to be precise, if you offer them a banana, they will happily sit on your shoulder, they can easily steal your sunglasses, easily gliding through the trees. However, given that all American doctors will advise you to beware of rabies-carrying animals while in Indonesia, getting close to monkeys is not the wisest decision.

Be sure to make time for a massage, yoga class and elephants throughout your time in Ubud - it's a must do in this laid-back environment, isn't it? Visit Yoga Barn for a yoga class; from the very beginning, the village is a contacts fair where you can meet like-minded travelers from all over the world.

You should spend a day outside the city, for example, river rafting will be extremely exciting, it is simply incredible - a wild adventure, after which you will certainly try Bintang - the most popular beer in Indonesia.

Movement: You can walk all of Ubud, however for regional excursions you will need a taxi or shuttle. If you sign up for motorcycle riding, rafting, or similar activities, transportation is usually included in the ticket price.

3. Secluded Paradise: Gili Trawangan

If you've always dreamed of visiting a secluded island, try Gilis - three islands located between Bali and Lombok, catering to every taste and budget.

Gili Meno is a hot, quiet, abandoned island. Gili Air is a functional, luxurious island with pleasant nature, Gili Trawangan is the larger, well-developed brother of these islands.

It's very easy to get confused when choosing one of the Gili Islands; first, just choose and visit one of them. If you want to move to another island, it's very easy to do thanks to the white sand beach paths.

Next we move to Gili Trawangan, since according to tourists’ reviews, this place is an amazing combination of solitude and nightlife. And indeed, having driven along the bustling east coast islands, we found hippie hostels and five-star resorts, run down food markets and fine waterfront restaurants.

There are no cars on the islands, and pedestrian traffic on Gili T accommodates workers from local residents and slacker Australians. Accommodation and food are more refined and expensive in the southeastern part of the island. The north-eastern part is cheaper and easier - also good for scuba diving.

You can rent scooters and look for yoga studios, but people come to these islands for the diving. If you don't have a certificate, dozens of schools are ready to provide you with a wide range of programs. If snorkeling is more your thing, most of The guys on the road will gladly rent you a mask and show you the way to the turtles.

By the way, turtles.

If you ask me what was the most memorable thing about my trip to the Gili Islands, I would happily say that it was meeting a couple from New Zealand and hanging out with them for three of the four days, sipping mojitos, listening to local Rastafarians playing cover songs. - versions of Pink Floyd on their sandy acoustic guitars, snorkeling at dusk, when we swam out to the depths of the corals and looked for wild turtles that were gnawing on delicious coral.

Movement: There are no cars here, so you will walk everywhere. If you are in a hurry (but why should you be in a hurry?), stop the donkey cart.

4. BeachpartyonBali: Kuta

For many, Kuta is Bali; for others, Kuta is tourism, and from the worst ego side.

Despite what you might think, tourism in Bali is concentrated in Kuta, which has helped put surfing on the map in Asia. And it’s not strange, amazing waves, and thousands of tourists walking along the legendary white sand Kuta every day, get lost in surfing, plastic floppy chairs, sunsets.

People who like to share high-end shops bordering shops on streets crowded with people and cars will leave Kuta immediately. Everyone else will be able to enjoy a change from the stifling city norms.

If Kuta is too much for you active place, try Lijin. If that still doesn't suit you, head north to Seminyak, a quieter and less congested destination than Kuta, also home to the excellent Indian restaurant Queen's Tandoor.

Considering the large number of tourists in Kuta, the prices here are appropriate. We spent one night at the Bali Bungalo, which is a quiet, relatively cheap ($50 per night) hotel with no-frills rooms, terrible air conditioning and a block access to the beach. General services such as scooter rentals or catering are also available here. Regarding food: visiting the Kuta night market, you can find the cheapest nasi goreng in the city.

Movement: short distances: walk along the beach, especially around sunset, for more long distances- Rent a bike, renting a scooter is more practical - only $5 per day and can include surfboard rental for trips along the coast.

5. Temple on the Rock: Ulu Vatu

From the frenetic mania of Kuta to the lush splendor of Ulu Watu, this is where Indonesia ends. This south-east coast of Bali is particularly attractive and its high cliffs - most with steep drop-offs to popular creeks - separate it from its big brothers to the north.

Here life moves at different speeds. It's okay if you get up at 11 o'clock in your Pink Coco Bali bungalow and don't leave its tempting pool until 2 o'clock. Hop on your scooter for an afternoon surf at Padang Padang Beach - admiring the beauty of the humble Hindu temple on your way to the beach.

After a light snack and a cold Bintang at Padang Padang, head to the Ulu Watu Temple - Pura Lahur Ulu Watu - at sunset. Pay the entrance fee, put on a sarong (provided and required at the temples in Bali) and head to the next ticket office near the rocks. With this ticket you will have access to the nightly Ketsak dance ceremony (sunset, 365 days a year), filled with theatrical scenes and cultural and historical significance.

The temple is an important place for Indonesian Hindus, also a place for wonderful photos, because the Indian Ocean and the sunset provides a theatrical, frequently changing backdrop.

Island expectations from Indonesia

Yogyakarta, Java: Adisucipto International Airport allows travelers to completely avoid Indonesia's crazy capital, Jakarta. Most flights from the US connect to Indonesia via Singapore or Kuala Lumpur, and both of these cities have direct flights to Yogyakarta - recommended unless you're flying to Yogyakarta for work.

Ubud, Bali: in Java, travelers on a budget can choose extreme adventures, especially for lovers hiking, bus-boat-bus tours that take you from Jagyakarta to Ubud. People on a larger budget can pay less than $50 for a Yogyakarta-Denpasar (Bali) flight, while others can pay $15-$25 for a taxi to Ubud.

Gili Islands: A variety of companies throughout the area offer boat services from Lombok to the Gili Islands. Find and buy a package for yourself at the right price and with the appropriate schedule. The hour-long crossing from Ubud to the port city of Padang Bai is easy, even on a crowded bus with faulty air conditioning. The boat from Padang Bai to the Gili Islands, via Lombok, is beautiful journey with frequent changes in direction of movement. Ask the boat staff if you can sit higher to get more fresh air, sun and sudden splashes of salt water.

Kuta, Bali: if you are coming from Gili Trawangan, take a boat via Padang Bai (3 hours from Kut) or Sanur (30 minutes from Kut). Kuta is also less than half an hour from international airport Ngurah Rai, or Denpasar, is the only airport on the island and the second most visited airport in Indonesia.

