New Tour

Borobudur to Bali by Road Bike

Day 1 Meet in Yogyakarta

Upon arriving in Yogyakarta, head to our hotel in the centre of town, and enjoy a walk around the city’s markets, historic districts, and museums. This evening, meet your guides for a welcome dinner and briefing about the journey ahead.

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta
Dinner

Day 2 Yogyakarta - Borobudur - Yogyakarta

This morning, we’ll head out early by van to visit Borobudur, the stunning 9th century Buddhist temple that was abandoned under volcanic ash and jungle until rediscovery in the 19th century. We’ll tour through the temple, taking in its ornate carvings and extraordinary engineering, then take off from this auspicious location on our first ride! Riding back to Yogyakarta, we’ll pass by the Hindu temple of Prambanan (also 9th century) and the Hindu-Buddhist Ratu Boko (from the 7th century). After this day of cycling and sightseeing in spiritual locales, we finish back in Yogyakarta.

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 68km
+519m
-640m

Day 3 Yogyakarta - Pacitan

This morning, we’ll leave Yogyakarta, transferring out of town about 90 minutes to the provincial town of Semanu. Heading into the countryside, we’ll climb steadily for the first 15 km through rice fields and forested sections, then coast along a gradual descent for 20 km. We turn southward with a bit of climbing, then roll down towards the coast through villages tucked away into the trees. The ocean comes into view as we finish our ride at the beach and surfing area of Watu Karung, where we will stay the night at a beautiful resort.

Desa Limasan Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 107km
+1740m
-1862m

Day 4 Pacitan - Tulungagung

Awake to the roar of the breakers a short distance away as morning sun lights up the beach and the small islands nearby. We will cycle straight from the resort today on a challenging ride of 100 km or more, depending on your inclination and appetite for climbs. We will skirt the coastline for large sections, ducking inland, crossing bridges high above river valleys, and emerging for spectacular views over coves and beaches. Bustling towns will keep things lively along the way. From approximately 85 km, ride up a volcanic mountain, reaching an altitude of almost 900 m ASL over a stretch of 25 km. Take in the views to surrounding peaks, then negotiate a steep descent of 10 km and a final flat section into the small town of Trenggalek.

Hotel Tugu Blitar
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 100-128km
+2779m
-2672m

Day 5 Tulungagung - Malang

As locals go about their morning routine in this small town, we’ll ride out into the countryside once more, beginning another long route where we can ride to our heart’s content (albeit with a little less climbing than the previous day). This ride has few undulations, just steady, gradual ups and downs. We ride across intricate patchworks of farm plots that thrive in the fertile volcanic soil, barely noticing our long, sweeping ascent that peaks at the 76 km mark. By now we are in lush, scenic valleys on small roads, surrounded by the fascinating nature of East Java. Where the jungle opens up, we’ll have awe-inspiring views to great mountains in the distance. We’ll then climb still a bit more, circling around Mt. Kawi, to reach an elevation of 1200 m just past the 100 km mark. The final 25 km are a descent once more into the sizable city of Malang, where we will stay the night in the centre.

Hotel Tugu Malang
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 128km
+1831m
-1467m

Day 6 Malang - Goa Cina Beach

Our Indonesian journey is rich in contrasts, and today’s ride is a prime example: we’ll pedal due south out of raucous Malang and head for the open coast once more. It’s a bit of a break for our legs, as we have a lengthy, gradual descent to start, followed by some light climbing for 13 km, then a quick 8 km descent to the southern coast. Compared with last night’s urban setting, this windswept, seaside location feels lost to the outside world: our resort tonight offers spectacular views over the rocky shoreline and scattered islands that act as breakwaters for this isolated community at Goa Cina Beach. Enjoy this exhilarating location for the evening, perhaps trying the local seafood!

Villa Asmara Hills
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 65km
+604m
-1074m

Day 7 Goa Cina Beach - Tumpak Sewu Waterfall - Lumajang

Our ride begins with views onto the ocean and the large island of Sempu, which lies just off the coast. We gradually make our way inland along small paved roads, perfect for road cycling. We are once more in the wild side of Java, passing through tiny villages surrounded by dense jungle, with the sounds of rushing streams and various creatures reaching us out of the foliage. After climbing gradually for 35 km, we enjoy some downhills and rolling terrain that eventually lead us to the awe-inspiring Tumpak Sewu Waterfall, a tiered cascade on the Glidik River flowing down from the volcano Semeru, Java’s highest peak, which we can spot in the distance. It’s a substantial hike to reach the waterfall, so once we have returned, we will transfer to our central hotel in the town of Lumajang.

