Bangkok to Bali Overland: Thailand, Malaysia & Java – 28 Days
Khao Sok, Krabi, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Borobudur, Mount Bromo and Bali, in a small group of up to 12.
Tour overview
This 28-day small-group journey travels from Bangkok to Bali through four countries, by train, bus, boat and ferry, with one short flight from Singapore to Jakarta. Groups have no more than 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with local leaders in each section. You stay in hotels and resorts, with a sleeper train in Thailand and a night in an eco-guesthouse in a Javan nature reserve. Breakfast is included most days, with 5 lunches and 2 dinners. The trip is land-only apart from the internal flight, starting in Bangkok and ending in Ubud.
The first half follows southern Thailand and Malaysia: canals and Wat Pho in Bangkok, a sleeper train south, a longtail boat across Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park, sea kayaking near Krabi with a free day at Ao Nang, and lunch in the fishing village of Baan Mod Tanoy. You walk through George Town on Penang, spend two nights in Kuala Lumpur, tour Melaka by trishaw and reach Singapore.
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A short flight takes you to Jakarta for a city tour of the old Dutch port and Chinatown, then trains carry you across Java. From Bandung you visit the crater of Tangkuban Perahu, and in Yogyakarta, Java's cultural heart, you see sunrise at Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world, and cycle through the rice fields to watch tofu and bricks being made by hand. After a night at the Seloliman eco-reserve learning about herbal medicine, you rise at 3am to watch the sun come up over the sea of sand around Mount Bromo and climb to its crater rim.
A ferry crosses to Bali for two nights on the quiet north coast at Pemuteran, with time to snorkel or relax, after a visit to coffee and cocoa plantations. The journey ends in Ubud, among rice terraces and temples, with a stop at the royal temple of Taman Ayun on the way.
The physical rating is medium, with long travel days and an early start for Bromo. This trip suits travellers who love overland journeys and want to combine South-East Asia's beaches and cities with Java's volcanoes and temples.
Trip highlights
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Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok National Park (Day 4)
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Sea kayaking near Krabi (Day 5)
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George Town, Kuala Lumpur and Melaka (Days 8–13)
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Sunrise at Borobudur (Day 20)
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Sunrise over the sea of sand at Mount Bromo (Day 24)
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Bali's north coast and Ubud (Days 25–28)
Your route
20 stops from Bangkok to Ubud
- Bangkok Days 1–2
- Surat Thani Day 3
- Khao Sok National Park Days 3–4
- Ao Nang Days 5–6
- Trang (Baan Mod Tanoy) Day 7
- George Town (Penang) Days 8–9
- Kuala Lumpur Days 10–11
- Melaka Days 12–13
- Singapore Day 14
- Jakarta Days 15–16
- Bandung Days 17–18
- Yogyakarta Days 19–21
- Borobudur Day 20
- Seloliman Nature Reserve Day 22
- Mount Bromo Day 23
- Kalibaru Day 24
- Gilimanuk Day 25
- Pemuteran Days 25–26
- Taman Ayun Temple Day 27
- Ubud Day 27
Why choose this tour
Four countries overland, with Java's volcanoes and temples as well as Thailand, Malaysia and Bali. Trains, boats and ferries make the journey itself part of the experience.
Best suited to
- Overland travellers with a month to spare
- Anyone keen to see Java as well as Bali
- Travellers who enjoy volcanoes, temples and beaches
- Independent-minded travellers comfortable with public transport
Day-by-day itinerary
28 days from Bangkok, Thailand to Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
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Day 1 · Bangkok Arrive in Bangkok
Welcome to Bangkok, famous for its tuk-tuks, canal boats and street food. Meet your leader and group at the welcome meeting.
- Hotel
- Hotel
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Day 2 · Chao Phraya River, Wat Pho Canals, Wat Pho and the night train
Cruise into Bangkok's canals and visit Wat Pho and its reclining Buddha, then board the sleeper train south.
- Hotel
- Overnight sleeper train
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Day 3 · Khao Sok National Park Khao Sok
Arrive in Surat Thani and travel by minivan to Khao Sok, a national park of jungle, waterfalls and limestone cliffs.
- Hotel
- Resort
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Day 4 · Cheow Lan Lake Cheow Lan Lake
Cross Cheow Lan Lake by longtail boat among limestone karsts rising almost 1,000 m from the water, with lunch at a raft house.
- Hotel
- Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 5 · Baan Bor Tor, Ao Nang Sea kayaking to Ao Nang
Sea kayak through mangroves and limestone caves near Krabi, with lunch, then continue to the beach town of Ao Nang.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 6 · Ao Nang Free day in Ao Nang
A free day to dive, snorkel, visit the Phi Phi islands or relax on the beach.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 7 · Baan Mod Tanoy, Trang Baan Mod Tanoy
Visit the fishing village of Baan Mod Tanoy for a walk and a community lunch, then stay at a resort near Trang.
