Why Indonesia Is The Perfect Destination For A First Solo Trip Abroad

I didn’t choose Indonesia because I had a dream about Bali. I chose it because it was the cheapest long-haul flight from Montréal.

One month in Bali was the original plan. To see a Komodo dragon was the goal. And I achieved so much more. I’ll share my itinerary, travel stories and some tips about travelling through Indonesia as a solo female backpacker! You can check out my overall post on Indonesia here for extra information about this awesome country.

I landed in Kuta exhausted, dizzy from time zones, carrying a backpack almost bigger than my confidence. It was my first real solo trip. First hostel. First time that far from home alone.

Visa Information for Indonesia

Most travellers can get a 30-day visa on arrival when entering Indonesia.

You can extend this visa once for an additional 30 days while you are in the country, giving you up to 60 days in total.

There is also an online application option through Indonesia’s official immigration website, which can make the arrival process smoother.

For longer stays, Indonesia has introduced several longer-term visa options, including remote worker and digital nomad-style visas. Requirements and rules change, so always verify before booking.

Important: Indonesia can be strict about passport condition. Make sure:

• Your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your entry date
• It has blank pages
• It is in good physical condition (no tears, water damage, or loose pages)

Always check official information directly from the Indonesian Immigration website for more accurate details.

Visa rules change. Double-check.

Landing in Bali—Culture Shock in Kuta

I dropped my bag at Cara Cara Inn hostel and walked straight to the beach.

I remember thinking I should open a YouTube Channel back then. I made two videos that I’ll share with you in this post. The travelling life won over the influencer dream. I wasn’t meant to make videos all day; my purpose was self-discovery. The first video of my very first hostel common areas in Kuta, check it here.

The ocean looked unreal. Like someone turned the saturation to maximum. I remember thinking: This feels fake. Like I stepped into a postcard.

I slept 18 hours that first night.

Jet lag hit me like a truck.

The next day, something strange happened.

A group of young girls asked me for a photo. I smiled and reached for their camera, ready to take their picture.

They laughed.

They wanted a photo with me.

It took me a second to understand. I was the only uncovered white woman on that beach. It felt uncomfortable. Confusing. Not violent, not aggressive, just… different. I suddenly realized how visible I was.

That moment cracked something open in me.

After one night in Kuta, I knew I needed to leave.

Overwhelmed. Tired. Still not confident navigating buses. So I booked a scooter ride with Grab to Ubud and booked my next hostel through Hostelworld.

Ubud Travel Guide: Jungle, Monkeys, Coffee & My First Travel Friends

Always with a pool. That was my only luxury rule.

Ubud felt softer. Greener. Slower. There are so many waterfalls to explore!

I met a fellow Canadian guy at my second hostel, The Wayan House Ubud. It felt comforting to speak French again. My English back then was shy and broken. It felt good to rest in familiarity.

We went out at night. Ubud is a good place for nightlife. We walked around the village and got ourselves some Kopi luwak Coffee. There are a couple of places in town you can try it and pet the Asian Palm Civet at the same time. We also visited a coffee plantation around.

Together, we explored. We negotiated with a local taxi driver to drive us to different waterfalls. There are so many around Ubud. Maybe grouping with other people and finding a private driver is an option. Renting a motorbike if you’re alone or with two people is also doable. If you prefer a tour, check with your hostel or book with GetYourGuide.

I remember it was such a nice day until we stopped for food. My little Canadian stomach was not yet ready for all the spices and the meat (sometimes contaminated by flies). The toilets are also from a different standard. Often a squat toilet (just a hole in the ground) in a little outside cabin. It was not the nicest experience to have your first travel diarrhea there.

When I shared my bowel problem with other travellers, they suggested I stop eating meat for a while. To let my stomach rest. Which I did. Since then, I have never eaten meat again.

After a few days, we explored a less touristy part of Bali, Amed.

Amed: The Quiet Side of Bali

Amed was magic. Quiet fishing village energy. Black sand beaches. We stayed in a private jungle bungalow and drank way too much arak, the local liquor.

The second (and last) video on my Youtube Channel from my hotel in Amed is here. Unfortunately, I don’t have the name of this place. I barely knew how to use a map in 2018. I had Maps.me for downloaded maps. I think that was before Google Maps offered the download possibilities. We booked it through Agoda which was actually cheaper than other platforms.

I don’t regret dropping the influencer video dream for enjoying the here and now fully. Still, would be very cool if I made more videos like this on all the places I’ve stayed. That would be over 1000 places for sure! I have a lot on my personal Instagram, especially in my highlights. You can check out my personal account for more places and silly moments around the world.

