Essential Java

Upon arrival at New Yogya International Airport, meet your hotel representative and transfer to your hotel in the city. After checking in, take some time to freshen up and relax.

• Hotel Description

Today will be spent exploring this fascinating city. Discover the historic Sultan's Palace, also known as Kraton, which is a fine example of Javanese sultunate architecture and a living museum. Take a becak (similar to a cyclo or trishaw) ride through peaceful Kauman village, the heart of the city's Islamic faith, ending at the beautiful Taman Sari Water Palace built over 200 years ago.

Return to the hotel and enjoy an evening street food experience. Experience the unique kopi joss, where hot charcoal is dropped into the coffee, before sampling Pempek fish cakes with tamarind sauce on bustling Malioboro Street. Travel by traditional andong horse cart to enjoy Javanese-style fried noodles at the famous Bakmi Kadin, accompanied by live street music. Continue by becak to Alun-Alun Kidul to see the sacred twin banyan trees and try the local blindfold challenge. End the evening at a traditional pendopo, where you can relax with coffee or tea while enjoying a selection of sweet and savoury coconut and palm sugar treats. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Depart at approximately 03:30 for Borobudur to witness sunrise over the world's largest Buddhist temple. Explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site with your guide, learning about its remarkable history, intricate stone carvings, and impressive architecture. After breakfast at a local restaurant, continue to the nearby Pawon and Mendut temples to discover their unique history and design. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

At 08:30, depart Yogyakarta for a half-day countryside cycling tour in Candran Kebon Agung. Ride along quiet village lanes, visit rice fields to learn about and help with seasonal farming activities, explore a farmer’s museum, and see traditional soybean processing at a local factory. Enjoy a local lunch before travelling to Solo via a guided visit to the 9th-century UNESCO-listed Prambanan temple complex, dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

This morning explore Solo, Java’s batik capital, with a guided visit to Mangkunegaran Palace, home to an impressive collection of Javanese royal artefacts and art. Enjoy a traditional lunch at a local restaurant before travelling east to Sukuh Temple, a unique 15th-century pyramid-shaped temple on the slopes of Mount Lawu, renowned for its striking architecture and scenic mountain setting. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

This morning enjoy an exciting local train journey through the scenic east Javan countryside to Malang. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet local people and enjoy the volcanic landscape passing by. Arrive into Malang train station late afternoon and transfer to Mt Bromo. (B)

• Hotel Description

An early start today! Take a 4WD vehicle to a viewing spot with fantastic views of the Bromo volcano and its surroundings. Watch the sun rise up from behind the volcano in Penanjakan. Continue by jeep to the volcano caldera, often misty in the early morning, creating an unusual, moon-like atmosphere on the ashen ground. Walk up the stairs to the rim of the active Bromo crater. Return by jeep to your hotel for breakfast and spend the rest of the day at leisure. (B)

• Hotel Description

At 09:00, transfer to Probolinggo Railway Station for a scenic train journey to Banyuwangi. On arrival, meet your driver and continue to your hotel in the Ijen area. (B)

• Hotel Description

Wake up early this morning for an excursion to Mount Ijen at 3:30 AM. After a 90-minute drive, you'll reach the Paltuding base camp (1,850m). The trek to the top is 3 kilometres and follows a wide, packed dirt pathway. At the top of Mount Ijen is a large crater lake surrounded by sulfur mines. During your walk, you may encounter men carrying loads of up to 70 kg, often barefooted, down the mountainside. Upon reaching the top (2,385m), take 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 sulphur blocks up to the crater rim. (B)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Banyuwangi Railway Station for a scenic train journey across eastern Java. On arrival in Surabaya transfer to the hotel. The remainder of the day is free to settle in and rest after the journey, or to take a short walk nearby and get a first impression of this lively, historic city. (B)

• Hotel Description

After check-out, you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight back to the UK. (B)