Ulu Watu, Bali: there are plenty of cheap shuttles and even cheaper ones public buses coming from Kuta, most of which stop at Ulu Watu (ask the driver). For those who like to travel on two wheels, it's possible to rent a scooter in Kuta and ride it - just avoid the post-ceremony traffic jams in the northern part (towards Kuta) unless you're brave enough.

RicardoBaka, The Denver Post

Fourth time to Asia - this time to Indonesia. Again, only ladies of free age (when they are still almost young, and the children are already adults). Tickets for Qatar Airways were purchased in the spring - 22,000 from Moscow to Jakarta and back. Tickets for Batavia from Jakarta to Denpasar were, unfortunately, purchased later, and therefore cost $110.

The flight went well, with disposable socks provided, a computer in the back of the seat, a semi-working remote control, and even Russian films.

In Jakarta we bought a visa for $25 (for this you only need a passport and money). They changed money there ($1=8250 rupees). We took a shuttle bus to the first terminal, having waited about 25 minutes beforehand. Batavia flies from terminal 1C. And the shuttlebus brought us to 1A. I had to run.

And now almost a day of flight is over, and at 21-40 we land in Bali. We were greeted by pleasant coolness near the equator. We took a taxi for 60K rupees (after bargaining, of course) to Jimbaran. Hotel villapuriroyan was booked back in May on the Internet without prepayment on their website. A cozy, beautiful courtyard appeared to our eyes; even at night we saw a small pool, a lot of greenery around.

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The rooms were spacious and clean, although the furnishings were not new, but the price was low - 242K rupees per room. Afterwards we went to the sea, or rather to the ocean. The beach is very close to the hotel. The sea greeted us with waves, and the beach with soft sand. There was a breeze and it was nice. We dined on local dishes of noodles and rice. Satisfied and full, they fell onto the bed and fell asleep.

We got up at 10 and went to breakfast. We were given a choice of fried vermicelli, thick flatbread with jam and toast, as well as coffee or tea. Balinese coffee turned out to be quite good. Having had our fill, we went to the sea to swim, enjoy life and acclimatize. The beach is sandy, quite clean, the waves were scary on the outside, good on the inside. That is, it is quite possible to swim out behind them and swim in the depths.

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We went to the fish market, which is located near the airport. Didn't like it: dirty and smelly. There are also fruit rows there. But we were there in the evening, so we only got papaya.

In the evening we went to dinner at MegaTebaCafe. It is located in the left corner of the bay, if you are facing the ocean, in a row of other cafes without tablecloths. There we took two sets of 90K rupees. They included fish, shrimp, mussels, rice, sauces, water, fruit. And, of course, we took freshly squeezed juices separately. They are wonderful there! It was quite enough for four.

We agreed to take a taxi for the whole day at the reception for 500K rupees.

We ordered breakfast half an hour earlier. We left around 8:20.

First we went to Dreamland, a beach near Uluwatu. It was impossible to swim there due to big waves, but beautiful! Sand, rocks, wave crests.

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We found a small hole in the rocks on the shore, and there we had a blast tumbling in the waves.

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The next point on our program was Uluwatu. This is a temple that occupies southern cape Bali. The path led along the edge of the cliff, and we saw huge waves crashing against the cliffs.

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There are many monkeys running around the area. These impudent creatures grab cameras from unwary tourists, glasses and caps.

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Thank God they are afraid of the stick.

Then our path lay to the bourgeoisie in Nusa Dua. There we swam, believe it or not, without waves. It was a bit dirty near the shore, but further on there was real bliss: the water was clear and warm. I didn’t want to go out, but I already wanted to eat.

The driver brought us to a beautifully decorated restaurant with tablecloths. This immediately aroused our suspicions, but the menu put them to sleep. Although prices were low, the amount of output dropped sharply. Thus, after paying 500K rupees, we left the restaurant with a slight feeling of hunger.

Finally, we visited Tanah Lot. This is a temple standing in the sea. At low tide he finds himself on the shore.

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We watched the sunset there and went to Artmarkit, which is nearby. There are a lot of souvenirs and clothes there. Lots of beautiful palm wood products. You need to bargain for everything and reduce the price by 2 times.

We arrived home late, and on the way we stopped at a minimarket, where we bought some inexpensive, good fruit.

Today transfer to Ubud, cultural capital Bali. Yesterday's taxi driver took us there for an hour and a half and for 250K rupees. He found us the Ubud terraces hotel ( [email protected]), which is located on Monkey forest street.

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The hotel has a large, beautiful area, spacious rooms. With fan 250K, with air conditioning 300K. There is a swimming pool. We happily agreed.

However, later we were surprised to discover that there was no soap in the room. In response to our demand, we were asked to buy it ourselves.

But that's not the main thing. Ubud amazed us and made us fall in love at first sight. It is very Asian and, at the same time, not like other Asian cities. It is clean and green with many temples.

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There are many small hotels, cafes, shops. You can wander and wander there.

But we were pressed for time. After a swim in the pool, we went to the Monkey Forest. This is a piece of the jungle, in which paths, temples, and monkeys live harmoniously.

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They are funny and well mannered unlike their counterparts in Uluwatu. They don't tear anything down, but they can climb on top of visitors and try to take away the camera. You can feed them bananas and watch their relationships endlessly. This place turned out to be quite worthy of our visit.

We turned right. Soon the street turned into a path and we saw rice terraces. The rice was turning green, the water was gurgling along the irrigation ditches, and the path was surrounded by palm trees. The beauty of another world, different from ours.

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Local residents worked the fields, went about their business, and smiled at us warmly, offering coconuts. Then the path turned into a path and descended into a ravine. When we crossed to the other side and sat down to rest, an aborigine approached us and hinted at the late hour. We turned back and walked along the same side of the ravine without crossing it. The path turned into a path winding among local farms. Suddenly we heard a heart-rending croaking and saw from the side a snake devouring a frog. The spectacle is not for the faint of heart. We passed by Organic farm cafe. Then we entered Ubud onto a street perpendicular to the Monkey forest.

Wonderful walk!

After a swim in the pool, we decided to try a local massage. There are countless spa centers in Ubud. We took a traditional Balinese massage for 80K rupees. Wonderful! For a whole hour, the strong arms of the balijeks kneaded our tired bodies. On the street we agreed with a taxi driver for tomorrow for 500K rupees.

Before going to bed we discovered that there was no second sheet or duvet cover.

We got up early and left at 7:50. But before that, they caught the boy who was cleaning the rooms and almost forcibly snatched four sheets from him.

