Java Temples, Plantation and Volcanoes

📍 Semarang – Salatiga (53 km): 1 hr 30 mins ; Semarang – Losari (62 km): 2 hrs

Arrive at Achmad Yani International Airport in Semarang and, after meeting the local guide and driver, receive a private transfer to the city centre of Semarang.

Recommended flight (not included in the quotation): From Jakarta to Semarang by Garuda Indonesia GA232, departing at 07:50 and arriving at 09:00 daily, or departing by GA2324 at 09:50 and arriving at 11:00 on Wednesday.

Located on the north coast of the island of Java, Semarang is the capital of Central Java. An Important port on the Java Sea since the Dutch colonial era, Semarang, with its 1.5 million inhabitants is now the 7th most populous city in Indonesia.

Visit Lawang Sewu, the city’s main landmark and a masterpiece of Dutch colonial architecture. The building was built between 1904 and 1907 as the former headquarters of the national railway of the Dutch East Indies. Its name in Javanese means ‘Thousands Doors’.

Lunch in a local restaurant in Semarang.

In the afternoon proceed to the hotel near Ambarawa in Central Java’s highlands.

Upon arrival at the hotel, freshen up and relax, and the rest of the afternoon is at leisure

Dinner is served at the hotel.

Overnight in Salatiga

Inclusions:

🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Salatiga – Selogriyo (54Km): 1 hr 45 mins ; Losari – Selogriyo (31Km): 1 hr ; Selogriyo – Magelang (12Km): 30 mins ; Selogriyo – Borobudur (31Km): 1 hr

Morning at leisure until departing for a brief tour in a coffee plantation on the way to Borobudur. Following the plantation tour, head to a small village on the slopes of Mt Sumbing for the start of a soft trekking experience.

Walk through rice fields and plantations and see local villagers at work taking care of their crops or processing charcoal.

Then visit Selogriyo Temple. Although it’s a rather modest temple, the walk there (about 2 hours) is beautiful and easy to do for everybody.

After visiting the temple, enjoy lunch at a neighborhood’s cafe overlooking the expansive rice fields valley.

The next stop is a visit to OHD Museum in Magelang for a look at the area’s contemporary art  and one of the best private collections in the country. (OHD Museum closes on Tuesday).

Afterwards, continue to the Borobudur area and check in to the hotel.

Overnight in Borobudur

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

Wake up very early this morning to experience a sunrise Borobudur tour. Depart Borobudur around 05:00 and transported to Dagi Hills. Once at the top, take the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the Borobudur Temple. After sunrise, enjoy a picnic breakfast on the top of Dagi Hills.

Indulge in the breathtaking vistas, and thereafter, delve into the rich history and architectural grandeur of Borobudur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its intricate stone carvings and towering stupas. Immerse yourself in the spiritual ambiance as you explore this magnificent temple complex.

After an unforgettable Borobudur sunrise experience, head back to the hotel for a bit of downtime.

About midday, meet with the guide and driver for a visit to nearby Pawon and Mendut temples which are older than Borobudur. Mendut is a pyramid-shaped temple which houses three impressively carved stone statues, and Pawon temple is a simple yet beautiful monument known for its precise symmetry.

Afterwards, make a stop for lunch at local restaurant.

Then, travel to the village of Candirejo for a taste of the local life. Start with a horse cart ride, known as a dokar, through this peaceful and architecturally charming village.

Travel along small lanes lined with traditional houses and stop to see village activities such as making cassava crackers, learn about the rotating seasonal plantations and the harvesting and drying of chili Also, learn how to climb the coconut tree and take a refreshing drink from a young coconut.

Then, have the opportunity to play the gamelan, a traditional Indonesian musical instrument, using an interesting teaching method devised by the villagers accompanied with tea, coffee and a local snack.

Return to the hotel in Borobudur late afternoon.

Overnight in Borobudur

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Borobudur – Kaliurang (41 km): 1 hr 20 mins ; Kaliurang – Kaliadem (7.5 km): 1 hr 15 mins ; Kaliadem – Prambanan (21 km): 40 mins

After breakfast and check out this morning, start travelling to Kaliurang, in the cool highlands near Mt Merapi (2,925m).

The village offers magnificent views of the active volcano and dozens of ravines which have been created by molten streams of lava.

