Welcome to our Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia itinerary! If you are looking for well-planned tips for an unforgettable trip, you are in the right place.
Do you enjoy nearly month-long trips around Asia? We offer a clear, easy-to-follow article, “Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia — Travel Advice, Tips, and Itinerary,” to help you plan your trip through Southeast Asia.
Visa
Citizens of the Slovak Republic traveling to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei for tourism do not need a visa if their trip does not exceed 30 days. When entering these countries, their passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the planned end of their stay.
When
to go?
The best time to visit this region, according to the itinerary, is from March to October.
Peak season on Bali falls around Christmas and New Year, but the weather is not ideal during this period. The rainiest months are January and February.
Indonesia is an equatorial country, for example, so even during the so-called dry season, you will certainly experience heavy storms. Overall, the weather can be described as humid and warm.
Flight connections
Air connections with Europe for this itinerary are as follows: fly into Jakarta and depart from Kuala Lumpur:
- KLM with a layover in Amsterdam,
- Turkish Airlines with a layover in Istanbul,
- Emirates with a layover in Dubai, or even
- Qatar Airways with a layover in Doha.
Safety and vaccinations
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei are considered safe destinations. Indonesia, for example, is the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, but strict regulations do not generally apply there. All three countries are welcoming and open to tourists and travelers from around the world. We recommend following these guidelines.
- Hand things over with your right hand!
- If you photograph local people, ask for their permission first!
- Most Muslims do not drink alcohol. Although you may bring alcohol into Indonesia, do not drink it publicly on the street or walk around while intoxicated. Bali is the opposite in this regard. Alcohol is prohibited in Brunei.
- Drink only bottled water!
- Local cuisine loves spicy food.
If you have a sensitive stomach, don’t overdo it! - Since these are mostly Muslim countries, respect local dress customs in villages—wear long pants, and women should avoid low-cut tops.
- Bring insect repellent, sunscreen, and medication! You may not be able to get them on remote islands and in remote places.
- Stay hydrated! These countries have high humidity, and dehydration can happen very quickly.
How to behave in mosques
- Take off your shoes when entering a mosque! Sometimes, you are allowed to keep your socks on.
- Wear long pants that reach your ankles and a top without a low neckline. Women must cover their heads with a scarf. Some mosques lend scarves at the entrance.
These countries do not require any mandatory vaccinations. However, vaccination against hepatitis A is recommended.
Itinerary: Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia
Day 1: Flight to Jakarta
Day 2: Arrival in Jakarta — the city itself is not among the places likely to win you over. There are a few attractions, such as the main square, the harbor, and local restaurants, but I would treat it mainly as a first introduction to Indonesia and a chance to adjust to the time difference. Most flights arrive in the afternoon or early evening, so the plan is hotel, dinner, a drink, and some rest.
Day 3: Depart for Yogyakarta by train in the late afternoon from the main railway station. Many travelers use overnight trains. However, these trains do not have sleeping berths—only reclining seats. The air conditioning can be quite strong. The train ticket costs approximately €10. Alternatively, you can fly—airfare is usually between 20 USD and 60 USD per person.
Air travel
Many airlines operate within Indonesia. The largest carrier is Garuda Indonesia — https://www.garuda-indonesia.com/id/en/index.page — but you can also choose from several low-cost airlines, for example:
- Lion
air – http://www.lionair.co.id/ - Indonesia
air asia – http://www.airasia.com/id/en/home.page - City
link – https://book.citilink.co.id/
At many airports, you also have to pay a departure tax, even when flying from a domestic terminal. Fees start at around €1.50.
Trains
You can buy train tickets on http://www.kereta-api.co.id/. Traveling by train is especially worthwhile at night. However, be prepared for very strong air conditioning—bring warm clothing.
Day 4: If you take the overnight train, you will arrive in Yogyakarta on the morning of the fourth day. It is the country’s cultural center, with a beautiful palace of the local ruler, evening markets, and restaurants serving excellent food. It is also the starting point for visiting Indonesia’s two biggest attractions.
1) Prambanan — a Hindu temple complex dedicated to Hindu deities. It is easily accessible by local transport or motorcycle taxis.
2) Borobudur — a Buddhist temple complex and one of Indonesia’s largest stone structures. It is beautiful both from afar and up close, with carvings depicting scenes from the *Ramayana*. It is also easily accessible by public transport from Yogyakarta, about 40 minutes from the city center.
You can negotiate with taxi drivers everywhere for around 10 USD each way. You can visit both landmarks in one day.
