4-5 weeks in Indonesia, starting from Jakarta?

Hi there all Asia travellers!

My boyfriend and I are planning to go to Indonesia in June/July/Aug and stay for 4 or 5 weeks. We have quite a limited budget and therefore probably need to fly to Jakarta to make it cheaper. Does anyone have any suggestions or places we must see? We both love water and diving so I suppose we will try to stay along the coast line as much as possible.

Cheers,
Elin

hi elin, if u love beach i suggest u direct go to bali...is a very beautiful beach over there and if u have time u can cross over to lombok island too.

for jakarta no much any coast to see...the near coast is anyar and carita is about 4 hour by car from jakarta.

in jakarta only have Taman impian jaya Ancol is like some playing park complex but the beach is very no recomend.

that what i can sugest.

I would suggest you start in Java. Have one night in Jakarta (it's like any other city - there's nothing special to see), then get a day time train to Yogyakarta and do a day trip to Borobudur and Pramamban temples - spectacular at sunrise. Yogya is good for 2 or 3 nights.

You can then go to Mount Bromo which will be a day's travelling (and I mean a full day) then getting up at 3am for the sunrise over the famous 3 volcanoes. Straight after you can then get transport to Bali by bus and ferry (remember Bali is one hour ahead of Java).

Gilli islands are highly recommended for the beach, clear waters and diving. Bali, has ok beaches but Kuta is a nightmare place - best to stay away and try a quieter beach like Sanur or Padangbai (incidently this is where you can get the ferry to Lombok so you can get to the Gillis).

We really like Gili Trawangan, lots of nice beach bars and restaurants and lots of good quality accommodation with different price ranges. Excellent and cheap food and drink. The diving is good, even the snorkelling is great just off shore with turtles, clown fish, parrot fish and angel fish amongst just a few to be seen.

The best thing about this route (we did this last December) is that you can do it all overland reasonably cheaply and you see so much more of the country than flying. Java was definitely a highlight of our - so far 2 years - of travelling and we could spend weeks on the Gillis just relaxing and chilling out.

Hope this helps

Thanks a lot for your replies! We have already been to Bali, Lombok and Trawangan, but maybe it´s time for another visit. If we start in Jakarta we will still see lots of new places on our way to Bali.

Does anyone else have another suggestion?

Cheers from a freezing Sweden

if u want start from jakarta, u can find some heritage place to visit.but consider me prefer go to shopping center beter then heritage place i can not help u much. just couple suggestion.
1.mangga dua << this is most ppl visit market for shopping
2.Tanah Abang << Fashion center for whoresale
3.Monas << Indonesia monument
4.Ancol << some like theme park with beach
5. Museum Fatahilah, Museum Arsip Nasional etc.

after jakarta u can take tarvel to bandung.....bandung have alot pls to visit....alot of hill and goozy cafe and dont forget bandung famous Factory outlet and dont forget hang out at Paris van java

from bandung u can take treavel to bromo mountain,maybe after that to jogjakarta and solo than go to magelang and visit candi borobudur......

after that go to surabaya city and if have time then cross to bali...

only this i can help u......already long time no travel to all that place...

Have you considered Maluku? Supposedly the best snorkling in the world (no need to dive, its all within snorkling distance), miles of beautiful white sand empty beaches, rainforests, history, indiginous tribes etc. etc.
You can fly to Ambon, the capital from Jakarta for around £50 and then take it from there, island hopping or whatever.

I am heading out there in May as it sounds like one of the few unspoilt and rarely visited places left on this planet which to me is utter bliss.

......perhaps then I shouldn't be telling you!

Hi,
Sumatra and Java would be my picks.
You can always get a cheap Tigerairways flight from Singapore into Padang West Sumatra, chekc out the area and then bus it up to Lake Toba and then onto Medan and Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan.
Then fly AirAsia from Medan to Jakarta and travel through Java- two interesting islands quite different which will give yuo a good feel of Indonesia.
Feel free to ask me any questions you like.
Pamela- planning my 9th trip to Indonesia from May 2010 for maybe 6 months.

Hi,
If you are staying 5 weeks ( 35 days) you will need to apply for a 60 day visa in your own country or Penang, Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.
Let me know if you need any help with details.
Pamela