Independent travel around Bali. Traveling around Indonesia Interesting routes Bali program

Tour for those who want to learn something new, even on a purely beach vacation, to immerse themselves in natural beauty Indonesia and get acquainted with the contemporaries of dinosaurs - Komodo dragons. If you are lucky with the weather, you will be provided with excellent snorkeling along the reef, and the soft sand of the stunningly beautiful Pink Beach will complement what you saw on the island of Bali!
You will walk through its ancient capital, the city of Ubud, with our historian guide!

Days 1 - 6. Bali Island. Relax on the beach in hotel Novotel Nusa Dua 4*

Day 6. Flight to Flores Island. Upon arrival in Labuan Bajo, you will be met by your guide and taken to your hotel. Lunch – at local restaurant+ visit to the cave of stalactites and stalagmites, sunset at Puncak Varingin. Dinner, overnight at the hotel.

Day 7. After breakfast, you will embark on a full day trip to Komodo Island (or Rinca - depending on the weather) on a local wooden boat, the journey takes approximately 3 hours (to Komodo), after which you will go to Banugulung (2 km.) to see the giant lizards - the famous "Komodo Dragons". Behind this is truly an unforgettable experience followed by a cruise to the beautiful pink beach (when visiting Rinca Island, which is closer to Flores and offers more opportunities to see monitor lizards, a visit to the pink beach is not included). Snorkelers can admire the vibrant underwater coral kingdom (snorkeling equipment not provided). Lunch on the boat. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 8. Breakfast in the hotel. Airport transfer. Return to Bali island. Accommodation at the Tjampuhan 4* hotel in Ubud

Day 9. Stay at the Tjampuhan 4* hotel or similar

Day 10. Full day tour to Ubud with a historian guide.

Day 11. Flight home

Included:
- 5 nights in Bali at Novotel Nusa Dua 4*, Deluxe Room or similar
- 2 nights in Flores at a hotel The Jayakarta Suite Komodo Flores 4*
- 3 nights at Tjampuhan 4* hotel, Deluxe Raja Room
- Breakfast
- Individual transfers to Bali on Suzuki APV, Isuzu Elf, Toyota Innova, Toyota HIACE

Tour to Flores/Komodo for 3 days/2 nights. Included: transfers, hotel accommodation according to the program, meals breakfast + lunch + dinner, 1 tour to the island. Komodo or o. Rincha, English speaking guide

Full day Ubud city tour with Russian historian guide
- Pay for everything entry tickets by program

Not included:
- Direct flight to Bali - from 48 t.r./person
- Airfare to Flores - from 80 USD/person
- Lunches and dinners other than those indicated on Flores
- fee for using a photo or video camera on the island. Komodo
- Tips and expenses for souvenirs

**In Komodo National Park the following fees are charged: for the use of a camera from 50,000 to 100,000 Rupees, for a camera - 150,000 Rupees. There is an additional security fee to be paid. wildlife Komodo $15 per person

Snorkeling at Komodo or Rinca - 60,000 Rupees per person (permit)

Supplement for visit Taman National Park on weekends and holidays USD 7.5/ pax/ day

Minimum 2 people per program

Most tourists stay in Bali in the city Kuta where there's nothing but high prices and crowds of vacationers are not waiting for them. The real Bali is revealed to those who are not afraid to discover it for themselves! Therefore, for the sake of the most vivid impressions Grab your bike and ride around the island! And here is a practical route to the main attractions of the island.

But first... Let's saddle the iron horse. How to rent a bike in Bali?

Rent the most popular transport in Bali you can do it at every step (the best option is in your hotel). 4 days rental and gasoline will cost on average 50 dollars. And the most popular and universal model Honda Vario(I recommend taking it).

Formally, an international driver's license is required to drive a bike in Bali, but in fact you can drive not only without a license (checked personally!), but also without knowing the rules at all traffic(also verified!).

Although there are rules in Bali, in reality they are not followed at all. But this does not mean that hell is going on on the island’s roads. I personally, a person with absolutely no driving experience or knowledge of the rules, managed to drive around the island for 4 days without a single accident. So don't drift, but also be careful!

Extremely bad advice: If you are riding without a license and the police suddenly decide to stop you, just drive past, pretending that you didn’t notice them. There is a 99% chance that no one will chase you. And if they chase and catch up, just put it in their hand 50 thousand Indonesian Rupiah (approx. 4 dollars) and move on calmly. Luckily for you, the police in Bali are terribly corrupt :)

Gasoline in Bali is also inexpensive. You can find it in any wilderness, both at standard gas stations and on the side of the road in alcohol bottles (and you can buy one without any problems).

And now the route through the most impressive places on the island:

Stop one - spiritual: Uluwatu Temple

ULUWATU- one of the most important Balinese shrines, located on an incredibly picturesque cliff with a height of 80 meters. Entrance to almost all temples in Bali paid. But the price is symbolic everywhere: 2-4 dollars. To enter the temples, men and women will need sarong(similar to a long skirt), which can either be purchased or rented at the entrance.

The temple itself, for all its importance for the Balinese, is unlikely to impress you. But the view that opens from there is truly breathtaking (especially during sunset). Walk along the cliff, meditate in one of the temple pagodas and move on happy.

Advice: watch out for monkeys! In this temple, they take special pleasure in taking personal belongings from tourists. And don't go to the ritual in the evening Kecak dance taking place in the temple. In truth, there is nothing special about it. And you will waste money and time.

