Essence of Indonesia, Private tour

This unforgettable 15-day tour allows you to discover the two of the most inspirational islands of Indonesia – Java and Bali as well as relax on the sandy beaches of Gili Trawangan Island. The tour begins in Yogyakarta, the center of art and Javanese culture and continues east to the breathtaking volcanic landscapes of Mounts Bromo and Ijen. The journey will then take you to Bali through picturesque landscapes to discover temples, rural Balinese villages and local culture. Finally, you will set your foot on the Gili Trawangan Island to relax at the most beautiful beaches. This trip offers the perfect balance of diverse activities along with leisure time to truly experience and enjoy Indonesia.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS 

Yogyakarta: Called the cultural capital, the only city on the island ruled by sultan, one of the best-preserved and most important cities in Java.

Prambanan: The breathtaking temples at Prambanan date back to the ninth century.

Bromo: At its heart is a vast, ancient volcanic crater with sheer walls over 300m high, famous for its magnificent sunrise views and the panorama over the caldera with Semeru volcano in the background.

Ubud: Known as the arts and crafts centre of the Bali Island, Ubud is a place where tradition is particularly important, and temple festivals happen almost daily.

Gili Trawangan: Unwind in this unique remote island of Lambok admiring beautiful sunsets by the beach or spend this time more actively doing water sports or partying; you decide.

Day 1: ARRIVAL YOGYAKARTA (15km – 0.5hr)

Arrive at the Yogyakarta International Airport where your guide will meet you and assist you with the transfer to your hotel for check-in. Spend the rest of your day at leisure enjoying hotel’s facilities and relaxing after your flight. 

Overnight in Yogyakarta.

Day 2: YOGYAKARTA – BOROBUDUR – CANDIREJO – YOGYAKARTA (95km – 8hrs)

After breakfast at the hotel you will be picked up at 7 am for the morning tour in Borobudur. With your guide, explore the largest in the world Buddhist Temple and discover the incredible history behind its construction. Comprised of thousands of volcanic and river stone blocks, the temple was assembled entirely by human labour and took more than 75 years to complete. Continue with a visit to nearby Mendut Temple. Older than Borobudur, this pyramid-shaped temple houses three impressively carved stone statues. You’ll also visit Pawon temple, a simple yet beautiful monument known for its precise symmetry. Following the temple touring, stop for lunch at around 12 pm at a restaurant set amid the rice fields. Next, you’ll get a taste of local life with a horse cart ride through Candirejo Village. You’ll travel along small lanes lined with traditional houses and stop to see village activities such as making cassava crackers, playing the gamelan, and harvesting and drying of vanilla and chilli. Return to your hotel at about 5 pm.

Overnight in Yogyakarta.

Day 3: YOGYAKARTA – KRATON – TAMAN SARI BY PEDICAB – PRAMBANAN TEMPLE – YOGYAKARTA (95km – 8hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. You will be picked up at 8 am to visit the Sultan’s Palace, also known as ‘Kraton’. Built between 1756 –1790, it’s a fine example of traditional Javanese sultanate architecture. As you walk through the various rooms and chambers, you will learn more about this aspect of Javanese heritage and culture. At the Kraton exit point, a pedicab known as Becak will wait for you to take you to Taman Sari also known as Water Palace. Dedicated for his harem as a bathing pool, this palace was built by the first Sultan of Yogyakarta. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant at around 1 pm. Afterwards, visit Prambanan Temple - an ancient Hindu temple complex built in the ninth century, which features three main inner shrines dedicated to the Hindu trinity: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then transfer back to your hotel at approximately 6 pm. 

Overnight in Yogyakarta.

Day 4: YOGYAKARTA – TRAIN TO MOJOKERTO – TROWULAN – BROMO (137km – 9hrs)

Early in the morning after breakfast at 5.45 am transfer to Yogyakarta train station, board the Sancaka morning executive train to Mojokerto and enjoy your scenic train ride to East Java. The train departs at 07:20 and arrives at 11:20 (Schedule is subject to change without notice). Upon arrival in Mojokerto, your driver will be waiting for you to transfer you to Tosari or Sukapura village, located just on the outskirts of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. The climate here is cool all year round as the village perches at an altitude of about 1,700 m above sea level. Before heading to Pasuruan and reaching the village, visit Trowulan, which was the capital of the Majapahit empire centuries ago. Stop at the Pasuruan harbor for lunch at around 1 pm. In this charming fishing village you’ll see traditional wooden boats and the daily activities of the local fisherman. After lunch transfer to Tosari or Sukapura village and check in at your hotel at about 6 pm. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. 

Overnight in Bromo.

Day 5: BROMO MORNING SUNRISE – BANYUWANGI (260km – 12hrs)

Awake early this morning for a sunrise tour of Mt. Bromo from Penanjakan. Leave the hotel by 4x4 jeep at 03:00 am to reach the first stop point at Penanjakan I (2770 m) approximately 40 minutes from the hotel, passing through a plain known as the Sea of Sand. Reach the viewpoint for the stunning views as the sun rises up from behind the Bromo volcano. Afterwards continue by jeep down to the volcano caldera which is usually still covered by mist early in the morning, and then a 25 minute horseback riding will take you to the first stairs which will lead you to the rim of still active Bromo crater (2329 m). Next, back to the hotel at 7 am for a quick shower and breakfast. At 08:30 am check out from your hotel to continue your trip. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on the way at around 1:30 pm. Continue your journey to the eastern tip of Java to reach Banyuwangi. Check in to your hotel at 5:30 pm and the rest of the day free at leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Overnight in Banyuwangi.