The first point of our program was GunungKawi. 300 (as they say, they didn’t count) steps led us to the river. Along the way we admired the very picturesque landscape. Rice terraces, palm trees on steep slopes.

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Below we saw the royal tombs: huge reliefs carved into the rock.

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Not far from them is a small temple on the other side of the river. A very beautiful place.

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The next item was suggested by our driver: something like a garden for tourists. There we saw how coffee, cocoa, various exotic fruits grow, and Luwakis also live there. These are cats with a fox face. They eat coffee beans and then defecate with them. Undigested grains are washed, dried and fried as usual.

We were treated to coffee, cocoa, teas, and we bought a cup of shit coffee for 30K rupees.

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I liked this coffee, it’s softer with a slight sourness. In the shop there we bought coffee, cocoa, teas and very tasty chocolate.

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But a mafia of local guides stood in our way. These racketeers demanded Rs 300K for a two-hour walk. When we expressed a desire to send them to the bathhouse and go alone, we were accused of non-compliance with the laws. The trade did not lead to anything, and we proudly turned around and drove to the lake. This turned out to be not very interesting.

Soon we got into the car and went to Singaraja. The road went along mountain passes and she was extraordinarily beautiful. In fact, our driver took us to Lovina. There is a good beach there without waves. The expected black sand turned out to be just dark, and great impression did not produce.

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After a swim, we went to have lunch at a nearby cafe, rejecting the good restaurant offered by the driver.

The last point of our program was Lake Bratan and the temple on it. We arrived there already at dusk. Having bought tickets (in Bali you have to buy tickets everywhere), we went to the temple grounds. This is a beautiful garden with temple buildings. On small islands there are pagodas.

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Babble! It’s a pity that we didn’t come here a little earlier, when the mountains on the opposite bank were illuminated by the setting sun.

And home! We were at the hotel at 8. The driver and I differed in our assessment of events: we thought we had a great day, but he didn’t think so. Oddball, he expected to return much earlier.

In the evening we changed money. There are a lot of exchange offices in Ubud, where they never tried to deceive us. We agreed with another taxi driver to take us to Padang Bay for 180K rupees.

On the last day of summer we went to Lombok. We reached Padang Bay in an hour. A ticket to Lembar pier in Lombok cost 36K for a public ferry and 350K for a speed boat. We chose cheapness over speed and stayed at the pier to wait for the ferry for up to 2 hours. All morning ferries were canceled due to the Romodan holiday.

We had more than three hours left before departure, so we went swimming. The beach was found to the left of the pier (facing the sea). We swam among boats in surprisingly clean water for a port. Then a cafe on the embankment with delicious fried bananas was waiting for us. So the forced delay did not tire us at all.

At half past one we merged with the crowd and went to storm the ferry. The crowd consisted of locals and backpackers.

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We were nimble and efficient and rushed onto the ferry in the first rows, for which we were rewarded good places. A small number of cars and many motorcycles were brought onto the ferry. The people sat on the seats, on the floor, wherever necessary. The ferry was large and there was enough room for everyone.

We sat in the bow, where a strong wind was blowing. It got really cold.

Four hours flew by quickly, and now we were already in Lombok.

To our surprise, the square was almost empty. There were no taxis as a class. Romodan again. But the world is not without good people. Seeing our confusion and ability to pay, a man jumped up to us and offered us a car for 300K rupees. There is no point in bargaining in Romodan, and we agreed.

On the way, we counted the number of people on one motorcycle. The maximum was five. Child, father, mother with two children. It’s a pity we couldn’t take a photo of this daring five.

We arrived in Senggigi at the Mascot Hotel MascotBeachResort, which we booked by phone from Bali +62 370 693 365. This is a hotel on the first line, consisting of two-room bungalows. A room for two cost 450K. The rooms are clean. The garden is pleasant.

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We ate Indonesian delicacies in their restaurant. Tomorrow we are going to buy a tour to Rijani.

Already at 9 am, an employee of the company working at our hotel caught up with me about trekking to Rijani. But we were not yet ready to talk to him. Therefore, we postponed this interesting action for 10. And during this time we called the hotel in Simbalun, from where we are going to begin our ascent to the volcano. We were immediately offered a tour, including transfer and hotel for 1,500,000 per sister. We were pleased with the route, but not with the price. Their representative immediately came to us and began to sell us on trekking, but did not want to bargain. We sent him away with God and went to the reception to meet the first pepper. He offered us a hotel in Senaru and trekking from Sembalun to Senaru for our price of 1200K rupees. We shook hands, paid him half the amount and left satisfied.

For breakfast we had delicious rice with vegetables and additionally ordered amazing fried bananas.

And swim, swim, swim! The beach there is great. Fine sand, clear water.

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One thing breaks the idyll: a small strip of garbage in the water near the shore. We walked along the beach to the right to the cape. It's pretty trashy there, but behind the cape it's just a public beach with all its features.

Let's go left, there are a number of hotels and cafes. We had lunch at Sunshine Cafe. There was strawberry juice. The food is average.

And here is the last time before Rinjani we swim in the ocean.

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And it's time to get ready. We pack all our warm clothes in our backpacks and leave everything we don’t need at the hotel. Fortunately, the same hotel for two nights after Rijani has already been paid for in advance through the Adoga website.

Exactly at seven in the evening a car arrived for us, and we went to Senara. We were there around nine. On the way, they tried to change the route over the phone. We were offered to start the hike in Senara and end in Sembalun. But this really meant an extra 450m up, since Senaru is at an altitude of 600m, and Sembalun is at 1050m. We refused not very politely.

We were checked into a modest hotel, where we met our guide Tari.

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We took the absence of a second sheet and the presence of dirty towels as preparation for the hike.

At seven in the morning we were fed pancakes and given coffee and tea. Then we watched the pickup truck being loaded with food, things, porters and a guide. At about 9 o'clock they loaded us with our backpacks. We left some extra things where we spent the night.

Around ten we were in Simbalun. There, at the trekking center we filled out the paperwork and at about 11 we set off to pick up our guide.

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At first the trail went through open terrain and was not very steep.

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Then we entered pine forests, or rather meadows with pine trees growing on them.

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It was hot. We saw many dry river beds. Near one of the bridges, the porters prepared lunch for us. To say this place was dirty would be an understatement.

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There were many groups eating there, both before us and with us, and there were no trash cans there. We tried hard not to watch the porters prepare dinner and wash our dishes. For this we were rewarded with soup made from rollton and vegetables. The tea turned out to be mud, and we washed our hands with it.

