pmittal78

Hi there,
I am thinking about going to Indonesia as a solo traveler. I have a tentative itinerary mapped out - but i do not know anything about transportation to these places or best routes. Can i book travel tours there easily?

from Jakarta is it best to go straight to Yogyakarta (can i take a train - is it easy?)
Or is it worth seeing Pangandaran and Bogor?

Then from Yogya - can i book a tour to Bromo (is it easy to find a reasonably priced tour company? Any recommendations and how much might this cost?)

Then from there - what is the best way to get to Bali? Is it worth going to Komodo Island?

I have to come back to Qatar and flying out of Jakarta is my best option to keep costs down - should i avoid bali so i can train it back?
Thanks!!

Kathie

Flying within Java is easier and faster than taking the train. With 8 to 9 days, you can't cover all of those places - it will be a stretch just to cover the area around Yogyakarta and Bromo. So plan to spend all of your time on Java - you can't possibly take in Bali and Komodo as well. Personally, I'd skip Pangandaran and Bogor, but you will have to decide what the most important places are for you.

I have a trip report here from a Java trip: http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...n-to-jogja.cfm photos are at www.marlandc.com

mistadobalina

I think you have picked out some of the key spots. I highly recommend Yogyakarta, the Bromo area, and Komodo. Bogor was nice, but not on the same level as those three, which are unlike almost anything else. We visited all of these in short order two years ago: here's a link to our trip report - http://justinandcrystal.com/SEAsia2012/

marmot

With 8 to 9 days I would choose 2 destinations, either two places on Java or Bali plus one place in Java. My top three would be Bali, Central Java (Yogya and Borobudur) and East Java (Bromo area). Your choices would depend on what you like to do.

I wouldn't include Bogor, Pangadaran or Komodo this trip.

For example, upon arrival in Jakarta you could catch a connecting flight to either Yogya or to Surabaya. After spending a few days in either Central or East Java you could fly to Bali Denpasar, then return from Bali to Jakarta.

Because your time is limited, you should avoid surface transportation -- train, bus or car -- between places.

If you choose the Bromo area, fly into Surabaya. Your hotel on Bromo will pick you at Surabaya airport and arrange tours of Bromo.

If you choose Yogya, you can either stay near Borobudur or in the city of Yogya itself. It's easy in both places to arrange toursL(or just a car and driver) to all the attractions.

On Bali you could either stay at the beach or inland in the Ubud area, or some of both. Again, it depends on what you like to do.