Solo Travel in Indonesia: Essential Travel Advice

For many travellers, the chance to travel around Southeast Asia is the highlight of a lifetime, and many people choose to do so on their own. Travelling to Indonesia alone can be a great experience, and many solo travellers feel that this is one of the best countries in Southeast Asia to visit as part of a longer backpacking holiday. This is a great way to keep costs down and also explore this fascinating archipelago at the same time.

Is Indonesia safe to solo travel?

On the whole Indonesia is a safe country for solo travel as violent crime is rare. Indonesia is also the most populous Muslim nation on earth, but most people practice a fairly moderate form of Islam and as such travellers will not find that this is a barrier to travelling to Indonesia alone.

It is also not unusual to see solo travellers in Indonesia and if you get into trouble, even in remote areas, then people will usually be quick to try and help.

English is also widely spoken in tourist areas such as Bali, Lombok and central hubs like Jakarta, although if you are traveling off the beaten track then it may be more difficult to communicate. Still, you will likely get a friendly reception and people will be happy to try and understand you.

Solo female travellers in Indonesia

If you are a female traveller and are travelling solo then Indonesia should not present too many problems, although this does depend on where you want to go.

If you are sticking to places like Bali and Lombok which see high numbers of tourists then you should not have any issues and solo female travellers are not unusual in these kinds of places.

If you are planning solo travel to Indonesia in more conservative areas like parts of East Java, then you may wish to remember to dress modestly as this will mean that you are less likely to get any unwanted attention from the local community. This applies to other parts of Indonesia as well, even central hubs like Jakarta, and you are less likely to be stared at or catcalled if you wear long sleeved clothing. You will also need to dress modestly in places of worship such as temples and mosques.

If you are a female traveller who is traveling solo then make sure that you follow the safety advice of your local embassy or consulate in Indonesia and take precautions to ensure that you are safe on your trip such as carrying a safety whistle and using a door stop behind the door of your hotel room at night.

Backpacking solo in Indonesia

Backpacking solo in Indonesia is relatively easy and you do not really need any special preparations even if you have never backpacked solo before. The only thing you need to remember is to make sure that you have adequate medical insurance and that you have things such as emergency numbers to keep family and friends abreast of your travel plans and itinerary. It is also a good idea to make a note of emergency numbers that you may need such as that of your local consulate or embassy in Indonesia that you can call in case you find yourself in trouble on the road.

Solo vs guided travel: What to chose?

Just because you are traveling solo to Indonesia doesn’t mean that you have to go it alone all the time. As a solo traveller you can also sign up for a guided tour, although it is fair to say that outside the main hubs of Bali and Lombok you may struggle to find any professional tours.

Some areas outside the tourist hubs that offer tours include Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra where you can go on a tour and trek into Gunung Leuser National Park to check out the wild orang-utans that live here. As such, it is relatively easy to sign up for a short tour once you reach a destination, but more difficult to travel across large swathes of the country on a tour.

It is also cheaper to travel solo rather than using a guided tour and you have more flexibility over your itinerary. If you visit a place and decide that it is not for you then you can more on immediately, whereas if you are part of a tour then you are usually locked into a specific route which is difficult or impossible to change. Many people prefer to travel solo as they appreciate the flexibility that it gives them, so with that in mind you may prefer to take a tour when it is a short localized trip such as trekking up Mount Rijani in Lombok.

Recommended itinerary for solo travel in Indonesia

If you are traveling to Indonesia alone then it makes sense to start in one of the easiest places to visit which is Bali. If you fly into Ngurah Rai Airport in Denpasar then you can spend several days here in a tourist friendly area to get your bearings and acclimatize to Indonesia.

