2 Weeks in Indonesia: My Adventure Itinerary
TRAVEL
After living in Indonesia for four years and spending time in all of the places on this route, I’ve put together this 2 Weeks in Indonesia itinerary based on my own experience of travelling through these destinations. Two weeks is enough to experience a surprisingly diverse side of Indonesia, from Bali’s temples and beaches to the Nusa Islands, Gili Islands, and the dramatic landscapes of Komodo, as long as you plan your route around how the boats and flights actually connect.
Below, I’ll take you through the route day by day, including where to stay, how to get between each destination, what to do, and roughly how much to budget.
Quick Answer: This Indonesia Travel Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1 to 2: Ubud (rice terraces, temples, waterfalls)
Days 3 to 5: Canggu (surf, cafés, beach clubs)
Days 6 to 7: Uluwatu (cliffs, temple, sunset)
Days 8 to 9: Nusa Islands (Lembongan and Ceningan)
Days 10 to 11: Gili Islands (Gili Air or Gili Trawangan)
Day 12: Back to Bali (overnight transit before the flight)
Days 13 to 14: Komodo (Labuan Bajo)
That's four regions and six main stops, connected by two short fast boats and one domestic flight. It's a lot of movement for two weeks, but each leg is genuinely short, so you're not losing full travel days to transit.
Days 1 to 2: Ubud
Rice Terraces and Temples
Ubud is inland, so it's the right place to start before you're near any beaches. The Tegalalang rice terraces are the obvious stop, best visited early morning before the tour buses arrive. For temples, Tirta Empul is the one worth prioritising: it's a working water temple where locals come to purify themselves in the spring-fed pools, and it's more atmospheric than most of the postcard temples around Bali.
Waterfalls and a Slower Pace
With two nights here, I'd keep the list tight rather than trying to fit everything in: a walk along the Campuhan Ridge in the early morning before the heat sets in, one waterfall (Tegenungan is the easiest to reach), and time at the Ubud Art Market if you want to browse rather than just sightsee.
Where to Stay in Ubud
Luxury: Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, on the Ayung River, known for private pool villas and some of the best on-site restaurants in Ubud
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Mid-range: Alaya Resort Ubud, central and walkable to Ubud Palace and the market
Budget: Champlung Sari Hotel, Villa and Spa, on Monkey Forest Road with a small pool and traditional Balinese architecture
Days 3 to 5: Canggu
Surf, Cafés, and Beach Clubs
Canggu is the shift from temples to beach town. Echo Beach and Batu Bolong are the main surf spots, with board rental and lessons easy to arrange on the spot if you haven't surfed before. The café scene here is genuinely part of the appeal, not just a filler activity between beach sessions, and it's worth building unstructured time into these three days rather than overplanning them.
A Side Trip to Tanah Lot
If you haven't already seen it, Tanah Lot, the sea temple perched on a rock just offshore, is a manageable half-day trip from Canggu and best timed for sunset.
Where to Stay in Canggu
Luxury: COMO Uma Canggu, close to Echo Beach and Batu Bolong, with a surf-focused, understated five-star feel
Mid-range: Citadines Berawa Beach Bali, serviced apartments near Berawa Beach with kitchens, useful if you want a bit more independence
Budget: Mojo Resort Canggu, traditional Lumbung-style rooms around an outdoor pool
Days 6 to 7: Uluwatu
Uluwatu gets two nights, and the cliffs are the main draw. Uluwatu Temple sits right on the edge, with a kecak fire dance performance most evenings timed around sunset. Padang Padang and Suluban beaches are both worth the walk down, and if you surf, Uluwatu's breaks are some of the best-known in Bali, though they're better suited to intermediate and advanced surfers than beginners.
Where to Stay in Uluwatu
Luxury: Alila Villas Uluwatu, clifftop villas with some of the best sunset views on the peninsula
Mid-range: Pinkcoco Uluwatu, an adults-only boutique hotel near Bingin, good for a quieter few nights
Budget: Bali Bobo Hostel, simple and social, useful if you're travelling solo through this leg
Days 8 to 9: Nusa Islands
Getting Across and Getting Around
From Bali, a fast boat from Sanur Harbour to Nusa Lembongan takes around 30 minutes, with frequent departures throughout the day. Once you're on the island, a scooter is the easiest way to get around, since the best beaches and viewpoints are spread across the island rather than clustered in one spot.
What to See
I've written a full breakdown of the best beaches in Nusa Lembongan separately, so I won't repeat all of it here, but the short version: Dream Beach for scenery, Mushroom Bay for swimming, and Devil's Tears for sunset. Nusa Ceningan, connected by the Yellow Bridge, is worth a half-day for Secret Beach and the calmer water there.