An equally spiritual stop: Tanah Lot Temple

Tanakh Lot or "Land in the middle of the water"- another temple that is worth getting to. It is interesting because it is located on a rock standing in the ocean, and you can only get to it at low tide. You won’t be able to go into the temple itself (it is closed to the public), but for a small donation you can go through a small Balinese ritual at the foot of the temple, where they will sprinkle you with water, read some prayers, put a flower behind your ear and draw a dot on your forehead with rice . Some call these rituals a scam for the sake of money. But be that as it may, it’s still nice to think that now you are under the auspices of Balinese spirits.

It is most convenient to travel further from Kuta inland to the cultural capital of Bali - Ubud city(You can also spend the night there). In our understanding, Ubud can hardly be called a city, rather a village with private houses mixed with rice fields. And it is called the cultural capital because of the large concentration of artists and craftsmen with their workshops.

Advice: Cafes and restaurants in popular cities Bali is not cheap. To save on food, look into the so-called "Warungi"— a cafe where locals eat. The interior of the warungs is simpler than Michelin-starred restaurants, but the food is tasty and inexpensive.

*Here you can find cheap tickets to Bali*

Educational stop: Tegallalang Rice Terraces

The beautiful rice terraces that dot the entire island are one of the main attractions of Bali. A Tegallalang, located just half an hour from Ubud, are the most popular among tourists. If you have never seen how rice is grown before, you will be interested in walking along the narrow path between the terraces. Just wear comfortable shoes!

Mystical stop: Gunung Kawi

This place is famous for the royal burials carved directly into the rock. A little mysterious and even sinister(especially in rainy weather), it will definitely remind you of episodes from Indiana Jones or Lara Croft. Gunung Kawi is called one of the "places of power" in Bali, so it’s worth coming there to wander through the mysterious landscapes and feel (or not feel) the magical energy of this island.

Zoological stop: Monkey Forest

Even if you have never had a particular love for monkeys, you should still stop by for a couple of hours in the monkey forest. First of all, it's incredible. beautiful dense cool forest with amazing vegetation. And secondly, the monkeys there are still cute.

Lifehack: There are two ways to get into the forest for free: either just come after 18:00 (but, to be honest, it gets a little scary there in the evening), or find a free entrance on the road connecting Jl. Monkey Forest and Jl. Nyuh Kuning.

Advice: attentively keep track of personal belongings(jewelry, glasses, cameras, etc.) and don't try to take it away found in monkeys I'm going. These creatures biting(alas, also tested in practice).

Peaceful stop: Lake Beratan

On the third day of your trip to Bali, you will probably already be convinced that if there is any attraction on the island, it must be holy and magical. Yes and on Lake Beratan there is a small but extremely important temple for the Balinese Ulun-Danu. Those ignorant of the world of spirits will simply like this lake and temple for their beauty and harmony.

Most impressive stop: Sekumpul Falls

If you haven't made it to Sekumpul Falls, consider You flew to Bali in vain. I’ll say right away that there are a lot of waterfalls in Bali, and on the way to the city of Singaraja there are two more: Git-git and Nung-nung(original titles:). But, to be honest, after Sekumpul, they are unlikely to impress you. The road to the Sekumpul waterfalls is long and difficult: in the fog and along mountain serpentine roads. And then another fifteen minutes on foot, but it's worth it!

Advice: If you don't plan on getting wet while standing next to the waterfalls, take a raincoat with you. And also be sure to wear comfortable shoes (flip-flops or flip-flops are definitely not suitable). There are no convenient paths there, and you will have to make your way along narrow paths or wade through water obstacles. This is where you will definitely feel like a real traveler.

Main: after watching the main and most big waterfall from below, go back a little and find the path leading to the very top of the waterfall, and be sure to get up there for the stunning views. And then, don’t be like many unsuccessful tourists and don’t miss out three more stunning waterfalls, to the right of the main one (there is a sign there). By the way, if you have long dreamed of swimming in a real waterfall in a real jungle, this is where your dream should come true. You only need throw away all fears!

Advice: Plan on at least three hours to climb these waterfalls.

Final stop: Besakih Temple

If you still have energy on the way back, stop by the most important shrine of the island of Bali. The largest and most impressive temple, built about a thousand years ago.

Advice: entrance to the temple costs approximately 2$ , But the locals will definitely come to you, claiming that a foreigner can only get inside with local resident, others will shove all sorts of things into you for rituals and will also claim that you can’t live without it. Don't trust anyone and just go for a quiet walk around the temple.

Wish: you may or may not believe in spirits, but if your trip is a success and you return to the starting point alive and well, thank the spirits of the island in the temple, leaving special baskets for them (you can buy them on the spot).

As P.S.

Come to Bali and not stand on surf board, another terrible crime, so be sure to get off the bike change to the board. You can rent it on any beach, but in truth, those who try to stand on the board on their own, without knowledge and experience, are a pitiful sight. The best option– surf school.

There are many of these in Kuta, including at least 4 Russian speakers. One lesson is definitely not enough for you; you will be hooked in the very first minutes on the water. Minimum three, and then based on financial capabilities. Pleasure is not cheap, On average, three full lessons cost about 100$ (everything is included in the price: from sunscreens to GoPro on the board). All expenses will be paid off by the impressions from the first seconds on the board in the first lesson!

USEFUL: Where to look for air tickets to Bali and book accommodation?

