Indonesia – Personal Travel Studio

Indonesia is enormous, wonderfully varied and far more than simply Bali.

We’ve travelled to Bali many times and it’s somewhere we’re always happy to return to. We’ve enjoyed the beaches and restaurants of Seminyak, escaped into the lush landscapes around Ubud, tackled white-water rafting and experienced the rather unforgettable chaos of Kuta.

But some of our most memorable Indonesian experiences have actually happened beyond Bali.

Sailing from Bali aboard Star Clippers took us through a completely different Indonesia — stopping at beautiful islands, visiting Pink Beach and coming face-to-face with the famous Komodo dragons.

And then there was the afternoon when the ship simply stopped in the middle of the Java Sea so everyone could jump overboard for a swim.

Now that was an experience.

Our travels in Indonesia

Bali was our introduction to Indonesia and we’ve returned a number of times.

One of the things we enjoy about the island is how quickly its personality changes.

Seminyak gives you beaches, restaurants, bars and some lovely hotels. Head inland towards Ubud and suddenly everything becomes greener and more peaceful, with tropical vegetation, jungle landscapes and a much more spiritual atmosphere.

We’ve also experienced Bali’s adventurous side, including white-water rafting around Ubud.

Then there’s Kuta.

Kuta was certainly an experience!

It’s busy, lively and chaotic and demonstrates another side of Bali altogether. The roads across the island can be equally memorable, traffic can be extraordinary and relatively short distances can take far longer than you might expect.

It’s something worth knowing before you start trying to cram too much into a Bali itinerary.

Those different experiences shape how we would put an Indonesian holiday together. Choosing a comfortable base, allowing for travel time and balancing activity with relaxation can make an enormous difference.

Our memories of sailing also show why it is worth considering the journey itself, as well as the places where you stay. The right combination depends on how much time you have and what you most want to experience.

Why we love Indonesia

Indonesia offers the possibility of several very different holidays within one country. You can build a trip around a comfortable beach hotel, divide your time between the coast and inland scenery or set aside longer to discover other islands.

We particularly enjoy the contrast between relaxation and activity. Time in Ubud can bring something different to a coastal stay, while a journey on the water changes both the scenery and the rhythm of the holiday.

Bali provides a useful starting point, but it should not define every Indonesian journey. There is scope to choose a much more focused island experience or to explore further when the dates and connections allow.

For us, the most enjoyable itineraries give each part of the holiday room to breathe. A few well chosen bases allow time for the landscapes, meals and experiences that drew you there, with fewer days lost to moving between places.

Our Indonesia Picks

These places and experiences bring together highlights from our travels and an idea for exploring further. The right combination depends on your interests, the season and how you prefer to travel.

Seminyak and Bali’s beaches

For us, Seminyak works particularly well if you want a beach stay without feeling completely removed from everything.

There’s a great choice of hotels, restaurants and places to enjoy a drink, and the beach gives you those wonderful Bali sunsets.

It can be as relaxed or as lively as you want it to be.

There are other beach areas around Bali too, so choosing where to stay should really depend on whether you’re looking for restaurants and nightlife, a luxurious resort or somewhere quieter where the main objective is simply to relax.

And this is where planning Bali properly becomes important.

It’s tempting to look at a map and assume everywhere is close. In reality, Bali’s traffic means you need to think carefully about where you stay and what you want to experience.

A carefully chosen base makes the whole coastal stay more enjoyable.

Seminyak and Bali’s beaches

For us, Seminyak works particularly well if you want a beach stay without feeling completely removed from everything.

There’s a great choice of hotels, restaurants and places to enjoy a drink, and the beach gives you those wonderful Bali sunsets.

It can be as relaxed or as lively as you want it to be.

And this is where planning Bali properly becomes important.

It’s tempting to look at a map and assume everywhere is close. In reality, Bali’s traffic means you need to think carefully about where you stay and what you want to experience.

A carefully chosen base makes the whole coastal stay more enjoyable.

Ubud and Bali’s lush interior

Travel inland and Bali changes completely.

Ubud is surrounded by tropical vegetation and wonderfully lush landscapes. It gives you a very different experience from the coastal resorts and is somewhere we think combines particularly well with a beach stay.

There’s a calmer, more spiritual atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean everything has to be sedate.

We went white-water rafting here, which was a fantastic way to experience the landscape from a completely different perspective.

That combination is part of Ubud’s appeal.

