Cycling Indonesia's Islands

A great holiday. I'm not a sit-on-the-beach type and this trip was anything but that (though the beaches are beautiful!) It was all so interesting. Huge variety - cycling through villages and coffee plantations, snorkeling, camping, temples, rice paddies, mountains, volcanoes, craters, old colonial homes... Exodus packs a lot into this trip! And such friendly people. Yes, there are a couple of really big hills, but if you're reasonably fit, they're doable. We had plenty of breaks and went at the pace of the group. (Please see my note below on trip rating.) One thing I really liked was that the distances weren't as long as on some Exodus trips I've done. That meant a more relaxing start (7am breakfast not 7am start!) And we generally got to the hotel at the end of the day in time to read a book or go for a swim. Made for the perfect holiday.

This was a fantastic trip, one of the best that I've done. I'd always (wrongly) been a bit dismissive of Bali, thinking it was a place of resorts. How wrong was I?! We went to some beautiful places in both Bali and Java. The scenery was incredible, the people lovely, the food great. It is quite hilly with some very demanding climbs on the 2nd and 7th day but the support vehicle is always there. I've done a number of cycling trips and would say that this is more moderate/challenging. Even the trek up Ijen was a toughie but with spectacular views and the most toxic lake in the world at the top. On the second day there was an optional cycle around Batur which was off road. I think this needed to be explained how difficult it was, as unfortunately one of the group had an accident. Maybe an optional activity could be arranged, such as boating on the lake. I'd been diagnosed with a condition before leaving which has caused some mobility issues but the team couldn't have been more considerate or caring, from lowering the saddle when I stopped so I could swing my leg over, to helping me on and off the bus and down steps - all without asking; even giving me a push up the hills when it was too uncomfortable!

This is an absolute gem of a cycling trip. There is something for every cyclist; from undulating and flat roads to tough climbs up two volcanoes (particularly the 2nd climb up Mt Ijen); plus a little off-road riding thrown in, most interestingly through an old lava field (from the 1963 eruption of Mt Batur). Every day was something different and interesting. Outside the South East corner (Denpasar area), Bali is a beautiful island, lush and vibrant, with flowers and tropical plants abundant everywhere. Some of the hotels we stayed in were incredible. I particularly liked the ones in Ubud and Menjangan (quiet location, infinity pool, hot tub, great food, etc), but all the accommodation was very good quality bar a couple of exceptions that could not be avoided. Plenty of opportunities to swim in volcanic hot pools, swimming pools and the sea. We went in May and experienced a couple of rain showers. Fortunately, most days were cloudy and ideal for cycling, as the sun near the equator is very strong. Indonesia is a lovely country to visit and quite a revelation.

This cycling trip is up there as one of my favourites. There are some challenging sections of cycling but you are rewarded by great views as you cycle up volcanoes, through coffee plantations, past rice fields, and watch farmers harvest spices with the pungent smell of cloves as they are dried on the roadside. The mix of other activities makes the trip a real holiday adventure. Snorkelling off Mengangan Island was fantastic, with the colours and variety of fish breathtaking. We even were lucky enough to see a turtle. The.camping on the beach at Rajewesi Beach was a highlight, watching the sun set and rise over the beach was magical. Wira and his team were extremely well organised, cooked lovely food, very encouraging on the tougher sections and nothing’s too much trouble for them. Their love of their country is very evident.

I really enjoyed this trip. Wira (our guide) and the support team worked very hard and ensured it all went smoothly. I had little knowledge about Indonesia and I feel that this trip has opened a new world to me. I learned a lot about the culture, history and customs of this beautiful country and Wira contributed a lot to this. Bali is covered with temples and statues and for me it felt like an open museum. Another interesting point that caught my eyes were the architecture of the mosques in East Java. It has influences of temples and shows that the two cultures have been integrated which was very interesting to see. Everywhere we went people were very friendly and smiling and greeting us. There were some tough rides, a few nasty uphills, some very steep and rough downhills and off roads which made this trip even more interesting. Wira explained the detail of the route and what to look out for which was very helpful. The hiking up the Ijen volcano and watching how the sulphur miners work was the highlight of the trip for me. The other activities such as hot spring, snorkelling and swimming (pool and the sea) were all very enjoyable. Most hotels had a swimming pool so swimming after a hard cycling day under a hot humid condition felt like heaven! :)

Although this is a relatively new trip, its extremely well organised and the tour leader and support team were incredibly friendly. The cycle grading is accurate and although two days have some challenging hills included, the team were always there for anyone who did not want to continue. I had never really ridden a mountain bike before off road, but I felt like I had achieved something by the end of the two weeks. There are some roads with broken tarmac but the leader always lets you know when these sections are coming up. The rest of the roads were in really good condition. Most of the hotels were a really good standard compared to other trips I have done and Indonesia is a beautiful country to cycle through.

I loved this trip, Bali and Java are fabulous destinations and although cycling doesn’t always lend itself to achieving a full appreciation of local cultures, this trip certainly whet my appetite for a return visit. The accommodation was excellent, even those classed as basic had a certain charm and I enjoyed the coffee plantation ‘homestay’, it was in a great location, if a little lacking in amenities. The trip allowed for some welcome downtime sat around the pool or on the beach, but each day was packed full of great food, awesome scenery, fun and laughter, cultural insights and physical activity.

Another brilliant trip with Exodus visiting the beautiful islands of Bali and Java. Breath-taking views, welcoming locals, delicious food and sometimes breath-taking climbs were the highlights of the two weeks. The fantastic support team made this already amazing adventure truly unforgettable.

The trip was slightly different from previous Exodus cycling trips I've been on in that the distances travelled were shorter than usual. As a result, there were plenty of opportunities to stop off at local shrines, hot springs, cottage industries, climb craters, cycling the many downhills, cycling across a river etc. as well as regular welcome breaks from the heat. There was more off road cycling than usual. I don't usually like off road cycling but I coped with it OK, especially with the advice and encouragement I got from the cycling team. The group was smaller than usual (6 only) which meant that we all had a lot of time to get to know each other and enjoy the uphill challenges together! The overnight hotels varied from the luxurious to the very basic.. The Dutch homestead in East Java had a toilet but no toilet paper or towel. It was situated quite close to a mosque which celebrated Ramadan using loud speakers to summon the faithful for hours on end, including during the night. There was one very long day in a bus (over 9 hours) which was unavoidable given the itinerary but which was not the most pleasant experience in my life.

Cycling the hills - both up and down - was a thrill. And the last two days the flat village riding was charming. Traffic was a too heavy to properly enjoy the connecting sections. Accommodation was varied. Some lovely hotels. One rather damp and unpleasant hotel ( acknowledged as a fudge after covid closures). The homestay however was dire. Only 2 hours sleep after inconsiderate guests partied until 2 and then from 4 for an early start. Even without them however the homestay was going to to cause problems. Walls were quant but thin bamboo and the the whole place was seriously delapidated but still offering ~ 25 rooms.