Gajah Mada Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 62km
+1588m
-1037m

Day 8 Lumajang - Papuma Beach - Jember

Today’s ride takes us around a large crescent shape, first south out of Lumajang, then east along the coast, and finally north up to Jember. This is a much more settled region, largely made up of farming and fishing villages. We descend for much of the first 20 km. Reaching the distinctive black sand beaches of south-eastern Java, we hug the coastline for a long, relaxing 45 km stretch that will certainly be a change from the previous days of climbing. We’ll see the large island of Barung, made up of volcanic rock covered with dense jungle, just offshore. Turning north, the final 35 km will be a gentle climb on smooth tarmac roads through charming little communities, ending in the city of Jember. Our stylish hotel in the middle of town will make for a fun evening.

Luminor Hotel
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 99km
+362m
-343m

Day 9 Jember - Kalibaru

Today’s route is a circuitous and interesting one, winding its way across rivers and around ridges of volcanic mountains. It’s largely flat until around the 25 km mark, when we begin our first moderate climb of the day, surrounded by contrasting scenery of jungle and open farmland. First, we’ll make our way out of Jember, with a fairly flat start until our first climb starts at about 20 km. From there, we’ll cruise downhill for a spell before our extended 23 km climb up to 736 metres ASL along a tree-lined road which should offer some shade and opportunities to rest along the way. We’ll finish with a descent to our resort for the evening. A classic property that fits perfectly into its hushed natural setting. Margo Utomo holds a dairy farm and plantation that began in the 1940s. These operations continue to this day (they even make their own mozzarella cheese on site!), so this is a chance to explore the history and ongoing agriculture of the region, all while enjoying the pool, terrace, and wonderful gardens.

Margo Utomo Eco Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 72km
+983m
-642m

Day 10 Kalibaru - Banyuwangi - Menjangan

This morning, we will say goodbye to our charming agro-culture resort and transfer around 45 minutes to the town of Genteng. From here, we will ride through a string of small villages as we near the more populous east coast of Java. However, there are plenty of serene sections, and we pass over a number of pretty rivers that empty into the ocean near here. After around 76 km, we will reach the ferry that takes us across the strait to beautiful Bali! The passage across the strait takes just over an hour. Disembarking, we will ride an easygoing 25 km into the island paradise; once we have left the port, the roads are noticeably quieter. Our destination is Menjangan, which means “deer” in Balinese, so named for the many deer who used to swim across to Menjangan Island every spring. Our resort is designed and built to accentuate the surrounding natural beauty, the perfect introduction to Bali!

Menjangan Dynasty Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 100km
+520m
-681m

Day 11 Menjangan - Bhuana Sari

Departing Menjangan, we ride along the less-populated northern coast of Bali. The first 50 km are tarmac with no climbing, rolling blissfully with the open sea on our left, and dramatic mountains and jungle on the right. It’s a quintessential Balinese experience, soon to be followed by another: we turn inland and begin an 18 km climb with a gain of about 1300 m, to the water-filled volcanic caldera of Buyan Lake. Here, we will cycle the last short leg up to our stunning resort, set into the mountainside, overlooking vast tracts of pristine jungle and the volcanic peaks in the distance. Take in the view and breathe in the mountain air, take a dip in the pool, or go for a little hike on the trails. This will be a special evening in this sacred place, truly a piece of paradise!

Giriwood Hotel and Villa
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 75km
+1670m
-484m

Day 12 Bhuana Sari - Ubud

We ride along Bali's volcanic ridges, with lush jungle and lakes sweeping off in breathtaking fashion in every direction. The light is constantly changing on these slopes, the interplay between sunshine and clouds making for a sublime shadow play. We make our way up and down a series of significant climbs that are generally not too steep. Reaching a maximum elevation of 1700 m, we begin descending along the flank of the gigantic Mt. Batur. A pause is a must here to take in this sublime scenery. We then descend for 41 km into Ubud, a vibrant town of Hindu temples, lovely shops selling handicrafts, and quaint sidestreets, intersected by rushing streams in hushed valleys. Our resort here is tucked away in a quiet district, with a design that honours beautiful Balinese styles. There is. a luxuriant pool at its heart, the perfect finishing point for our great cycling journey. We’ll gather in this special atmosphere for our final dinner of the tour and reflect on the experience of this unique, dazzling road bike tour.

Rama Phala Resort
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Ride 101km
+1770m
-2786m

Day 13 Departure from Ubud

After breakfast, we will say our goodbyes; from here, you can continue your stay in Ubud, explore other parts of Bali, or head to the Denpasar Airport for your departing flight, full of memories of this grand journey!

Breakfast

Disclaimer: The adventure cycling tours we operate often go beyond the beaten track, and the countries where we ride are not always predictable. Due to these reasons, it is occasionally necessary to reroute or update itineraries. Our guarantee is that we will not change a trip unless for safety or to improve it. Our listed hotels are always accurate at the time of writing, but should we have to change any hotel, it will always be for a similar or better one.