Bali

The best place to start in Bali, especially for a solo traveller is Ubud which was made famous in Eat, Pray, Love. This is known as the spiritual and cultural capital of Bali so make sure to grab your yoga mat and get ready to relax and recharge. You can also visit a clutch of museums in Ubud such as Neka Art Museum where you can see paintings, local textiles and jewelry. If you are in Ubud you should also make the most of the natural scenery and head to spots such as Monkey Forest which is a series of three local temples which are guarded by cute primates. Make sure to secure your belongings however as the monkeys are known to snatch bottles and bags from tourists. You can also get the full Eat, Pray, Love experience in Bali by visiting Tirta Empul which is a series of sacred bathing pools just outside of Ubud and you can bathe in the waters which are used by the local Hindu community for festivals like the full moon.

Java

From Bali it is easy to fly to Java and visit the university town if Yogyakarta which is known for its laid back vibes and intellectual feel. It is also known for its arts and crafts and is the centre of batik making in Indonesia. Batik is a local art form which used wax dripped on pieces of linen to make patterns and the fabric is then dipped in dye. You can buy batik pieces all over Yogyakarta for as little as IDR 50,000 and if you want a hands-on experience then you can even join a batik making workshop.

Another place not to leave off the itinerary in Yogyakarta is the Kraton which is the seat of the Sultan of Yogyakarta and you can visit the palace and museum to learn all about the history of this part of Indonesia. Close to the palace you should also make a point of visit the Beringin Trees which are two trees several meters apart. The trick is to walk between the trees while blindfolded which is not as easy as it sounds, but if you manage this then locals believe that all your wishes will come true.

If you are traveling solo in Indonesia then another good pick of the capital city of Jakarta which has a good tourist infrastructure. Here you can visit top sights such as Monas which is the national independence monument and this has an observation deck that lets you take in gorgeous views over the city. Another top activity in Jakarta is shopping and the city is host to a huge number of malls. For a something a little more authentic however head to the flea markets of Menteng where you can shop for anything and everything including premium antiques.

Sumatra

From Java you can take a two hour flight to the gorgeous island of Sumatra. This is the home of Bukit Lawang which is the gateway to Gunung Leuser National Park which is a protected area that hosts orang-utans which have been rescued from trafficking and poachers. You can sign up for a number of treks in Bukit Lawang that stretch from one day jaunts into the forest to multi-day treks which will take you deeper into the jungle in search of animals like elephants. There is also a river here which is the main artery through Bukit Lawang and a popular activity is trekking into the forest and then tubing back down the river which allows you to cool off and take in the amazing scenery at the same time.

Another top pick in Sumatra is Lake Toba which has the claim to fame of being the largest crater lake in the world. In the middle of the lake is the charming island of Samosir which is home to Tuk Tuk where you can spend the night before exploring the rest of the island. This is the seat of traditional Batak culture and you can visit local Batak homes as well as the elaborate graves of former Batak kings. As you would expect, you can also enjoy a number of activities on the lake such as going for a boat ride, swimming, or kayaking if you are feeling active.

If you are entering or exiting North Sumatra to travel to Bukit Lawang or Lake Toba then you will also need to travel through the capital city of North Sumatra which is Medan. There are a few attractions to see here although this is not a very touristic place, but it is also known as one of the culinary capitals of Indonesia, so you need to make sure that you try some of the food here before you leave. Top picks include R.M Sinar Pagi which is known for its local delicacy called Soto Medan which is a soup made with coconut milk and topped with juicy prawns and shredded chicken. You also shouldn’t leave without trying the Nasi Padang which is rice served with around ten small bowls of curry and other side dishes which you pour on top of the rice.

Conclusion

All in all, Indonesia is a very friendly place and lends itself well to travelling solo. Locals tend to be respectful and helpful towards foreign travellers and you should not encounter many problems on the road which means that you can expect safe travel even if you are backpacking Indonesia alone.

Female solo travellers may find that they attract more interest in Indonesia than other countries in Southeast Asia such as Thailand, especially if you are going off the beaten track, but you should also find that locals are interested in tourists and are eager to make sure that you have a good solo travel experience in Indonesia.