Q – I am traveling as a solo female traveler to Indonesia and plan to travel for about 3 weeks. Where would you recommend that I go to which is safe and also good? – Kayla
In trying to cover the top 10 must-visit places in Indonesia and play around with our 2 weeks travel itinerary, you may have a few nice additional places.
Day 1 to 4 – Yogyakarta
Fly into Yogyakarta, if you are coming via Jakarta, you can either take the scenic train ride or also fly connecting to here. This city is home to the largest Buddhist temple Borobudur and the grand ancient Hindu temple Prambanan. Besides, Yogyakarta is also rich in arts, culture and history as well, a really good mix of a lot of things. You should stay at least about 4 or 5 days in Yogyakarta.
After that move on to Mount Bromo at Eastern Java, one of the a must visit places in Java. Here you will hike for a sunrise view over the famous Bromo volcanic crater. After that, get down have some breakfast and then trek onwards to the mouth of the crater. There is also a Hindu temple to visit on the way there. From here, head on to Banyuwangi to catch a bus to get over to Bali.
Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple, Bali. Photo by melburnian
If you want, you can also split the days with Lombok or Gili Islands, which are recommended if you are looking to dive. Lombok is the sister to Bali but minus the tourist crowds. Gili Islands would be your remote paradise islands, with no motorized vehicles on land and untouched seas for you to explore.
Fly out from Bali, Denpasar international airport back to Jakarta. Spend the last 2 days checking out what this mega city is about (select from our 3 days Jakarta Itinerary) and squeeze in some last minute shopping. You may want to check out Jakarta’s vibrant nightlife and do not forget to catch some spa and massages before leaving.
Along with adding days of travel between places that would take you up to about almost a month with buffer times for wherever you want to sidetrack or stay longer. From the itinerary above you can basically cover the city, cultural and historical, beaches and nightlife in Indonesia, though only Java, Bali and Lombok region. Indonesia definitely has more to offer but you would have to return for the rest of the 17,000 islands!
Living in Jakarta for more than 20 years now, she still have not manage to cover the tip of Indonesia’s diverse destinations, people and even food! Pearl loves shopping as much as enjoying luxury but she knows all these have to be done sensibly and on a budget. Therefore you may find the best scoop and offers in Jakarta and beyond with her. View all posts by Pearl
The Gili Islands are the archipelago of three islands which is Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air. Locally it is known Tiga Gili (means three Gilis) or Kepulauan Gili (Gili Islands).
Though it is popular for Bali tourists to hop over to Gili Islands as it is nearby, they are actually worth a trip there itself. The islands are famous for the ultimate remote island experience that is so rare nowadays in the world.
Here you will find small huts as resorts for tourist and the locals themselves stay in the township of Trawangan at the east side inland. No motorized vehicle is allowed in the islands, therefore, keeping the experience of remoteness wholesome, where people would either use a bicycle or more romantically horse-drawn carriage called cidomo.
Diving is also really popular here for the untouched corals and abundant sea life.
The three islands are lined up just off the northwest tip of Lombok, Indonesia and to the west of Bali. If you wonder which Gili Islands to go to here are the breakdown:
Gili Air is the closest to the mainland and it has plenty of palm trees shading stylish bungalows. It is also the place to catch the most beautiful sunset and sunrise. There are also a number of things to do on Gili Air besides just relaxing on the beach.
Gili Meno is the middle island that makes a good middle-path zen-like retreat. The sea here is an amazing blue with horizon stretches to infinity.
Last but not the least is Gili Trawangan, furthest from the mainland but most popular of the lot. It is also well-known for its party scene.
Go for the last chance to bask in real island life that is both serene and still rich with flora and fauna the way it has been for years and years. Think of a mix of reggae beats while you sip your drink staring out horizon accompanied by gentle lapping waves. To top it off there is no hustle and bustle of motorized vehicles leaving the place serene and air clean.
If you must have more spirit to your retreat among serenity, then head to Gili Trawangan for a dose of its thrice weekly parties.
No motorized vehicles in the roads of Gili Trawangan, Indonesia. Photo by Madeleine Holland
When is the best time to go
Most of the time in the year these islands near tp Lombok have a good weather with a mix of dry and hot in the day and slightly cool in the night. Go during the dry season so that you can have your tropical islands experience. The best time to go to Gili Islands would be September to November, for the best weather yet not too packed with tourists.
You may want to avoid the rainy season from November to April, but it does not really rain that much and the peak tourist seasons are July-August and December-January.
Fishing Boat in Gili Trawangan, Lombok. Photo by Walter-Wilhelm
What to see
Walk around and take in the serenity of the islands, everything you wish you can see on idyllic beaches and island forestry.