Writing Vagabond also has its own Instagram profile where I also share some stories and every post.

We had so much fun. Met other French travellers. Local guys we made fire by the beach with and drank some arak (local homemade liquor). We went one night with this local guy to buy some more at a connection of his. The lady filled out a recycled plastic bottle directly from a fresh batch from her bathtub. Questioning choices, I know. But I’m still writing about it today, so it must have been worth it!

From Amed, we found a speedboat to the Gili Islands. It was time to discover more islands!

The Gili Islands: Party Culture & Environmental Contradictions

There are three:

• Gili Trawangan
• Gili Air
• Gili Meno.

Gili Trawangan is the party island. And yes, it’s surreal how strict Indonesia’s national drug laws are, yet mushrooms are openly sold wrapped in banana leaves there. It’s a cultural shock. Having local Muslim families living on the island and so many tourists partying at night.

That is also where my conscience hit the fan. The people there were burning their garbage. A part of the island was full of plastic along the coast. While talking about my observations with others, I realized that no garbage truck was passing on an island with no vehicles. The only way to avoid this over-pollution of residues is to consume less…

Indonesia is a contradiction layered on top of another.

Then, I was supposed to continue to Gili Air with him.

But something inside me shifted.

Why I Continued Alone (Not For Long)

I didn’t fly to the other side of the planet to build a comfort bubble with another Canadian.

I wanted full freedom.

I told him that I was leaving.

It was hard. I was still learning how to express what I wanted. But that moment was crystal clear.

I booked a 4-day boat trip to Komodo from the little travel agency shops on the beach walk near the port.

Online it was 500 CAD. On site? Around 120.

That was my first big backpacker lesson: unless you need certainty, wait. Things are cheaper on the ground.

The 4-Day Komodo Boat Trip That Changed My Life: Lombok to Komodo National Park

The journey began in Lombok.

I had to fight for a seat in a minibus that was “full.” A Spanish traveller helped me negotiate; make sure I get on that bus. Mike, if you’re reading this, you changed that day. Thank you, my friend!

We reached the boat departure area. Last chance to buy beer, arak, cigarettes. Food and water were included; alcohol was not. If you like to drink, buy more than you think.

Trust me. As we put everything in the same cooler, some people (Mike?) might have drunk more than they bought. A Beer War happened. It was… something! So just buy more than what you think you need, just to be safe!

I was also a recent vegetarian. There were options for me as well. Every day, the crew prepared the meals for the group. The first night, some people just got enormous plates and some slower people missed out on food. We had to adapt to ensure everyone got enough. As the meals passed, everyone became more generous towards each other. That was nice to witness. Human adaptation.

I took the cheapest option. The boat was simple. Wooden. Mattresses on deck. The sleeping area was… look:

I made friends instantly. Fortunately, we were all in the same age range. People from France, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, United States, Italy, Poland… It was nice to be surrounded by diversity. Dominant language spoken? English, of course.

We hiked every day.
Swam whenever we wanted.
Snorkeled with manta rays! That was incredible, and I didn’t even know what that was or that we would swim with them!

I saw a seahorse on one of my very first snorkeling experiences. Blue starfish. Neon fish. Entire underwater world. I’m still in awe when I think back at it.

We stopped at Pink Beach. Instagram’s influencers exaggerate it with filters. Here’s an actual picture of it.

After many days on board, experiencing different activities and wild nights, we visited Komodo National Park and saw the dragons.

Honestly? The least impressive part for me. All the rest stole the show.

How weird is it that, that was not my favourite part of all? It was actually the part I liked the least. I thought the boat trip was all about seeing the Komodo dragons. I had two bearded dragons when I was a teenager and just had a fixation on reptiles, I guess… But yeah.

The two Komodo dragons we’ve seen were very old or very drugged. They were not responsive at all, very slow. Later I met other travellers who installed some GoPro cameras on the island and filmed ‘’real’’ Komodo Dragons. They were much bigger and active. Anyway… That was a two hours tour, interesting, perfect to conclude this trip called ‘’Komodo Island Boat Tour’’ or the equivalent…

I just didn’t know I would also enjoy snorkeling, swimming with the Manta Rays, hiking beautiful island hills, trek a waterfall, sharing days and nights with strangers that became friends…

The people I met.

That stays with me. That was my favourite part.

When the itinerary was over, we ended up in Labuan Bajo with one last chaotic hostel party.

Six of us weren’t ready to separate… and made up a new plan!

Motorbiking Across Flores Island, Indonesia

So we rented motorbikes for five days and rode across Flores to Maumere. The rental guy agreed to pick the bikes up from there so we could fly out.

