How to Plan a 10-Day Indonesia Itinerary: Bali, Lombok & Bintan Travel Guide

A 10-day Indonesia itinerary that involves Bali, Lombok, and Bintan can be effectively structured into 4 days spent in Bali, 3 days spent in Lombok, and 3 days in Bintan. It is recommended to use domestic flights or ferry rides from one island to another in order to minimize transportation time and maximize the trip experience.

As many people know from personal experience, it is not easy to organize this trip. There is a geographical problem since Bali, Lombok, and Bintan are not located next to each other. Bali and Lombok are southern islands located close to each other through the Lombok Strait. Bintan, on the contrary, is a northern island that is located close to Singapore and Batam.

In addition, most of the guides ignore this problem or provide insufficient information regarding the links between these islands. The following guide solves this issue. The following is an example of a realistic and detailed 10-day Indonesia itinerary that includes actual travel time from one island to another, accommodation places, budgets, and transportation links between islands.

Why Combine Bali, Lombok, and Bintan in One Indonesia Itinerary?

Each of these destinations offers a specific purpose when traveling, and mixing them together means you get contrast, not repetition.

The purpose of visiting Bali includes culture, temples, rice fields, nightlife, and food basically everything for which most tourists fly there.

Lombok is less populated and less developed; this includes the Gili Islands, view on Mount Rinjani, and beaches that have a lot fewer people compared to those of Bali's south.

Bintan is another destination that has nothing common with the previous two; it is a resort island located near Singapore and includes beach resorts and golf courses.

The disadvantage of this combination is the extra time spent on transport: Bintan can be reached from Bali or Lombok with about two hours of flight and connecting to the ferry, so it is possible to visit all of them only in case if you will divide your travel in two separate mini-traveling trips with just one domestic flight in between, not three islands to hop from one to another easily.

How Should You Structure a 10-Day Indonesia Itinerary?

The most efficient way to split 10 days across Bali, Lombok, and Bintan is front-loading Bali and Lombok together (they're close), then using a flight day to reach Bintan for the final stretch.

This structure keeps your active sightseeing (Bali, Lombok) at the start when energy is highest, and saves the resort-style downtime in Bintan for the end of the trip  which also works well if you're flying home from Singapore or Batam afterward instead of backtracking through Jakarta.

Days 1–4: What Should You Do in Bali on a 10-Day Trip?

Four days in Bali is enough to cover one cultural base and one beach base without rushing, provided you don't try to see the entire island.

Day 1 – Arrival and Seminyak/Canggu Land at Ngurah Rai International Airport, check into a beach-area hotel, and keep the day light. Walk Seminyak beach at sunset, or head to Canggu if you prefer a more laid-back, café-driven scene.

Day 2 – Ubud culture day Move inland to Ubud for rice terraces (Tegallalang is the most photographed), the Sacred Monkey Forest, and a traditional Balinese dance performance in the evening. Ubud is also where most cooking classes and temple visits are based.

Day 3 – Temples and waterfalls Visit Tanah Lot for a coastal temple at sunset, or head north to Tirta Empul for a purification ritual at the water temple. Pair this with a waterfall stop like Tegenungan if you're staying near Ubud.

Day 4 – Beach day and transit prep Keep the last Bali day flexible a beach club day in Uluwatu or Nusa Dua works well, and it also gives you a buffer if flights or ferries shift by a few hours the next day.

Skimmable summary: Four days in Bali should split roughly 2 days culture (Ubud, temples), 1–2 days beach (Seminyak, Canggu, or Uluwatu), leaving room for one flexible day before you move on to Lombok.

How Do You Get from Bali to Lombok?

There are two realistic ways to cross from Bali to Lombok: a fast boat or a short domestic flight, and the right choice depends on your budget and tolerance for open water.

If your itinerary includes the Gili Islands before mainland Lombok, the fast boat is usually more convenient since most routes stop at Gili Trawangan or Gili Air directly. If you're heading straight to Kuta Lombok or Senggigi, the flight is faster.

In short: budget half a travel day for this crossing, book your boat or flight at least a few days ahead during peak season (July–August, December–January), and don't schedule anything else on this transit day.

Days 5–7: What Should You Do in Lombok?

Three days in Lombok covers the Gili Islands and mainland Lombok without feeling rushed, as long as you pick one Gili island rather than trying to visit all three.

Day 5 – Arrival and Gili Islands Arrive by boat and settle into Gili Air (quieter, good for couples) or Gili Trawangan (more nightlife and activity). Rent a bicycle there are no motorized vehicles on the Gilis and do a slow lap of the island before sunset.

Day 6 – Snorkeling and reef time The Gili Islands are known for sea turtle sightings on shallow reef snorkels just off the coast. A half-day boat snorkel trip covering two or three sites is standard and affordable.

Day 7 – Mainland Lombok Cross back to mainland Lombok for Kuta Lombok's surf beaches, or visit Tanjung Aan for one of the island's most striking bays. If you have extra time and stamina, a Mount Rinjani day trek (not the multi-day summit trek) offers views without the full commitment.

Skimmable summary: Spend two days on a Gili island for snorkeling and slow pace, then one day on mainland Lombok for surf beaches or a short volcano-adjacent hike before heading toward Bintan.

How Do You Travel from Lombok to Bintan Island?

This is the longest and most complex connection in the itinerary, since Lombok and Bintan have no direct flight you'll route through Jakarta or Batam.

The typical path is:

1. Fly from Lombok International Airport to Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta), roughly 2 hours.

2. Connect to a flight to Batam, or fly directly toward Tanjung Pinang if a connection is available.

3. From Batam, take a ferry to Bintan (Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal), which takes about 1 hour.

Budget a full travel day for this leg. Trying to compress it into a half-day risks missed connections, especially since domestic Indonesian flight schedules can shift. Book this transit day with no other plans attached.

