Asia - Bali and Borobudur possible in 6-7 days?

I have a block of vacation time for the end of March and am considering a first time trip to Bali. I just don't know how much time I should spend in Bali itself and if I'd have enough time to visit Borobudur. I've read that each side of Bali is unique and worth staying in for a few days each.

I'd depart LAX Thurs March 22 or on Fri March 23, and return to LAX on Sunday April 1. With 1 day in SIN to rest before flying out to DPS on Airasia or another LCC, I'm guessing I'd have about 6 nights free before I'd fly from DPS to SIN to catch my SIN-LAX flight same day.

I'm interested in hiking, jungle trekking, swimming, and other low exertion activities.

It is doable, set aside 2 nights, so fly up to Jogjakarta tonight for example, stay tonight, then early tomorrow spend all day at the temple and the surrounding shrines. Late return to hotel and leave tomorrow for Singapore. Personally wouldn't,t recommend the LCC in Indonesia, I would stay with Garuda, Or Silk. The rest of your holiday can be spent in Ubud and up the East Coast where there are some brilliant hiking locations.

There are some great sites around Jog, so if you wanted to spend another day, there are more sites.

It is doable, set aside 2 nights, so fly up to Jogjakarta tonight for example, stay tonight, then early tomorrow spend all day at the temple and the surrounding shrines. Late return to hotel and leave tomorrow for Singapore. Personally wouldn't,t recommend the LCC in Indonesia, I would stay with Garuda, Or Silk. The rest of your holiday can be spent in Ubud and up the East Coast where there are some brilliant hiking locations.

There are some great sites around Jog, so if you wanted to spend another day, there are more sites.

Would you recommend I reserve all my Bali hotel nights in Ubud? What additional sites around Jogjakarta do you like?

Would you recommend I reserve all my Bali hotel nights in Ubud? What additional sites around Jogjakarta do you like?

I love Prambanan, you should also see, if you like this stuff, Candi sewi and Ratu book but you will need another 2 days. Plenty of hotels, and they are rarely packed, so a room is not a problem. I stay at the Hyatt, great rooms, food is good and the hotel is built in a golf course and modeled on Borobudur.

Sounds like a great idea to me. But remember that hotel standards in Yogyakarta are not the same you will be used to for high end properties anywhere in Bali, east or west.

May I recommend Joglo Plawang Boutique Villa. Traditional Javanese hospitality and architecture, and they have inhouse drivers who will take you anywhere in Yogya or surrounding area. Very safe, trustworthy, and cheap.

Otherwise, the Hyatt Regency, or the slightly inferior Sheraton Mustika are good bets.

Why do you not also include 2 nights at Probolinggo for Mount Bromo?

I'm doing the same trip in March (as part of a longer swing through S.E. Asia) - staying in Ubud and then flying to Yogya. Garuda has a few decent flights. You'll need to have someone in Indonesia buy the tickets to get the best fare. I used the guys at Mau Ke Mana (http://flights.indonesiamatters.com/) who were both efficient and courteous. I received the eTickets within a few days. I'm spending a few nights at The Phoenix - old colonial gem in Yogya. After, it's three nights at d'Omah Hotel outside of the city. It looks pretty cool to me (http://www.yogyakartaaccommodation.com/). If you have any trouble booking a flight out of Yogya you can try Air Asia's connection out of Surakarta/Solo (SOC). This airport is under an hour from Yogya.
I'm looking at your travel dates. Be careful. In Bali, March 23 is Nyepi day. I believe everything goes silent including the airport and ground transport. Maybe someone can verify this. Have fun!

I'm doing the same trip in March (as part of a longer swing through S.E. Asia) - staying in Ubud and then flying to Yogya. Garuda has a few decent flights. You'll need to have someone in Indonesia buy the tickets to get the best fare. I used the guys at Mau Ke Mana (http://flights.indonesiamatters.com/) who were both efficient and courteous. I received the eTickets within a few days. I'm spending a few nights at The Phoenix - old colonial gem in Yogya. After, it's three nights at d'Omah Hotel outside of the city. It looks pretty cool to me (http://www.yogyakartaaccommodation.com/). If you have any trouble booking a flight out of Yogya you can try Air Asia's connection out of Surakarta/Solo (SOC). This airport is under an hour from Yogya.
I'm looking at your travel dates. Be careful. In Bali, March 23 is Nyepi day. I believe everything goes silent including the airport and ground transport. Maybe someone can verify this. Have fun!

Thanks for the heads up about Nyepi day. I'll try to be in Singapore on that day to avoid any hassles. The day after Nyepi day is the Balinese New Year, Ngembak Geni. Anyone have experience being in Bali during the New Year?

What hotel are you looking at for Ubud?

Thanks for the heads up about Nyepi day. I'll try to be in Singapore on that day to avoid any hassles. The day after Nyepi day is the Balinese New Year, Ngembak Geni. Anyone have experience being in Bali during the New Year?

What hotel are you looking at for Ubud?

Ubud is a good place to be, being your first time, pick the Komenenka in MonkeyForrestRoad, right in the centre of the village, but at the back overlooking a rice paddy, you will like it, around $150. Nepi is great for locals, nothing happens,it is so peaceful. The celebrations and the Festivals abound up in Ubud. Make yourself known to the staff at Tutmak, the best coffee and noodles in town ,next to the footy field, they will look after you, needs massage or haircut check out Paris at the end of the lane

I did Borobodur and Prambanan in a one day trip from DPS. Had a tour guide and driver meet me at JOG awesome day.
PM me for the tour companies details.

Borobudur (& Prambanan) is easily doable in a day trip from Bali - using Garuda's 3 flights (arrive JOG 07:15 depart 20:20). However Borobudur at Sunrise is one of life's great joys, so i'd recommend an overnight.

In fact, what I would do in your situation is....

Fly Singapore to Solo / Jogja using Air Asia (or Silk Air from Singapore 3/4 x a week). Organise a driver to take you to the Plataran Borobudur for a night. Sunrise Borobudur, onwards to Prambanan and a bit of time in Jogja if time allows, then onwards to Bali. Minimise your doubling back on yourself.

Also remember to check Qatar and KLM for the Bali - Singapore & vv sector - can be as cheap as Air Asia (or close to after baggage etc taken into consideration).

JOG=Jogja=Jogjakarta=Yogya=Yogyakarta. Sorry, I have trouble spelling this, but I think all versions are correct :confused: