Asia
Indonesia
Fierce nature and spirituality
In this sprawling archipelago, I suggest everything from the volcanoes of Java to the untouched jungles of Borneo, the island of Bali with its thousand charms, and, of course, the sea and all its attractions.
Bali unfolds at two speeds: the calm of Ubud, with terraced rice paddies declared a World Heritage Site and temples where incense is still lit for the gods, not for the cameras; and the wilder pulse of volcanic jungle and the islands to the east, where the sea changes color several times a day. A priest performs a ritual bath in a sacred river just for you, far from the postcard pools crowded with tourists. Afternoons close with golden light over temples perched on cliffs and dinners facing the Indian Ocean, with the villa's private pool waiting back home. It suits anyone looking for discreet, rooted comfort: no international chains or bus routes, just artisans, villages unchanged for centuries, and guides who open doors a standard itinerary never touches. It works equally well for a couples' getaway or for those who want to add diving, Komodo dragons, or an exotic extension before heading home.
Datos del viaje
Experiences
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Purification ritual at a sacred river
A priest performs a blessing ceremony at a pool hidden in the jungle.
View experience: Purification ritual at a sacred river
A Balinese priest performs a blessing and immersion ceremony at a sacred water pool, hidden among jungle walls and reachable only after a short walk. The ritual, reserved exclusively for the group, includes flower offerings and the bath itself beneath carved stone spouts, entirely away from the island's better-known and more crowded water temples. It's one of the experiences that best captures Bali's spiritual side when it's lived privately, without the lines at other temples.
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The Jatiluwih rice terraces by e-bike
World Heritage terraces explored by e-bike alongside a local guide.
View experience: The Jatiluwih rice terraces by e-bike
An electric-bike ride through the Jatiluwih rice terraces, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside a local guide who explains subak, the cooperative irrigation system Balinese farmers have managed communally for centuries. The route also passes small water temples dedicated to the rice goddess, woven into the agricultural landscape itself, with no separation between the religious and the productive.
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Balinese street food in Ubud, with a Megibung ceremony
Coconut-oil making with a Balinese family, the Gianyar night market, and a shared Megibung-style dinner, Bali's traditional way of eating on special occasions.
View experience: Balinese street food in Ubud, with a Megibung ceremony
At a traditional Balinese home on the outskirts of Ubud, a local host shows how coconut oil is made and how it's used in everyday cooking. The tour continues through the Gianyar night market, considered by many locals the best place to eat on the island, trying specialties such as cendol or bubur injin. The evening ends with a Megibung dinner at a hidden restaurant near Ubud: the shared-dish style historically enjoyed in Bali during ceremonies and special occasions.
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Balinese cooking at the source
Handmade organic coffee, night markets, and communal dinners.
View experience: Balinese cooking at the source
A culinary tour of Ubud that starts at a plantation where coffee is made entirely by hand, continues through night markets to try Balinese street dishes little known outside the island, and ends with a traditional-style communal shared-plate dinner, where each dish is passed hand to hand around the table. It's a way to taste the island as much as to see it.
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Islands, dragons, and reefs to the east
A traditional sailboat among uninhabited islands, pink-sand beaches, and dives with manta rays.
View experience: Islands, dragons, and reefs to the east
Several days sailing a traditional boat through the islands of eastern Indonesia, among deserted pink-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters where encountering manta rays during dives is common. The high point is Komodo National Park, home to the Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard on the planet, observed at a safe distance alongside local park rangers, in a setting unlike any other landscape on the main island of Bali.
Itinerary ideas
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10 days
Romance in Bali
Ubud, Jimbaran, Seminyak
View itinerary idea: Romance in Bali
Ubud as the cultural and spiritual heart of the trip, with a private purification ritual at the sacred river of Giri Kusuma, several days in Jimbaran for a cruise and sunsets facing the sea, and a close in Seminyak, at a villa with a pool.
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13 days
All of Bali
Ubud, Komodo archipelago, Nusa Dua
View itinerary idea: All of Bali
Several days in Ubud, with a private purification ritual at the sacred river of Giri Kusuma, the Jatiluwih rice terraces by e-bike, the mother temple of Besakih at the foot of Mount Agung, and a 4x4 route through the Batur geopark passing through the traditional village of Penglipuran; then, sailing through the Komodo archipelago to see the dragons in the wild and swim at Manta Point; and a close in Nusa Dua, with an underwater dinner at the Koral restaurant.
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12 days
Temples and Volcanoes: Java and Bali
Yogyakarta, Prambanan, Borobudur, Bromo, Kawah Ijen, Ubud, Seminyak
View itinerary idea: Temples and Volcanoes: Java and Bali
The great temples of Java — Prambanan, the largest Hindu complex outside India, and Borobudur, the largest Buddhist pyramid in the world —, sunrise over the crater of Mount Bromo and the turquoise sulfur lake of Kawah Ijen, with its nighttime "blue fire," before crossing by ferry to Bali to close the trip among the rice terraces and temples of Ubud and a few beach days in Seminyak.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to travel to Indonesia?
From April to October, in the dry season. It is the period with the least rain, ideal for beaches, diving and excursions. Indonesia is a huge archipelago and each island has its own rhythm, so if you travel outside those months I adapt the areas on the itinerary to avoid the wettest ones.
How long should a trip to Indonesia last and how long does it take to get there?
Between 14 and 19 days. The flight from Spain takes 18 to 20 hours with a connection, so it isn't worth travelling so far for only a few days. With two good weeks you can combine two or three islands well, with rest at the end so the trip doesn't finish exhausting.
Do I need a visa to travel to Indonesia with a Spanish passport?
Yes. According to Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, visa exemption remains suspended for Spaniards and you enter with a visa on arrival or the electronic visa (e-VoA), applied for online beforehand. The passport must be valid for six months and in good condition. As of November 2026; confirm conditions and fees at the official source.
What language and currency are used in Indonesia?
The national language is Indonesian, and in Bali Balinese is also spoken; in tourist areas English is enough to get by. The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (Rp). You don't need to speak Indonesian to travel comfortably, but a few words of courtesy are always appreciated.