Our most favorite sites to search and purchase air tickets - this is Aviasales And Skyscanner. They offer the lowest prices available, which is why we check them first. Just in case, we also monitor air tickets for Momondo And OneTwoTrip, but prices there are usually slightly higher.

On a larger map

So. The idea to go to Indonesia came after a thorough analysis of the weather in August-September in the countries South-East Asia. The question arose about tickets: the cheapest one was Qatar Airways. As a result: in May we bought tickets with a flight on August 26 to Jakarta and back (with a transfer in Doha, of course).

Then we started thinking about where to go. Since we had previously planned to visit Burma, to replace it, we had to come up with a decent excursion) And we had already been to Bali, so we had no desire to sit on one island. I won’t write what I planned to write, but I will describe what happened in the end.

Rate: 1$ ~ 8950 IDR.

Air tickets (prices including taxes and fees):
1. Moscow - Doha - Jakarta - Doha - Moscow. Qatar Airways. 20,500 rubles per person.
2. Dakarta - Yogyakarta. Lion Air. 410,000 IDR ~ $45 per person.
3. Denpasar - Jakarta. Garuda Indonesia. 900,000 IDR ~ $100 per person.

Day 1. Arrival in Jakarta. Domestic flight to Yogyakarta.
We arrived at 15:30. Departure to Yogyakarta at 19:00. I took it with a reserve, because they said that in Jakarta you might get stuck getting a visa and luggage. Nothing like that! We left the airport 30 minutes after arrival. After another 10 minutes we arrived at the terminal with domestic flights. So everything went quickly.
Upon arrival in Yogyakarta, we chose a hotel at the airport, took a taxi and went. That's all.

Expenses:
Airport tax in Jakarta - 40,000 IDR per person.
Foot massage at the airport - 40,000 IDR per person.
Taxi to the hotel - 50,000 IDR.
Hotel Indah Palace - 350.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Dinner - 110,000 IDR for two.
Total: 670,000 IDR for two.

Day 2. Borobudur, Merapi volcano, sunset on the ocean.
We get up at 7:30 and have breakfast. We go to Borobudur, then we go to observation deck Merapi volcano. After that, Prambanan was planned, but it closes at 16:00, and we don’t have time, so the driver suggested going to the ocean, which we, of course, agreed to)
Afterwards we return to the hotel and go to dinner at a nearby restaurant and sleep.

Expenses:
Taxi for the whole day - 350,000 IDR.
Hotel Metro Guest House - 200.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Tickets to Borobudur - 135,000 IDR per person.
Tickets to Prambanan - 110,000 IDR per person.
Tickets to Merapi volcano - 20,000 IDR per person, 50,000 IDR per guide.
Lunch - 50,000 IDR.
Dinner - 130,000 IDR for two.
Total: 1,310,000 IDR for two .

After the second day, in the evening, the driver suggested us a route for 4 days (which will be described below), which starts in Yogyakarta and ends at the Padangbai ferry station in Bali, from where the ferry departs to Lombok. For $300 for two, which includes his food, housing, gas, ferry, etc. Howling all transport costs and expenses of the driver. We agreed)
Total: Driven for 4 full days - $300.

Day 3. Prambanan. Road to Bromo.
We get up again at 7:30 and have breakfast. We are going to Prambanan. After long road to Bromo. We left at about 11 o'clock and arrived at Bromo at 22:30. Dinner, night photography of the volcano and by 12 am we go to bed.

Expenses:
Hotel on Bromo - 220.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Tickets to Bromo - 25,000 IDR per person.
Lunch - 75,000 IDR.
Dinner - 80,000 IDR for two.
Total: 445,000 IDR for two .

Day 4. Volcano Bromo. Road to Ijen.
We get up at 3 am, at 3:30 we get into Jim and go to Bromo. The inspection ends at 9 am, by which time the driver brings us to the hotel. After that we had a hearty breakfast and went to the Ijen volcano. Around 5 pm we arrive at the hotel, located an hour’s drive from the volcano itself. We go for a walk around the local village and take pictures of locals and children) Then we go to the hotel, drink beer in the jacuzzi and go to bed!

Expenses:
Jeep to Bromo - 325,000 IDR per jeep.
Jacket rental - 25,000 IDR per piece.
Breakfast and lunch - 30,000 for two.
Tickets to the Ijen Nature Reserve - 2,000 IDR per person.
Hotel on Ijen Catimore Homestay - 165.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Dinner - 105,000 IDR per day.
Total: 680,000 IDR for two.

Day 5. Ijen Volcano. Road to Bali.
We get up at 5 am, have breakfast and drive towards Ijen. Ascent, descent. Around 10-11 o'clock we leave the volcano to the Padangbay ferry station. We sail for an hour to Bali. Next on the program we go to northern Bali, where a photo hunt for dolphins is planned in the town of Lovina Beach. Around 4 pm we arrive at the hotel, swim in the pool, drink beer and relax after Ijen. (we actually fell asleep and slept through dinner)

Expenses:
Tickets to Ijen - 30,000 IDR per person.
Lunch - 75,000 IDR for two.
Hotel in Lovina Beach - 350.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Dinner - 180,000 IDR per week.
Total: 665,000 IDR for two.