Day 5: Depart for Mount Bromo with a local travel agency. There are plenty of local agencies offering tours with transportation, so you do not need to arrange anything far in advance—booking just one day before departure is usually enough. Tours cost approximately USD 25 per person, plus accommodation.
— an active volcano with a breathtaking caldera. The volcano is very easily accessible. Although it is a heavily visited tourist destination, it still has great charm, and your photos will be wonderfully kitschy. The journey takes around six hours, and you can arrange transportation through the many local travel agencies found all over Yogyakarta.
Day 6: Early-morning hike up the volcano—it is not particularly difficult. Around 10:00 a.m., transport leaves for Bali. This can be arranged through a local travel agency and costs approximately USD 20. Arrival in Bali is late in the day.
Day 7: Spend the morning in Kuta, simply getting acquainted with the area—its local beach and bars. In the late afternoon, ride a scooter to the Bukit Peninsula, in the island’s southernmost part. You will find white-sand beaches such as Dreamland Beach and the cliffside Uluwatu Temple. As elsewhere, the waves here are mainly suited to surfers. You can rent a scooter from one of the many rental shops for around €10. A fully automatic model is best, and you need an international driving permit.
You can get an international driving permit while you wait at the document office of the Public Order Police at the relevant district directorate of the Police Force. It costs EUR 6.50, and you need to present a valid driving license and one photograph.
Day 8: Amed — if there is one place for snorkeling and diving, it is Amed, on the eastern tip of Bali. It is 96 kilometres away, and the journey takes at least 3.5 hours. It is a full-day trip. Going by transport or on a tour costs around 700,000 rupiah, approximately €50.
Day 9: Ubud — Bali’s main cultural hub and a must-see destination. It offers yoga centres, vegan restaurants, and beautiful natural surroundings. On the way, you can visit the Tegalalang Rice Terraces and the sacred springs of Tirta Empul. It is approximately 40 kilometres from Kuta.
Day 10: Bratan — a lakeside temple that is Bali’s most iconic landmark. Try to arrive before 10:00 a.m., when crowds of tourists start to arrive. It is approximately 60 kilometres from Kuta. From there, it is about 28 kilometres to Sekumpul, home to the area’s tallest waterfall; it is 92 kilometres from Kuta. Signage to the waterfall is limited, so it is best to ask locals for directions.
On this day, you should arrange your boat tickets to the Gili Islands. You can book them through one of the many local travel agencies in Kuta.
Days 11–14: Departure for the Gili Islands — they are about a two-hour boat ride from Bali. A one-way ticket bought online costs around 45 USD, but you can often get a better price in Kuta.
While Bali is known for its waves, the Gili Islands offer beautiful beaches and a stunning underwater world. Gili consists of three islands—Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan—located roughly 1 km apart. Local travel agencies on the islands can arrange a wide range of trips around Indonesia, as well as boat excursions, diving, and snorkeling.
We particularly recommend Gili Trawangan. Although it is the most tourist-oriented island, it offers the widest range of activities. If you prefer higher-quality accommodation, it is best to book in advance. In the evenings, the islands come alive with small bars and excellent food.
I would stay for three days of swimming and relaxing.
Day 16: Flight from Bali to Kuala Lumpur
Landing in Malaysia — passport control is very quick.
It is best to take the shuttle bus to the city centre, which departs frequently from the terminal—see this page: http://www.klia.com.my/?m=airport&c=getting_around&id=1. The ticket costs 10 ringgit, which at today’s exchange rate is about EUR 2.50, and the journey takes approximately 70 minutes.
Days 17–18: In Kuala Lumpur, we would recommend visiting:
- Batu Caves — http://www.malaysia.travel/en/places/states-of-malaysia/selangor/batu-caves. You can get there by metro, and admission is free. The cave itself, with its Hindu statues, takes about 1.5 hours to explore. Go in the morning to avoid crowds and, above all, the heat.
- Twin Towers — https://www.petronastwintowers.com.my/tickets. I would wait and see what the weather is like before booking, because if you reserve in advance and the weather is bad, the experience will not be as enjoyable. In the evening, however, the towers are beautifully illuminated from the park, and I believe there is a short fountain show every 15 minutes.
- Chinatown — for food and culinary specialties.
- Main mosque — http://kuala-lumpur.attractionsinmalaysia.com/National-Mosque.php. You can find the mosque’s opening schedule there. Women are often given a headscarf, but this is not guaranteed. Long trousers and a regular T-shirt are required—not a sleeveless top.
