14-day Java and Bali Tour

Upon arrival at Yogyakarta International Airport, you will be transferred to your hotel in Yogyakarta. Yogyakarta is a colourful, vibrant city and it is considered the cultural capital of Java. It is a center for the production of handicrafts and traditional textiles and has Javanese dance, theatre and shadow puppet (wayang kulit) performances on most days of the week that you can enjoy!

Enjoy a delicious breakfast then depart from your hotel to set out on a guided tour of beautiful Yogyakarta. Your first top is the Yogyakarta Sultan Palace, a grand complex that was meticulously planned to reflect the Javanese cosmos. This splendid example of traditional Javanese architecture has no rival. The elegant complex of pavilions was constructed entirely on ancient beliefs. The nearby Taman Sari Water Castle is a site of a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta and will be your next stop! Built in the mid-18th century, the Taman Sari had multiple functions, such as a resting area, a workshop, a meditation area, a defence area, and a hiding place.

After the city day tour, spend your night in Yogyakarta as the locals do in the bustling Alun-Alun kidul (Southern Square). See the nightlife’s festivities; the crowds, the food, and the attractions accompanied by your local guide.

This morning you’ll depart from your hotel to embark on a Borobudur cycling adventure. You will cycle around the village and visit Borobudur’s traditional market. Continue to visit Borobudur temple, one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world before returning to the starting point to enjoy a mouth-watering lunch.

After lunch, you’ll transfer to Candirejo for an exploratory tour of the village. This small village took it into their hands to develop ecotourism and is a truly remarkable place to visit. During the tour, you will explore the village with a local guide and gain insight and knowledge of local customs and traditions. Art, handicrafts, traditional health drinks and the agricultural system of inter-cropping. Depart the village to head back to Yogyakarta overnight.

Prepare yourself for a long drive from Yogyakarta directly to Bromo via toll road today. Make yourself comfortable in the van during the 7-hour drive. Upon your arrival, check-in and enjoy Bromo at your leisure!

An early rise (at 4.00 am) will ensure you have enough time to reach the sunrise viewpoint this truly spectacular morning. The sunrise slowly reveals the moon-like landscape and smoke and fire emanating from the volcano in the distance. After the sunrise, trek across the 'Sea of Sand' and if you are feeling energetic, climb up 246 steps for a view into mighty Mount Bromo.

Later, transfer to Ijen/Banyuwangi where you’ll find your next hotel.

After an early wake-up call and breakfast, a four-wheel-drive vehicle carries you through rural villages, coffee and clove plantations and then into one of Java’s last rainforests. Humidity, wildlife, giant ferns and big trees cover the slopes of this mountain. Arrive at the park ranger’s station to begin the 90-minute hike to Ijen Crater, along a shady track with spectacular views.

The stunning view is unveiled at an altitude of 2380 meters. Take in the still lake and watch the smoke rise from the bright yellow sulphur deposits below. Watch as miners descend into the crater and re-emerge carrying up to 80 kilos of ore on bamboo baskets before your eyes.

Today is the end of the adventures in Java! Depart from your hotel to Ketapang harbour where you will get the ferry across to Bali. Upon arrival in beautiful Bali, transfer to your hotel in Pemuteran.

This morning you will spend the day relaxing in paradise. Explore one of the most beautiful underwater worlds of Indonesia around the island of Menjangan. Thousands of coloured fish and wonderfully shaped coral formations welcome you under the warm, crystal-clear water.

Today you will be transferred to Munduk. Munduk is a small village set on a mountain ridge. The ridge falls steeply on either side into the valleys below, where distant paddy fields and spice plantations create a spectacular scene. Enjoy the cool mountain temperatures on the way to Munduk, and enjoy a 3-hour tour around the countryside Village of Mayong—the perfect way to experience the local cuisine of Bali in a picturesque setting.

Your guide will meet you here and lead the tour while his wife heads to the local markets to buy everything needed for lunch later on. The tour will take you along a 5km path that goes through the intricately planned, vegetable, fruit, herb, spice and rice fields all fed by a system of irrigation channels. While walking, Putu (your guide) will be explaining everything there is to know about the agriculture and nature that makes this area so special. You will end the tour at your guide's home where a traditional home-cooked Balinese lunch is waiting to be savoured and enjoyed.

Meet at around 10.30 a.m. at the Munduk Wilderness Base Camp for your introduction and safety instructions for driving the Finn Komodo. Start with a fun drive down to the Lake, and opt for a side excursion that takes you to a lakeside temple, before boarding log canoes to paddle Tamblingan Lake.

Head up into more challenging territory through mandarin and coffee orchards, following earth tracks to the rainforest. Take a break for a short walk into the rainforest, to see the grandeur of trees more than 100 years old. Bali is famed for the rich flavour of its coffee, and the first stop on this outing after a gentle downhill ride in the Komodo is a coffee plantation where you will experience some of Bali’s local coffee culture — the roasting of the beans on an open fire and pounding with a wooden pestle. Savour the aroma and taste. Enjoy the short 20-minute drive from here back to Munduk Wilderness Base Camp for lunch.

This morning you’ll depart Munduk to make the journey to Ubud, the cultural and artistic heart of Bali. It is also a good starting point for the exploration of Bali’s temples and nature. There is plenty to do in Ubud and its surroundings. On the way, you will visit some interesting sights such as Banyumala Twin Waterfall, Ulundanu Temple and Jatiluwih. Banyumala

Ulun Danu Temple is a Balinese Hindu Temple located at Candi Kuning countryside, Baturiti sub district and Tabanan regency. Sitting on the edge of Lake Beratan and covered by cool weather with beautiful lake views and hills around encapsulating it, the temple is a much sought-after destination for people visiting Bali.

Jatiluwih is a favourite tourist destination in Bali and is famous for its beautiful rice terrace unfolding from the foot of the mountain and spanning the coastline. Surrounded by a cool atmosphere due to the elevation, it is one of the best places to visit in Bali.

Today you will experience the spiritual side of Bali in depth. The tour will start with creating an offering, called Canang in Bali. This offering will be brought to the temples to ask permission of the gods to enter the temple. The guide will explain the offering and the way of making the prayer before you will take the holy bath to purify yourself. At Gunung Kawi, you will see the beautiful rice fields and the carved façade dating back to the 11th century. They are called the King's tombs, commemorating the Udayana Kingdom. Your guide will lead you on a small rice field path that surrounds the complex. Then it’s back to the Foundation where you can enjoy a well-earned lunch.

Immerse yourself in unique Balinese culture and experience something different on the island through an authentic cooking experience. In this program, you will learn more about Balinese spices and have the opportunity to cook authentic Balinese cuisine and taste delicious meals, guided by a Balinese chef.

The Balinese Cooking Class is a hands-on experience conducted in English. Students will be provided with their own cooking station and utensils to prepare and cook all of the dishes by themselves. The class is limited to a maximum of ten participants per class to ensure individual attention for everyone. The teacher and his assistant both have extensive knowledge of Balinese ingredients and cooking methods will demonstrate how to cook all of the dishes and let the students taste what they had prepared for lunch or dinner.

Today is the end of the trip. Transfer from your hotel to the airport to depart.