- Hotel
- Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 8 · Penang Into Malaysia: Penang
Cross into Malaysia and travel to Penang, an island shaped by British, Chinese, Malay and Indian communities.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 9 · George Town George Town
Walk through George Town's 19th-century shophouses, markets, temples and mosques, with the afternoon free for street food.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 10 · Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur
Travel south to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's cosmopolitan capital.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 11 · Kuala Lumpur Free day in Kuala Lumpur
A free day for the National Mosque, the Petronas Towers, Chinatown or the Batu Caves.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 12 · Melaka Melaka
Take a local bus to Melaka, an old trading port shaped by Chinese, Indian, Portuguese, Dutch and British traders.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 13 · Melaka Melaka by trishaw
Tour Melaka by trishaw, admiring the Peranakan houses of Chinatown and learning about the spice trade.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 14 · Singapore Singapore
Travel by bus to Singapore and explore Little India and Chinatown alongside the modern skyline.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 15 · Jakarta Fly to Jakarta
Take a short flight to Jakarta and meet your new leader and travellers joining for the Indonesia section.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 16 · Sunda Kelapa, Jakarta Jakarta
A full-day tour of Jakarta, from the old Dutch port of Sunda Kelapa to the temples of Chinatown and the city's colonial quarter.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 17 · Bandung Train to Bandung
Take the train to Bandung, a former Dutch city with a lively art and café scene, with dinner together.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 18 · Tangkuban Perahu Tangkuban Perahu
Visit Tangkuban Perahu, West Java's largest volcano, where you can drive right up to the steaming crater.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 19 · Yogyakarta Train to Yogyakarta
Take the train to Yogyakarta, the cultural heart of Java, known for its batik, puppetry and sultan's palace.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 20 · Borobudur Borobudur
Rise early to beat the crowds at Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 21 · Yogyakarta Cycling around Yogyakarta
Cycle through the rice fields around Yogyakarta, watching villagers make bricks, tofu and tempeh by hand.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 22 · Seloliman Seloliman Nature Reserve
Travel by train and minivan to the Seloliman Nature Reserve, with a traditional Javanese lunch box on the train, for a night at an eco guesthouse.
- Hotel
- Eco guesthouse
- Meals
- Lunch
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Day 23 · Seloliman, Bromo Seloliman to Bromo
Walk around the reserve with its staff to learn about the forest and Javanese herbal medicine, then travel to the edge of the Tengger caldera near Mount Bromo.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 24 · Mount Bromo, Kalibaru Bromo sunrise to Kalibaru
Set off around 3am by jeep to watch the sunrise over the sea of sand, then climb to the rim of Bromo's smoking crater. Continue to a resort in Kalibaru.
- Hotel
- Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 25 · Kalibaru, Pemuteran Ferry to Bali
Tour coffee and cocoa plantations near Kalibaru, then take the ferry to Bali and its quiet north coast at Pemuteran.
- Hotel
- Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 26 · Pemuteran Free day in Pemuteran
A relaxing day by the sea, perhaps with yoga, snorkelling over the reefs or a trip to nearby Menjangan Island.
- Hotel
- Resort
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 27 · Taman Ayun, Ubud Ubud
Travel to Ubud, Bali's green cultural centre, stopping at the royal temple of Taman Ayun on the way.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 28 · Ubud Trip ends in Ubud
The trip ends after breakfast. Ubud's rice terraces, temples and markets are worth a few extra days.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Bangkok (1 night) Hotel
- Bangkok to Surat Thani (1 night) Overnight sleeper train
- Khao Sok area (2 nights) Resort
- Ao Nang (2 nights) Hotel
- Trang (1 night) Resort
- Penang (2 nights) Hotel
- Kuala Lumpur (2 nights) Hotel
- Melaka (2 nights) Hotel
- Singapore (1 night) Hotel
- Jakarta (2 nights) Hotel
- Bandung (2 nights) Hotel
- Yogyakarta (3 nights) Hotel
- Seloliman Nature Reserve (1 night) Eco guesthouse
- Bromo (1 night) Hotel
- Kalibaru (1 night) Resort
- Pemuteran (2 nights) Resort
- Ubud (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 27 nights in hotels, resorts, an eco guesthouse and a sleeper train
- Meals 25 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners
- Flight Singapore to Jakarta
- Transport a sleeper train in Thailand, trains across Java, local buses, private minivans and the ferry to Bali
- Guided visits Bangkok canals and Wat Pho, Cheow Lan Lake, sea kayaking, George Town, Melaka by trishaw, Jakarta, Tangkuban Perahu, Borobudur, a Yogyakarta cycle tour, Seloliman, Mount Bromo and Taman Ayun
- Local leaders throughout
Not included
- International flights to Bangkok and from Bali
- Airport transfers
- Visas where required
- Meals not listed and optional activities
- Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want international flights included — they are not
- You want most meals included — mainly breakfasts
- You dislike early starts — Bromo begins at 3am
- You prefer to stay in one place — the trip moves often
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £3,795 per person, twin share, tour only. 29 upcoming departures.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Is this similar to the China to Singapore trip?
The Thailand and Malaysia section from Bangkok to Singapore is shared. This trip then continues to Java and Bali instead of starting in China and Laos.
Which flight is included?
The flight from Singapore to Jakarta. Everything else is by train, bus, boat and ferry.
How early is the Bromo sunrise?
You leave around 3am by jeep to reach the viewpoint for sunrise, then climb steps to the crater rim. It is well worth it.
What meals are included?
25 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 2 dinners, including lunch at a raft house on Cheow Lan Lake, a community lunch in Baan Mod Tanoy and meals at Seloliman.
How active is the trip?
The physical rating is medium, with sea kayaking, cycling around Yogyakarta, walks at Bromo and long travel days.
Do I need visas?
Requirements vary for Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, and Indonesia usually requires a visa on arrival or e-visa. Check the latest rules before you travel.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary