Originally Posted by
A380 Flyer
I suggest flying to Bali, and then taking a daytrip from Bali to Komodo. Don't bother staying on Komodo, too risky! You could see the dragons for a few hours then fly back to DPS the same evening, where you could relax on the beach and tell tales of your expedition over a cocktail. Or stay on in Komodo NP all night with no electricity.
Then when you've done with Bali, get to Gilimanuk and take the ferry across the Bali Straight to Banyuwangi on Java Island. Then make your way by bus to Probolinggo, where you can stay the night and awake for a sunrise climb up Mount Bromo, and its surrounding active volcanoes.
From Probolinggo, you should head via Surabaya on the train down to Yogyakarta and check out Prambanan Candi temples, and nearby Magelang the home of Borobudur, even more impressive than Prambanan. These 2 temples of among the highlights of Asia as a whole, not just Indonesia. From JOG, you could fly back to DPS or onward to CGK, as both airports are serviced by KE and you could make your way home.
Rainforest, beaches, dragons, orangutans, volcanoes, temples, and wildlife all in the space of a couple of weeks?
Komodo is too risky? What are you talking about? It's plenty safe! Komodo should be a 3 day trip to really see the island, as well as a different part of Indonesia.
Now Probolinggo, that is a shithole town, be careful there! And Banyuwangi? That's a port town full of shady characters. The bus ride to Banyu from Bali is on a crazy dangerous road (crazy truck drivers) and the buses are terrible. Fly Bali to Surabaya or Jogja to avoid this, certainly (although I went this way recently just to "check it out")
Agreed to fly to Jogja: base yourself there to see the amazing temples of Prambanan and Borobudur and perhaps the trip to Bromo. The town is awesome too, artsy, just the right amount of tourist, just the right about of "the real java". Jogja is a $25 flight from Bali, so makes a great side trip.
A week in Bali, 3 days in Komodo, and 4 days in Java/Jogja. Perfect!