Scuba diving Gili Islands is very popular with scuba diving, having almost 20 dive sites, that is rich in corals and sea wildlife. When you dive you can catch glimpses of, to name a few, green and hawks-bill turtles, white-tip reef sharks, manta rays and parrot fish. Visibility is around 15-30m range and some parts the currents are strong enough for drift diving. Dive courses are also available and are priced similarly to other places in Asia like Malaysia and Philippines. I would go as far to say, one of the main attractions here besides the tranquility is the numerous beautiful dive sites.
Snorkeling If diving may not be your thing but you still want to enjoy the coral and marine life, then snorkeling is the next best thing. With the clear waters and rich coal life, you may well have an enjoyable snorkeling experience here. Check with you guesthouses or nearby for those snorkeling program that would stop at like three or four spots around the three islands
Surfing This may not be the most popular thing to do as there are only occasional waves at the south of Gili Trawangan that can accommodate light surfing.
Walk Just walk around the coastlines of the islands as leisure stroll for there are no hills but can be from a short 90 minutes walk to extensive 3 hours, and soak in the island breeze and sun.
Relax Else one of the best things to do here is basically to do nothing. With no motor vehicles around to disturb your peace or atmosphere, you can idle away the time by chilling at your own private verandah or at various restaurants and cafes by the beach. Occasional dip in the sea would be a good break in between.
Where to stay
As the demand is higher than the supply here, the prices tend to be higher than its counterparts of Bali and Lombok. The choices are you usual backpackers inns and guesthouses. Also do pre-book during peak season too, which are July-August and December-January.
Pearl Trawangan A beachfront resort with its own outdoor pool and bar, this place is ideal for those who want to relax in style. Styled with rustic designs, the individual huts are unique and inviting. Themed with a tropical island feel and filled with lush gardens, it is truly a dream to stay here. Prices starting from 140 USD. Check out the latest prices and reviews at Booking.com * Check out the latest prices and reviews at Agoda.com *
Wilson’s Retreat Offering a tropical oasis retreat at the beachside, this resorts comes with a good mix of modern and traditional design. The rooms are cozy yet clean and full of natural lights and high ceilings. The outdoor pool and the French restaurant bar is a plus. To top it off, it comes with an affordable starting price at only 80 USD! Check out the latest prices and reviews at Booking.com *. Check out the latest prices and reviews at Agoda.com *
For somewhere quieter yet not too quiet, Gili Meno is where you want to stay *. It is like a mix in between the vibrant Gili Trawangan and the serene Gili Air.
If you are looking more of a local bungalow style and homestay kind, then stay at Gili Air * where you can find the ultimate peace and quietness of a village life.
Manusia Dunia Green Lodge This quaint and rustic design lodge will transport you back to the days of yore. Dreamlike but clean with traditional Indonesian hut designs, the place is cozy and inviting, with little touches of art too. Just outside is the tranquil village of the island. Definitely a home away from him, prices starting only from 70 USD! Check out the latest prices and reviews at Booking.com * Check out the latest prices and reviews at Agoda.com *
If you are looking for the famous swing at the sea of Gili Islands, it is located at Ombak Sunset resort hotel * at Gili Trawangan.
As quite popular beach getaways for tourists, you will find the usual beach food fare at small cafes in form of a hut, such as barbecued fish and seafood, pizzas, sandwiches, smoothies and so on, I think you get the drill if you haunt beaches enough. In some of the bigger establishments, there can be surcharge of taxes so take note. If you want to have drinks, then Gili Trawangan, the party island, would be your best bet.
Beach view at Gili Meno, Lombok. Photo by andre ramayadi
How to get there
Fly from Jakarta to Gili Islands directly is the quickest way to get here. Else you may do a stopover flight at Surabaya. Flights to Gili will land you at Mataram or Senggigi where then you may do a crossing to the Gili Islands via ferry.
If from Bali to Gili Islands, you may take a fast boat from Bali to Gili Trawangan *. Or you can also fly from Bali to Gili Islands which many travelers say it is worth it to save time and sometimes it can be cheaper than the boat. Airlines that fly this route is Merpati, Indonesia Air Transport and Trigana.
Boats at Gili Trawangan beach, Lombok. Photo by yeowatzup
Where to go nearby
Trekking at Mount Rinjani in Lombok, where a relatively tough climb will get you to the summit with a view of breahtaking volcanic caldera and crater lake. There are numerous beautiful hikes around here too.
There are some other islands in Indonesia that have the name Gili as well for in local dialect it actually means small islands, so don’t be mix up and make sure you are coming to these three Gili Islands.
Many travelers gave the advice to be especially careful of thefts in Lombok. Keep your things well attended and lock your luggage, there are even thefts at the beaches. Also, bring repellant as there are cases of dengue.
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