Where to Stay in the Nusa Islands
Luxury: Batu Karang Lembongan Resort & Spa, clifftop, with an infinity pool overlooking the surf breaks
Mid-range: Hai Tide Beach Resort, right on Jungutbatu beach and an easy walk to restaurants
Budget: Tarci Bungalows, simple garden bungalows close to the water
Days 10 to 11: Gili Islands
Getting There
There's a direct fast boat connecting Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan straight to Gili Trawangan, taking roughly around two hours.
What Makes the Gilis Different
The three Gili Islands (Trawangan, Air, and Meno) have no motorised vehicles at all. Getting around means walking, cycling, or taking a cidomo (horse-drawn cart). The snorkeling is the main event here, particularly for sea turtles, which are common enough in the shallows that you don't need a boat trip to find them. Gili Air tends to be the quieter, more low-key choice compared to Trawangan's livelier bar scene, so pick based on what pace you want for these two days.
Where to Stay in the Gilis
Luxury: Cocana Resort Gili Trawangan, A five-star resort on the west coast with the island's best sunset views, the largest spa in Gili T, and a private beach sunset club.
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Mid-range: Bale Sampan Bungalows, on the east coast, a short walk from the pier and the main strip
Budget: Gili La Boheme, a relaxed hostel close to the night market
Day 12: Back to Bali
This is a transit day, and it's worth treating it as one rather than trying to squeeze in sightseeing. Fast boats run directly between Gili Trawangan and Bali, taking roughly around two hours depending on the departure port and conditions. Flights to Labuan Bajo run from Bali's Denpasar airport, with several airlines operating daily, so it's worth basing yourself somewhere close to the airport for the night (Kuta or Seminyak both work) rather than heading back into Ubud or Canggu.
Days 13 to 14: Komodo
The Flight
From Denpasar, direct flights to Labuan Bajo run multiple times a day across several airlines, and take about one hour. Morning departures usually get you into Labuan Bajo with enough of the day left to settle in.
Komodo National Park
Once in Labuan Bajo, a full-day boat trip is the standard way to see the park's highlights: Padar Island for the viewpoint hike over its three bays, Pink Beach for swimming and snorkeling, a guided trek on Komodo Island to see the dragons with a ranger, and Manta Point for a chance to snorkel with manta rays (sightings aren't guaranteed, but they're common). Most day tours run everything by speedboat and include lunch, though the national park entrance fee is usually charged separately from the tour price. Two days here gives you one full tour day plus a buffer for weather delays, which happen more often than you'd expect on boat-dependent itineraries like this one.
Where to Stay in Labuan Bajo
Luxury: AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach, a private-cove resort with an infinity pool over the bay
Mid-range: Puri Sari Beach Hotel, on Pede Beach, a short taxi ride from the town centre
Budget: Seaesta Komodo Hotel & Hostel, part boutique hotel and part hostel, walkable to the harbour
Alternative Route: Swap Komodo for Lombok
If flying is something you'd rather avoid, or you'd prefer to stay in one region instead of adding a flight leg, you can swap out Komodo entirely and add Lombok instead, either before or after the Gilis. Kuta Lombok (the surf town on the south coast, not to be confused with Kuta in Bali) and the base areas around Mount Rinjani are the two main draws, and both are reachable by road from the harbour where Gili boats dock, without needing a flight at all. This keeps the whole trip within one boat-connected region, at the cost of not seeing Komodo's dragons, Padar Island, or Pink Beach.
How to Move Between Each Stop
Bali (Ubud/Canggu/Uluwatu) to Nusa Lembongan: fast boat from Sanur, about 30 minutes
Nusa Lembongan to Gili Trawangan: direct fast boat, about 2 hours
Gilis back to Bali: direct fast boat, about 2 hours
Bali (Denpasar) to Labuan Bajo: direct flight, about 1 hour depending on airline
Each leg is short on its own, but they add up. Building in a buffer day somewhere in the middle of the trip, rather than scheduling back-to-back transfers, makes the whole thing feel less rushed.
Budget and Costs
Costs vary a lot by season and how you book, so I'd treat these as rough starting points rather than fixed numbers. Fast boat tickets between Bali and the Nusa Islands typically run in the range of $10 to $20 one way, and boats to and from the Gilis are usually somewhat more given the longer crossing. Flights from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo can be found from roughly $50 to $150 one way depending on the airline and how far ahead you book. Komodo day tours vary widely by operator and boat type (shared speedboat versus private charter), so it's worth comparing a few before booking.