You can spend one part of the day surrounded by peaceful scenery and culture and another bouncing down a river.

For a first Bali holiday, we really like combining the coast with a few nights inland rather than staying in one resort for the entire trip.

Allow enough time to settle into the area, with space between the activities you choose.

Ubud and Bali’s lush interior

Travel inland and Bali changes completely.

There’s a calmer, more spiritual atmosphere, but that doesn’t mean everything has to be sedate.

We went white-water rafting here, which was a fantastic way to experience the landscape from a completely different perspective.

That combination is part of Ubud’s appeal.

You can spend one part of the day surrounded by peaceful scenery and culture and another bouncing down a river.

For a first Bali holiday, we really like combining the coast with a few nights inland rather than staying in one resort for the entire trip.

Allow enough time to settle into the area, with space between the activities you choose.

Beyond Bali

Indonesia becomes even more interesting when you start looking beyond Bali.

One of our favourite ways of doing that was aboard Star Clippers, sailing from Bali through the Indonesian islands.

Travelling under sail gave us a completely different perspective.

Instead of simply flying between destinations, the journey itself became part of the experience — waking up somewhere new, watching islands appear on the horizon and reaching places that felt a world away from Bali’s busy resorts.

There were several standout moments.

A sailing holiday needs to be chosen around the actual route and departure programme. Our own journey provides a personal example of the experience, while the available options will depend on your travel dates. We would consider the time ashore, accommodation on board and connections with a Bali stay before deciding which journey best suits you.

Beyond Bali

Indonesia becomes even more interesting when you start looking beyond Bali.

One of our favourite ways of doing that was aboard Star Clippers, sailing from Bali through the Indonesian islands.

Travelling under sail gave us a completely different perspective.

There were several standout moments.

Pink Beach and Komodo

Pink Beach was one of them.

The combination of clear water, beautiful scenery and the distinctive colour of the sand made it one of those wonderfully unusual places that you remember long after returning home.

And then came Komodo.

Visiting the island and seeing Komodo dragons in their natural environment was extraordinary.

You know before you arrive that they’re going to be impressive, but actually seeing these prehistoric-looking creatures for yourself is something completely different.

It’s difficult to describe just how strange and fascinating they are.

Definitely one for the travel memory bank.

For travellers interested in wildlife, this can give a wider Indonesian journey a clear focus. Allow time to reach the region and enjoy the surrounding scenery, rather than treating it as a quick addition to a busy Bali stay. The experience should fit comfortably within the holiday as a whole.

Pink Beach and Komodo

Pink Beach was one of them.

The combination of clear water, beautiful scenery and the distinctive colour of the sand made it one of those wonderfully unusual places that you remember long after returning home.

And then came Komodo.

Visiting the island and seeing Komodo dragons in their natural environment was extraordinary.

You know before you arrive that they’re going to be impressive, but actually seeing these prehistoric-looking creatures for yourself is something completely different.

It’s difficult to describe just how strange and fascinating they are.

Definitely one for the travel memory bank.

Swimming in the Java Sea

And then there are those experiences you could never really plan.

While sailing, Star Clippers stopped in the middle of the Java Sea.

No port. No beach.

Just the ship, open water and the opportunity to go for a swim.

So, naturally, in we went.

Jumping into the sea in the middle of nowhere, with the ship beside us and nothing but water around us, remains one of those slightly surreal travel moments we’ll always remember.

It’s also why we think seeing Indonesia from the water can add something completely different to a conventional Bali holiday.

Moments like this belong to a particular voyage and cannot be promised on another departure. What they illustrate is the pleasure of leaving room for the unexpected. A well chosen journey on the water can bring a different rhythm from a holiday based entirely in hotels.

Swimming in the Java Sea

And then there are those experiences you could never really plan.

While sailing, Star Clippers stopped in the middle of the Java Sea.

No port. No beach.

Just the ship, open water and the opportunity to go for a swim.

So, naturally, in we went.

Jumping into the sea in the middle of nowhere, with the ship beside us and nothing but water around us, remains one of those slightly surreal travel moments we’ll always remember.

It’s also why we think seeing Indonesia from the water can add something completely different to a conventional Bali holiday.

Lombok and the Gili Islands

Lombok and the nearby Gili Islands offer another possibility for travellers looking beyond Bali. Beaches, coastal scenery and opportunities for snorkelling can form the basis of a stay with plenty of time beside the water.