Two weeks before us, there was a fire in these places, and huge areas of burnt grass surrounded us. The guide said that this repeats every year in July and August.

But, fortunately, there were also places untouched by the fire. The climb became steeper and the views more beautiful. At sunset we went to the edge of the crater and saw the lake.

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Yes, our climb to 1600m was not in vain, it was worth going here.

The porters were already here, and tents were set up and dinner was waiting for us.

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Bzzzt described the porters most accurately. All I can do is quote him.

They are characterized by small stature and an extremely “frail” physique.

They smoke constantly

They constantly carry more than 20 kg of weight on a makeshift bamboo structure placed on one of their shoulders. At the same time, the weight of an average “porter” without a burden hardly exceeds 60 kg

The above-mentioned homemade structure is a storage for food, water, dishes, tents, sleeping bags and other things, without which our trip would simply be impossible

The only clothes they have on them are: shorts, one T-shirt and flip-flops

Each "porter" without much effort is able to overcome the steepest slopes one and a half to two times faster than quite sporty, prepared and motivated tourists (that's us)

For each day of such hellish or, better said, slave labor, they are entitled to 50 thousand rupees (think about it, that’s 5.5 dollars!)

They are most likely robots.

Early in the morning, or rather at night, we had to climb Rijani Peak 3726m. That is, takeoff at 1000m and descent. It was decided to send me alone to this task.

Get up at 2:30. In complete darkness by the fire, the porters gave me coffee and cookies. Lights were visible on the mountainside: these were the earliest birds climbing the mountain.

Tari and I set off at 3:15. I turned on the headlamp I bought the day before in Simbalun. The trail was two lanes and many people were walking along it.

At first the climb was steep, then I reached the ridge and walked along it. Tari got lost halfway, but even the most gifted cannot get lost there. The road consists of a variety of loose rocks. It's safe to walk, but very difficult. And at the end, after two and a half hours of climbing, a real tough ride awaited me: a steep takeoff.

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And this comes with accumulated fatigue. Every step was difficult. Dawn had already begun, and it was necessary to get there at any cost. The sun was rising over the sea, clouds were swirling somewhere below.

Happy people were already coming down, and I looked at them hauntedly. Another half hour of a hundred meters of ascent, and I’m at the top. I will never forget this beauty. Clouds far below your feet, Bali volcanoes Agung and Batur in the distance, a lake in the Rijani caldera and a small volcano, cones of fog over the lake.

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Half an hour later Tari appeared and we began our descent. Now I looked condescendingly at the people rising, and they smiled at me with a hunted smile. The descent took me two hours, including photographing the opening beauties.

Around half past nine, half dead from fatigue, I arrived at the camp.

Soon a small volcano located on a peninsula in the lake became visible. Indescribable beauty.

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A little more, and the sun illuminated its crater. There were no clouds, we breathed clean mountain air and enjoyed the beauty around us. Upstairs there is Observation deck, from where you can clearly see the lake and the volcano. It is there and only there that tourists who take a two-day tour are taken. We were very glad that we took a three-day tour from Sembalun to Senara. This gave us the opportunity to more fully experience Rinjani, its beauty and uniqueness.

Then we went down to Senara. For 12 km there is 2 km of descent. At first it is steep on rocks, then on loose powder. The area was open, and below there was a forest with clouds on it. It was funny to see first the jungle, then the clouds, above them the sea and the sky. Agung was visible in Bali, Gili Islands.

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There were also pieces of burnt grass, but in comparison with the surroundings of Sembalun there were few of them. Then the path entered the jungle and the clouds. The trail is excellent and very picturesque. As the altitude drops, the character of the forest changes. It becomes thicker, vines and thorns appear.

In the evening we went for a massage. Opinions differed. Two found it much worse than in Ubud, two found it much better.

Last time in Lombok we had dinner at our hotel. We were alone in a restaurant by the sea. The food was quite decent for white ladies on holiday. We liked everything about the Mascot hotel: comfortable bungalows, location on the first line by the sea, wonderful garden, good service, restaurant. Night swim in the ocean, and goodbye Lombok!

We ordered Blue bird taxi in advance by phone. The taxi arrived on time and after 40 and 50K rupees we were already at Mataram airport.

Lion air spent a long time checking my credit card and didn’t even look at my passport. Tickets to Denpasar were purchased in advance via the Internet for 250 K rupees. By the way, a boat to Bali from Lombok costs 350K per person.

The flight lasted half an hour and was very interesting. We saw Mataram, then Agung appeared, in Bali we saw our native Jimbaran and Uluwatu.

Once at the airport, we went to the Hotel reservation counter, where a nice boy offered us the Puri Bamboo hotel in Jimbaran for $55 per double. No, at first he suggested other less worthy hotels, but as soon as I moved to the next similar counter, the right hotel was found. We paid for it immediately and received a voucher. At the exit from the airport we caught a blue bird and drove to the hotel for 40K. He turned out to be great. Large comfortable rooms with a balcony, swimming pool, towels by the pool, everything is clean. One drawback - the way to the sea (about ten minutes) goes along a not very pleasant street.

On the main street in a large supermarket we bought yellow inside watermelon, mango, melon and the mysterious Lengkeng fruit, also known as longan. These are large berries with hard skin and transparent pulp. They taste like melon. We liked.

We spent the evening on the beach, had dinner at our beloved TebaMega on the ocean shore at a table with a candle, eating fresh seafood cooked on the grill. There's still a lot delicious juice lime.

Continued in the next story

You may ask, why is it suddenly Indonesia? After all, there is China, India, Japan, Nepal... I agree that there are many more in Asia interesting countries. But there is no such thing as Indonesia anymore! A huge state with a length of 5,000 kilometers, there are more than 17,500 (!!!) islands, where 220 million people live, speaking a hundred different languages.

Indonesia occupies a unique geographical position. It connects Asia with Australia, and separates two oceans - the Pacific and Indian. This is the reason for the unique biological diversity. No other country in the world is home to both arboreal marsupial kangaroos and tigers. Nobody's waters are teeming with such a variety of fish.

And finally, volcanoes... Yes, it is because of them that the soil here is so fertile that Indonesians harvest three crops a year, and the island of Java is the most densely populated place on the planet. The density of residents here is as if all Russians were settled in the Tver region. There are more than 150 volcanoes here, and there are many more! I think everyone has heard about Krakatoa! And finally, the emerald sea sandy beaches, dinners for $5, and bungalows for $10. Do you agree that we SHOULD GO??

