Indonesia Discovery

Today’s excursion begins with a visit to Kraton Mangkunegaran - a 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 jewellery, majestic silverworks, traditional Javanese weapons and classical dancing body ornaments. Continue on 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 above sea level, 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.Find a starting point at the Kemuning Plantation located 5km higher at an altitude of 1,540m for a small walk to observe the tea plantations of this beautiful plantation founded in 1925 by the Dutch settlers.Return to the hotel in Solo late in the afternoon.

After an early breakfast this morning, be transferred to Solo Railway Station for a scenic train ride to Blitar, in East Java. Be accompanied by the guide during the journey.Travelling 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 Blitar, meet with the local driver and be transferred for lunch at Tugu Restaurant. After check-in to the hotel, proceed to Penataran Temple, the largest and most important Hindu temple complex in East Java. It lies just 10 kilometres north of Blitar on the lower slopes of Mt. Kelud. Most of the buildings seen today were constructed during the golden century of Majapahit. Return to hotel and spend dinner at leisure. Overnight in Blitar.

Early morning after breakfast, check-out from the hotel and be transferred to Kawisari Coffee Plantation for a coffee tour.Surrounded by two mountains Kelud and Kawi, the plantation produces the best quality of coffee beans and has its own secret recipe dating back to the Dutch era. Enjoy an easy trek to explore the plantation and learn the history of growing the finest Java coffee beans, roasting and processing.

Enjoy lunch prepared by local villagers in Kawisari and also get a chance to taste the variety of arabica and robusta coffee beans. Following the lunch, continue driving to Malang.Take a tour of Malang by becak, a local cyclo. The streets of Malang are filled with grand colonial-era buildings. Cruise past historic sites such as the Eng An Kiong chinese temple before arriving at the end point of the city’s Cathedral. Then, go on a walking tour in the colourful village of Jodipan .Check-in to the hotel and spend dinner at leisure. Overnight in Malang.

Take a morning walk to flower market in Malang, enjoy the city when the people just about starting the day. Return to the hotel and be ready for jeep riding towards Mt. Bromo through Jemplang.Stop by at Pelangi Waterfall and enjoy a catered lunch box here.Continue driving before making another stop on the southern slope of the caldera with panoramic views of the surroundings. Then driving down the caldera passing through the savanna to reach Mount Bromo.Walk towards a set of stairs which leads to the rim of the still-active Bromo crater. Enjoy the spectacular atmosphere of the massive caldera as the sun sets in the silence of nature.Return to the jeep and drive to the hotel for check-in. Overnight in Bromo.

This morning, rise in early dawn for an unforgettable experience of viewing Mount Bromo as the sun rises over its space-like landscape. Travel by 4WD jeep to a viewing spot with stunning views of Bromo volcano and surroundings. Watch the sun rise up from behind the volcano in Penanjakan.Continue by jeep down to the volcano caldera, usually still covered by the early morning mist. The mist, combined with the grey ashen-covered ground creates a unique atmosphere often compared to the surface of the moon.

Enjoy a picnic breakfast set in the middle of nowhere with the spectacular natural savanna as the backdrop. Return by jeep to the hotel and check out. Afterwards get on a long drive along the northern coast of Java towards its eastern end with a late lunch served en route at a local restaurant.Check-in upon arrival at the hotel located either in the area of the Kawah Ijen Volcano near the small village of Licin or in the coastal town of Ketapang next to Banyuwangi, opposite the island of Bali. Spend the remainder of the day free at leisure. Overnight in the hotel in Ketapang/Ijen.

Wake up in the early morning for an excursion to Mount Ijen - one of the most spectacular natural wonders in Indonesia, and the world. Breakfast is served at the hotel before setting off by 4WD jeep. Alternatively, a breakfast box will be provided.After a 1.5 hour drive, reach Paltuding Base Camp (1,850m). The trek to the top is 3 kilometres and follows a wide, well-worn pathway. At the top of Mount Ijen is a large crater lake surrounded by sulphur mines. Upon reaching the top (2,385m), there is time to enjoy the views of the crater lake which is 200 metres deep and contains about 36 million cubic metres of steaming, acidic water. Witness the agility and strength of the miners as they collect and carry the sulphur blocks up to the crater rim.

Return via the same route to the base camp and continue by road to Banyuwangi. Arrive at the hotel to refresh. In the late morning, check-in at the ferry terminal in Ketapang before crossing the Bali Straits to the island of Bali by local ferry for a scenic journey to Gilimanuk on Bali’s western shores. Upon reaching Bali, continue by road to Lovina – one of Bali’s renowned volcanic black sand beach destinations, on Bali’s peaceful and scenic north coast. After arriving in this sleepy town, wander along the beach or relax on your resort deck chairs under palm trees. Overnight in Lovina.

Start the morning with a visit to the Pura Beji, a temple famous for its beautiful stone carvings and for being the largest ‘rice temple’ in Bali. Travel along the winding mountain roads before stopping at the temple of Pura Puncak Penulisan for amazing 360-degree cloud-shrouded views across the valley – well worth the steep ascent by stairs. This temple also holds a vast collection of deified king and queen statues dating to the 10-14th centuries. Continue to the crater village of Kintamani, which offers spectacular views over Lake Batur and its volcano. Mount Batur stands at 1,412 meters tall and, although it’s not the tallest volcano in Bali, it is the most active, having erupted more than twenty times during the last two centuries. It’s also surrounded by a spectacular caldera.Afterwards, continue the drive to Ubud, in the centre of Bali, and check into the hotel late in the afternoon. The rest of the evening is free to spend at leisure. Overnight in Ubud.

Start the day with a refreshing bike ride through verdant green rice paddies, visiting rural communities, and seeing a side of Balinese life most tourists never get to see. Begin your journey at the top of a hill, coasting down at an easy pace through the countryside of Ubud, passing by green expanses of rice paddies. Along the way, stop at ancient temples as well as rural villages. Arrive at the sacred temple where a priest will take you to a natural holy water spring for a Balinese blessing. In the afternoon, visit the markets of Ubud where locals sell street food, fruits, and handicrafts and folk art. Afterwards, venture into the famous Monkey Forest, a sacred jungle home to mischievous Balinese long-tailed macaques. Make your way into the forest and you'll find the Pura Dalem Agung Padangtegal, an ancient temple dedicated to worship of the dead. Overnight in Ubud..

Today, transfer to Seminyak to enjoy your penultimate day by the beach. Unlike the peaceful greenery of Ubud, Seminyak offers a vibrant beachfront flanked with a long promenade dotted with cafes, boutiques, restaurants, and nightlife scene. Whether shopping, surfing, or enjoying a Balinese massage, there is a wealth of activities to fill up your day of leisure.