When to Visit
The dry season, roughly May to September, is the best window for this entire route, since it covers the calmest sea conditions for every boat crossing involved, not just one leg. Outside these months, expect a higher chance of rough seas affecting the Nusa-to-Gili and Gili-to-Bali crossings in particular, which are the longest open-water legs of the trip.
Pros and Cons of This Route
What Works Well
Covers four genuinely different sides of Indonesia (culture, surf town, island beaches, national park) without repeating the same kind of day twice
Each boat transfer is short enough that you're not losing full days to travel
The flight to Komodo runs far more frequently from Bali than from Lombok, so it's easier to find a convenient time
What to Plan Around
It's a lot of packing and unpacking for two weeks, roughly six changes of base
The Nusa-to-Gili and Gili-to-Bali boat crossings are weather-dependent and can be delayed in rough seas
Doubling back through Bali before flying to Komodo adds a transit night that doesn't include much sightseeing
Traveling Tips in Indonesia
Get an eSIM: An eSIM makes it easy to stay connected for maps, ride-hailing apps, translations, and booking transport without having to find a local SIM card.
Get travel insurance: Make sure your insurance covers medical expenses, activities like surfing or diving if you plan to do them, and travel disruptions.
Allow extra time for island transfers: Boats and flights can be affected by weather and delays, so avoid planning tight connections between islands.
Carry some cash: Cards are widely accepted in tourist areas, but smaller restaurants, local shops, and some transport providers may only accept cash.
Plan around the weather: Indonesia has different weather patterns across its islands, so check conditions for each destination rather than relying on one general forecast for the whole country.
My Recommendations
If I had to cut a day somewhere, I'd take it from Canggu rather than Uluwatu or the Nusa Islands, since Canggu's appeal is more about atmosphere than must-see sights, so it's the easiest three days to compress into two. If you'd rather slow the pace down instead of cutting anything, the easiest way to do that is to add a day to the Nusa Islands or Gilis rather than to Ubud, since those legs are the shortest for what they offer.
FAQs
Is 2 weeks enough for an Indonesia itinerary covering Bali and the islands? Yes, as long as the route is built around short transfers. This itinerary covers Bali, the Nusa Islands, the Gilis, and Komodo in 14 days because each leg between stops is under three and a half hours.
What to be careful of in Indonesia? Indonesia is generally an easy country to travel around, but there are a few things worth keeping in mind. Be cautious with traffic when renting a scooter, check sea and weather conditions before taking boats between islands, and use reputable transport and tour operators.
Is Bali cheaper than Thailand? It depends on how you travel and where you stay. Bali can be very affordable for accommodation, local food, and activities, but popular areas such as Canggu, Seminyak, and Uluwatu can become expensive, especially for longer stays. Thailand also has a wide range of budgets, so it’s difficult to say that one is always cheaper. For a typical trip, I’d compare accommodation and transport costs for the specific destinations.
Where to go in Indonesia instead of Bali? If you want to experience Indonesia beyond Bali, there are plenty of great options depending on what you’re looking for. Lombok is a great choice for beaches and surfing, the Gili Islands for a slower island escape, Nusa Lembongan for snorkeling and surfing, Komodo for dramatic landscapes and boat trips.
Is it a good idea to travel alone in Indonesia? Yes, Indonesia can be a great destination for solo travellers. Bali, the Nusa Islands, and the Gili Islands are particularly easy to explore alone, with plenty of accommodation, tours, and activities where you can meet other travellers.
Is 2 weeks too long to spend in Bali? Not at all. Two weeks in Bali gives you enough time to explore different parts of the island without having to rush from one place to another. You could split your time between Ubud, Canggu, Uluwatu, and another area depending on your interests. If you prefer a slower trip, you can easily spend two weeks exploring Bali alone, but if you want to see more of Indonesia, you could also combine Bali with the Nusa Islands, Gili Islands, or another destination.
Final Thoughts
Two weeks in Indonesia may not be enough to see everything, but it’s more than enough to experience a great mix of what makes the country so special. From the culture and cafés of Bali to the beaches of the Nusa Islands, the relaxed island life of the Gilis, and the incredible landscapes of Komodo, each stop offers something completely different.
If you have more time, I’d slow the itinerary down rather than adding more destinations. Indonesia is one of those places where leaving a little room to explore, have a slow morning, or stay an extra night somewhere you love can make the trip even better. I hope this 2 Weeks in Indonesia itinerary helps you plan your trip and gives you a good starting point for exploring some of my favourite places in the country.
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