For many people, an Indonesian holiday is a true bucket-list trip. The opportunity to explore Indonesia’s unbelievable natural beauty, culture, cuisine, and architecture is something that many people can only hope to experience. So, if the time has come that you are actually able to plan an Indonesian vacation, obviously you want to make the most of your time and see as much as you possibly can. This is exactly why an island-hopping vacation is ideal. Here we’ll cover all the basic tips for those looking to plan the ultimate Indonesia island-hopping vacation.
Plan for Those Extra Days of Vacation
First things first, if you’re going to make the trek all the way to Indonesia you want to be sure you’re giving yourself ample time to experience and explore everything you possibly can. That means booking as long of a stay as you can afford and can book off work. Indonesia is not a short-stay kind of destination. Keep in mind, you may not know when you’ll get to return, if ever, so you want to be sure you’re giving yourself plenty of time to explore.
Don’t Over-Plan the Trip
Even though the goal is to island-hop and discover and explore the entire time, you want to try to find a healthy balance between planning and just going with the flow. You are on vacation after all, which means going about things at a slower pace and feeling more relaxed than you do at home. If you schedule every moment of your holiday, you’ll end up feeling hurried, pressured, and stressed.
Pack Light and Accordingly
If you plan on hopping around to various islands and destinations, you will also want to pack light. Lugging around a heavy, oversized suitcase is not only frustrating but not practical. Ideally, you want to be able to fit everything into a backpacking style bag, so you can easily move about and not feel weighed down by your luggage.
Research the Various Islands
To say that you want to go island hopping in Indonesia may sound simple enough, but considering there are more than 17,000 islands – making Indonesia one of the biggest archipelagos in the world – doesn’t really narrow it down. It’s a good idea to spend some time researching various islands before you depart for your trip. Some islands are much more popular with tourists, and provide more to do, see, and explore. In terms of the most popular islands to visit these include the Gili Islands, the Mentawai Islands, the Wakatobi Islands, The Bangka, Seram Island, Bali, and Komodo Island just to name a few. Each one has its own personality and list of pros, so it’s well worth investigating in advance.
Give Thought to Your Transportation
Then there is your transportation, how do you plan to visit the various islands? You don’t want to leave this decision until you arrive; again some pre-planning is wise. Take for example the Gili Islands, which are always a popular spot among tourists. You can book a spot on a speed boat ferry to ensure you get there in a reliable, safe, and fast manner. Duck Ferries makes it possible to visit any of the three Gili Islands.
Other options to reach the various islands include public ferries, aeroplane, and chartering a boat. You always want to factor in safety, the length of the trip, cost, and, of course, convenience.
The Ultimate Indonesian Getaway
By keeping each of these tips in mind you’ll be able to plan the ultimate island-hopping Indonesian adventure that you will remember for a lifetime.
