Three Weeks in Indonesia: Bali, Lombok and Flores Island-Hopping Route
An eastward island adventure with time to unpack, a sensible Bali connection and breathing room around Komodo.
Three weeks in Indonesia is enough for inland Bali, the beaches of southern Lombok and a taste of western Flores. The difficult part is joining them without treating every short flight as a short travel day. This route gives each main destination a proper stay and deliberately returns through Bali between Lombok and Flores.
It suits travellers who want varied landscapes and a Komodo excursion, are comfortable with several domestic flights, and value a weather reserve over another hotel move. It is less suitable for anyone seeking a mostly flight-free trip or an overland journey across the whole of Flores.
Bali → Lombok → Bali connection → western Flores → Bali.
5 + 5 + 1 + 6 + 3 = 20 hotel nights.
Place the main Komodo outing early in the Flores stay.
Return to Bali three nights before departure.
The 21-day route and its real trade-off
Count Day 1 as the day you land in Bali and Day 21 as the day you leave Indonesia. Long-haul travel from the UK can require additional calendar days. The route has five hotel stays but only four distinct bases, because Sanur is used twice. Returning through Bali adds a transit night; it avoids relying on a direct Lombok–Labuan Bajo service that may not suit your dates.
| Days | Sleep in | Nights | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | Ubud, Bali | 5 | Arrival recovery, culture and countryside |
| 6–10 | Kuta, Lombok | 5 | Southern beaches and a slower middle |
| 11 | Sanur, Bali | 1 | Overnight between separate domestic legs |
| 12–17 | Labuan Bajo, Flores | 6 | Komodo, local land outings and spare time |
| 18–20 | Sanur, Bali | 3 | Finish near the international departure island |
| 21 | Departure | 0 | Fly home |
The main compromise is paying for four domestic flight sectors rather than drawing a perfectly straight line on a map. In return, you avoid a multi-day sea crossing and retain 15 days without a hotel change once arrival, departure and the four move days are removed. Those 15 days include rest and weather reserves; they are not a promise of 15 packed excursion days.
Put the actual flight dates into the Trip Itinerary Planner before committing to non-refundable rooms. Book the connection night as an intentional part of the holiday, not as a leftover gap.
Days 1–5: settle into inland Bali
Choose an Ubud address according to how you want your evenings to work. A central stay makes independent meals easier; a countryside property can be attractive if you accept arranging transport. Ubud provides access to galleries, rice-field landscapes and walks such as Campuhan, giving this first stop a different role from the beach stays later in the route. [1]
Day 1: arrival without an ambitious detour
Arrange a transfer from Denpasar airport directly to your accommodation. Keep the evening local and leave the first morning adjustable. If your international arrival is very late, replace the first Ubud night with an airport-area night and accept four Ubud nights; do not silently add a twenty-first hotel night.
Days 2–3: one town day and one countryside day
Use Day 2 for a modest walking circuit, one museum or gallery and a relaxed meal. On Day 3, arrange a driver for a rice-terrace outing and one cultural stop that genuinely interests you. Avoid buying a tour with more stops than you want simply because its list looks comprehensive. A half-day with room for lunch can be more useful after a long-haul journey than another dawn start.
Days 4–5: choose depth, then leave space
Book a cooking class, guided walk or craft session for Day 4, depending on your interests. Keep Day 5 for the activity you postponed, a leisurely meal or a quiet pool afternoon. This is the route’s chance to experience inland Bali; a long excursion to the opposite coast would dilute that advantage.
When comparing Bali accommodation on Agoda and Bali stays on Booking.com, narrow the map to the exact Ubud neighbourhood and examine access, cancellation terms and the full room total. These are destination searches, not checked availability for a particular hotel.
Back to top ↑Days 6–11: southern Lombok, then a Bali connection
Day 6: move to Kuta Lombok
Travel from Ubud to Denpasar airport, fly to Lombok and continue to Kuta. This is Kuta on Lombok, not Kuta on Bali. Indonesia’s tourism information identifies Lombok airport as a gateway with Bali connections, but your exact flight must be confirmed before choosing hotel dates. [2]
A south-coast base is the reason to prefer a flight in this version. A fast boat can land much farther from your accommodation than the phrase “Bali to Lombok” suggests. If you prefer the sea, compare Bali–Lombok options on 12Go with the operator’s own schedule and include both road transfers. Ekajaya lists Padang Bai–Senggigi services, for example; Senggigi is not Kuta. [3]
Days 7–10: spread the beaches over several days
Use Day 7 for Kuta and a short local outing. Give Day 8 to Tanjung Aan and, if conditions suit, a nearby viewpoint. Make Day 9 a separate westward beach day around Selong Belanak, perhaps with an instructor-led surf lesson suited to your ability. Both places appear in the national tourism board’s south-Lombok guidance. [2]
Leave Day 10 free for a favourite beach, a locally arranged cultural visit or rest. Do not turn a southern stay into daily drives to the north of Lombok. If the Gili islands are the main attraction, change the base rather than pretending they are a convenient extension of every Kuta beach day. Rinjani trekking also needs a different allocation, suitable preparation and current access checks; it is not included here.
