Beaches, islands, incredible people and a little bit of chaos, welcome to Indonesia.

After spending 9 months travelling and living in Australia, I ended up in Indonesia for the final few weeks of my gap year before heading back to Belgium. I started the trip by travelling with my sister, exploring Bali and Nusa Penida, before unexpectedly reuniting with friends I had originally met while living in Australia.

What followed was a few weeks of exploring Bali, going island hopping, chasing sunsets, going out, meeting new people and figuring things out as I went.

I didn’t have a perfectly planned Indonesia itinerary, and honestly, I’m glad I didn’t.

This Indonesia travel guide brings together everything I learned from my trip, from the places I visited and things I loved to practical tips on getting around, where to stay, how long to spend in each destination and what to know before you go.

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Want the Story Behind the Guide?

The practical guides tell you where to go and what to know, but the travel diaries tell you what Indonesia actually felt like.

From travelling with my sister and swimming with manta rays to unexpected reunions, chaotic nights, island adventures and finally heading home, you can follow the whole story in my Indonesia Travel Diaries.

What Made Indonesia Special?

For me, Indonesia was as much about the people as it was about the places.

I loved how easy it was to meet people, make spontaneous plans and somehow end up spending the day with someone you had only just met. At the same time, there was so much variety, from the beaches and cliffs of Nusa Penida to the busy streets and beach clubs of Bali and the slower island life around the Gilis.

And because I travelled there straight after Australia, Indonesia also felt like a completely different kind of adventure. I was still in that backpacking mindset, but this time I had my sister for part of the trip and unexpectedly got to reunite with people who had become part of my Australian story.

It wasn’t always smooth sailing, there was plenty of chaos along the way, but that’s exactly what made it memorable.

Final Note

Indonesia ended up being the perfect final stop before going home after my 9-month Australia adventure.

I didn’t see everything, and this definitely isn’t a guide from someone who spent six months travelling around the country. It’s based on the places I actually visited, the things I genuinely enjoyed and the lessons I picked up along the way.

So if you’re planning your own Indonesia trip, I hope these guides help you figure out where to go, what to do and what is actually worth your time, while also giving you a little taste of what travelling there felt like for me.

Now let’s get into Indonesia.