Day 6. Dolphins and express tour throughout Bali. We sail to the island of Gili Nanggu.
We get up at 7:30, have breakfast and swim for dolphins. According to the program, express memories of Bali) We move from the hotel towards Lake Bratan, then the village of Ubud, then some temple dedicated to Gonesha. At 17:00 we arrive in Padangbai. We called the hotel from a passerby's phone, and they told us that since we would arrive at Lombok at 10 pm, they would not be able to provide us with a boat to the island, they say there was no lantern on it... After 10 minutes, the issue was settled. We sail for 4 hours to Lombok, then 40 minutes to the island of Gili. Go to bed.

Expenses:
Dolphin boat - 175,000 IDR per boat.
Tickets to the temple on Lake Bratan - 10,000 IDR per person.
Tickets to the Gonesha Temple - 20,000 IDR per person.
Lunch (fruit) - 45,000 IDR for two.
Ferry to Lombok - 21,000 per person.
Transfer from Lombok ferry station to the hotel - 150,000 IDR per boat.
Hotel Gili Nanggu - 350.000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Total: 820,000 IDR for two

Day 7-8. On the island of Gili Nanggu.
We sit on Gili Nanggu and enjoy life, blue water, white sand and solitude on the island.

Expenses:
Hotel Gili Nanggu (there is only one) - 350,000 IDR dbl with breakfast.
Food costs are approximately 200,000 IDR per day for two.
Total: about 1,100,000 IDR for two for 2 full days.

Day 9. We sail back to Bali. We move to Kuta.
We got bored and decided to reel in our fishing rods. At 12:00 we sail from the hotel towards the Lembar ferry station, then board the ferry and sail back to Bali. We arrive, find the hotel in the internet cafe and through the driver Ahmed, take a taxi and go there. In the evening we are already in Kuta. Let's go have dinner, walk and sleep)

Expenses:
Lunch - 90,000 IDR for two.
Boat hotel-ferry station on Lombok - 150,000 IDR per boat.
Lombok-Bali ferry - 31,000 per person.
Taxi to Kuta (here one of the kazels encouraged us, but there was no choice) - 300,000 IDR per car.
Dinner - 170,000 IDR for two.
Total: 770,000 IDR for two.

Starting from this day we checked into the hotel Hotel Puri Tanah Lot- very good hotel, rooms have air conditioning, hot water, TV, sick double bed. The rooms are clean, cleaned every day and bed linen changed every day. Overall we recommend! Price: 400.000 IDR with breakfast per room.

Day 10-12. We're having fun in Kuta.
We live in Kuta, surf, drink coconuts and chew bananas. In general, we are enjoying life again)

Day 13. We spend the whole day driving around Bali and seeing all the essentials.
We take a taxi driver for 12 hours and go along the route: Hotel -> Monkey Forest -> Kintamani -> Tanah Lot -> Ulu Watu -> Hotel.

Expenses:
Driving for 12 hours with a car with air conditioning cost us 550,000 IDR.
All tickets to Bali are cheap: we paid about 100,000 IDR for two for all entrance tickets .

Day 14-16. We continue to party in Kuta.
We continue to go to the beach in Kuta and relax and lead an idle lifestyle.

Costs in Kuta:
Sunbeds - 20,000 IDR for a sunbed for the whole day (even if you leave, it will still be yours =)).
Fruits and beer and water on the beach ~ 70,000 IDR for two.
Dinner (2 salads, 2 seafood dishes, 2 fresh juices, 2 beers) ~ 200,000 IDR for two respectively.
Total about 320,000 IDR per day for two.

From entertainment:
Massage averages 100,000 IDR per person
Surfing: $50 for 5 hours with an instructor, spread over 2 - 3 days.

Day 17. We fly home. Internal flight to Jakarta, then by Qataris via Doha to Moscow.
At 8:00 we leave the hotel. At 10:20 departure to Jakarta from Denpasar airport. We arrive at 11:40 local time. At 18:00 we fly to Doha. Docking. Flight to Moscow. The End.

Total: We spent everything on everything $3600 for two, that is, the budget for a similar trip for one 1800$ ~ 1350 euro ~ 54.000 rubles (taking into account the fact that we each took a surf with an instructor, had a massage several times and bought souvenirs).

Feels like: When our holiday came to an end, it seemed to us that we had been there for at least a month. There are so many impressions that words cannot describe! And if you consider that they are now offering trips to Turkey for this money, then in my opinion, comments here are unnecessary =)
In general, we highly recommend it to everyone! After all, you only have one life, you have to have time to see everything!)

The island of Bali is unique: almost the entire population professes Hinduism, despite the fact that Indonesia is a Muslim country; here lies the border of two huge natural zones - to the north is the tropical Asian zone, and to the south begins the world of Australia and New Guinea; here volcanoes give way to beaches and rice terraces mountain lakes, and the cold is hot. And all this in a relatively small area, because you can get from north to south in just three hours. This island is also considered to be the record holder for the number of temples. According to estimates, there are about 11,000 of them here. It is called the “island of temples.” Natural and man-made attractions are literally scattered at every step. So, we simply had to get here

Day 01-05: Kuta and the main attractions of southern Bali

The runway of Denpasar Airport extends several hundred meters into the open ocean. The water was rapidly approaching. With every second it seemed more and more like we were falling into the sea. But, here we are, and after spending a certain amount of time on obtaining a visa, we left the airport terminal building.

We chipped in with two Brazilians and rented an official taxi. A car to Kuta costs 6 dollars. We were dropped off on the main tourist street of this resort. And we set off to look for a place to stay for the next few days. quite a lot, so you can quickly find something for yourself. However, it turned out that you won’t be able to have a very budget holiday in Bali.