Day 6: BANYUWANGI – IJEN – MORNING TREK – UBUD (90km – 8hrs)

Wake up early in the morning, grab breakfast box prepared for you at the hotel and join one of the most inspiring trips in Java. Board on 4x4 Jeep to reach Ijen Paltuding at 4:30 am. It will take about 1h to reach the base camp Paltuding (1850 m) from your hotel in Banyuwangi passing through the mountainous road. The trek to the top of the volcano is 3 kilometers with pack dirt pathway, it is a moderate hike, which will take few hours (1h30 – 2h) up to the peak of Mt. Ijen (2385 m). On the way, you will meet the sulfur people, those tough locals who carry 80 kg baskets, filled with the “yellow gold”. The sulfur mining is done at the base of Crater Lake, way up. Once you arrive there, the views are truly stunning. Whatever direction you turn, mountain tops peak aloft the clouds. Down at the jade colored lake, seam from deep down below is transformed into yellow crystals. Descending from the top of Mt. Ijen via the same road, sometimes it looks even more difficult with its steep and slippery path. Transfer back to your hotel at around 10 am. Afterward at 11:30 am drive towards Ketapang and then cross by ferry to reach the western tip of Bali's island, Pemuteran. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Pemuteran at 2 pm. Then you will be taken Ubud where you will arrive at about 8 pm.

Overnight in hotel in Ubud.

Day 7: UBUD

Breakfast at the hotel. Day free at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax by the pool reading your book or listening to your favorite music.

Overnight in hotel in Ubud.

Day 8: UBUD – BESAKIH TEMPLE – PENGLIPURAN VILLAGE (89km – 7hrs)

After breakfast, start the tour at 8:30 am by visiting Penglipuran village with its traditional countryside own unique characteristic life, socializing and culture. Next stop is Besakih, the “Mother Temple” of Bali. The complex houses 30 temples, made up of 7 levels of terraces in the mountainside. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant at 1 pm. Then, drive back down and stop at the Goa Lawah Temple known as ´Bat Cave´ where thousands of bats are hanging on the rim of the cave. Drive back to the hotel at around 5 pm and spend the rest of the day at leisure. 

Overnight in hotel in Ubud.

Day 9: UBUD – BEDUGUL BRATAN LAKE TOUR –KUTA (120km – 7hrs)

After breakfast at the hotel in the morning, start a sightseeing tour at 8:30 am by visiting a beautiful Taman Ayun Temple which is dated back from the Royal Mengwi Dynasty. Continue to Bedugul located on the shore of Lake Bratan where you can enjoy the cool mountain breeze and a stunning view of the Ulun Danu Temple. Then stop by at Local market where fresh vegetables and fruits are sold. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant at around 12:30 pm. After lunch visit the beautiful Jatiluwih rice terraces. Afterward, visit Pura Luhur Batuku Temple on the slopes of Gunung Batukaru. Then, drive to Kuta at about 6 pm for your overnight stay.

Overnight in hotel in Kuta.

Day 10: KUTA – ULUWATU TEMPLE – JIMBARAN – KUTA (55km – 6hrs)

Breakfast at hotel and free morning at leisure. In the afternoon at 3:30 pm drive to Uluwatu, a beautiful holy temple at the southern tip of Bali, an exquisite monument perched above the sea. The temple and surrounding is the home of hundreds of monkeys which are considered the guardians for the locals. Enjoy the best Bali’s sunset experience, a romantic atmosphere with a golden color of the far horizon listening to the chanting of the hundred Balinese performing the most popular dance in Bali, Kecak. The performance tells the story of an eternal love tale between Rama and Shinta. Then, back to your vehicle a 7 pm for a short transfer to Jimbaran to end the day with a hearty fresh grilled seafood dinner. Return to your hotel at around 9 pm.

Overnight in hotel in Kuta.

Day 11: KUTA – SERANGAN – GILI TRAWANGAN (95km – 4.50hrs)

Breakfast at hotel, then check out and transfer at 6.30 am to Serangan and catch the speed boat which departs at 8.30 am to Gili Trawangan. Arrive at Gili Trawangan for direct transfer to the hotel with local transportation called ‘Cidomo’. Rest of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Gili Trawangan.

Day 12: GILI TRAWANGAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Day free at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax by the pool reading your book or just listening to your favourite music.

Overnight in hotel in Gili Trawangan.

Day 13: GILI TRAWANGAN

Breakfast at the hotel. Day free at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax by the pool reading your book or just listening to your favourite music. 

Overnight in hotel in Gili Trawangan.

Day 14: GILI TRAWANGAN – SERANGAN – KUTA (95km – 4.50hrs)

Breakfast at the hotel. Check out and get on ‘Cimodo’ to catch the speed boat at 10 am back to Serangan. Arrive at Serangan for a direct transfer to the hotel in Kuta. Rest of the day free at leisure.

Overnight in hotel in Kuta.

Day 15: KUTA DEPARTURE (8km –1hr)

Breakfast at your hotel, free program until check out time and in appropriate time transfer to airport to catch your flight back home.

Comfortable and light clothing is the most suitable for travelling in Indonesia. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or skimpy clothing when visiting places of worship, religious or official buildings. Shoes should be removed before entering a temple or private house. Sun protection, sun glasses, a hat and mosquito repellent can be very useful during your stay.