I hadn’t ridden a motorbike since I was 15 years old. I did it anyway. And I crashed 30 km before the end.

That ride across Flores remains one of the greatest experiences of my life.

Stops we did along this motor trip:

• Kelimutu Volcano (the famous three coloured crater lakes) Unfortunately, I don’t have pictures anymore, but that was so beautiful!
• Traditional village of Wae Rebo
• Cunca Wulang waterfall
• Hot springs near Bajawa
• Blue stone beach near Ende
• Rice fields around Ruteng

The landscapes changed every few hours. Jungle. Coast. Mountains. Tiny villages. Kids waving on the roadside. We booked hostels as we went, when we arrived in the evening.

Then I had my accident. Bad road. Bad timing.

I stayed in Maumere to heal. In humidity and heat, wounds take forever. Two months. The scars are still on my body.

And I love them.

They remind me of the moment my life opened.

I also had the chance to clean the beach with a school team with Trash Hero team. When you see the amount of trash that lands on the coast of all those islands (coming from the boats, ferries, etc.), it’s nice to see children cleaning it. Learning something valuable.

From Maumere, I flew to Vietnam.

But the end of Indonesia was somehow the beginning of Lydia 2.0.

Is Indonesia a Good First Solo Trip for Women?

I would say 100% yes. Check out my Indonesia post on this topic. And the basics are worldwide, yes? Be careful at night. Watch your back. Have a map. Don’t carry too much valuable stuff. Lock your things in your hostel. And most importantly, beware of the monkeys!

In Ubud, one thirsty monkey stole my water bottle and drank it in my face. Later, his brother or cousin stole my sunglasses. I repeat myself. Beware of the monkeys!

Indonesia Travel Costs in 2026 (Realistic Bali Budget)

My memories are from 2018, but for the sake of keeping up to date, I did some research for 2026 updates.

I’ll highlight Bali prices, so you can prepare for the worst and enjoy a pleasant surprise when you explore beyond the popular route.

Here’s updated 2026 backpacker-level pricing in USD:

Hostels

• Budget dorm: $8–15/night
• Nice hostel with pool: $15–25/night
• Private room guesthouse: $25–45

Average backpacker budget: $18/night

Food

• Local warung meal: $2–4
• Western café: $6–12
• Smoothie bowl / Instagram breakfast: $5–9
• Coffee: $1.50–4

Daily food average when you eat out: $10–20

Transport

• Scooter rental: $5–8/day
• Private driver full day (you can share): $40–60
• Grab ride (short distance): $3–10

4-Day Komodo Boat Trip (2026 realistic) Food, Water & Accomodation

• Budget deck mattress: $200 with Sail Komodo
• Mid-range cabin: $250-300

Realistic Daily Budget for Bali 2026

Backpacker style: $35–55/day
Comfortable backpacker: $55–80/day

Bali is still affordable. Just not 2018. Outside of Bali, it will definitely be cheaper.

What To Eat in Indonesia

Food is part of the experience. It’s affordable, flavourful and incredibly diverse.

Here are a few classics to try:

• Nasi Goreng: Indonesia’s iconic fried rice, often topped with a fried egg
• Mie Goreng: Stir-fried noodles packed with flavour
• Satay: Grilled skewers served with peanut sauce
• Gado-Gado: Steamed vegetables with a rich peanut dressing (great vegetarian option)

If you eat street food, choose busy stalls with high turnover. Freshly cooked and popular are usually good signs.

And if you’re sensitive to spice, ask for “not spicy” because Indonesian sambal can surprise you.

There are plenty of tropical fruits and more western groceries or restaurants too.

Other Places in Indonesia I Haven’t Explored Yet (But Heard Amazing Things About)

• Nusa Penida for dramatic cliffs and turquoise coves
• Mount Ijen in Java for the blue sulphur flame phenomenon
• Sumatra to see orangutans in Bukit Lawang
• Borneo for rainforest, jungle and safari

Final Thoughts: From Bali to Flores

I left Montréal with a backpack bigger than my courage.
I left Indonesia with scars on my knees and fire in my chest.

The dragons were slower than I expected.
The boat was louder.
The roads rougher.
The friendships deeper.

Indonesia did not comfort me.
It gave me an expansion.

From Bali to Flores, something cracked open.
And the version of me who boarded that plane in 2018 never really came back.

Vietnam was the next flight.
But Indonesia was the beginning.

What moment from your travels changed you the most? And do you think it’s time I restart my 2018 YouTube Channel? 🥲