Visit Ullen Sentalu, a privately owned heritage museum offering an intriguing insight into the world of the Sultans of Solo, Yogyakarta and the Mataram Kingdom. Please note that Ullen Sentalu Museum is closed on Mondays.

Afterwards, proceed to Kalidem Village for the start of a cycling adventure.

Located near Gunung Merapi, about one hour’s drive from the city, the village offers magnificent views of the active volcano and the dozens of ravines which have been created by molten streams of lava.

From this stunning village, and with Gunung Merapi as the backdrop, set off by bike on a 15km ride, mostly downhill. Passing through the various villages and countryside, there will be plenty of opportunities to stop for photos or chat to locals. The guide will also explain the various local agricultural landscapes, such as tobacco, rice and snakeskin fruit plantations and explain the processes of growing and harvesting these native crops.

After 15km, take lunch in a local restaurant while enjoying magnificent views of Prambanan Temple.

After lunch, be driven to the huge Prambanan complex, a set of temples built in the middle of the 9th century, about 50 years after the construction of Borobudur.  Very little is known about the early history of the complex, but it is thought to have been constructed to commemorate the return of a Hindu dynasty in Java.  The temples lay in ruins for hundreds of years, and it was only in the 1930s that restoration began.  Most of the temples within the complex have now been restored.

Follow the guide’s lead around the temple grounds while he or she explains the history, construction processes and religious significance of these buildings. After the tour, transfer back to the hotel in Yogyakarta.

Overnight in Yogyakarta

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Yogyakarta city center – Kotagede (5 km): 15 mins

Start with a visit to The Sultan’s Palace, also known as Kraton, it’s central to Javanese cosmology as being at the centre of the Mount Merapi and Parangtritis Beach Lines. This building, constructed between 1756 and 1790, is a fine example of traditional Javanese sultanate architecture. Remaining today as the residence of the Sultan, this living museum features a showcase of Javanese culture and relics. Depending on the day of visit, there may also be a cultural performance ranging from Golek Menak Puppet‘s to classical Javanese Poetry performance known as Macapat that takes place at the temple.

Continue with a 30-minute ride by becak (similar to a cyclo or trishaw) and explore the neighboring Kauman Village built in the vicinity of the Kraton. This village is the central keeper of Islamic religion as authorized by the Sultanate. The small gangs (laneways) of this village are designed to ensure minimal disturbance of noise and traffic so as to not interrupt the Santri, or Islamic students, from their study. It is also said that by ensuring the laneways are only passable on foot - every man in the village is equal. 

End the becak ride at the Taman Sari Water Palace. This addition to the royal complex was built over 200 years ago by the first Sultan with bathing pools for his harem.

Then, attend a short demonstration of Wayang Kulit, the famous Javanese leather puppet.

Lunch in nearby local restaurant in Yogyakarta.

Drive to Kotagede a charming suburb of Yogyakarta famous for its traditional Javanese atmosphere and known for its silversmith workshops.

On arrival In Kotagede, depart on a leisurely bicycle tour around the area and visit a master baker’s house for a taste of Kembang Waru – a delicious type of cookie only produced in Kotagede.

Continue to the traditional market and explore this bustling Pasar, once the main market in the area. Resume the tour, arriving at the oldest mosque in Yogyakarta dating back from 1575. There, borrow a traditional Javanese costume before entering, a sign of respect to the former kings, and then explore the historical compound of the Mataram Kingdom and its Royal Cemetery.

End the visit of Kotagede with a walking tour amongst narrow laneways and discover the unique Kalang-style architecture indigenous to Kotagede – a combination of Javanese and Colonial styles.

Return to the hotel.

In the evening, be treated to a performance of traditional Ramayana dances after dining at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Yogyakarta

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Solo city center – Sukuh Temple – Cetho Temple (41 km): 1 hr 30 mins each way

Today after breakfast, start the day with a visit of Solo.

Also known as Surakarta, the city of Solo was founded in 1745 by a local king. The site for the new Mataram Kingdom’s capital was reportedly chosen through voices heard by the king. Solo is the capital of batik in Java and remains home to some of the most intact Dutch colonial architecture in Indonesia.

Visit Keraton Mangkunegaran - a classical repository of classical Javanese art.