This trip was organized in a very unusual way for me - via the Internet. While preparing for my first trip as part of the planned BIG TRIP YEAR (the year of the Big Travel), I quite by chance came across a cool photo story about a trip to the islands of Indonesia.. Photos of the clear azure sea, coconut palms, smiling children and simple fishing shacks, clearly not taken digitally , and not the film, they were forced to leave respect in the traveler’s LiveJournal. Almost immediately I received an answer: “I’m going again this summer. Let's go together!". This is how I met Serega (http://sergeynovikov.com/). We agreed to write off after my return from a solo trip to Thailand and Laos.

August was approaching inexorably, and we still had not bought tickets. We were on the lookout for cheap last minute offers for a long time and ended up buying tickets three days before departure! Everything turned out the way we wanted. Tickets were bought for “only” 30 thousand. Seryoga said: “Now we have tickets to heaven!” And away we go...

After my first experience of swimming among the reefs (it was in Jordan), I realized that it was very cool. And now, for reasons of hygiene, I decided to buy my personal kit No. 1 (snorkel, mask and fins), as well as special shoes (reefs). In addition, there was a risk that equipment rentals would not be available everywhere you wanted to swim, and wasting time searching for them was blasphemy! I bought dive equipment at the MSU dive center and paid ... rubles for everything. From the “non-standard equipment” I also took special “military series” boots for trekking in the jungle and a disposable film camera (I spared the money for a digital one) for underwater photography.

About the photo. On this trip I took “digital”. You can’t get enough film for such exotica, and the colors (my main complaint about digital) are such that they’re enough for digital.

"Start data" for money on the start date of the trip:

Cash - $654
On the card - 27,723 rubles.
On the phone - 3876 rub.

I divided the big photo story about this cool trip into three parts: a trip to the island of Java, the island of Bali and the islands of Loboc and Gili. Below, as usual - a little useful information for those who liked this idea.

Sights of Indonesia (my opinion)

After almost a month of non-stop travel around the islands of “Central Indonesia”, I would say that you need to come here to:

Watch volcanoes
Dive for fish
Learn to surf
Meet orangutans and dragons

To say that Indonesia is rich in attractions is to say nothing. Having visited myself, leafed through guidebooks and talked with experienced people, I would highlight the following, the most interesting places countries:

Volcanoes:
- Krakatau. The greatest disaster in human history
- Rinjani. A beautiful volcano with a lake in the caldera. Not far from Bali
- Bromo. A group of volcanoes, a huge caldera, a temple inside a crater
- Kawa Ijen. Boiling, liquid sulfur. Mining with the help of porters
- Kelimutu. Caldera with colored volcanic lakes

Snorkeling, diving:
- Pulau Ve. The greatest disaster in human history
- Banda islands. Absolute idyll
- Komodo. Super dive plus Komodo dragons
- Gili Islands. Great place near Bali

Natural national parks:
- Gunung Leuser. Orangutans
- Gunung Palung Park. Second Orangutan Reserve

Architectural monuments:
- Borobudur. The Greatest Buddhist Monument
- Prambanan. Hindu temples
- Tanah Lot. Balinese temple in the sea

Ethnography:
- Papuans in New Guinea
- culture of the people of Sulawesi
- Christian cannibals in Sumatra
- Sumba culture

Relax:
- Kuta. Huge beach and waves for surfing
- Gili Islands. Three small islands for complete relaxation

Pros of Indonesia

huge natural diversity (volcanoes, jungles, underwater world)
cheap housing and food

Cons of Indonesia

Weak transport infrastructure (almost complete absence of public transport, slow speed of movement on roads (heavy traffic, frequent stops). The average final speed is 15-20 km/h.
Long, expensive and tiring journey (unless of course a direct charter)
Absence fresh water on truly wild and interesting islands
Not very interesting cuisine, rice with vegetables and chicken and juices, that’s all your menu!
The political situation is not 100% stable. Even terrorist attacks are potentially possible! Before departure, be sure to study the media (English-language, of course)
Indonesia is located exactly on the Pacific “belt of fire”, and therefore volcanic eruptions and all kinds of tsunamis occur here with enviable regularity. But... those who don’t take risks and don’t drink champagne won’t see the world!

Indonesia visa

A visa to Indonesia is obtained without any problems. Upon arrival, at the airport you pay $25 for a one-month visa or $10 for a seven-day visa. This closes the question.

When to go to Indonesia

In Indonesia, like in any tropical country, there are two seasons - wet and dry. Best time- dry season, lasting from May to October. Peak season is August. The weather is good, but there are a lot of tourists. During our trip, most hotels were "full", i.e. there were no available seats. To avoid difficulties with finding accommodation, and most importantly, crowds of tourists in the most interesting places, I advise you to go in September, when traveling European students go home.

Basic facts about the country

Capital - Jakarta (Java Island), 9 million people. The population of all of Indonesia is 230 million people. (fourth place in the world after China, India and the USA). Of which 88% are Muslims. The system of government is a presidential republic. Independence Day - August 17. Natural resources: oil, tin, gas, nickel, wood. Main agricultural crops: rice, peanuts, rubber, cocoa, coffee. Main trade and economic partners: Japan, Singapore, USA, China, South Korea, Australia.

Safety issues when traveling alone

In principle, we can safely say that traveling around Indonesia is safe. The people of Southeast Asia are calm, peaceful and smiling. IN tourist cities Europeans are addressed as “Mister”, or flatteringly as “Boss”, and on the beaches as “My Friend” or generally “Braz” (little brother). I am not aware of any cases of attacks or robberies of tourists traveling independently. During our trip, we met a lot of young girls, mostly American, traveling in twos (no guys), or even alone. One girl from Canada, who has traveled to many countries around the world, said in a conversation that Indonesia is “very safe, compared to many countries in the world, for example Latin America and Africa." It seems that this is indeed the case.

The only thing you need to keep an eye out for is the desire to profit from you as much as possible, which is especially strong in places where tourists gather. For example, the concept of “price tag” is present only in supermarkets. In other cases, the price is quoted out of the blue, and is usually two, three or even five times higher than how much this thing (souvenir) or service (transport) costs. Feel free to offer your price, halving the stated price! Always agree on the price of the trip before getting on the transport and have small bills so you can pay the amount without change. Otherwise, they will tell you that “unfortunately, there is no change” :) Many are afraid of the tropics, thinking that everything here is infested with snakes, crocodiles and leeches. I can say with full responsibility that this is a fallacy. During the three weeks of travel I did not encounter any of the creatures listed above. I think there may be problems in the wet season, but in the summer, during the dry season, there are even fewer mosquitoes here than in Moscow.

