Indonesia

The starting point of our world trip

Indonesia

Indonesia… the land of volcanoes, rice fields, colorful temples and endless islands. During our world trip, our adventure started here, and we were immediately overwhelmed by nature, culture and hospitality. From busy Jakarta to the cool heights of Bandung, from ancient temples in Yogyakarta to the vibrant street food markets – every day brought something new.

Language

Bahasa Indonesia

Currency

Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

1 euro ≈ 20,000 IDR (guideline, exchange rates fluctuate – check the current exchange rate before departure)

Best time to visit

May–October (dry season)

Visa

As a Belgian or Dutch citizen, you always need a visa for Indonesia, even for a short stay. The easiest: a Visa on Arrival (VOA) on arrival, valid for 30 days, extendable once to 60 days — or apply for the 60-day visa online in advance if you already know you’ll be staying longer.

Flight time

±15h to Jakarta

Power outlet

same as Belgium/Netherlands, no adapter needed

Did you know about us

17,000+ islands, about the same size as Europe

Our regions in Indonesia

Java

Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Malang, Cemoro Lawang, Banyuwangi

Bali

Pemuteran, Lovina, Munduk, Yatiluwih, Amed, Ubud

Lombok & the Gili's

Gili Trawangan, Senaru, Tetebatu, Gili Gede, Senggigi

Nusas

Nusa Penida, Nusa Ceningan/Lombongan

Find out more

More about Indonesia

Nature

From smoking volcanoes to endless rice terraces: Indonesia is one of the most breathtaking countries to discover nature. We climbed Mount Bromo at sunrise and got lost among the rice fields of Yatiluwih – and are still not bored.

Culture & history

From the ancient temple complexes of Borobudur and Prambanan to the daily rhythm of a Balinese offering: Indonesia carries its history and spirituality with a naturalness that touches you.

With children

Indonesia turned out to be surprisingly smooth to travel with with a child – from waterfall adventures to friendly locals who welcomed Noah everywhere. We share what worked for us, and what we would do differently afterwards.

Food & atmosphere

Street food in Bandung, warungs along the road, fresh tropical fruits on every corner: food in Indonesia is never far away, and almost always surprisingly good.

Budget & money on travel

Indonesia travels surprisingly affordable, if you know what to look for. We share exactly what we spent during our weeks here, so you can realistically estimate your own budget.

Travel Tips & Practical

From transport between the islands to visa rules and what you really need to arrange before departure: all the practical information we needed ourselves, bundled.

Language & communication

A few words of Bahasa Indonesia open doors that would otherwise remain closed to you. We share the basic words that we used the most ourselves.

Our travel diary

Follow our journey day by day, exactly as we experienced it ourselves.

Practical info

On this page we bundle all our blogs about Indonesia: travel reports, practical tips, child-friendly trips and our personal experiences. This gives you an honest insight into what it is like to travel through Indonesia with a child.

Plan your trip to Indonesia

Where to stay

We booked our overnight stays in Indonesia through a mix of Booking and Agoda – both with a wide range, from budget-friendly homestays to atmospheric guesthouses overlooking the rice fields.

Our tip: the reviews on Agoda are usually a bit less strict than on Booking. So be a little more demanding when choosing your stay – an 8.5 on Agoda doesn’t always mean the same level as an 8.5 on Booking.

Flights

We flew from Brussels via Bangkok to Jakarta, with Thai Airways. In general, count on a layover and about 15 hours of flight time, depending on your starting point.

Compare flights via Trip.com

Transport

Transport in Indonesia varies greatly from island to island. On Java we mainly traveled by train between the cities, with Gojek for short trips within the city, and by boat between the islands. In Bali and Lombok, we mainly used private drivers – comfortable, affordable, and ideal for going from place to place at your own pace.

Activities

From a sunrise trip to Mount Bromo to a temple tour of Borobudur and Prambanan: there is more to experience in Indonesia than you discover on your own.

View Tours Excursions

E-sim

Don’t feel like looking for a SIM card on the spot? We arranged our connectivity in advance via Maya – immediately accessible from landing.

Pre-arrange your e-SIM