Cycling Indonesia's Islands

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.

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! :)

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!

We’ve been cycling with Exodus for 10 years or so and the last couple of trips have disappointed but this one restored my faith. It’s pretty full on, with a varied program, and we were pretty exhausted by the end, but happily so. Bali has a reputation as the Aussies’ Blackpool and certainly the areas around the airport and Ubud are choked with traffic and full of tourist tat. The great thing about this trip was that we ventured into areas where westerners rarely go - the central mountains and the north coast were particularly quiet and gorgeous. The east of Java was, possibly, even lovelier.

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.

Cycling Indonesia was a brilliantly organised trip which offered a glimpse into a good cross section of Indonesian, from the quiet East Javanese beaches to the bustling cultural centre of Ubud. The countryside was wonderful and the traffic did not pose a problem as they seemed to navigate around us. The terrain was hilly but none of the climbs were extreme and all in our group made it up both volcanoes in their own time. The local people were so welcoming and friendly and our guide and his crew were equally outstanding.

Fantastic trip and a great experience. The guides were excellent and great ambassadors for Indonesia. We've all heard of the country but perhaps no little about it so it's a great way to improve your knowledge and understanding about its geography, history and people. Food was also excellent and whilst rice is very common at meals there are other options available.

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.

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.

An amazing and varied cycling adventure spent with a really lovely group and a fantastic local support team. This trip is filled with cycling challenges while riding both up and downhill on various terrain, cultural stops at temples and through villages as well as well deserved downtime by beautiful beaches. Wholeheartedly recommended to the adventurous curious minded cyclist.