Save your changes before leaving this page.

The Smart Route

Create a Route

You can plan a new trip or share your past travels.

Sign in If you don't have an account you can create one below by entering your email address/username. Your account details will be confirmed via email.

The map will be displayed once your route has been saved.

1

Enter stops made for this day of travel.

1
1
Add a stop
1

Enter stops made for this day of travel.

1
1
Add a stop
Add a day
Just a few more steps and your route will be ready to share!
I certify that I have personally taken this route and that the opinions and statements are mine alone. I also confirm that I own the rights to the photo(s) and grant permission to The Smart Route to use them in the media.
Maximum file size: 5 MB.
Maximum file size: 5 MB.
Your route will be submitted for review and published to the site upon approval.
Your route will remain here in the Route Builder after being saved, allowing you to edit it while browsing the site.

The Smart Route

Find the smart route by viewing itineraries for all types of travel destinations

  • Browse Routes
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia/Oceania
    • Caribbean/Central America
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • South America
  • Log In / Register
Menu
  • Browse Routes
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Australia/Oceania
    • Caribbean/Central America
    • Europe
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • South America
  • Log In / Register

Bali and Java, Indonesia

7 Days in Jul
Asia

Route DetailsMap

Disclaimer: there was no planning to this trip, didn’t know we were going until the night before. Had plans to go to Egypt and the day before is when the riots/deaths started, cancelled last minute.

Day 1
  • Jakarta, Indonesia

Got into Jakarta after a long route from Ohio. Unfortunately we couldn’t get a flight to Bali the same day, so we had to get an expensive hotel in traffic-clogged Jakarta. Kind of a waste of a day.

Day 2
  • Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Jalan Monkey Forest, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

Got first flight to Bali and took a cab to Ubud (1.5 hours). Checked into our hostel, walked to the Monkey Forest and around town. Ubud is a popular destination with lots of arts, crafts, and culture, but we didn’t find it to be anything that great.

Day 3
  • Pura Ulun Danu Batur, Jalan Raya Kintamani, South Batur, Bangli Regency, Bali, Indonesia
  • Sekumpul Waterfall, Lemukih, Buleleng Regency, Bali, Indonesia
  • Mount Batur, South Batur, Bangli Regency, Bali, Indonesia
  • Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Jalan Raya Tegallalang, Tegallalang, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

Next day, hired a driver to take us to to Pura Ulun Danu Beratan (the picturesque temple on a lake), Sekumpul waterfall, drive around Mount Batur, and finally Tegalalang Rice Terraces. Very full day, but enjoyed each of the sights – Sekumpul was hard to find even for our native driver, but finally made it. Probably our favorite day of the trip. Stayed in Ubud again.

Day 4
  • Sing Ken Ken Beach Hotel, Tua, Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia
  • Padang Padang Beach, Pecatu, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia
  • Uluwatu Temple, Pecatu, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Third day in Bali, got a driver to take us to Legian Beach. Checked into our hotel (Sing Ken Ken – loved it), and got a driver to take us to Padang Padang and Uluwatu. Quite a language barrier, but the hotel staff translated for us. Took us to the first beach, which he said was Padang Padang. After walking around for a while, we realized he lied and took us to a nice beach, but not at Padang Padang. When we went back to the vehicle and I angrily told him “not padang padang”, it was obvious he knew he’d been caught. Found out later that he didn’t want to drive in the traffic to get to padang padang. By the time we actually did make it there, the tide was out, clouds had moved in, and it wasn’t even worth the stop. We went down the stairs, hung out for about 30 minutes and it started to rain a little. I don’t even know if it’s worth a stop when it’s beautiful to be honest. Then went to Uluwatu, which was pretty cool. Refused to give the driver the full fare that we agreed upon and he did admit to the hotel that he didn’t take us to the right place on purpose.

Day 5
  • Legian Beach, Bali, Indonesia
  • Kuta Beach, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Went to the beaches, rented surfboards and walked around Kuta. Super touristy, seemed kind of cheesy.

Day 6
  • Prambanan, Klaten Regency, Central Java, Indonesia
  • Sewu Temple, Jalan Raya Solo - Yogyakarta, Bugisan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia
  • Plaosan, Magetan Regency, East Java, Indonesia

Next day, early flight to Yogyakarta. Wasn’t sure if we should do Borobudur and Prambanan in the same day or split it up, decided to split it up. Dropped off bags at hotel and went to Prambanan, which was awesome. Make sure to go to Sewu Temple while you’re there, it’s a little further than the main temples but a must-see. Also stopped by Plaosan, another temple in the area.

Bought tickets to the Balinese ballet at Prambanan at night, and would recommend skipping that. Felt like it was a complete waste of money, only cool thing was seeing the temples lit up at night.

Day 7
  • Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia

Day trip to Borobudur. Very neat temple, but I actually liked Prambanan better. Walked around Yogyakarta when we got back, not a whole lot to do/see. Next day started the long trip back home.

 

To be honest, both my wife and I were pretty disappointed in Bali. Maybe we’re spoiled (having been to Tahiti), but we both thought of Bali as being a paradise and found it congested and too touristy. We have some beautiful, amazing pictures from Bali, but neither of us would really recommend it to other people. If I had time to plan this trip, there would have been a few big things we would have done differently:  fit Borobudur and Prambanan into one day, probably Lombok instead of Bali (or only 1-2 days there), and/or stayed at a different beach. Liked the hotel in Legian, but I had a real tough time picking a place to stay on one day’s notice. Would have probably stayed closer to uluwatu or the other side of the island, still not sure.

Year Traveled: 2013

Route Map

Jakarta, Indonesia

Day: 1

Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Jalan Monkey Forest, Ubud, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 2

Pura Ulun Danu Batur, Jalan Raya Kintamani, South Batur, Bangli Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 3

Sekumpul Waterfall, Lemukih, Buleleng Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 3

Mount Batur, South Batur, Bangli Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 3

Tegalalang Rice Terrace, Jalan Raya Tegallalang, Tegallalang, Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 3

Sing Ken Ken Beach Hotel, Tua, Tabanan Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 4

Padang Padang Beach, Pecatu, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 4

Uluwatu Temple, Pecatu, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 4

Legian Beach, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 5

Kuta Beach, Badung Regency, Bali, Indonesia

Day: 5

Prambanan, Klaten Regency, Central Java, Indonesia

Day: 6

Sewu Temple, Jalan Raya Solo - Yogyakarta, Bugisan, Sleman Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Day: 6

Plaosan, Magetan Regency, East Java, Indonesia

Day: 6

Borobudur, Magelang, Central Java, Indonesia

Day: 7

Click on a pin to view details for the stop. Each stop is color-coded by the the day it's visited during the route. Pins with a + indicate that the stop is visited on multiple days.

Photos

Share this Route

0
0
0
0
0
Beau Route Traveler

    Contact This Traveler

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Subject

    Your Message

    Type this: captcha

    I want to experience as much as possible when I go to a new place. The routes that I plan are usually packed full of exploring and finding the best hikes, food, sites, and experiences that I can’t get anywhere else. The idea of a staycation deeply saddens me, as the precious vacation time we get should be spent far away from home. Favorite city: Prague. Favorite tourist attraction: the temples of Angkor in Cambodia. Favorite “paradise” destination: Tahiti.
    © 2017 The Smart Route LLC. All Rights Reserved
    • facebook
    • twitter
    • instagram
    • pinterest
    • Contact

    Insert/edit link

    Enter the destination URL

    Or link to existing content

      No search term specified. Showing recent items. Search or use up and down arrow keys to select an item.