-Day Indonesia Itinerary: Explore Double Volcanoes, Bali, and Yogyakarta

Ps: Don’t ask me how much each item costs, there are too many zeros in Indonesian Rupiah to count, and I didn’t keep track at all.
[Backpack R] Itinerary:
1. Fly from Shanghai to Jakarta, then from Jakarta to Surabaya airport, and have a driver pick us up to go to the General’s Waterfall – Bromo – Ijen.

After Ijen, have the driver take us to the port to catch a boat to Bali.
2. In Bali, Kuta – Tulamben diving – Bali tennis, surfing, La Favela bar
3. Fly to Yogyakarta, take the airport train to the city center. Visit the sinkhole, Prambanan – Borobudur, and do a city walk in Yogyakarta.
4. Fly back to Jakarta, return home.

[Backpack R] First impressions, the service throughout Indonesia is still quite good, people are very friendly, they give change, and there was no overcharging. When we went through customs, the officers even joked with us, and we did not encounter any requests for tips, but one of our female friends was asked for a tip when she went through alone.

[Backpack R] How much it cost:
Around 10k+ for two people, we stayed at Marriott hotels. Didn’t calculate in detail. Booked the tickets in May, at that time the ticket price was only around 1500.
[Backpack R] Clothes to bring:
1. A set of quick-dry clothes, preferably with a hood. You will get soaked at the waterfall, and you need to wear a safety helmet, having a hood in between will make it less dirty.

2. Skin-friendly or sun-protective clothing + a wide-brimmed hat, for sun protection.
3. Windbreaker + down jacket + thick windproof pants. It’s very cold on the volcano early in the morning, if you don’t bring warm clothes, you can rent a cotton coat for about 25 RMB, and you don’t have to worry about it getting dirty.

4. Stylish bikini, for the waterfall. It’s too cold on the volcano, we put them on but didn’t dare to take them off.
5. Swimsuit, tampons. For diving and the waterfall.
6. Everyday summer dresses or T-shirts.
[Backpack R] Other items to bring:
1. Dried meat snacks from China, often no time to eat during the volcano trip, and the food in the villages of the two volcanoes is pretty bad.

2. Bags for shoes and clothes. Clothes and shoes will get very dirty during the volcano trip, only have a chance to wash clothes once in Bali.
3. N95 masks. Bring more than 2 per person per volcano, as the volcanic dust is heavy and you need to change them frequently.
4. Melatonin. To prevent insomnia due to the inverted day and night schedule on the volcano.

5. Gas mask and goggles. Buy from Taobao, the masks provided by the guides are shared.
6. Hiking shoes or ice cleats for shoes, regular shoes will be so slippery on the volcano that you’ll doubt life.
7. Hair dryer, towel, toothpaste, and toothbrush. The accommodation near the volcano is more like a homestay, some hotels do not provide hair dryers.

8. Disposable shoe covers or rain boots. The bottom of the sinkhole is very muddy, and the shared rain boots and helmets are very smelly.
[Backpack R] What you can leave behind:
1.

Woolen hats, available at the foot of the volcano for just 15 RMB each—perfect for keeping warm during your adventures.

Puffed snacks and sugary treats can be found at the FamilyMart right after you exit the airport. Convenience stores are plentiful and offer a wide variety of affordable options to satisfy your cravings.

Wet wipes and tissues are essential travel items. You can easily pick them up at any convenience store after landing, and they won’t break the bank.

There’s no need to pack too much cold or diarrhea medicine. Bali has everything you might need, and it’s all very affordable, so you can travel light and worry-free.

[Backpack R] Travel Tips:
1. Use Grab for daily transportation. There’s even a WeChat mini-program that lets you pay directly in RMB, making it super convenient.
2. For an unforgettable experience, book a group tour to the two volcanoes for around 1000 RMB per person. Alternatively, hire a car in Bali or Yogyakarta. We opted for a spacious 15-seater van for our group of eight, which was both comfortable and cost-effective.