Use Lombok accommodation on Agoda to compare the Kuta area, checking whether restaurants are realistically accessible from your accommodation. “Lombok” covers the whole island, so a lower price in Senggigi is not a like-for-like alternative for this route.
Day 11: fly back to Bali and sleep in Sanur
Travel to Lombok airport, fly to Denpasar and check into Sanur. Keep the next day’s Flores flight on the following date. A protected through-ticket may offer other possibilities, but two independent bookings should not be treated as a protected connection. If the Lombok flight is cancelled, an overnight reduces pressure without guaranteeing recovery.
Back to top ↑Days 12–17: western Flores with Komodo in reach
Fly from Bali to Labuan Bajo on Day 12. Labuan Bajo is the western Flores gateway for Komodo National Park; the park’s islands are a boat trip away, rather than part of the town itself. National tourism guidance confirms Bali–Labuan Bajo flights and describes Labuan Bajo as a practical mainland base. [4]
Day 12: arrive and confirm the boat plan
Check into town or a nearby coast hotel, then speak to your operator. Confirm the departure point, passenger numbers, safety equipment, park admission, guide arrangements, food, equipment and cancellation terms. A lower headline price may exclude important parts of the day.
Days 13–14: a gentle land day, then the main park outing
Use Day 13 to recover from travel and choose one short mainland outing. Batu Cermin, east of Labuan Bajo, is a nearby cave option identified by Indonesia’s tourism board. [11] Ask locally about current access, a guide and the footing before deciding; a relaxed waterfront afternoon is the easier alternative. There is no need to buy another full-day trip merely to fill the calendar. Place the main Komodo excursion on Day 14, early enough that a later day can be considered if conditions or operations change.
Choose the stops for your interests and mobility. A dragon walk, a viewpoint climb and snorkelling are different activities with different demands. Ask what happens if you opt out of a climb or swim. Follow the guide around wildlife and expect sightings, sea conditions and the final sailing route to remain uncertain.
Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry introduced a 1,000-visitors-per-day limit for Komodo National Park from April 2026. Reservations through SiOra and timed-entry limits can affect the particular island or activity you hope to visit; the published quota and its operational details may change. Obtain confirmation for the correct park date and any required Padar entry session as well as your boat booking. Payment for a tour alone does not guarantee park admission. [5] [6]
Compare Labuan Bajo trips on GetYourGuide and Komodo excursions on Viator using the actual itinerary and inclusions, then ask the selected operator those questions directly. “Komodo tour” can describe very different routes and boat arrangements.
Days 15–17: rest, explore locally and retain a reserve
Leave Day 15 uncommitted after the boat excursion. On Day 16, arrange a modest driver-led visit on western Flores if that is more appealing than another sea day; agree the road time and a realistic return before paying. Keep Day 17 flexible for a changed outing or a quiet final day. A reserve day helps only if the operator can actually move your booking and a new park slot is available.
Six nights does not mean six consecutive tours. It gives weather-sensitive plans room to move and allows you to enjoy the destination without checking out after the first boat trip. Search Labuan Bajo stays on Agoda for town convenience versus a more isolated coast setting. Confirm pick-up arrangements before choosing a hotel far from the departure harbour.
For a two-night liveaboard, replace two of the six Labuan Bajo hotel nights with nights aboard; do not book both by accident. Check sleeping arrangements and sailing conditions carefully. An overland Flores route to Ruteng, Bajawa and beyond would require a redesign, not a few added day trips.
