An Epic Indonesian Adventure

After a good night’s sleep, today is really when your adventure begins. After breakfast, you’ll depart for a full day tour of Indonesia’s capital city. You’ll be guided through the city’s major attractions, including Liberty Square, the stunning Jakarta Cathedral, and Istiqlal Mosque – the largest of its type in the whole of Southeast Asia.

It’s time to leave Jakarta and head to more tropical surroundings. An early morning flight will take you to Palangkaraya, located on the stunning island of Borneo. You’ll then be transferred to your private riverboat, which will be both your accommodation and transportation for the next two and a half days. This really gives you the best opportunity to see the incredible Borneo island in all its glory.

The Borneo river cruise continues for the next two days on your private cruise boat. Relax and take in the scenery from the comfort of your own luxurious cabin, or from the inside sitting area and upper viewing deck. Sail past villages of houses sitting above the water on stilts.

On the river boat, you’ll wake up with the rest of the surrounding jungle. On this final day of the river cruise, you’ll be making your slow but steady journey back to Palangkaraya. Along the way there are many chances to stop and see some wildlife and also visit local villages for a quick sample of traditional life on Borneo.

You’ll touch down in the riverside town of Pangkalan Bun, where you’ll be greeted by your guide and transferred to Kumai, 20 minutes away. Here, you’ll check into your live-aboard boat, where you can relax and enjoy lunch as you make your way along the river and begin your Borneo adventure en route to Tanjung Puting National Park stopping first at Tanjun Harapan, an orangutan rehabilitation center. After a short walk to the platforms, witness their feeding time. In the afternoon, explore the river observing its wildlife including proboscis monkeys with an optional night walk in the forest. Dinner and overnight on the boat.

One of the greatest experiences of any Borneo excursion is coming face to face with an orangutan. Today you’ll do just that, meeting these gentle animals at Camp Leakey orangutan foundation located in Tanjung Puting Reserve. During your early breakfast, you’ll cruise slowly up the river, spotting wildlife in the forested riversides, and then turn from the muddy Sekonyer River into the narrow black water canal to access Camp Leakey. On arrival, you’ll walk along boardwalks into the forest to the wild orangutan feeding area, where orangutans can be observed making their way through the treetops to the echoing calls of the rangers. Continue walking through the forest to spot more orangutans in their natural habitat. Boarding the boat again, we resume our cruise downstream, animal and bird spotting along the way. The boat will tie up in the midst of the forest where you will enjoy dinner and overnight on board.

Today you’ll leave your boat to make your flight to Semarang. As you cruise down the river you will stop at Pondok Tanggui, the rehabilitation center for new ex-captive orangutans. Take your final forest walk to observe these gentle creatures in their natural setting. Enjoy lunch on the boat after which you-ll arrive in Kumai for transfer to Pangkalan Bun Airport. Upon arrival, you’ll be met by a guide and escorted to your short 50-minute flight to Semarang in Java. From there, you will be taken by private transport to Borobudur – your next destination, a 2-hour drive away. After you-ve checked in to your one-bedroom villa, you can either cool off in your pool, or explore the breathtaking temple surroundings and thriving nature all by yourself.

Spend the day exploring Borobudur on the island of Java in a full-day excursion. Borobudur is the most popular tourist destination in the whole country, and upon first glance you-ll realize why. The hundreds of temples, statues and ruins are truly breathtaking. You-ll have to leave your villa early to catch the stunning sunrise over the ancient temple complex, which is the largest Buddhist monument in the world. In the afternoon, stroll through a local village and its market. Take a traditional andong (horse-drawn carriage) ride if you wish.

On your second day exploring this fascinating region, you will visit Gedong Songo Hindu temple, built during the Sanjaya dynasty and originally made out of volcanic stone. The trip also stops off at Dieng Plateau, 4 hours away, a 1,300 year-old Hindu temple complex situated 2,000 meters above sea level.

In the morning, you will be transferred to your next hotel in nearby (1 hour) Yogyakarta, a central Javanese city renowned for its classic architecture and vibrant cultural scene. The afternoon has been designated for your own free time, allowing you to sample the excellent art, music and dance venues across town. Hop on one of the cute three-wheeled, pedal-powered -trishaws- for an authentic and fun way of getting around.

Visit the Sultan-s Palace, a wonderful example of classic Indonesian architecture which was designed to reflect the Javanese cosmos. On this full tour of Yogyakarta, you-ll also stop by Taman Sari, a beautiful stone castle built around pools of turquoise water. The last stop, and certainly not least, is at the enormous Prambanan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You-ll definitely want the rest of the day to explore these intricately detailed 9th century ruins. If you wish, watch the Ramayana Ballet in the evening, a legendary ancient epic poem about how Prince Rama saves his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana of Sri Lanka.

The trip from Yogyakarta to Bromo is a chance for you to tick off yet another exciting mode of transport on your epic journey: the train. As you make your way from Central to East Java, you-ll watch as the landscape evolves from flat jungle terrain to rugged mountains and towering volcanoes. This is a particularly memorable journey – one in which only the steady pace of a train ride can do sufficient justice to. After all, with scenery like this, what-s the hurry?

After a good night-s rest at your hotel, which lies 6,561 feet above sea level, it-s time to tackle the intimidating Mt Bromo. With its peak at over 7,709 feet in the sky, this active volcano is worth seeing properly. Do just that by exploring in a 4×4 jeep, followed by a horseback ride that stops at a waterfall. In the afternoon, you-ll head onwards to the historic Javanese city of Melang.

