Jakarta to Ubud, Java and Bali uncovered

Welcome to Jakarta, Indonesia! Selamat datang!

Today you fly into the capital city – Jakarta. Try for a morning or midday flight arrival time if you can and after you are picked up from the airport you will taken directly to our hotel to freshen up.

In the afternoon, if you have some free time you might like to explore Batavia – the old town of Jakarta and Batavia Square. 

In the evening, join the group and your guide, for your welcome dinner and your first Indonesian meal.

We don’t have much time to explore Jakarta, so you may like to arrive the day earlier to spend some time here.

Transport: Airport transfer included

Accommodation: Jambuluwuk Thamrin Hotel or similar

Meals: Welcome dinner

Today you will picked up from your hotel and driven to the Gambir Train Station for your train journey to Yogyakarta.  

The train is the Taksaka Pagi Executive Class Train, and the journey takes approximately 8 hours. The train is very comfortable, with reclining seats, foot rests, lots of leg room, and air conditioning.

When you arrive in Yogyakarta, you will be met by a driver and taken to your hotel.

Accommodation: Gallery Prawirotoman Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast

Transport: Transfers between the train stations and hotels, Train from Jakarta to Yogyakarta

Today you’ll visit Candirejo Village and Borobudur Temple.

In Candirejo Village, you will take a leisurely horse and carriage ride around the village and learn more about life in a Javanese village. Your local village guide will show you traditional farming and harvesting techniques. Soak up this experience!

Borobudur Temple is the largest Buddhist temple on earth and dates back to the 9th Century.

The temple consists of nine stacked platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and originally 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa.

This is a truly recommended experience for anyone visiting Indonesia and ranks alongside Angkor Wat as one of the great archaeological sites in South East Asia! 

Please note: Climbing Borobudur Temple is not guaranteed as there is a quota of people limited to climb each day. Climbing is also not permitted on Mondays. We will do our best to secure a climbing spot on our visit.

Accommodation: Gallery Prawirotoman Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transport: Car, horse cart

Today you’ll explore Yogyakarta by traditional becak (rickshaw) – it’s the perfect way to explore Yogyakarta’s main sites and soak up the ambience of this city!

It’s a short becak drive to the Alun-Alun Kidul (South Square) – the backyard of the Sultan’s Palace. You’ll see some amazing architecture and traditional Javanese clothing. Taman Sari (the Water Castle) is the next step where the royal family used to spend their leisure time.

Next your becak driver will take you to the Sultan Palace (Keraton). It’s a slower pace inside the palace, and a great place to explore. 

After visiting the Keraton, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch. And then continue your exploration with a visit to the Sonobudoyo Museum.  If there’s time you can visit the famous Malioboro Road for some shopping and wandering around.

Prambanan Temple is one of the most beautiful temples in South East Asia and is the biggest Hindu temple in Indonesia and very photogenic!

Please note: you will need to wear long trousers or skirt for your visit to the Keraton.

Accommodation: Gallery Prawirotoman Hotel or similar

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transport: Car, becak (rickshaw)

You will be picked up from your hotel in Yogyakarta ready for your train trip to Malang. You’ll take the Malioboro Express Train to Malang, and you will arrive approximately 8 hours later.

Malang is a smaller, graceful city, with cooler hilltop air and remnants of Dutch colonial architecture. It’s a cultured city and a university town with a large student population.

If time (and energy) permits, after you arrive in Malang there’s an opportunity for a city tour with your guide.

Feature stay: Hotel Tugu Malang is in the old town and is more than a hotel – built by the founder to host his vast and priceless collection of Javanese antiquities. It’s a must see destination in itself! 

Accommodation: Hotel Tugu Malang or similar

Meals: Breakfast

Transport: Train journey, transfers from the stations, city tour

Today you’ll travel from Malang to Mt Bromo. Your driver will pick you up from your hotel and once you get to Mt Bromo National Park, you’ll jump into a Jeep for your exploration today!