Someone heard something about malaria, a difficult infection whose disease is not easy to cure. In fact, this is not a reason not to go to Indonesia to see the most important and popular places. Yes, malaria still remains “on the outskirts of the empire,” but it is practically non-existent either in Bali or Java. The likelihood of getting malaria in these places is no higher than the risk of catching tick-borne encephalitis here in Russia.

And finally, food. Probably, someone is afraid of problems caused by insufficient levels of hygiene in the countries of Southeast Asia. To be honest, I once, before my first trip to Asia (Thailand), was afraid of problems caused by dysfunction of the digestive tract. But I will tell you one remarkable thing: in the 50 days I spent in Southeast Asia, I never had a stomach ache. Draw your own conclusions!

However, there are two factors that create potential dangers for traveling in Indonesia: a) theoretically unstable politic system with the likelihood of terrorist attacks and natural disasters (volcanoes, tsunamis). But, of course, the chances of getting into such a “mess” are extremely low, so I decided for myself that it’s not worth giving up a trip to Indonesia because of this.

transport and logistic

IN major cities(Jakarta, Yogyakarta) there are modern city buses (3 thousand rupees or $0.3 for a trip around the city) or pedicabs (“becak”, 5000 rupees for a 10-minute trip). But the fastest and inexpensive option moving over short distances (3-5 km) is a motorcycle (ojek). The driver puts your bag (backpack) between his legs and you rush along the roads just like the Indonesians do. Fast, but still potentially unsafe. A ten-minute ride of 5-10 km costs 10,000 rupees ($1).

Intercity public transport is poorly developed. There is a railway connection only on the island of Java (trains have only seats), and we never found a municipal bus service between the cities. All transportation is carried out by private owners different types transport - from large buses to "minibuses" like our "Gazelles", called here "bemo" (bemo). They are easiest to find near city markets. The worst thing is that no one will sell you a ticket and you won’t find a schedule anywhere. Transport leaves when it is full, and the price for travel for tourists is taken from the ceiling. The only way to pay the “right” price is to know in advance how much the particular move should cost. As a guide, I can say that the price in 2008 was around 20 thousand rupees for a 2-hour drive. You can travel between the islands by ferry (very cheap and very long) or by plane (convenient, fast, about $35-40 for a flight from Bali to Lombok). More than ten airlines operate flights within the country, the planes are small, and flights are often canceled or delayed. Do not plan several connecting flights back to back, without any reserve for complications.

Traveling on roads

I advise you to give up the idea of getting around Indonesia on a rented motorcycle or scooter ($5 per day). Left-hand traffic, wild Asian traffic, all this poses a serious danger. Perhaps a car is safer, but it is more difficult to find. Personally, I found the best option for exploring the immediate surroundings - a bicycle. You can ride on it on the sidewalks, get into the very wilderness, where you can tie it with a special cable lock, which is always included in the kit, and you can find rental bikes everywhere. The price is about $2 per day.

Food, nutrition issues

Cuisine in Indonesia is simple and unobtrusive. The main products are rice, chicken, eggs, fruits. The main “folk” dishes are Nosi Goreng (rice fried with vegetables) and Sate Ayam (rice with small chicken skewers). For breakfast, banana pancake, beer - Bintang. An average lunch - rice with meat and vegetables, soup, juice and tea with a banana pancake - in an inexpensive cafe will cost you 50-60 thousand rupees ($5-$6).

Religion

Despite the fact that almost all of Indonesia with the exception of Bali is Muslim, this does not cause problems. Religiosity here is manifested for the most part only in the fact that you can’t order pork for dinner, and women wear headscarves. Beer, for example, is sold everywhere, and the morning calls of the muezzin, which were so annoying in Jordan, are barely audible, and then only in large cities. Men don't wear dresses, women don't wear burqas. The island of Bali is a completely separate issue. Historically, back in the 14th century, Hindus fled to this small island from Muslim expansion. And now there is a completely different Indonesia. With a cult of monkey worship and mega-tourist infrastructure.

Brief History of Indonesia

From 1st to 5th century. AD Under Indian influence, Indonesia became Hindu-Buddhist. Then, in the 13th century, Islam entered the country through Arab traders, driving the Hindu elite to the island of Bali.
The first Europeans (Portuguese) sailed to Indonesia in 1509 and began trading in spices from the Moluccas. While the British explored Malaysia and the Spaniards the Philippines, the Dutch began exploring Indonesia. Over the course of 10 years, 65 ships with spices were sent to Europe, which created a sensation in Europe. The Dutch held out in Indonesia until 1953, when the country, led by Sukarno, gained independence. The movement he founded under the slogan “One people one Language One Nation” finally united the nation.

Travel packing list

Your own sheet and bedspread. In cheap bungalows, linen is not changed, and there are no bedspreads or blankets at all. Despite the hot climate, it becomes cool in the morning.
- riff slippers. Very often, approaches to reefs are hampered by small stones and destroyed corals. It is best to buy special neoprene slippers to overcome such shallow waters, which are sold in dive shops. If you have limited luggage, you can get by with regular sandals. Just make sure that your heel is fixed in them, otherwise you risk losing them in the water.

Our travel itinerary

Java Island

Java is the main island of the country and wildly populated. The capital of the island (and country) is Jakarta. A city of contrasts, like all Asian cities. In my opinion, there is nothing to do in Jakarta, except shopping in the city center, where there are modern shopping centers.
We left Jakarta as soon as we arrived. Since we were traveling to Yogyakarta (the famous Borobudur is near this city), we went straight from the airport to Train Station. Comfortable buses run from the airport to the station every half hour. Ticket price is only $2.
Trains to Joja leave in the evening, after eight o'clock. We arrived at the station at five o'clock, stood in a huge queue and bought tickets at seat carriage(they don’t have coupes or reserved seats as we understand them).
The train arrives in Yogyakarta around five o'clock in the morning. Yogyakarta itself is a decent city. Everything is there – shops, and the Internet. I even managed to find a good Nikon lens there in a couple of hours.
Excursions to Borobudur usually start early in the morning to watch the sunrise there.
In the evening you can go to the Bromo volcano - this is the most interesting thing in Java. The easiest way is to buy a tour at the tourist office in Yogyakarta. Then you and other tourists will be taken to the volcano during the day, and for the first half of the next day you will be on Bromo. In the evening you can get to another interesting volcano– Kawa Ijen. Watch it in the morning, and in the evening you get to the ferry to Bali, an hour on the ferry and that’s it, you’re in Bali!