The choice between locations matters. Think about the atmosphere you enjoy, the type of accommodation you want and how much activity you would like around the beach days. A particular island or stretch of coast should suit the holiday you have in mind.

We would look at the complete connection from your previous base, including any time on the road or water, before adding another stay. With enough nights, this can bring variety to a longer itinerary. For a shorter holiday, keeping fewer bases may leave you with more time to relax and enjoy the place you choose. The priority is a stay that feels comfortable throughout.

Lombok and the Gili Islands

Things to do in Indonesia

Combine the coast with time inland

A stay in two contrasting parts of Bali can provide variety without turning the holiday into a long series of hotel changes. Choose the balance around your interests, with enough time in each base to settle in.

Allow a realistic transfer day when moving between the two.

Add an active experience

An activity such as rafting can bring a different perspective to the scenery around Ubud. Choose the experience around your confidence, interests and the conditions at the time.

There is no need to fill every day with activities. One memorable outing can provide a welcome contrast to a relaxed stay.

Discover Indonesia from the water

A selected sailing or small ship journey can make the travel between islands part of the experience. Look at the full programme, including the balance between time on board and visits ashore.

Your accommodation preferences and available holiday time should help determine the kind of journey to consider.

Make wildlife part of a wider journey

If seeing Komodo dragons is a priority, build the itinerary around that interest early in the planning. It deserves more consideration than an excursion added after the rest of the holiday is booked.

Allow time for the connections and choose arrangements appropriate to the wildlife experience you want.

Enjoy food and evenings out

The area around your hotel can be as important as the hotel itself if you enjoy choosing different restaurants and going out in the evening.

Think about whether you want places within easy reach or would prefer a stay centred on your resort. That decision can help narrow down the right coastal base.

Leave room for relaxation

Indonesia lends itself to holidays with space between the planned experiences. A beach afternoon, a leisurely meal or a day enjoying your hotel can bring balance after sightseeing or travel.

We would make that time part of the itinerary from the beginning, especially when combining several bases.

Indonesia FAQs

When is the best time to visit Indonesia?

Indonesia covers a vast area, so conditions can vary depending on exactly where you’re travelling.

For Bali and many of the surrounding islands, there are distinct wetter and drier periods, so we’d consider both the time of year and the experiences you want when putting a journey together.

If you’re combining several islands or including a cruise, the route and seasonal sailing programme also become important.

How long do I need in Bali?

We’d suggest around 10–14 nights if Bali is your main holiday. That gives you enough time to combine the coast with Ubud without constantly packing and moving.

Should I stay in Ubud and on the beach?

We would. They offer two very different sides of Bali. Ubud is green, lush and atmospheric, while the coast gives you beaches, restaurants, sunsets and resort life.

Is Bali difficult to get around?

Distances can be deceptive. The roads can be extremely busy and journeys often take longer than you expect. We’ve experienced the traffic ourselves, so we’d avoid building an itinerary that requires unnecessary travelling backwards and forwards across the island.

Is Seminyak a good place to stay?

We’ve always enjoyed it. It’s particularly good if you want a beach location with plenty of restaurants and bars rather than an isolated resort experience.

Is Ubud just about temples and wellness?

Not at all. It certainly has a more peaceful and spiritual feel, but there are plenty of active experiences too. Our white-water rafting trip was a brilliant contrast to the more tranquil side of Ubud.

Can I see Komodo dragons as part of an Indonesia holiday?

Yes, and for us it was one of the standout experiences of travelling beyond Bali. Seeing Komodo dragons in their natural environment is something quite extraordinary.

Is Indonesia good for cruising?

Our Star Clippers journey certainly showed us how well it can work. Sailing between the islands allowed us to experience places such as Pink Beach and Komodo while making the journey itself part of the adventure.

Is Indonesia only for beach holidays?

Definitely not.

The beaches can be beautiful, but some of our strongest memories are of jungle landscapes, white-water rafting, sailing between islands, seeing Komodo dragons and jumping into the Java Sea from a ship in the middle of nowhere.

That’s the Indonesia we’d encourage you to discover.

How much does an Indonesia holiday cost?

The overall cost depends on your travel dates, accommodation, length of stay and the islands you choose. A holiday based in two parts of Bali involves different arrangements from one that includes domestic flights or a sailing programme.

Compare the complete itinerary, including transfers, excursions and anything included in the accommodation or cruise price. That helps you decide where to spend more and where a simpler arrangement suits you.