Back to top ↑Travel days and the three-night finish
Return to Bali on Day 18, then use Days 19–20 for Sanur at an easy pace. Its beachfront pedestrian path gives the finish a simple focus without another hotel move. [7] Reconfirm your airport transfer for Day 21 against the airline’s check-in requirements and expected traffic.
| Move | What to protect | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Day 6 · Ubud → Kuta Lombok | Most of the day | Road transfers, airport check-in, flight and baggage |
| Day 11 · Lombok → Sanur | Half a day or more | Separate island flight and two road legs |
| Day 12 · Sanur → Labuan Bajo | Half a day or more | Check-in and transfers matter more than air time alone |
| Day 18 · Labuan Bajo → Sanur | Half a day or more | Keep arrival plans flexible |
| Day 21 · Sanur → departure airport | Airline check-in time plus a traffic allowance | Do not use an average road time as a guarantee |
On a day with a short flight, a sensible working allowance is roughly one hour to reach the airport, two hours for check-in and security, the flight itself, then baggage and the final transfer. Some legs need substantially more road time. Replace those assumptions with the airline’s instructions and hotel-specific quotes; do not use the table as a departure schedule.
The final three nights in Bali reduce the chance that a disrupted Flores sector immediately threatens the long-haul journey. They do not eliminate that risk. If your fare is difficult to change or the trip falls in unsettled weather, return earlier rather than using the final buffer for an extra island.
Changing the number of stops? Enter your own nights and door-to-door journey estimates in the Itinerary Pace Checker to spot tight combinations. Its assessment uses your inputs; confirm transport and opening arrangements separately.
A transparent budget for this particular route
The model below is an editable spending scenario for two adults sharing one room, not a set of live quotes. All values are Indonesian rupiah per person, calculated on 1 November 2026. Room quality, luggage, travel dates and boat choice can change the total materially. International flights, travel insurance, shopping, alcohol and diving are excluded.
| Item | Assumption | Per person |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | 20 nights × Rp900,000 per room ÷ 2 | Rp9,000,000 |
| Food and everyday drinks | 21 days × Rp250,000 | Rp5,250,000 |
| Domestic flights | 4 sectors × Rp1,500,000 allowance | Rp6,000,000 |
| Local transfers and shared drivers | Whole-trip allowance | Rp2,400,000 |
| Boat outing and other activities | Whole-trip allowance; check inclusions | Rp3,500,000 |
| Eligible visitor’s VOA and Bali levy | Rp500,000 + Rp150,000 | Rp650,000 |
| Subtotal | Sum of the lines above | Rp26,800,000 |
| Contingency | 15% of subtotal | Rp4,020,000 |
| Model total | Per person; two sharing | Rp30,820,000 |
The combined model is Rp61,640,000 for two people before international flights and the stated exclusions. The visa and levy line uses the published standard amounts for an eligible visitor; exemptions and different visa categories alter it. [8] [9] All other amounts are planning inputs, not advertised prices.
The easiest sensitivity check is the room rate. Increasing the shared room by Rp400,000 a night adds Rp4,000,000 per person before contingency, or Rp4,600,000 with the same 15% reserve. Four flight sectors also make this route more expensive than staying on Bali and Lombok alone.
Convert your hotel, flight, baggage and activity quotes into pounds using your payment provider’s rate, then enter those sterling figures in the Travel Budget Calculator. The tool works in GBP; it does not convert the rupiah amounts in this model.
Back to top ↑When to go and what to book first
If Komodo is the main reason for the trip, choose dates around the boat experience before fitting in Bali. National tourism guidance warns that Flores’s wetter early-year period can disrupt sailing. Weather varies, so a seasonal preference is not a sailing forecast. [4] Check the local forecast and operator advice close to departure.
- Check entry rules and your allowed stay, then choose international arrival and departure dates.
- Ask the Komodo operator about confirmed park access, suitable boats and weather cancellation terms.
- Confirm all four domestic sectors, including baggage, and preserve the Bali connection night.
- Reserve the main stays with terms that suit the remaining uncertainty.
- Add selected day trips and drivers; leave the reserve days unfilled.
For British citizen passport holders, FCDO currently lists a 30-day visa on arrival for eligible tourism, a six-month passport validity requirement and proof of onward travel. The free All Indonesia declaration is completed within 72 hours before arrival. Check the full requirements for your passport and purpose of travel. [8]
Keep your Bali levy receipt: official tourism guidance describes payment once before leaving Indonesia, which matters on this route’s returns from Lombok and Flores. [9] Store flight details, hotel addresses and boat contacts offline. If your unlocked phone supports eSIMs, Airalo’s eSIM store is one option to compare for Indonesia data; check the package’s coverage and validity against the whole trip.
FCDO highlights variable boat standards, quickly changing sea conditions and road risks. Inspect safety equipment and consider a driver instead of an unfamiliar scooter. [10] Anyone unable to board a boat comfortably should speak to operators before committing to the Flores portion.