On the first day we went to the beach and tried to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of the famous city. Kuta is known for seemingly completely opposite things - on the one hand, there is one of best places on the planet for this extreme sports like on the other hand night life It’s very busy here and people party until the early morning (don’t be surprised if some club suddenly organizes a spontaneous drunken dance party). Which, however, is good, because quite a lot of establishments remain open for quite a long time. In most other points of the island there is practically no life after eight hours. In general, Kuta and the capital of Bali, Denpasar, have long become almost a single city.

Surfing in Kuta

Actually, we tried to try both sides on ourselves. We spent two days in Kuta. We fell, chafed our knees, tried, got up on the wave and ran back again. There were a bunch of instructors on the beach, but we somehow got along with a guy named Bigo. His friend kept a tent there and studied Russian, so he constantly puzzled us with all sorts of wisdom on the great and mighty. In general, Russian is quite a popular language to learn here. And if in some India a merchant will lure you exclusively with individual words or phrases, then in Bali they will tempt you with whole sentences.

Magic mushrooms

After surfing, we went in search of . As you know, in Bali this type of hallucinogenic substances is allowed for free consumption. And although they are banned all over the world, in Kuta there are a whole bunch of “mushroom bars” for your choice. In passing on the street they offer more grass, wheels, something stronger and other chemical nasty things. What's a party without substances? It was for nothing that the hippies of the 1960s opened Kuta to the world

Nusa Dua on the Bukit Peninsula

From Kuta we made several active trips to the south of Bali, to the Bukit Peninsula. It is notable for its beaches, and in particular for one of the most famous Balinese resorts, Nusa Dua. Transport access to this chic place is limited and from time to time large political get-togethers are held here, such as discussions of global warming problems (or whatever else they steal and spend their budgets on). In general, you can feel like a plebeian while driving through all sorts of cordons

Generally, different beaches and there are quite a lot of hills for relaxation in Bali. Therefore, many experienced travelers who have been here more than once know in advance where to go and where they like best. Someone immediately goes to the darkness of the island, someone climbs into the mountains, and someone lives in Kuta and kills shoals. But we were here for the first time, and therefore we tried to see and touch as much as possible (not schools, but natural places)

Uluwatu Temple

On the third day after surfing, we went to a magnificent temple. It is located on a 70-meter cliff, against which huge masses of blue waves crash. Moreover, the closer it gets to the evening, the more beautiful the color of the water. I don’t know what is causing this - either the bottom topography or the high altitude. But it looks awesome! Actually, it was no less awesome to watch the sunset here - there is an endless expanse ahead Indian Ocean, far below is the sound of the surf and the majestic sun disappears behind the horizon. The main thing is to have time to take a better place, and make sure that the macaques do not steal your equipment. Or they didn't piss on the shoes. Sometimes it happens

Tanah Lot Temple

The fourth day was already without surfing. We needed to drive a little north. Because we wanted to look at another legendary temple of Bali - (one of the oldest in Bali). It is located on an island (more precisely, it is part of it), which at low tide becomes a peninsula. In addition to the fabulous view, this place is famous for its waves (powerful streams crash on the shore and three-meter-high splashes fall on the crowd) and for its sunsets in the background fabulous architecture(many of the best sunset photos are taken here). True, it can be a little difficult to take a photo alone. Get ready to fight for a good shot

Day 06-09. Ubud Center of Balinese style in Muslim Indonesia

Ubud

After spending five days in Kuta, we decided to move on. Our path lay in the center of the island of Bali. To the city of Ubud. Despite the distance from the sea, it is very popular place. A lot of people go to Bali here and don’t even think about the sea. And you can understand why. Quiet and cozy Ubud is surrounded by rice terraces and almost all buildings are built in authentic Balinese style. Here you can just stick in and do nothing, slowly relax. And without any mushrooms!

We circled around the area a little. There are a lot of cheap hotels here. But, having traveled almost the entire city, we still found a hotel in Ubud at an affordable price. Our room had its own terrace and bordered a rice field. We were separated from him only by a pond with lilies and a bunch of different fish that the owner caught for breakfast.

Rice terraces Tegelllang

From Ubud we made a couple of trips. At first we just decided to see what was further north. Don't just sit in the city! And I really wanted to take a closer look at the volcanoes. But we came across something that looked like pyramids. Awesome view! They took money from us twice - for travel to the terraces and for the fact that we climbed this pyramid. Some old man set up a left checkpoint and collected tribute from passers-by.

Bird photography

The next day we stopped in the village of Petula. A few kilometers north of Ubud there is a roosting site for herons. This is a specific general dormitory. Early in the morning they fly all over Bali in search of “something to eat”, and every evening before sunset they return back. Tens of thousands of herons! It is not clear how the relatively small number of trees can accommodate such a horde. True, they do not fly at the same time, so you will not see “how darkness covers the sky.” It’s just that sometimes large schools of birds will fly. The main problem here is not to get into the firing zone. For obvious reasons, the roads here are not very clean.

. This is a protected and sacred area. In the very center of the reserve there is a small temple. Along the way you will pass a whole bunch of families of our smaller brothers. They behave funny and even make fun of people. They are also very inquisitive. And every now and then they try to get into your camera to see what is clicking in the camera.

