Don’t let yourself miss opportunities to see the beauty of Indonesia

Whether it’s your first solo trip or your fourth, you’ll find there’s more fun to be had when travelling in a small group. Whatever brings you to Indonesia, be it the Insta-famous beaches, the iconic temples and rice paddy fields or the allure of beach-side cuisine, join a small group tour with Intrepid and you’ll have plenty of new faces to share it all with.

Our solo tours in Indonesia

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Travel to Bali and experience this oasis off the coast of Indonesia. Bali's Ubud, Mt...

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Discover Bali from laidback Ubud to the Mt Batur volcano. Explore Gili Trawangan and...

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Discover Java's heritage and Bali’s traditions on an exclusive Premium small group trip...

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A magical getaway on Indonesia's Islands. Travel across Bali and Lombok visiting arty...

Tailor-Made trips

Take four or more on an exclusive trip and tailor your itinerary

The perks of solo travel in Indonesia with Intrepid

Tegallalang rice terrace in Ubud, Indonesia

A local leader

After a resident guide that will help you choose between the nasi uduk from the nasi goreng? One who also knows the off-the-beaten-track hot spots and who can teach you the best Indonesian greetings (which are sure to go a long way in your day-to-day adventures)? Well, you’re in luck! Every Intrepid trip is led by our incredible local leaders who are there to help and guide you through every leg of your tour. They also provide great recommendations for spending that downtime you have.

Breakfast with a view Kintamani Bali, Indonesia

Safety

Our local leaders are equipped to prioritise your safety and keep you informed as you move through different regions in Indonesia. There are strict laws and regulations in place surrounding drug use and gambling. There are also newly introduced laws banning sex outside of marriage which apply to both locals and foreigners. However, Indonesia does see millions of tourists every year from all over the world as it is generally a safe place for travel.

Group snorkelling in Amed Beach Bali, Indonesia

Ready-made friends

There are so many incredible sights to be seen in Indonesia that it’d almost be a shame not to share them with anyone. Travelling with an Intrepid tour means you’ll be exploring the country with roughly 10 others, all of whom are just as keen to be immersed in the wonders of this South Asian paradise. This means you’ll likely have someone to join you on an early-morning yoga class or have someone to clink Bintangs with while watching the sunset.

Cycling tour through Mt Batur Kintamani Bali, Indonesia

Logistics and convenience

What’s better than having someone deal with the ‘hows’ of your next steps? Especially after a big day (or night) out in one of Indonesia’s most beloved locations. On an Intrepid tour, all the transport, accommodation and included activities are organised for you. All you need to do is show up! This also means that you’re free to make only the fun decisions such as should we add in a cooking class, trip to the hot springs or surfing lesson today?

Reviews

FAQs

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises). However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Learn more about Intrepid's COVID-19 policy

It's your call. Rooming on our trips is organised on a twin-share basis, but most of our trips also have the option to pay an extra fee for your own room. Just let us know at the time of booking and we'll arrange it for you.

For twin-share rooms, we pair up solo travellers with another traveller of the same gender as per the gender marker on each of their passports. As a responsible tour operator, we strive to create a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. In the case that your gender identity differs from what's indicated on your passport, please contact us so that we can discuss rooming options with you.

On a small selection of itineraries some accommodations are booked on an open-gender, multi-share basis. In those instances it will clearly be stated in your Essential Trip Information.

Whether you’re travelling alone or with a partner, our trips have a set itinerary. But within that there’s time set aside for your own exploration (if you want to – no pressure). Depending on how you're feeling, you may want to have some downtime, ask your guide for a few tips then head out alone, or hang out with the group and see where the day takes you.

You sure do. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their tour. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

Learn more about travel insurance

Major credit cards are widely accepted by large shops, hotels and restaurants in Indonesia. However, they may not be accepted by smaller vendors such as small family restaurants, market stalls or in remote towns and rural areas. Make sure you carry enough cash for purchases, since credit cards aren't always an option everywhere in Indonesia.

Intrepid is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. That’s why we do our best to help as many people see the world as possible, regardless of any physical or mental limitations they might have. However, we’re always happy to talk to travellers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them towards the most suitable itinerary for their needs and where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

Learn more about accessible travel with Intrepid

Our solo travel safety guide

Good advice for us all, but particularly for people travelling solo. Make copies of your itinerary, contact details, passport and travel insurance, then email them to yourself and to one or two friends/family at home. Check-in on social media when you can so people can keep track of where you are. 

If you’re arriving late in a city by yourself, book a hotel with a front desk or concierge service (many hotels also offer private transfers that don’t cost the earth from the airport or train station). If you're travelling with us, we can help you organise an arrival transfer. Read your maps before you head out for a walk (you can use a map app on your smartphone – or take screenshots of where you’re going if you don’t want to use up your precious data). If you need to check your map when you’re out and about, duck into a shop or café to do it. Leave the blingy jewellery, wedding rings and designer clothes at home, and aim to dress like the locals do – hit up the local markets if you haven’t packed the right outfits. Aim to keep track of travel times, so you’re not caught out after dark.

Most mobile/cell providers now offer travel passes to help manage your international roaming costs (which, let’s face it, are expensive!). For a few dollars a day, you’ll have access to data, which means you can log into your apps (like Skype, email and WhatsApp) when you’re out of WiFi zones and quickly get in touch with someone – a friend at home, someone in your group, or the police – if you need to. It might also be worth checking out the local cell/mobile providers as these can be quite cost effective. 

Solo travellers are way more likely to be ‘taken for a ride’ at the airport by unscrupulous taxi drivers, so do your research before you arrive. Make sure you get a cab from the airport/station taxi rank – if you’re not sure where to go, just head to the information desk for help. Touts tend to hang out in the arrivals area and promise cheaper rates, but can often be dodgy. When you get to the cab rank, ask the driver to use the meter or request a cost estimate before you hop in the car – if it’s way higher than it should be, pick another vehicle. A lot of airports have train stations attached as well, so consider public transport if you want to save a dollar or two.

It’s one of the advantages of travelling solo on a group tour: safety in numbers. The big, 50-person bus groups stand out on the road, but a small Intrepid group of eight or nine people, with a local leader showing the way – including areas to avoid and getting around safely – won’t draw much attention. Plus, it’s a great way to see parts of the world you may feel uncomfortable exploring on your own. If you want to do things on your own, consider a day tour to familiarise yourself with a city and get to know the local way of life. 

Solo travel is all about confidence. If you’re relaxed and self-assured on the street, you’re more likely to blend in. When you meet new people, don’t assume they’re all out to get you, but be sensible too and trust your gut. If it feels wrong, it probably is. Remember: the popular tourist areas are often the most well-lit and secure, but they’re often a juicier target for pickpockets and scammers. Just use your common sense; half of travel safety is simply being aware of your surroundings.

Read more about Indonesia