Bali Island

To be honest, I liked Bali the least of the places we visited. The diving here is worse than on Gili. In my opinion, Bali, compared to the rest of Indonesia, has only two advantages - cheap and waves. Cheap because you can buy a direct charter package and there is cheap food and accommodation in Kuta (Bali's main beach). Waves - because the Indian Ocean. They say this is one of the best places to learn to surf. But be careful. The waves are very dangerous for simple swimming. Very! In Bali we visited four towns - Lavina, Amed (Jimilyuk), Kuta and Ubud. You can read more about each place in Lonely Planet; you can’t live without it. I will just point out interesting places and proven inexpensive bungalows.

Kuta, Bali
Cheap overnight stay:
Suka Beach Inn
Coordinates: S08°42"57" E115°10"20"

Cheap food:
$3 for a filling lunch
Coordinates: S08°43"10" E115°10"25"

Avalanche
There are three main attractions in the surrounding area - a sea excursion to see dolphins, warm springs (with bars and cafes, everything is civilized) and a waterfall (which dries up in summer). In general, in my opinion, there is not much to do here, especially with a limited amount of time. The beach is black volcanic sand, there are no reefs, corals or fish.

Amed and Dzhimilyuk
The place is located on the northeastern coast of Bali. The guidebook says that this is one of the best “coral gardens” for snorkeling. In fact - so-so. The Gili Islands are much better. But you can go for a change.
For accommodation, I recommend the “Good Karma” bungalow with a stunning beach surrounded by rocks and “Blue Divers” in Dzhimiluk (the best corals), where you can take a diving trip (one day - $40)

Ubud
I recommend one super place surrounded by rice fields and with very tasty cuisine:
"Lala&Lili Hotel"
Coordinates: S08°30.194" E115°15.089"

Lombok Island, Rinjani Volcano

You can get to the island of Lombok in two ways - by plane from Kuta (Bali) or Jakarta or by ferry from Bali. The plane from Kuta takes only 20 minutes and costs $40. This is the fastest way. If you want to save thirty dollars, but lose a day of time, you can take a ferry. We were flying by plane. And I think that's right.

The capital of Lombok, the city of Mataram, is a terrible place. There is absolutely nothing to do. It’s better to go straight to the Gili Islands (an hour’s drive to the ferry and 15 minutes by boat to paradise islands) or take a taxi (or go by public transport) to the village of Senaru, which is located at the foot of the Rinjani volcano. You have two ways to go to Rinjani - buy a tour or go yourself. Tours are expensive. The official price is $100 for a two-day trek with porters. We walked on our own. The trail there is good, and to be on the safe side I had the coordinates of five main points on the trail. Here they are:

Tourist office - S08°18.189" E116°24.056
Gateway to the national park - S08°19.180 E116°24.133"
Parking 1 - S08°19.705" E116°24.113"
Parking 2 - S08°20.936" E116°23.721"
Parking 3 - S08°22.155" E116°23.960"
Crater rim - S08°22.742 E116°24.081"

Mataram, Lombok
Hotel "Puri Indah". There is fresh water, air conditioning, TV and nice pool. Very decent place.
Coordinates: S08°35.623" E116°07.184"

Gili Air Island

Tiny islands with sandy beaches And coral reefs located near the island of Lombok, directly adjacent to Bali. The trick of the islands is that gasoline vehicles are prohibited on them. You can only move around (only to transport heavy bags to the hotel) by horse-drawn carriages. You can get to Gili either directly from Kuta by speedboat ($70, 2 hours from the port) or by plane or ferry to Lombok ($40), and then 15 minutes by boat.

A cheap boat (public boat) departs from the pier on the island. Lombok only twice a day - morning and lunch. But it costs only $1, instead of $20 for an individual “charter” to the island. Be careful! On the approaches to the pier from Lombok there are several scammers who sell fake tickets!! Buy a ticket in the civil port building, which is located on the very shore!

The most serious disadvantage of the Gili Islands is that they have no fresh water. Of course, bottled drinking water is sold, but the shower in the bungalow is made from sea water. In principle, they retain water, and rinsing with it is quite normal. It just doesn't lather well.

The Gili Islands themselves consist of three islands - Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. The last one is noisier and with the most beautiful corals, the second one is a complete hole. I recommend you the quiet and unique Gili Air. The place is very quiet, diving from the beach, there is a dive club, internet and a stall with basic household goods.

You can stay at Lombok Indan. Inexpensive, quiet, relaxing bungalow 10 minutes walk from central beach A. In August 2008, we found a bungalow with two beds, a fan (we didn't use it) and a mandi for $12 a day (negotiated from the originally quoted $15).
Coordinates: S08°21.048" E116°05.056"

For those who need more high service, I can recommend the only place, truly a class hotel. Located right next to the central beach, there is a swimming pool, etc.
Hotel Sun Rise, tel. 0370 642370
Coordinates: S08°21.775" E116°05.246"

Diving, snorkeling:
Blue Marlin Dive is the main diving site. Equipment rental (fins, mask and snorkel for $2.5 per day), diving and snorkeling tours ($8 for half a day, four dives on all three Gili islands), training (including in the pool), European (English speaking) instructors. There are no Russian speakers.
Coordinates: S08°21.207" E116°05.205"

Of the many cafes on the shore, we liked the most "Wiwin Cafe" at the northern end of the central beach. Medium dish with fish, vegetables and rice - $4, nosi goreng special - $3, beer 05l - $2, juice - $1.
Coordinates: S08°21.606" E116°05.244"

Well, that’s probably it with Indonesia!

You might be interested in my other travels in Asia. In addition to Indonesia, my friends and I traveled for more than a month in Nepal, trekked to the base camp of Everest and Annapurna, and even found ourselves in the mysterious kingdom of Bhutan for four days! Actually, my acquaintance with Southeast Asia began with

Category: Indonesia

20 articles with photos about my independent travels in Indonesia. I drove to public transport the islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Flores, around the island of Kalimantan and Sulawesi. About 40 locations in Indonesia. Sights, culture, volcanoes and nature - the most interesting

It's finished. I reached the Kelimutu volcano! All by herself, across the country, having completed unforgettable journey around Indonesia by public transport. After the village of Ben, I left for Ende and the next day to Moni, from there it is convenient to go to the volcano. I’m telling you about my visit to this masterpiece of nature and one of the best places on Earth,…

Traveling independently in Indonesia, I arrived in small town Berastagi from Lake Toba, look at volcanoes that I had never seen alive before in my life, never come close, and, moreover, never climbed to the top. I went to one of them, very interesting and accessible, on the second day (this story, as well as information...