- Merdeka Square — the main square
Days 19–20: Fly to Brunei with AirAsia — https://www.airasia.com/en/gb. The flight takes around two hours, and the ticket currently costs approximately EUR 50. Note: You must not bring any alcohol, and you will not be able to buy it there either.
V Bruneji sa platí brunejským dolárom. Čo sa týka cien, je to drahšia krajina ako Malajzia, ale lacnejšia ako napríklad Hongkong či Singapur. Jediné, čo je tu drahšie, je ubytovanie, ktoré sa pohybuje od 20 do 30 eur.
Brunei is a very small country, and its capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is among the smallest capital cities in Asia. Do not expect many major historical sights in the capital, and its appearance may surprise you. Brunei is one of the world’s wealthiest countries, yet the capital does not look like it. Although locals earn around USD 3,000 per month, pay no taxes, and receive free healthcare and education, everything looks very simple. Do not expect Dubai!
You can explore the city itself on foot in 2–3 hours. The main attractions are:
- Istana Nurul Iman — the Sultan’s palace, with 1,788 rooms, is the second-largest palace in the world after the Forbidden City. Unfortunately, the only thing you can see is the gate of the Sultan’s palace! 🙂
- Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque — a mosque in the city centre, built in 1958. It is probably most beautiful at night, when it is beautifully illuminated.
- Royal Regalia Building — gifts that the Sultan has received from other rulers, presidents, and kings.
- Floating village — from the local harbour, you can take a water taxi for $2 and reach the world’s largest floating village in about five minutes. It is essentially the original city dating back to the 16th century.
However, do not expect to see buildings from the 16th century. These are modern homes where local residents live while maintaining the tradition of living on the water. - Local rainforest — it is about a 20-minute boat ride from Bandar Seri Begawan, and you can see the endemic proboscis monkey here. You can arrange it through your hotel.
21.deň: Odchod loďou do Kota Kinabalu – musíš ísť najprv loďou do Labuanu a následne ďalšoDay 21: Departure by boat to Kota Kinabalu — you must first take a boat to Labuan and then another boat to Kota Kinabalu. However, the port itself is not in Bandar Seri Begawan, but in Serasa, about a 30-minute taxi ride away.u loďou do Kota Kinabalu. Samotný prístav však nie je v Bandar Seri Begawane, ale v Serase, cca 30 minút taxíkom.
You can find the current ferry timetable from Brunei to Labuan at http://www.pkljaya.com/timetable.htm. For the route from Labuan to Kota Kinabalu (KK), information is available at http://englishjesseltonpoint.blogspot.com/p/ferry-schedule_4922.html. Tickets should be purchased in advance through the website.
Usually, there is a longer stopover in Labuan. You can leave your belongings at the port (there is storage available for €2) and go explore the town. The entire island is duty-free.
Arrival in Kota Kinabalu in the late afternoon. Be sure to head to the night markets right after checking in. It’s a wonderful experience, with plenty of seafood that is prepared right in front of you.
Day 22: There are beaches near Kota Kinabalu. To get there, go to the harbour and buy a ticket to one of the islands. There are three of them, and they are all more or less the same.
The downside is that you have to specify your return trip when buying the ticket. On the island, there are restaurants, beaches, and more. The boat ride to the islands takes up to 20 minutes in an open boat. It is well organized, but it can be quite crowded.
Day 23: Fly with AirAsia — tickets to Sandakan cost €20. There is not much to see in the city itself, but you depart from there for Turtle Island the following day.
Day 24: Turtle Island — you need to make a reservation ASAP; see http://turtleislandborneo.com/booking/. It takes two hours to get there by private boat, and approximately 50 people can be there each day. Apart from swimming, you can watch turtles.
Every evening, people observe the turtles laying their eggs, but you never know whether it will happen at 8:00 p.m. or 4:00 a.m. However, it is worth waiting for, and it is GREAT.
Day 25: Return to Sandakan — visit the orangutans; see https://www.orangutan-appeal.org.uk/about-us/sepilok-orangutan-rehabilitation-centre. They have specific visiting times, and then fly to Kota Kinabalu. Overnight in Kota Kinabalu.
Day 26: Fly home via Kuala Lumpur
Day 27: Ariival home
How much does a trip like this cost?
Excluding the main flight ticket (Vienna–Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur; such a ticket costs around EUR 500), the trip will cost between EUR 800 and EUR 1,100 per person if you stay in three-star hotels. What are the current prices of food, transportation, services, and other expenses? Check the prices and average cost of living in Indonesia, as well as prices in Brunei and Malaysia.
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