Day 10-12. Bedugul

Bedugul town

Then we headed north, to the volcanoes. Our path lay in the town of Bedugul. It was already much cooler there. Chilled, we nevertheless moved our necks every now and then to enjoy the surrounding landscapes. Mountains, serpentines and volcanic lakes. There are three of them in this area! I just didn’t really want to swim because it was really cold (I didn’t have any jackets with me). We warmed up at the hotel. The hotel owner had his own mini-zoo consisting of a fawn, a macaque and two flying foxes. It was fun to feed them bananas. The deer galloped so hard that it almost broke through the floor. The monkey carefully and intelligently took a piece. And the foxes tried to stuff as much as possible into themselves, so much so that a banana was already coming out of their noses. Very cute, especially since they hang upside down.

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

Bedugul is notable for the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, located on Lake Bratan. Newlyweds often come here to show off their most beautiful wedding. Our people also organize processions there. The fact that we are ours can be seen from afar thanks to their demeanor and the abundance of miniskirts. To get especially cool shots, we paddled to the flooded pier at the risk of our equipment and took the best pictures from there.

Botanical Garden

There is also a Botanical Garden here. It is unique in that it is located right on the caldera of the volcano. There are several roads there, so to see everything we had to go in circles. But they don’t let you bring a bike, although the locals ride freely. Discrimination! “Sadiq” was founded by the almost mythical first president of Indonesia, Sukarno. And it also opens from there panoramic view to the volcanic lake Buyan. You can have a small picnic.

. It is relatively unfrequented by tourists, which is why it is notable. The road there is also quite interesting, and the waterfall itself is very good. We especially liked how the dense foliage on the rocks created a tile effect.

Jatiluviy Rice Terraces

But there is another world-wide in Bedugul famous place. Jatiluviy rice terraces. The question is, what's special about them? Yes all! They are so gorgeous and unique that they have been listed World Heritage UNESCO! Ever seen cool photos of terraces? Now, almost certainly, you have already seen Jatiluviy. The main thing is to find the right road there, because there are two of them - one is just serpentines, and the second is for those who like to tickle their nerves. Unknowingly, we first ended up on the second...

Day 13-14. Lovina

Next we went to a place in the north of Bali. There are real volcanic black sand beaches here. Looks super exotic. And walking along them is very hot. People go to Lovina for two things (except for the beaches, of course): diving and dolphins. Early in the morning, a whole flotilla of boats sets off in pursuit. The excitement covers everyone. Tourists look out for dolphins every now and then. Every now and then a cry is heard: “There they are!” and the armada turns around, staging a new race. Poor mammals probably have long had nerves of iron and sincere indifference towards bipeds. Personally, we didn’t see dolphins then, but at least enjoy the magnificent sunrise. The entire northwestern part of the island is visible from the sea. Volcano ridge in the first rays of sunlight. So the fruitless pursuit was worth it!

Day 15-16. Batur

Lovina greeted us with hot sun, which we had already gotten used to. Therefore, without much hesitation, we went back to the mountains. Having driven along the coast to the east, we again turned inland. New serpentine and new roads. It was getting cold again. A terrible fog began. It was drizzling. We were chilled to the bone. Not a damn thing was visible. Finally, we found the right turn and the road dropped sharply down. A few minutes later we descended below the cloud level and a lake appeared. We found . Its slopes are covered with lava and stones from the depths of the earth. That same day we plunged into the most gorgeous hot springs, heated by magma in the depths. If it weren't for them, we wouldn't have warmed up

Day 17-18. Candidasa

It was time to travel further. The bike gradually pulled us back onto the ridge into the fog and cold. We took the road to the southeast. After a long descent, the temperature began to gradually rise. Here we came across a plantation. The national pride of Bali - how can you not try the world famous and most expensive type of coffee? Having overcome ourselves, we tasted the “special” coffee and headed west.

A couple of hours and here it is, another famous resort of Bali - Candidasa. Here pebble beaches and cooler than in Kuta due to the proximity of the mountains. Visible nearby neighboring island Nusa Penida. We didn’t get to see it this time, but it looks quite attractive. There are no special attractions in Candidasa. People come here exclusively for a calm and leisurely holiday. The prices, however, are steep.

Day 19-23. Amed - the best views and photos of Bali

Candidasa didn’t appeal to us much (and the prices for holidays here are quite high even for Bali), so we headed north. The road passed between two volcanoes, so the main thing was not to fall off the next serpentine road while you turn your head in admiration. About two and a half hours later we landed at an excellent hotel right on the ocean. And we went swimming. The view was simply amazing. But even more amazing are the views of the sunsets in Amed. The sun disappears right behind the volcano and the sun's rays break into many colors, painting the sky in a bunch of different shades.

We also went snorkeling in Amed. Mask with fins for two - $5. There are a lot of different fish, all sorts of corals, and, the coolest thing, some kind of sunken mini-temple. Overall it was very interesting

Day 24-26. Kuta again

The road across the entire island. We went on the other side. Not between volcanoes, but along east coast. The roads there... What took us 30 minutes on the way to Amed took an hour and a half there. Broken and steep serpentines. True, the views are gorgeous. It was scary, but interesting. At the end there was a very long and smooth descent down several kilometers. The main thing was to press the brakes so as not to fly into space

And then the road along the highway all the way to Denpasar. We arrived in three hours. We have already checked into another hotel. The next day we once again remembered what it was like to stand on the board, were coming off a month-long race, getting used to the crazy traffic in Kuta again and enjoying European pastries in the supermarket.

