60-Day Itinerary Assistance Please

1 - The only places I myself would definitely skip are Kuta and Senggigi.
And maybe Bukit Lawang, as going to Aceh (P. Weh) you could visit more interesting Ketambe/Gurah instead.
But then I am not sure Pulau Weh itself is worth going all the way to Aceh for - there are better reefs/beaches around Labuhanbajo anyway.

2 - Fly to Maumere, then travel overland back to Bali.
Then fly to Padang, probably via Jakarta, and travel overland to Medan, crossing from there to Penang, where you can catch a train or whatever to Bangkok.
Alternatively, travel overland from Bali to Flores, then take a ferry to Kupang in Timor, have a quick look at the area around Soe in the mountains there, then fly from there to Padang via Jakarta, without stopping in Bali on the way back.

Well M I just came from bali last week and INMHo you could spend your whole visa there and not get bored even if you do skip Kuta and all the other beaches ( except Padang Bai for the soon to be gone little beach). Obviously Im predjudiced but Ive been to alot of the places youve listed -well half or so -but I did it in like three visas over 6 months. Im a real slow goer and your itenerary looks absolutely impossible to me but knock yourself out eh :) I dont know how beachy you are but them Indo beaches are all worth a skip unless your getting out ot Ambon or somewhere like that. Personally I reserve my beach time for the Andaman Sea( except as you might be experiencing , the weather getting sucky about now , no) and just about anywhere else with the exception of the gilis ( where the weather should be getting good about now) but I was there years ago. See my post about the driver in Bali--you can see alot right from Ubud.I just spent 11 days there with 2 in Padanf Bai and the rest taking car trips out of Bali and I saw all the highlights ( save Kuter . Tanah Lot and Bratan). Lake Bratan is my only regret-Id give Beseki ( rough toough lying "guide"mafia - but they can be defeated if your tuff) and even Batur a miss in its place for sure. You cant do much in Batur except climb it or look at it from the road in no peace whatsoever do to agressive sellers --or you could sit in some muddy hot spring and be harranged there as well.Its really the day trips that you line up more than Batur or anyone of those places in particular that make it worth it IMHO.The exception on your list for Bali is Tirta Ganga- as Bali Temples go its pretty cool and a slight stretch as a day trip from Ubud. If your not up on your Balinese carving the temples can be boringwhen there is nothing going on so the ones with dramatic settings are good bets ( like Bratan or closer to Ubud the other holy water one or the less vsited Bat Cave temple). The real trick is finding out when a temple festival is going on and go to that-it alll comes alive in a big way. You might balk at paying a driver 30- 40 bucks a day but you can do way way more than you can bemo-ing or (motor)biking around-Ive done it all the different ways at different times.
Highlights from the Indo lists that you cant go wrong with are Toba( but you gotta do the hike to the top) and Minanjua( but you gotta get out in the jungleand not just lay around in the gorgeous green lake) in Sumatra and by all means villages in West Sumatra( Minangkabau) with their pointy roofs,water buffalo fights, pretty weddings and strong women( dont hang out too long or theyll have you married off--and they bossy ladies, fun but bosssy--im trying to be funny, if youve read up on em you know its very "matrifocal" around there) and bali-like rice terraces. I dont recall Bukitingi or Beristagi as being too impressive. Ache and Flores are hell a far away but I here the Flores Volcanoe hike is a good go if like walking up hill.Samosir is one of those indegenous islands off sumatra, right? Well Im I dont think any kinda human zoo trekking crapola is very ethical or even that fun but heh thats my HOpinion ok- anyway sorry to just go off there but I just came back from a 3 month trip in SEA and I got lotsa good tips on here so Im trying to be good and pass it forward --Have fun , slow down and have fun... :) --A---july but especially august are cremation months in Bali

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<hr>(For example, I don't want to see lots of lakes, volcanoes, hill stations, etc.. if they are similar or offering little else. <hr></blockquote>
Although Toba and Maninjau are both similar in many ways, lakes :) water hehe i still found them to both have different personalities, different culture, scenery, environment, colour, entertainment etc etc both definately worth a visit in MHO especially if you going to Berestagi and Bukittinggi anyway, will have to bypass them both anyway leading your route. Then if you go to Berstagi you might as well go to Ketambe also.
Bukit-Lawang was ok years back but not been since so i cant really say, i did like it greatly but feedback keeps me from going back.
Berestagi is not great IMO i didnt fancy the mountain and didnt particulary like the city, but i liked to break the journey up and gain some sleep, but you might like the place...and want to stay.
As above says about Pelau Weh might be out the way. Also I heard lots of GO's too helping with the Tsunami project are pushing up the prices there recently, making it a more expensive destination, like a 2 week holiday prepared to overpay since they are working.

You can easily skip Ende and stay in Moni instead. There's nothing to do in Ende - hotels and food are mediocre, the city itself is ugly, the market is poor and ojeks are agressive and harass you all the time. Moni is situated in 52 km from Ende on the slope of Kelimutu mountain, the view is excellent, bungalows are large and a few small restaurants attached. And it's the best place to walk around - some people even walk 13 km uphill to Kelimutu lakes. Definitely go to Bajawa and travel around, maybe you have time to go to Reo or Riung, there're also worth a visit.

Regarding Lombok: Senggigi is basically a holiday center for foreigners, mainly upmarket hotels and a beach front. Gili Trawangan is better value for a 'beach vacation' type of thing -- so the two together is only duplication. It would be more interesting to stay at Ampenan, rent a bike and cycle around the area.

Here's my 60 days:
http://skorookolo.szm.sk/indonesia_route.html<BR><BR>very enjoyable. I'd do it again anytime ;)
R.

Dont skip Kuta...........It's great!!!

Unless you're very old that is!

Hi,
I spent 5.5 months travelling in Java, Sumatra, Aceh, with a few days in Bali, 5 days in Kuta Lombok and 6 days in south Sulawesi and Tana Toraja last year.
Check out my photos below.
I have to agree with Mozzy on the two lakes- Toba and Maninjau both lakes, but both so different and I personally love Lake Tawar Takengon Aceh- could have spent a week there too last year.
There is so much to see everywhere-Ketembe in south Aceh is great- I stayed for 8 days, loved Tangkahan- got there by 2 hr motor bike ride from Bukit Lawang.
I love Bukit Lawang and it is still worth going there even though the orangutans are not wild like they are in Ketembe.
Aceh is very beautiful and I bussed it right up the centre from Ketembe, going through Balngkerjeren, staying for a day in Takengon and then onto Banda Aceh.
Brestagi is worth a couple of days on your way to Ketembe in my opinion- waterfalls to see and a couple of mountains to climb and it is so refreshingly cool after the oppressive heat of Medan.

West Sumatra has many things to see as well. Bukittinggi, Lake Maninjau, Harau Canyon, Payakumbuh, and Padang Panjang, then you can head to Kerinci National Park via Kersik Tau, Sungai Penuh and then through the park to Muara Sako ( see my photos from Jan 2005) and then from Tapan you can bus it to Painan- a very beautiful area where one of my best friends Edi lives with his wife and daughters.
After Painan a 2 hr bus ride gets you back into Padang.

Pamela.

Have you considered Sulawesi? Kalimantan? A pity to spend 2 months in Indo and miss that IMHO.