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Epic Indonesia Adventure: Sewu Waterfall, Bromo Volcano, Ijen Crater, and Bali!
Lessons Learned the Hard Way (So You Don't Have To!)
Our recent trip to Indonesia – hitting Sewu Waterfall, the majestic Bromo volcano, the electric blue flames of Ijen, and the vibrant island of Bali – was incredible, but not without its hiccups. Here's what I wish I'd known beforehand:
- Currency Exchange Woes: Exchanging Vietnamese Dong for Indonesian Rupiah in Vietnam gave us a terrible rate (1.75). Once in Indonesia, using USD would have yielded a much better rate (around 1.55-1.6). Learn from my mistake!
- Ijen Closure Awareness: Ijen sometimes closes! Our original plan to visit Ijen last before heading to Bali was derailed when we discovered Ijen closes on Fridays. We had to reshuffle everything. Check the schedule before finalizing your itinerary.
- The Plug Adapter Predicament: Don't forget your plug adapter! Indonesia uses round two-pin plugs. My square-pin charger was useless without one.
- Bali Time Crunch: Four days in Bali simply wasn't enough! One day was spent exploring Nusa Penida, and another was essentially a travel day. I felt like we barely scratched the surface.
- Bali Traffic Jams: Be prepared for serious traffic in Bali. It eats into your sightseeing time.
The Itinerary: 8 Days of Indonesian Wonders
Our epic 8-day, 7-night journey cost approximately 30 million VND per person.
- Day 1: ✈️ SGN > KUL > Surabaya > 🚗 Sewu
- Day 2: Exploring the breathtaking Sewu Waterfall
- Day 3: Ijen Crater adventure
- Day 4: Bromo sunrise, ✈️ SUB > Bali > Ubud
- Day 5: Bali North: Bali Swing, Leke Leke Waterfall, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
- Day 6: Bali East: Lempuyang Temple (Gates of Heaven), Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Penglipuran Village > Kuta
- Day 7: Nusa Penida Island (Private Klook tour for our group of 6)
- Day 8: Shopping, ✈️ Bali > SGN
If I Could Do It Again...
- I still think traveling from Ijen directly to Bali, specifically Lovina, would be a smoother experience than backtracking to Surabaya for a flight. This would allow for a morning dolphin watching tour 🐬 and shorter travel times.
- Extend our Bali stay by at least one day. The relentless traffic meant we missed out on iconic spots like Tanah Lot and Uluwatu Temple.
Shoutout to Our Local Guide
If you are planning to visit Bromo, Ijen, and Sewu, I highly recommend you to contact Adi Rama. We booked the local tour guide through:
Adi Rama's Facebook ProfileWe found Adi's tour prices competitive and his support throughout our trip was invaluable. His advice and assistance made our journey so much easier and enjoyable.
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