The holiday has come to an end. He was a little eccentric, with plans unfolding before his eyes, and without plans, because “he wanted to go there and that’s it.” We went with tourist card measuring 15 by 15 cm, without any navigators. We wandered, found our way, came across new places. And now we are leaving this island. But what remained in my head were volcanoes, waves, sunsets and the bright and exotic island of Bali.

Since you have landed on this page, it means you are going on a trip to Indonesia. Well, I envy you in a good way - I would go back there again! In my opinion, no matter how much time you allocate to visit the country, it will still not be enough. Still, 17,000 islands!

We visited only the most populated and developed island of Java and the popular Bali, but we got some idea during our month in the country, and today we will share useful information. Are you going to Indonesia on your own? Read on!

Surfers in Bali, Kuta beach

Indonesia visa

Citizens of Russia and Ukraine do not need a visa to Indonesia if the period of stay does not exceed 30 days - everything is simple. But there are several nuances:

— you must enter through one of international airports: Ngurah Rai (Bali), Soekarno-Hatta (capital Jakarta), Juanda (Surabaya), Kuala Namu (Medan), or via sea ​​ports Hang Nadim, Pelabuhan Laut Sekupang (Batam Island), Pelabuhan Laut Sri Bintan, Pelabuhan Laut Batam Center and Pelabuhan Laut Tanjung Uban (Riau Islands).

— you must have a return air ticket or a ticket to a third country

Upon arrival, your passport will be stamped, but it is impossible to extend your stay, keep this in mind in case you want to stay :-)

Required documents for visa-free entry:

- passport valid for at least another 6 months at the time of arrival

— return ticket(or to a third country)

- a completed migration card, which can be taken nearby at the counter (they can also give it on the plane)

Citizens of Belarus must obtain a visa upon arrival for $35 per person, including children, or in advance in Moscow.

Where to go? Routes

There is a lot of room for imagination here. Indonesia offers interesting places for every taste, as well as a variety of cultures and traditions.

Behind the magnificent beaches It’s worth going to the islands of Gili, Lombok, Bali, Banyak, Bintan. The choice is simply huge!

For surfing: Bali, southeast Java (G-Land), Lombok, Sumbawa.

Behind the volcanoes: Java island, Lombok.

For nature: National parks Komodo, Meru Betiri, Papua.

For ethnographic finds: Papua

This division is very arbitrary; Indonesia is a very saturated country beautiful places. If you don't have much time, I advise you to come and see one island or a group of islands located nearby.

The route we took is very popular among travelers: from west to east along Java, and then Bali. You can combine Bali, Lombok and Gili, or visit Java and Sumatra separately. To explore Papua, it is better to go there separately, without combining it with anything else. Kalimantan is also worthy of a separate trip.

How to get to Indonesia? Transport

You can only get to Indonesia from Russia with a transfer. Usually the most cheap way- this is to buy air tickets to Bangkok, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur, Ho Chi Minh City and others major cities SEA. And from there fly to Indonesia on local low-cost airlines, such as Air Asia, Lion Air and many others.

Below Jakarta - descending

Before Jakarta or Bali, sales are periodically held by Middle Eastern airlines Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Asian airlines China Airlines, China Southern, Korean Air and others.

It’s convenient to select the best and cheapest options on and.

You can get there not only by air, but also by sailing from neighboring Malaysia, Singapore and East Timor, but this is a separate topic.

By land you can travel from the Malaysian part of the island of Kalimantan (Sarawak state) to the Indonesian part.

Domestic airlines are quite well developed. For flights you can use the same Air Asia, Garuda Indonesia, Batavia Air, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air. True, tickets cannot always be bought on airline websites and you will have to use the services of agents.

Trains in Indonesia- a comfortable and fast way to travel, but quite expensive, sometimes comparable in price to airplanes. Railway traffic exists only on the islands of Java and Sumatra, with the latter having three separate branches that are of interest only to train fans.

There are 3 classes of trains, but all of them are seated. The best one boasts wide seats, individual power sockets, and air conditioning. Cheap trains are similar to our electric trains with wooden benches opposite each other, only there are more people. Tickets should be purchased at least a few days in advance.

Buses, minibuses, bemo- the main type of transport, there are a lot of routes in different directions. In main directions and between major cities Good air-conditioned buses run, but on the periphery everything is not so happy.

There is often no space for luggage, you have to carry it on yourself the whole way, the Indonesians themselves constantly smoke right in the cabin, the air conditioning, if there was one, was broken long ago... In addition, countless food sellers and musicians walk along the already narrow passage.

The speed of movement also leaves much to be desired, at least in Java - the roads are narrow, you have to drag for a long time behind trucks, plus local buses stop at every pillar.

In general, you can and should travel by bus, but not over long distances.

Sea transport. All inhabited islands are connected in one way or another by sea. The main carrier is Pelni; on their website you can see the schedule and cost of ferries. On passenger ferries there are also several classes, depending on where you will be accommodated: on deck, in a common room or in a private cabin.

Urban transport represented by buses, bemos (minibuses), pedicabs (becak), motorcycle taxis (ojek).

Housing and accommodation

In Indonesia you will find a wide variety of accommodation - from the simplest to the most luxurious. In general, if you compare it with Thailand, for example, the price-quality ratio is worse - for $10 in the land of smiles you will live with greater comfort. The exception is the island of Bali (this is understandable, there is competition), where for the same $10 you can easily find a quite decent hotel/guesthouse with air conditioning, and for $13 we stayed in a hotel with a swimming pool.

