Cycling in Indonesia travel guide

Cycling vacations in Indonesia typically focus on Bali, the most high profile destination in the sprawling island nation, but occasionally include a few days on neighbouring Java, which lies just to the west and is home to over half the country’s population. Itineraries vary, but what they share is attention to detail in the planning so that you enjoy a sublime mix of landscapes and cultural immersion, and that demanding days are interspersed with much more forgiving sections. Even if you’re a veteran of cycling vacations, Indonesia is bound to prove a stand-out experience.

Routes wend their way through highlands and lowlands, taking you past volcanic lakes, thousand-year-old temples and remote villages such as Trunyan, with its unique, bizarre and pretty unsavoury method of dealing with the dead (clue – they don’t bother burying them). You’ll camp on beaches watching as local fishermen unloading their catch, soak tired muscles in natural hot springs, wander colourful night markets and snorkel with sea turtles in off-shore marine reserves bristling with coral. Unhurried itineraries ensure you have plenty of time to take in memorable scenes: miners hauling blocks of sulphur from smoking volcanic craters; rice terraces undulating across hillsides in a sea of green; and sunrise from the summit of an active volcano where monkeys scrabble around you in hope of a snack.

Indonesia cycling vacations can be either sociable small group tours, during which you’ll be riding with around 11 other people as well as a professional tour leader, or tailormade trips that are ideal for families, with flexibility on travel dates and the itinerary so you can break up the exertion with more fun cultural activities if you prefer.

Once you’ve had a bit of time to relax after your flight you’ll be equipped for your cycling trip with a high-quality bike suited to the terrain. You must bring your own helmet, but (non-plastic) water bottles can be provided. You should be able to get by with just a day pack and no need for panniers, as your luggage will be transferred between accommodations for you.

Trip durations vary, but typically last between eight days and two weeks, and while you’ll be in the saddle a lot of the time, daily distances are very manageable, usually no more than 60km. However, certainly for small group tours where the itinerary is set, you’ll want to be in reasonable shape, a fairly regular cyclist, as there are a few steep ascents involved when you head into the interior. You will be accompanied 90% of the time by a support vehicle which also carries more water, so if you do feel like taking a break for a while, you can just hop in. As for the terrain, for the most part you will be following quiet, asphalt roads and rainforest tracks, climbing into the support van on the outskirts of cities where traffic gets heavier.

When it comes to accommodation in Bali and Java, you will be cycling point-to-point, accommodated in locally owned, often family-run hotels. One night you might be in a coastal beach resort, another at a homestay on a coffee plantation. There is even the chance of camping overnight on one of Java’s iconic beaches (all equipment provided, naturally).

Active families will love cycling in Indonesia, where tailormade itineraries can be adapted for kids as young as eight to enjoy, with extra days to take things slowly by the pool or on the beach if you want. The actual cycling is quite limited, with short, easy rides liberally interspersed with a raft of fun activities that will hold appeal for parents too: cookery lessons led by local chefs; surf lessons at not-for-profit schools that also provide opportunities for disadvantaged children; island-hopping and sightseeing tours by horse and cart.