Built as a palace for a ‘junior’ line of the royal family in the 18th century, the splendid building has an extensive collection of 14th century jewelry, majestic silverworks, traditional Javanese weapons and classical dancing body ornaments.

End the morning with a visit to a well-known batik museum and learn about this famous Javanese art developed through the ages. Also, see craftsmen and women at work making new creations. Lunch will be served here as well.

Early in the afternoon, depart for a half-day excursion to Sukuh and Cetho, two of the latest Hindu temples built in Java before the island's courts were converted to Islam in the 16th century.  Located on the western slopes of Mount Lawu (3,265m), this area, at the border between Central and East Java, offers spectacular landscapes with terraces covered by beautiful tea plantations 

Explore Sukuh, located at 910 metres in elevation, and take a look at its unique pyramidal shape -similar in style to the Mayan temples of Central America and its stone carvings of Hindu phallic symbols.

Continue the drive, passing through beautiful tea plantations to Cetho, another Hindu temple located even higher on the mountain and rarely visited. Its carvings are similar to Sukuh Temple, but the multi-tiered temple differs in architectural layout.

Return to the hotel in Solo late in the afternoon.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight in Solo

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Solo – Jombang (187 km): 2 hrs 50 mins by train ; Jombang – Trowulan (20 km): 40 mins ; Trowulan – Pasuruan – Puspo – Tosari (115 km): 4 hrs ; Trowulan – Sukapura - Ngadisari (130 km): 4 hrs 30 mins

After an early breakfast this morning, be transferred to Solo Railway Station for a scenic train ride to Jombang, in East Java. The guide will be along during the journey. 

Traveling by train in Java is a wonderful opportunity to meet local people and is also the best way to enjoy the volcanic landscapes of Central and East Java. 

Upon arrival in Jombang, meet with the local driver.

Continue to the nearby Trowulan, the site of the former capital of the Majapahit Kingdom who ruled the island of Java for centuries. Visit the archaeological museum and the temples of Candi Bajang Ratu and Candi Tikus.

From Trowulan, take lunch in a local restaurant before proceeding to Mount Bromo, passing by the coastal town of Pasuruan on the northeast coast of Java before continuing by a picturesque mountain road to one of the entrances of Bromo-Tengger National Park.

Check-in late in the afternoon and freshen up before dinner at the hotel's restaurant.

Overnight in Bromo

Notes: 

- The planned route is aboard the Sancaka Morning Train from Solo to Jombang, departing 07:33 and arriving 09:45. The schedule is subject to change without notice.

- Full name and Passport details are required to book train ticket and must be provided at the time of reservation

- The previous evening you need to bring down your main luggage to the reception before 22:00 with clear name identification. Main luggage will be transferred during the night with the driver and vehicle that will pick you up the next morning on arrival at Jombang Railway station in East Java.

- It is advisable to bring a small bag with change and toiletry and a jersey as the air conditioner in the train can be quite chilly. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Tosari – Surabaya City via Pasuruan (100 km): 4 hrs ; Ngadisari – Surabaya City (120 km): 4 hrs 30 mins ; Surabaya City – Surabaya Juanda Airport (12 km): 30 mins to 45 mins

Rise before the sun for the unforgettable experience of viewing Mount Bromo as the sun crests over its Martian-like landscape. Travel by 4WD jeep to a viewing spot with stunning views of the Bromo volcano and surroundings. Watch the sun rise up from behind the volcano in Penanjakan.

Continue by jeep down to the volcano caldera, often still covered by mist in the early morning. The mist, combined with the gray ashen-covered ground create an unusual atmosphere, often compared to the surface of the moon.

The jeep will take you to within 2 kilometers of the crater. From there, it's a 45-minute walk across the sea of sand to the crater's edge, followed by a short, 15-minute climb upstairs to the rim of the active Bromo crater. Be rewarded with an otherworldly landscape.

After your hike, the jeep will be waiting to transport you back to the hotel.  Enjoy a hearty breakfast and time to refresh before checking out and leave  Ngadisari for a drive to Surabaya, Indonesia’s second largest city.

Stop for lunch at the restaurant on the way  before transferring to Juanda International  Airport in Surabaya for a late-afternoon onward flight to the next destination. 

Note: Please bring warm clothes for your sunrise excursion next morning in Bromo as the temperature is low and cold

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch