Day 1 – Arrive in Jakarta
After a long flight you arrive in Jakarta: the capital and largest city of Indonesia. You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel in the city centre, within walking distance of modern malls, rooftop bars and food stalls. Jakarta is a sprawling, chaotic, buzzing metropolis: be prepared!
Day 2 – Train to Yogyakarta
After an early breakfast, the driver will take you to Jakarta train station to board a train to Yogyakarta. The train tickets have already been arranged, you just need to have the boarding pass printed at the ticket machines at the station. The next 7 hours you will pass through the suburbs of Jakarta, tea hills and green rice terraces. It’s a leisurely, comfortable way to travel. You will arrive in Yogyakarta in the late afternoon where the driver will be waiting to take you to the hotel. There are plenty of traditional Indonesian restaurants in the tangle of streets surrounding your hotel.
Day 3 – Cycling to Borobudur Temple
Start the day with a good breakfast, because you are going to have an active day. You will be picked up by the driver who will drop you off just outside the city. Here the bikes are ready for you and soon you will be cycling along country roads, between rice terraces. Once you arrive at the Borobodur temple, you will continue on foot, where you will meet the guide. This UNESCO World Heritage site is the largest Buddhist temple complex in the world dating back to the 8th and 9th centuries. This temple is a place where both Buddhist pilgrims and tourists go. Despite the many daily visitors, it is still a special place to visit. On the way to the top, your guide will tell you the meaning of the stories that are illustrated in stone. While you sit between the holy stupas, you can dream away at the serene view with mystical hills that are often shrouded in a thin layer of mist.
Day 4 – Travel to Sukuh via Prambanan & Solo
Today you’ll leave Yogyakarta, travelling inland towards the east. Your first stop is the UNESCO World Heritage site of Prambanan. Built in the 10th century, this is the largest temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia. Afterwards, you’ll travel to Solo. The driver will drop you off at the ‘Kraton’ in the centre of town where you can roam through the various rooms of this royal palace. Then continue to Sukuh, a town nestled high between mountain peaks, known mostly for its erotic temple. We guarantee that the carvings here will raise an eyebrow or two. It’s a peaceful place that will give you a taste of local life beyond the usual tourist track. You’ll spend the night in a charming cottage.
Day 5 – Countryside walk & on to Malang
Prepare for a long travel day of approximately 9 hours. But first, stretch your legs on a walk through an untouched part of Java. The route starts at the temple and continues over a hilly landscape towards Tawangmangu. On the way you will pass plantations where all kinds of vegetables are grown. The locals are very friendly and will wave and smile. When you arrive in Tawangmangu you will continue your journey to Malang by car, arriving in the early evening. You will spend the night in a simple but atmospheric hotel.
Day 6 – Climb the crater of Bromo volcano
This morning, explore Malang at a leisurely pace with your driver. In the afternoon you’ll visit the iconic Bromo volcano. We approach the volcano on the south side, while most tourists come via the north. After a few hours in the car you transfer to a jeep that takes you over an other-worldly volcanic landscape to the foot of the volcano. Then you’ll climb to the crater rim and gaze deep into the crater. Back in the jeep, drive to a viewpoint to view the volcanoes from a distance at sunset. You will not be experiencing the sunset alone – it’s a popular spot – but it’s less busy than sunrise. While the sun goes down, enjoy a meal brought by the guide. When the sun has set, you will be taken to your simple overnight accommodation at the foot of the volcano.
Days 7 & 8 – Javanese life in Kalibaru
Today you will travel to Kalibaru in the ‘untouched’ east of Java, passing small villages and rural countryside. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon at a peaceful, small-scale hotel surrounded by nature. Settle in and enjoy an Indonesian meal in the restaurant.
The next morning, take a guided walk through the plantations around Kalibaru and get a glimpse of daily life. Your guide will explain about the products grown in the area, such as coffee, cocoa, rubber and cloves (for cigarettes). You will also visit a factory where you can experience the rubber process. The rest of your day is free to relax and soak up the tranquillity.
Days 9 & 10 – Island hop to Bali & beach time in Pemuteran
It’s time to move on from the island of Java and take the ferry over to the island of Bali. You’ll be met on arrival and driven to the coastal town of Pemuteran, where you spend the next 2 nights.
Your time in Pemuteran is free to relax. The resort has a pool, which is the perfect spot to cool off with a refreshing dip. Along the beach, the water is a perfect azure blue, and the sand is an interesting mix of white and black. It might look a little grey in places, but nothing beats that feeling of warm sand between your toes…
Days 11 & 12 – Tumbling rice paddies of Ubud
It’s time to head inland to Ubud, and you’ll have a driver at your disposal for the day to take you there. You can ask him to stop at beautiful spots along the journey. One recommendation is the impressive Sekumpul waterfall. For lunch with a view you can stop in the village of Kintamani where there are many places to eat with terraces overlooking the Batur volcano. Your driver will drop you at your hotel outside Ubud, in the middle of the rice fields.
There is absolutely nothing planned for your stay in Ubud. Take a dip in the pool or a walk through the rice fields. You may wish to take a taxi into the centre of Ubud, where you will find various boutiques selling handicrafts and artwork. There are also plenty of places to eat.
Day 13 -Ubud – Jimbaran
Jimbaran Bay sits on the southeast coast of Bali, with sun-kissed sands and clear seas. The offshore reef keeps the sea calm, making it ideal for swimming. You’ll stay in a comfortable, modern resort, around twenty minutes from the soft sands of Jimbaran on foot. The resort offers a beach shuttle free of charge. Alternatively, save the beach for tomorrow and spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool.
Day 14 – Free time in Jimbaran
The next two days are completely free for you to do as you please. There are over 2.5 miles of rich golden sand to explore here, scattered with beachside cafes, bars and rustic seafood shacks. Make yourself comfortable, order a tropical cocktail, and you may well find it difficult to get up again. Jimbaran’s morning market is well worth a visit. Local chefs buy their ingredients here, and it’s a real riot for the senses.
Day 15 – Free time and seafood dinner
You’ll have most of today free to stretch out in the sunshine. In the evening, you’ll set off for a sunset dinner with a view of the ocean. As the sun sinks and the sea roars, you can enjoy delicious, freshly caught fish. On clear days, the view is spectacular.
Day 16 – Departure from Indonesia
Today, it’s time to say goodbye to Jimbaran beach. After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel and taken to the airport in time for your homebound flight.
Accommodation