In short: treat Lombok-to-Bintan as its own travel day, route through Jakarta or Batam, and confirm your ferry terminal (Bintan has more than one) before you land.

Days 8–10: What Makes Bintan Island Worth Visiting?

Bintan is built for resort-style relaxation rather than sightseeing, which makes it a strong closing chapter after the more active Bali and Lombok legs.

Day 8 – Arrival and resort settle-in Most travelers base themselves in the Lagoi resort area on Bintan's north coast, home to several beach resorts, private beach stretches, and calmer water than much of Bali's south coast.

Day 9 – Beach and activities Bintan's resort strip offers golf courses, water sports, and spa facilities. If you want something outside the resort bubble, Trikora Beach on the east coast is quieter and less developed, with fewer crowds.

Day 10 – Final relaxation and departure Keep the last day unstructured. Bintan is close enough to Singapore (via ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal) that many travelers fly out of Singapore rather than backtracking through Jakarta worth checking if it saves you a connection.

Skimmable summary: Bintan works best as a low-effort finish to the trip one arrival day, one activity or beach day, and one day left open for rest before departure.

What's the Best Budget for a 10-Day Indonesia Trip?

Budget varies significantly by travel style, but a realistic mid-range estimate for this specific route (Bali, Lombok, Bintan) runs higher than a Bali-only trip because of the extra domestic flights and Bintan's resort pricing.

Bintan lifts the average above Bali and Lombok alone because the prices for resorts there are similar to those near Singapore than regular prices for Indonesian domestic travel. If you are on a budget, have longer stays at Bali and Lombok while limiting your stay at Bintan to 2 days rather than 3.

Conclusion: It is costlier to take this itinerary as compared to traveling only to Bali because of the cost of resorts at Bintan and additional domestic travel budget for Bintan.

What Should You Pack for Bali, Lombok, and Bintan?

Packing for this route needs to cover beach, temple, and boat conditions across three different island environments.

• Lightweight, breathable clothing (Indonesia is humid year-round)

• A modest cover-up or sarong for temple visits in Bali (shoulders and knees covered)

• Reef-safe sunscreen, especially for Gili Islands snorkeling

• A dry bag for boat crossings between Bali, Lombok, and the Gilis

• Motion sickness tablets if you're sensitive to boat travel the Bali-Lombok crossing can get choppy

• A universal power adapter (Indonesia uses Type C/F plugs, 230V)

Skimmable summary: Pack light, humid-weather clothing, temple-appropriate cover-ups, and boat-crossing essentials like a dry bag and motion sickness tablets the sea crossings are the part most first-time visitors underestimate.

Where Should You Stay in Bali, Lombok, and Bintan?

Accommodation choice affects this itinerary more than most, since each island has a different lodging profile.

• Bali: Base in Seminyak or Canggu for beach access with nightlife, or Ubud for a quieter, culture-focused stay.

• Lombok: Gili Air or Gili Trawangan for the island experience; Kuta Lombok or Senggigi if you prefer mainland access and surf beaches.

• Bintan: The Lagoi resort belt covers most beachfront options, with Trikora as a quieter, less commercial alternative.

If you're considering a longer-term stay in Indonesia beyond this 10-day trip whether that's an extended holiday home, a villa investment in Bali, or property options tied to Bintan's resort growth it's worth looking into the property market alongside your travel planning rather than treating them as separate decisions. Property Central puts together listings and guidance across Indonesia's key destinations, including areas covered in this itinerary, for travelers who end up wanting more than just a visit. 

In short: match your accommodation to what each island does best culture and nightlife in Bali, island simplicity in Lombok, resort comfort in Bintan rather than picking the same style of hotel for all three.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 10 days enough for Bali, Lombok, and Bintan? Yes, but it's a full itinerary with little slack. Ten days works if you accept one full transit day between Lombok and Bintan and keep sightseeing focused rather than trying to cover every attraction on each island.

What is the best way to travel between Bali and Lombok? A fast boat (1.5–3 hours) or a short domestic flight (25–30 minutes) are both realistic options. The boat is better if you're stopping at the Gili Islands first; the flight is faster if you're heading straight to mainland Lombok.

Do I need a different visa for Bali, Lombok, and Bintan? No. Bali, Lombok, and Bintan are all part of Indonesia, so a single Indonesian entry permission covers all three there's no separate visa needed between islands within the country.

Is Bintan worth adding to a Bali and Lombok trip? Bintan suits travelers who want a resort-style close to a cultural and island-hopping trip, especially if departing near Singapore afterward. If your priority is more island exploration rather than resort downtime, that time may be better spent extending Lombok instead.

How much does a 10-day Indonesia trip covering these three islands cost? Mid-range travelers should budget more than a Bali-only trip due to extra domestic flights and Bintan's resort pricing, which runs closer to Singapore rates than typical Indonesian pricing elsewhere.

Can I do this itinerary in reverse, starting from Bintan? Yes. Starting in Bintan works well if you're arriving via Singapore or Batam, then flying to Bali and Lombok afterward before departing from Denpasar. The logistics are the same in either direction.

What's the biggest mistake people make planning this itinerary? Underestimating the Lombok-to-Bintan connection. There's no direct flight, so travelers who don't budget a full transit day risk missed connections or losing a planned activity day.

Final Thoughts

A 10-day Indonesia itinerary through Bali, Lombok, and Bintan works when you respect the geography instead of fighting it four culture-and-beach days in Bali, three quieter island days in Lombok, and three resort days in Bintan, joined by realistic transit time rather than optimistic connections.

If this trip has you thinking beyond a single visit whether that's a villa in Bali, a getaway property in Lombok, or a resort-area investment in Bintan Property Central covers listings across these same destinations.