Travel to Indonesia - hotel in Bali

The more remote the province and the less developed tourism, the higher the prices for accommodation will be - an iron rule with rare exceptions. You can bargain when checking in, especially if you arrive during the low season. On the other hand, the prices stated on the spot are higher than if you book in advance on the Internet, we have seen this repeatedly on the islands of Java and Bali.

The cheapest rooms are not equipped with a shower, but there is a so-called mandi - a container with cold water and a ladle nearby, with which you draw water and rinse. Naturally, the water in the mandi is cold, but this is not a problem, because it’s always above +30 outside! Bathrooms can be either private or shared, but are generally quite clean.

More expensive hotels have air conditioning, a pool, a bathroom and all the amenities - most of these options can be found in Bali, and the prices are quite reasonable. For example, we lived in Ubud at a luxurious resort with a huge breakfast for only $25.

Sights and interesting places

Read detailed reports about the places we visited. This is just a small part on the island of Java:

— cultural capital Java Island, a very pleasant and calm city. From here it is convenient to travel around the surrounding area, where there is a lot of interesting things to do.

- a majestic complex a few kilometers from Yogyakarta.

- volcanic plateau, mountains, sulfur lakes, clouds of steam...unearthly beauty!

- one of the tallest in Indonesia, 81 meters high.

— we meet one of the most beautiful sunrises in life!

– cultural capital of Bali – guide

Trip to Indonesia - Bromo Volcano

Rice terraces in Ubud, Bali island

Locals

Indonesians are very friendly and smiling people, but to us they seemed too “indifferent”, although this may be a plus. Most of the locals are honest and open, but the small part that is connected with tourism turned out to be completely spoiled by money, and general impression spoils. IN tourist places they cheat blatantly and without imagination, and taxi drivers are as annoying as anywhere else in Asia.

The official religion of Indonesia is Islam (it is the largest Muslim country in the world by population), although there are also Buddhists, Hindus (in Bali, although there is a mixture of beliefs), and Christians. Early in the morning you will probably be awakened by the call of the muezzin calling for prayer - there are many mosques throughout the country. However, religious norms do not exert strict pressure on society; many women wear ordinary Westernized clothing, jeans and T-shirts, sometimes combining this with a hijab. Only a few wear the burqa. But this is in Java, and in the more Muslim Sumatra in the state of Aceh the picture is probably different.

The language of Indonesia is called bahasa indonesia, it is quite easy to learn and does not have tones like Thai or Chinese. The letters are all Latin, so you will immediately recognize the learned words on the street and in conversation.

Health and insurance

Indonesia in general safe country. But chaotic and reckless traffic on the roads can pose a real danger, and it doesn’t matter whether you are traveling in a vehicle or walking along the sidewalk - you always need to be careful. In some cities there are quite a lot of holes in the sidewalk or roadside, and you can find unclosed hatches. Be careful when walking in the evening, because the lighting is poor and you may not notice it.

Mosquito-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever are another real danger. Moreover, not all mosquitoes are malarial, but only some. How not to get sick? The rules are simple: sleep with a mosquito net or under a fan, wear long-sleeve T-shirts and pants in the evenings. However, if you are not going on a multi-day hike through tropical forests and swamps, there is no need to worry too much about these diseases.

Also try to wear a hat and smear sunscreen— the sun is very active here.

Another common problem is gastrointestinal disorders, especially if you have just arrived from Russia and your body has not had time to readjust. Everything was ok for us, perhaps because by that time we had been in Asia for almost six months. Have any sorbent on hand, for example Enterosgel, it helps a lot.

Communication and Internet

The most popular mobile operator Telkomsel and throughout up-to-date information For the cost of calls and internet, it’s better to go to theirs. They are actively developing the 4G network, and Internet tariffs are approximately the following:

1.1 Gb – 49,000 rupees ($6.5)

2.6 Gb - 89,000 rupees

6 Gb – 119,000 rupees

14 Gb – 169,000 rupees

Food

In Indonesia, as elsewhere in Southeast Asia, it is difficult to go hungry. There are various cafes, restaurants and simple street stalls to choose from. Since the country is Muslim, you will not find pork or other products here that do not meet the norms of Islam (all others are considered halal, you can often see the inscription “halal”), but Bali has everything.

The main dishes are rice (nasi) and noodles (mie), and their various modifications with additives: regular (putih), fried (goreng), with chicken (ayam), fish (ikan). A popular soup with soy meatballs, called bakso, can often be found on the street.

Cafes in the local language are called warung, and the price is different for everyone, of course, but for a dollar or a dollar and a half you can easily feed one person.

We found Indonesian food less tasty than Thai and Malaysian, at least when comparing food in cheap establishments.

Future food :)

Of course, there are a lot of fruits in Indonesia, dozens of types in the market or supermarket, feel free to try them, try to take seasonal ones - it’s tastier and cheaper. Locals drink tea (teh, it can be cold or hot, sweet or not, with milk), coffee (the same varieties), and juices, but in smaller quantities.

If your body does not accept local foods, you can go to McDonalds, KFC and their local analogues; they have tolerable food that is difficult to get poisoned from.

There are several supermarket chains in the country with good choice products, primarily Indomaret and Circle, but especially tourist areas Bali prices are higher than in similar stores in other places.

A trip to Indonesia will not leave you indifferent: you will surely fall in love with the Balinese sunsets, the smoking giants of Java, the smiling locals... Good luck on your journey!