Planning Indonesia: which islands, how long and what it costs

• Bali: five days covers one or two areas; 7-10 days fits Ubud, a beach base and a day trip to Nusa Penida or the Uluwatu cliffs.
• Lombok and the Gilis: about a week for a Gili island, the south coast and a two-day Rinjani trek. With three or four nights, pick the Gilis or the south coast.
• Yogyakarta: three days for the Kraton, Borobudur and Prambanan.
• Labuan Bajo: two to three days for a Komodo boat trip, plus a spare day in the December-March wet season.
• North Sumatra: about a week for the Medan, Bukit Lawang and Lake Toba loop.

For a day-by-day plan, use the 7-day Bali itinerary.

In Bali, spend three or four nights in Ubud for rice terraces and temples, then pick a beach base: Canggu for surf and cafes, Seminyak for beach clubs and restaurants, or Uluwatu for cliff beaches. Compare Canggu vs Seminyak, or see the best villas in Ubud. Then add one of these:

• Lombok: the Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani and quieter south-coast beaches, a fast-boat ride from Bali.
• Labuan Bajo: about an hour's flight from Bali, the base for Komodo and Padar boat trips.
• Java: Yogyakarta for Borobudur and Prambanan, Surabaya for Mount Bromo trips, Bandung for volcano highlands and Jakarta, the capital.
• Medan: the gateway to Lake Toba and the orangutans of Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra.

A backpacker budget covers a dorm bed or Ubud homestay (US$6-14), warung meals at US$2-4 and scooter rental at US$4-6 a day. Mid-range buys a private villa or 3-4 star hotel (US$20-40 a night), cafe meals and a private driver. Lombok and the Gilis cost less than Bali. Bali hotel rates in July-August and December-January run 40-60% above the low season.

Full breakdown: the Bali budget guide and the Southeast Asia cost guide.

April-May and September-October give dry weather at lower prices. November-March is the wet season, wettest in January and February, but rain usually falls in the afternoon and prices drop 30-50%.

• Lombok and the Gilis: same pattern as Bali, slightly drier.
• Labuan Bajo: dry April-November; December-March seas can cancel boat trips.
• Medan and Lake Toba: driest May-September.
• Nusa Penida: rough seas in July and August make crossings harder.

Bali's airport closes for the whole of Nyepi, the Balinese day of silence (19 March in 2026; the date moves each year). Month by month: best time to visit Southeast Asia.

In August 2026 immigration announced higher fees (IDR 750,000 for the e-VOA, IDR 1,000,000 on arrival) without a confirmed start date, so check the official e-Visa portal before you fly. You need a passport valid for six months with two blank pages, proof of onward travel and the free All Indonesia Arrival Card, filed within 72 hours before arrival.

Bali also charges international visitors a tourist levy of IDR 150,000, paid online through the provincial Love Bali site. Rules for every passport: Southeast Asia visa requirements.

Common scams:

• Money changers: unlicensed ones short-change customers. Use licensed exchanges showing the Bank Indonesia logo and a QR code.
• Fake app drivers: drivers who claim to work for a ride-hailing app and pick up on the street. Book in the app, or use registered taxis such as Bluebird.
• Salon and spa pricing: scams at tattoo parlours, nail salons and spas in Bali are rising. Agree the fee first.
• Card fraud: common at ATMs, where criminals also stick fake helpline numbers on machines.

Methanol cannot be tasted or smelled, so watch spirits being poured. Emergency numbers: police 110, ambulance 118.

Telkomsel says foreign visitors register prepaid SIMs in person at an operator outlet or partner, where staff record the passport number, nationality and date and place of birth. Its Tourist Prepaid Card is sold only to international visitors and is validated against both your passport and your phone's IMEI, so buy it for the handset you will use.

• From Bali airport (DPS): no rail link. Use the official taxi desk in arrivals, a pre-booked driver, or Grab or Gojek. Allow 30-60 minutes to Seminyak and 60-90 minutes to Ubud.
• Airport trains: Commuter Line Basoetta runs from Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta to central Jakarta, a rail link joins Yogyakarta International (YIA) to Tugu station, and an airport train serves Medan.
• Flights: Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Citilink link the main islands; Bali to Labuan Bajo takes about an hour.
• Boats: fast boats run from Padang Bai or Amed in Bali to the Gilis, and from Bangsal on Lombok in 15-45 minutes.
• Scooters: riders need an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle endorsement.