15 Days in Indonesia: naturalistic unique itinerary idea
- Indonesia
Indonesia is a huge, wild country extremely rich in culture and remote natural wonders to explore and discover.
For this reason, when I had to plan a 15-day itinerary in Indonesia, I found myself confused about which island and location to visit.
Many people ask me how I managed to choose, where to go, what to see and how to organize an unforgettable trip despite having little time available.
In these cases my main advice is only one: dedicate quality time to whatever destination you choose to visit. No crazy itineraries with long lists of touristy places to see and activities to try.
The reason is simple.
Indonesia lives spread across one of the most beautiful ocean floors, boasts an ancient culture deeply connected to nature and its rhythms. In order to authentically savor the wonders of this country, the only way is practice “slow travel”: a slow journey, but truly experienced in all its authenticity.
In this article I’d be sharing with you my complete two-weeks Indonesia itinerary.
Have a good trip 🙂
Nusa Penida Adventure: an Hidden Treasure
As I mention in this article,
Nusa Penida is a small beautiful and wild island whose popularity is still growing, and that makes it still partially free from overtourism.
For those who seek adventure, it is an unmissable destination as it is still very wild and lush, slightly populated and where nature flourish and shows up with breathtaking views and landscapes.
Time for some landscaping: get your camera ready
The island has plenty of places where you can admire the natural views and take unique pictures. In fact, it is exactly from here that I began my journey.
Most of the places I visited can be reached by taxi or car, but I highly recommend the scooter for a more authentic, cheaper and easier experience: the roads are often narrow and bumpy, or unpaved and it is better to have a small and flexible way to move around.
- Kelingking Beach -
It is by far the most Instagrammed and popular location on the island, it is actually worth a visit to lose yourself in its bright colors and magnetic charm. It can be reached quite easily but as it is such a popular destination I advise you to go very early in the morning to enjoy the real vibe of the location avoiding the crowd.
WILDLIFE
Mantas
Macaques
Eco tip n.2: when you encounter a wild animal, respect its space. Observe it, take photos, but DO NOT touch it, get too close or disturb it in other ways. And above all, never feed it!
- Angel’s Billabong -
If you are looking for a location with a swimming pool on the ocean, this is the right one. Nestled among the boulders along the coast there are some natural pools where you can also swim and admire the surrounding scenario.
- Broken Beach -
Near the natural pools, there is this unique formation where you can observe how the ocean penetrates the hinterland via a thin and crossable bridge, and hurls itself against the rocks, creating beautiful light and shadow shades of blue . Like Kelingking Beach, it is a fairly renouned destination and the recommendation stays the same: visit it early in the morning and outside of the most popular hours.
Another personal tip is if you have a drone or want to buy one, this view lends itself very well for some filming or photos!
Wildlife
Mantas
snorkeling and marine views
Indonesia is located on one of the most beautiful, various and colorful coral reefs in the world. For this reason, mask, fins and snorkel could not be missing during my trip.
- Crystal Bay -
This strip of sand is washed by a lively populated sea, where snorkeling is a must if you are interested or passionate in the marine world. In addition to the wonderful and colorful marine fauna, plenty of dogs walk freely in the area and make the atmosphere even more typical.
Wildlife and more
Coral Reef
Dogs
- Manta Point -
In front of a cliff that drops directly into the sea, there is this incredible point due to the high amount of manta rays (as the name suggests!) where the locals usually take you for snorkeling and spotting. There are many tourists who purchase daily tours or activities that include this location, so it is a controversial choice, but certainly wonderful if you manage to avoid any excessive crowding. When I visited Manta Point, the “sea” was particularly rough, and although I did not have any major problems or difficulties, I do recommend visiting it if you are comfortable to any ocean condition and a good swimmer.
wildlife
Mantas
Coral Reef
Exploring Lombok: The Heart of Indonesia
After a few days in Nusa Penida, I recommend moving to the nearby island called Lombok. Unlike the first, this one is bigger, wider and more civilized, and has the singular feature of being surrounded by several remote stunning atolls commonly called “Gilis” .
As if that wasn’t enough, it shows a wide variety of ecosystems and lanscapes, from the mystical Mount Rinjani to the unique tropical beaches.
Between mysticism and tradition
One of the things that made me to choose to spend the last 10 travel days around Lombok was the vivid contrast of its nature, which goes from Maldivian beaches and crystalline sea to forests dotted with unknown paths and peaks hidden in a dense blanket of clouds. Furthermore, I was very intrigued by the diversity of such an ancient culture connected to nature.
- Tiu Kelep e Sendang Gile -
Not having enough time to join the full trekking on Mount Rinjani, I decided to visit the more accessible waterfalls and they left me completely speechless. Each of them exudes mystery, harmony and strength, so much that many locals can often be found under the jet of water practicing religious and spiritual rituals.
There are three official ones, but nature could surprise you with the appearance of other new waterfalls and new hidden views.
wildlife
Macaques
- Sade Village -
If culture and history fascinate you, you will find this place truly stimulating and enjoyable. Access to the village is only permitted with a local guide, and allows you to dive into a past world where nature and tradition come together while walking through the streets of an ancient typical village. From the cotton spinning tool, to the handcrafted paintings, the Sade village will be able to surprise you.
Beach, Surf and diving
This was the part of the trip that I loved the most. If you share the same ocean addiction that I have, Lombok will make you fall in love from the first moment.
- Selong Belanak Beach -
This beach was as difficult to reach, amidst dirt, bumpy and deserted roads, as it was satisfying and wonderful to experience. Unfortunately I wasn’t as lucky to see the cows passing by as I had hoped, but it is the perfect beach to learn surfing and enjoy a good typical meal by the sea.
Wildlife and more
Cows
Dogs
- "Secret Gili" -
As the name suggests, this handful of tiny islands is still barely known, and it offers an unforgettable stop for its incredible beauty and peace. These Gili are called Gili Kedis, Gili Tangkong, Gili Sudak and Gili Nanggu, and are located south-west of Lombok. It’s quite easy to reach them by boat. In fact, there are many locals who offer this service both in groups and privately. In addition to a wonderful coral reef, a white beach and a crystal clear sea, among these islands there is also one of the smallest islands, which can be explored by foot in less than 5 minutes. If you have a drone, I highly recommend bringing it here!
wildlife and more
Cows
Coral Reef
- Gili Islands -
Gili Air, Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno are the most famous and renowned islands around Lombok. I am particularly fond of this little group as it is right here that I got my second diving license together with a team of professionals from the Lombok Scuba Dive Center. Needless to say, the reef left me speechless: fish of every size and colour, huge turtles, starfish, statues and artefacts. In short, a place not to be missed, not only for the rich marine fauna, but also for the white beaches that characterize the landscape of the whole area.
wildlife
Turtles
Coral Reef
- DIY Travel, Indonesia, Slow Travel
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