From Bali to Java on the Volcanoes Trail

It is our only tour in Indonesia, and the one with the most going on: 12 days with 9 days of riding, on a loop from Ubud. You cross Bali, take the ferry to Java to climb Mount Ijen at dawn and ride into the Bromo caldera, then reach the turtle beach of Sukamade by 4x4 before heading back to Bali. Our tours in Thailand and Vietnam stay on the mainland, in the mountains.

The tour is rated Intermediate: you should ride regularly and be in good shape. Most of the riding is on small, narrow and winding roads, in the heat, with heavy traffic around towns and ports. There is little off-road riding, including a stretch of packed volcanic sand in the Bromo caldera: nothing very technical, but you need to be in control of your bike. The tour is not recommended if you have never left the tarmac. The support vehicle follows the group.

About 845 miles (1,360 km) over 9 riding days, so 68 to 130 miles (110 to 210 km) a day. The pace is brisk: you set off before dawn to walk up to the Ijen crater from Paltuding, at almost 2,000 metres, then watch the sunrise over Bromo. The medical certificate required for the climb is arranged by our local team. Day 9 is a rest day by the sea at Pemuteran.

A Royal Enfield Classic 350 or Bullet 500, depending on our local fleet, serviced by our mechanic, who follows the group with the spare parts. If your height makes you hesitate, either way, talk to your travel advisor before booking.

Yes, traffic drives on the left in Indonesia, on Bali as on Java, as in the UK and Ireland; riders used to the right get the hang of it quickly behind the tour leader. UK and European licence holders need an International Driving Permit: it does not replace your motorcycle licence, so bring both. Full details are in our list of documents for Indonesia.

Yes, this tour works well two-up if the rider already has experience with a pillion: the small winding roads and the heat call for confidence. The luggage travels in the support vehicle. The tour costs £3,490 (€3,790) per rider and £2,890 (€3,190) per pillion.

An English-speaking motorcycle tour leader, a local Indonesian guide, a mechanic and the driver of the support vehicle, which carries your luggage and the spare parts. The group is limited to 10 motorcycles (12 participants with pillions).

£3,490 (€3,790) per rider and £2,890 (€3,190) per pillion. The price includes the motorcycle, fuel, the team, hotels, full board on riding days, the Bromo park entrance and transfers from Denpasar airport. You pay for your flights, the visa, lunch and dinner on days 1 and 12, rest-day activities (diving or snorkelling at Menjangan), drinks, tips and a €600 deposit per motorcycle.

The tour starts and ends at Denpasar airport on Bali, and you book your own flights. Our team meets you on day 1 and takes you to Ubud, where the day is free; on day 12, the transfer is arranged around your flight times. UK and EU passport holders can get a 30-day visa on arrival (500,000 rupiah), with a passport valid for six months, and pay the Bali tourist levy (150,000 rupiah). For other nationalities, your travel advisor will confirm the formalities. See our list of documents. To arrive earlier or stay on, ask your travel advisor about the options.

The season runs from May to October, in the dry season; open dates are shown on this page, and other dates are possible on request through your travel advisor. It is hot, around 30°C during the day, with little rain, but the air is cool at altitude and at sunrise on the volcanoes: bring a warm layer and rain gear. Full details are in our Indonesia weather guide.