Mount Bromo is in East Java and is 2329 m high. It’s not the tallest mountain in Indonesia but it is one of the most popular because of it’s stunning views and opportunities for trekking.

Along the route in your jeep today you’ll stop at the following points:

Sea of the Sand ~ a vast expanse of volcanic ash that surrounds Mt Bromo

Crater Rim ~ embark on a trek to the crater rim, an exhilarating experience standing on the edge of Mount Bromo’s volcanic crater.

Viewpoint ~ capture the stunning view 

Please note: the climb up to the crater rim is steep and involves around 200-250 steps and takes 30-40 minutes. You have the option to remain at the base and admire the view. 

Your luggage will be transferred in your original vehicle and not come with you in the jeep today, so please ensure you have everything you need for your day at Mount Bromo in a daypack.

There are no restaurants or cafes on the mountain so you will have a lunch box to take with you today. Please buy any drinks or snacks you’d like to bring the day prior. 

Mount Bromo is an active volcano so it is not always possible to visit the crater. 

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch box

Accommodation: Jiwa Jawa Resort Bromo

Transport: Car transfers, and Jeep experience

It’s an early start today to catch the sunrise on Mt Bromo! Your jeep will take you to the car park area for the short-ish walk to the view point. It’s pretty spectacular! 

After witnessing this sunrise, it’s back to your hotel for a shower and breakfast.

It’s off to Kalibaru today – it’s a small town surrounded by hills and mountains and at an elevation of 428m, it has a nice mild climate. There’s a relatively high rainfall in this area making it nice and green, plus there are lots of coffee plantations here.

Meals: Breakfast

Transport: Jeep tour to Mt Bromo, and car journey to Kalibaru (approx 190km and 5 hour)

Accommodation: Kalibaru Cottages

Please note: the walk to view the sunrise is approx 30 minutes of moderate level.

Mount Bromo is an active volcano so it is not always possible to visit the crater. 

Today you’ll travel onwards to Pemuterun on the island of Bali. On your way, you’ll visit the Harnik Plantation – where herbs, spices, palm sugar, coffee and coconuts are grown!

Ibu (Mrs) Harnik also runs an orphanage and school for local children, and some of our fees from our visit today go towards provisions for school supplies for the village families. 

After our visit here, we’ll continue our journey to the island of Bali by ferry (approx 30-40 minutes). We’ll pass the West Bali National Park before arriving in beautiful Pemuterun.

Our resort is located on a beautiful lagoon inlet close to Menjangan island.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transport: Car, Ferry 

Accommodation: Mimpi Resort Menjangan 

Head off after breakfast for a few hours of snorkelling to Menjangan Island, approx 35 minutes off the shore of Pemuteran. Our snorkelling providers are equipped with life jackets, quality equipment, certified instructors and lunch. You can request an underwater camera for an additional charge.

You’ll have the chance to explore at least two locations, and the snorkelling guides will let you  know what specific species of fish and coral. 

Lunch is provided, and the snorkelling trip is about 4 hours.

The rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to relax at the resort.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Transport: Dive boat

Accommodation: Mimpi Resort Menjangan 

Today we’re off to the spiritual hub of Bali – Ubud. 

First up visit the Ulan Dalun Temple – it’s a Balinese Hindu temple in the countryside on the edge of Lake Beratan. It’s a beautiful spot, with cool weather and great views!

Another experience for today is taking part in a Balinese Home Remedies Workshop. Home remedies are past down from generation to generation and this workshop gives you the opportunity to learn about traditional herbal cures. Start of the workshop with a herbal drink, then explore the grounds and see over 120 medicinal plants, you’ll harvest some of the plants and then get to try some of the remedies out! Finish up with a delicious Balinese vegetarian lunch.

Jatiluwih is a highlight for many visitors to Bali and is a famous view of rice terraces unfolding along the foot of the mountain. The elevation is 700m here and it’s beautifully cool and stunning 

Transport: Car

Accommodation: Arma Museum and Resort

Meals: Breakfast, lunch