Back to top ↑Change the route without breaking its logic
If you want fewer flights
Remove Flores and redistribute its six nights between Bali and Lombok. You give up the Komodo experience but remove two domestic flight sectors and the dedicated connection night. This is a meaningful simplification if the idea of island-hopping appeals more than the specific park visit.
If you want more of Flores
Keep Bali brief and remove Lombok, then build an overland Flores itinerary with separate road stages and an appropriate onward flight. Do not keep every island and compress Flores into hurried one-night stops. This guide’s Labuan Bajo base is a western introduction, not a substitute for crossing the island.
If you are travelling with children or limited stamina
Keep the overall sequence but shorten the longest activity days. Ask about child-sized life jackets, shaded seating, toilet access and boarding steps before booking. Choose a central place to stay where a simple meal does not require another car journey. A beach day is a valid use of the itinerary, not an unfinished sightseeing list.
The common mistakes are confusing Kuta Lombok with Kuta Bali, booking a cheap boat arrival without pricing the onward road transfer, treating a tour deposit as confirmed park entry and spending the final Bali buffer on one more excursion. Correct those four decisions and the route becomes much easier to manage.
Back to top ↑Practical questions
Can Bali, Lombok and Flores fit into exactly three weeks?
Yes, if “three weeks” means 21 days on the ground and Flores means the Labuan Bajo region. Count 20 nights and allow extra calendar time for long-haul flights. Crossing Flores overland requires a different balance.
Must I return to Bali between Lombok and Flores?
No universal rule requires it. This plan deliberately uses a Bali overnight so it does not depend on a convenient direct service. If you find a suitable direct flight for your dates, verify it with the airline and reallocate the connection night carefully.
Can I take a boat from Lombok to Flores instead?
Multi-day sea itineraries exist, but they change the trip’s comfort, safety considerations and night count. Treat the voyage as a major part of the holiday, assess the operator and vessel, and replace the affected nights rather than adding it to this flight-based schedule.
Is six nights in Labuan Bajo excessive?
It is deliberately generous for one main park outing, a land day, rest and flexibility. If you prefer a brisker trip, remove one or two nights and add them to a place you particularly value; retain the international departure buffer.
Back to top ↑Make this route your own
Choose this three-week route when inland Bali, southern Lombok and Komodo are all meaningful priorities. Keep the Bali connection overnight, give the park outing room to move and finish on the island from which you fly home. The trip’s quality depends more on protecting those decisions than on adding another stop.
Back to top ↑Sources and research notes
This is a researched itinerary, not an account of a personal trip. The route, pacing count and budget are original planning models. Operator and government information was reviewed on 1 November 2026; transport availability, admission arrangements and weather must be checked for the dates you book.
- Indonesia Travel — UbudUbud geography, galleries, rice landscapes and Campuhan; source establishes options, not our day allocation. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Indonesia Travel — Lombok attractions and accessSouth-coast destinations and air access via Bali; dates and inventory must be checked with the airline. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Ekajaya Fast Ferry — schedulesPublished Padang Bai–Senggigi routing; schedules are subject to change. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Indonesia Travel — first-time guide to Komodo National ParkLabuan Bajo gateway, Bali air access, boat visits and wet-season disruption context. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Indonesian Ministry of Forestry — Komodo visitor quota policyOfficial April 2026 announcement of a 1,000-visitor daily quota. Later adjustments and individual entry-session availability remain subject to confirmation. Source reviewed 1 November 2026.
- Directorate General KSDAE — SiOra reservation systemOfficial explanation of Komodo’s digital reservation and ticketing system. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Indonesia Travel — Sanur BeachBeachfront pedestrian path and location; airport transfer allowances are our planning judgement. Checked 1 November 2026.
- FCDO — Indonesia entry requirementsBritish citizen passport entry guidance, eligible VOA fee and stay, onward travel and arrival declaration. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Indonesia Travel — Bali visitor levy regulationsRp150,000 visitor levy and once-per-Indonesia-trip payment description; check exemptions separately. Checked 1 November 2026.
- FCDO — Indonesia safety and securityBoat standards, sea conditions and road travel cautions. Checked 1 November 2026.
- Indonesia Travel — Batu Cermin caveSupports the cave’s location near Labuan Bajo. Older transport and health text on that page is not used. Checked 1 November 2026.
Illustrations in this article were created for Taylor’s Trailblazing Travels. Third-party photographs, where used, are credited beside the image or in the source list.