Bali's magnificent beaches and Buddhist temples, prehistoric dragons and amazing pink beach Komodo, the flight of a million fruit bats under the sunset sky of the Flying Fox Island, the opportunity to see giant stingrays, the ancient pearls of Java and snorkeling off Bidadari Island - all this awaits you in amazing Indonesia! We invite you to big Adventure around the islands of this hospitable state of Southeast Asia. During the tour you will be able to visit famous attractions, do aquatic species sports and a great place to relax best beaches islands of Bali.

Great trip to the islands of Indonesia

Tour duration: 21 days/20 nights.

Tour dates: on request . Check-in is possible May holidays!

Tour route: Bali - Flores - Bidadari - Kanawa - Flying Fox Island - Flores - Komodo - Flores - Bali - Java - Bali.

Tour cost: on request.

Tour program

1 day. Bali Island (Denpasar - Ubud)

Arrival in the capital of Bali - Denpasar, meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel Four Seasons Sayan 5*. Check-in after 14:00.

Day 2. Bali Island (Ubud)

On that day you will have an excursion to English language- “A day in the life of a Balinese farmer.” It starts with a short walk through the hotel grounds and nearby rice fields, then takes you on a journey through the jungle and down to the Ayung River. Picnic on the picturesque bank of the river, in an open pavilion, decorated in a traditional style - ball (the picnic will be organized taking into account special food).

After relaxing and enjoying a delicious breakfast, you can learn how to plant rice under the guidance of a Balinese farmer. You will be shown a lightweight boarding option designed specifically for VIP guests. After planting the rice, you can taste the water from freshly picked coconuts.

Transfer to the hotel's spa villa for a traditional ritual that includes cleansing, scrubbing and a relaxing Balinese massage. Lunch of traditional island dishes, including “Nasichampur” - boiled rice with a variety of ingredients. We will request a special menu for this program for you.

Ubud - Bali island, Indonesia

Day 3. Bali Island (Ubud - Nusa Dua)

Transfer to Nusa Dua - one of the most visited resorts in Bali. White sand beaches, luxurious five-star hotels and developed infrastructure make this city great place for a relaxed and carefree holiday. Experienced and beginners alike will find something to do at the local surf center. Nusa Dua is ideal for family vacation with kids.

Along the way you will reach peaks of a local volcano, inspect Buddhist monastery , carved into the rock in the 8th century, you can stand on the edge of the largest in Asia volcanic crater, go to tomb of the kings And sacred temple, and also stop in a small village where woodcarvers live.

In addition, on this day you will arrive in pearl gallery, where you can see many types of natural pearls grown in Indonesia. Here are samples of yellow, white, pink, blue and black pearls.

Arrival at Nusa Dua resort, accommodation at The St. Regis Bali Resort 5*.

Indonesia

3-5 days.Bali Island (Nusa Dua)

Day 6Bali Island (Nusa Dua) - Flores Island - Bidadari Island - Kanawa Island - Flying Fox Island - Flores Island

Transfer to the airport (travel time is about half an hour), departure by local airlines to the island of Flores, to Labuan Banjo (the flight will take about 2.5 hours). Arrival, meeting with a local guide and transfer to the Bintang Flores 4* hotel. Accommodation in a Deluxe Suite room.

Transfer to the bay and departure by speed boat to Bidadari Island, also called Angel Island. Arrival, lunch box and opportunity to snorkel around the island. Transfer by boat to Kanawa Island, snorkeling.

Afterwards you will go to the Flying Fox Island and be able to witness an incredible spectacle - flight large quantity fruit bats against the backdrop of a beautiful sunset sky. Return to Flores Island.

Day 7 Flores Island - Komodo Island - Flores Island

Moving to Komodo Island is part of a big National Park in which they live huge monitor lizards, considered to be descendants of prehistoric lizards. The first, as they are called, “Komodo dragons” appeared in these places back in the Jurassic period, about 200 million years ago.

Trekking around the island, during which you, accompanied by a local ranger, will be able to meet the “dragons” and observe their life. Afterwards - a boat trip to the beach with amazing pink sand. Here you can have lunch, as well as relax or snorkel.

Transfer to Manta Point. We do not give a 100% guarantee that you will see mantas and be able to swim with them, but there is a chance of meeting mantas. Transfer to Siaba Island, which is famous for its magnificent white sandy beach and clear waters, ideal for snorkeling.

Return to Flores Island at 18:00.

Komodo Island, Indonesia

Day 8 Flores Island - Bali Island (Nusa Dua)

Return to the island of Bali, to the Nusa Dua resort, accommodation at The St. Regis Bali Resort 5*.

9-12 days. Bali Island (Nusa Dua)

Beach holiday at the resort of Nusa Dua.

Day 13 Bali Island (Nusa Dua) - Java Island

Early transfer to the airport and departure at 6:50 to a major tourist centre Java islands - Yogyakarta. Flight time is 1 hour and 10 minutes. Yogyakarta is the most densely populated and colorful region of Indonesia, where many Javanese traditions have been preserved unchanged to this day. The resort has many ancient attractions created under the influence of three religions: Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam. Yogyakarta is very convenient Starting point for travel to the world's largest Buddhist complex Borobudur, famous Hindu temple Prambanan And Sultan Kraton Palace.

Arrival at the place and half an hour drive to temple complex Prambanan, inspection of the shrine. Afterwards you will go to Sultan's Palace. Even later, transfer to the Amanjiwo hotel.

Borobudur - Java Island, Indonesia

Day 14 Java Island - Bali Island (Nusa Dua)

In the morning you will have an excursion to the legendary ancient Borobudur stupa. It was built in the 18th century and for several centuries was covered with a thick layer of volcanic ash and surrounded by impenetrable jungle. The impressively sized complex is a building located on a powerful foundation, the length of which is almost 120 meters. The shrine is covered with carvings, on its upper tier there are more than 70 small stupas, while inside there are five hundred statues of Buddha and many carvings with sketches from his life.

After lunch, transfer to the airport and flight to Bali. Arrival and accommodation at the Nusa Dua resort, The St. Regis Bali Resort 5*.

15-20 days. Bali Island (Nusa Dua)

Beach holiday in the resort of Nusa Dua.

21 day. Bali Island (Nusa Dua)

Transfer to the airport, international flight.