At this halfway stage on your Indonesian adventure, you-ll be shown around the town of Malang (a 90-minute drive away), soaking up the rich culture in the city center and visiting the temple ruins of Singosari and Jago. There will also be the chance to sample some of the colonial delights served up at the famous Toko Oen restaurant. You-ll find a mix of Dutch, Indonesian and Chinese classics as well as some tasty cookies to take home.

Make your way to the airport today, where you-ll catch a flight to one of the hottest tourist destinations in the world: Bali. Private transportation will bring you to your accommodation in Ubud where you can rest up for the rest of the day.

The next day is a chance for you to learn more about your surroundings, particularly the rice fields that are so noticeable in the area. The best way to see them is by foot, so a trek with a professional guide is arranged. Near to your accommodation, you-ll also be offered a traditional Balinese blessing. The short ceremony performed in the ancient Sanskrit language is meant to chase away bad spirits, purify the soul and bring about good fortune.

A new day, and in the land of over 17,000 islands, it must be time to visit a new one. A quick plane trip away lies the island of Flores, home to some breathtaking scenery shaped by millions of years of volcanic activity. After arriving in the sleepy capital city of Ende, you-ll make your way to your hotel, located in Moni, a small village that bathes in the shadow of the giant Mount Kelimutu.

As the saying goes, -the early bird catches the worm- – and if you-re up early enough, you-ll be able to catch the breathtaking sunrise over Mount Kelimutu. Though it may be a struggle to leave the comfort of your room, this is one sight that-s definitely worth the extra effort. An overland trip for the rest of the day will bring you back through Ende for another look, past Tanggo Beach for a quick dip and onto your next destination, Bajawa.

Now you-re really going off the beaten track. A full day tour through the Flores countryside will take you past rolling hills and over intricately layered rice fields. Stop off at the remote Tololela and Bena villages, where you can eat, shop and experience the simple, peaceful and almost untouched lifestyle of the local people.

The next leg of your journey takes you from Bajawa to Ruteng, a 3.5-hour drive. The mountainous, and in parts coastal route takes you past Mbalata Beach, where you can stop off for a relaxing swim. Whilst this beach might not offer the crystal clear water or white sand of other Indonesian beaches, it does have one of the finest beach backdrops you-ll ever see, with the distant volcanic skyline offering a reminder of just why this part of the world is so special.

The surrounding area of Ruteng provides more untouched beauty – at times you-ll feel as if it has been reserved especially for you. The town itself is quiet, but a short trip out to Tengku Lese Waterfall offers great views and a chance to cool off in its pool – so don-t forget your swimsuit! You-ll explore the nearby -Hobbit Cave,- nicknamed after the discovery of the ancient remains of a three-foot tall person.

A three-hour trip past the lovely villages of Caro and Melo takes you to your next port of call: Labuan Bajo. Here you will board a private boat and set sail for the mysterious Komodo Island. This oversea journey is just as spectacular as the other land trips you have made on this spectacular journey. Feel the fresh ocean air as you pass the plethora of tiny, often inhabited Indonesian islands. Dinner tonight is onboard, and so is your bed.

After breakfast and lunch onboard, you-ll sail around Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site comprised of three islands. Once on dry land, an afternoon trekking trip has been organized in through Komodo and Rinca Islands, where you-ll be sure to find the 10-foot-long, 150 pound monsters that the park is named after. But don-t worry – you won-t get too close!

Back onboard, you-ll wake up with the waves lapping at the bottom of the boat. Once you-ve had breakfast, its time to go snorkeling. The water here in the Flores sea is so clear that thousands of professional divers flock here every year to observe the underwater wildlife. Afterwards, you’ll continue to two tropical islands where you can take a (long) moment to relax.

After a few days at sea, it-s back to dry land. A morning flight from Labuan Bajo will take you to Denpasar, where you will be greeted at the airport and transferred to your beach hotel in the south. You-ll have free time to yourself in the afternoon to acquaint yourself with your home for the next few days.

For the remaining four days of the trip you’ll have free time for doing as much – or as little – as you want. One of the most popular tourist activities in this stunning coastal area simply involves a good book, some sunscreen and a ice-cold drink. Kick back and relax without feeling guilty – you’ve had a long journey!

Today is another free day to explore the area or just spend time to revitalize yourself after travelling thousands of kilometres over the past month or so. Try an early morning yoga session or take a trip to one of the fantastic nearby spas, where you-ll find traditional Balinese massage techniques and soothing detox treatments.

Luxuriate in yet another day to yourself. If by now you-re feeling a bit more energetic, you could try one of the several interesting activities in the area, such as one of the various beachside water sports (surfing, swimming, diving), golf sessions or day trips.

Today is the last full day of your month-long Indonesian journey. Spend this free day relaxing pool- or beachside and preparing for your departure tomorrow. For your last night, head to one of the many waterfront seafood restaurants for an delectably fresh dinner. Enjoy the delicious fresh food and watch the sun go down on what has been a truly unforgettable trip.

In the morning you will depart your hotel. Say goodbye to the island of Bali and catch a lunchtime flight back to Jakarta. You should arrive back in the capital around mid-afternoon for your onward flight, marking the end of your Indonesian adventure.