Explore Kalimantan & Java

Land Jakarta or 'the Big Durian' as it's known to locals. Drive to the hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to explore this fast-paced city.

• Hotel Description

Return to the airport and fly to Pangkalanbun, Kalimantan. Drive to Kumai port and board a traditional wooden klotok boat. Cruise along the Kumai and Sekonyer Rivers enjoying lunch onboard while lush vegetation passes by. This is a great opportunity to search for animal and bird life along the riverbanks. Arrive at Rimba Lodge, located on the edge of Tanjung Puting National Park and home for the next three nights. The area is ecologically diverse with landscapes including mangrove swamps and rainforest densely filled with primates, lizards and many bird species. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Today return to the klotok and continue exploring the Sekonyer River in search of kingfishers, broadbills and hornbills. Arrive at Camp Leakey, famous as a centre of orangutan research. Enjoy lunch onboard the klotok before taking a short walk along a wooden pontoon through the jungle keeping an eye out for gibbons, long tail macaques and maybe wild pigs. Take a seat near a feeding platform where Camp Leakey provides a supplementary food source for orangutans: watching them approaching from branch to branch is an unforgettable experience. Return to Rimba lodge late afternoon, a perfect time to see proboscis monkeys gathered in packs along the riverbank when it's cooler - there may also be wild orangutans coming to the riverbank to eat the fruit of the pandan trees. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Continue to explore Tanjung Puting National Park. Travel upstream, explore the jungle and visit two further feeding platforms to see more orangutans. After viewing the platforms cruise to Pasalat Rainforest Station to discover the conservation work being done by several institutions and NGO's to try and preserve orangutan habitats. Journey to Harapan village, one of the few settlements along the river. Take a walk through the village to discover riverside life before returning to the lodge for the night. (B,L,D)

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Return to the airport and fly to Semarang on the island of Java. Enjoy lunch in the city before exploring Semarang, an important trading port since Dutch Colonial times. Visit Lawang Sewu, once the headquarters of the national railway of the Dutch East Indies and an impressive example of Dutch architecture. Journey to Ambarawa in the Central Javan highlands and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Spend the morning at your leisure before departing for a brief tour of the resort's coffee plantation, followed by check-out. Then travel to a small village on the slopes of Mt. Sumbing to begin a soft trekking experience. Enjoy lunch along the way. Walk through rice fields and plantations, observing local villagers tending their crops or processing charcoal.

Next, visit Selogriyo Temple. Although modest, the 2-hour walk to the temple is scenic and manageable for everyone. The following stop is the OHD Museum in Magelang, showcasing contemporary art and one of the finest private collections in the country. (OHD Museum is closed on Tuesdays) Afterwards, continue to the Borobudur area and check in to your hotel. (B)

• Hotel Description

Depart from your hotel at 4:00 am and drive to Punthuk Setumbu hill to watch the sunrise with panoramic views of Borobudur temple and Manoreh hill, often shrouded in early morning mist. Return to the hotel for breakfast then at 9:00 am, visit Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple complex, built in the 9th century from volcanic and river stone blocks, featuring 500 Buddha statues and over 2,500 relief panels. After exploring the temple, have lunch at a local restaurant.

Next, visit Candirejo village. Take a horse cart ride (dokar) through the village, observe local activities like making cassava crackers, learn about seasonal plantations, and enjoy a coconut drink. Participate in playing the gamelan, a traditional Indonesian musical instrument, while enjoying tea, coffee, and local snacks. Return to the hotel in Borobudur in the late afternoon. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast and check-out, travel to Kaliurang in the highlands near Mt. Merapi (2,925m). The village offers views of the active volcano and numerous lava-formed ravines. Visit Ullen Sentalu, a privately owned museum that provides insight into the Sultans of Solo, Yogyakarta, and the Mataram Kingdom. (Closed on Mondays.)

Proceed to Kalidem Village for a cycling adventure. This village, near Gunung Merapi, offers views of the active volcano and lava-created ravines. Start a 15km downhill bike ride through villages and countryside, with opportunities to stop for photos and chat with locals. The guide will explain local agriculture, including tobacco, rice, and snakeskin fruit plantations. After 15km, have lunch at a local restaurant with views of Prambanan Temple. Then visit the Prambanan complex, a set of 9th-century temples. The guide will explain the history, construction, and religious significance of the temples. Return to the hotel in Yogyakarta.(B,L)

• Hotel Description

Begin your day with a visit to The Sultan’s Palace (Kraton), a central point in Javanese cosmology and an excellent example of traditional Javanese architecture built between 1756 and 1790. The palace, still the Sultan's residence, serves as a museum showcasing Javanese culture and relics. Depending on the day, you might see cultural performances like Golek Menak Puppets or classical Javanese poetry (Macapat).

Take a 30-minute becak ride to explore Kauman Village, a key Islamic centre. The village's narrow lanes minimise noise and traffic, promoting peace for Islamic students (Santri) and equality amongst residents. End the ride at Taman Sari Water Palace, built over 200 years ago with bathing pools for the Sultan's harem. Next, visit a home batik factory and attend a Wayang Kulit (Javanese leather puppet) demonstration. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Yogyakarta.

Drive to Kotagede, known for its traditional Javanese atmosphere and silversmith workshops. Take a bicycle tour, visit a master baker for Kembang Waru cookies, and explore the traditional market. Visit Yogyakarta's oldest mosque, dating back to 1575. Borrow traditional Javanese attire, then explore the Mataram Kingdom's historical compound and Royal Cemetery. Conclude your Kotagede visit with a walking tour through narrow lanes, discovering unique Kalang-style architecture, which blends Javanese and Colonial styles.

Return to your hotel. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Ramayana dance performance after dining at a local restaurant. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast, proceed to Solo, also known as Surakarta, founded in 1745 by a local king. It is the capital of batik in Java and home to intact Dutch colonial architecture. Your first stop is Keraton Mangkunegaran, a palace for a junior line of the royal family built in the 18th century. It houses a collection of 14th-century jewellery, silver works, traditional Javanese weapons, and classical dancing ornaments. Next, visit a renowned batik museum to learn about Javanese batik art and watch craftsmen at work. Lunch is served at the museum.

In the early afternoon, take a half-day excursion to Sukuh and Cetho, the last Hindu temples built in Java before the courts converted to Islam in the 16th century. Located on Mount Lawu's western slopes, the area offers spectacular landscapes and tea plantations. Explore Sukuh Temple, at 910 meters elevation, with its unique pyramidal shape and Hindu phallic carvings. Continue to Cetho Temple, higher on the mountain, known for its similar carvings and multi-tiered architecture. Return to the hotel in Solo late in the afternoon. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

After an early breakfast, transfer to Solo Railway Station for a scenic train ride to Jombang in East Java, accompanied by your guide. The train ride is an excellent way to meet locals and enjoy the volcanic landscapes of Central and East Java.

Upon arrival in Jombang, meet your local driver and have an early lunch at a local restaurant. Then, continue to Trowulan, the former capital of the Majapahit Kingdom. Visit the archaeological museum and the temples of Candi Bajang Ratu and Candi Tikus. After Trowulan, proceed to Mount Bromo, passing through the coastal town of Pasuruan and continuing along a picturesque mountain road to the entrance of Bromo-Tengger National Park. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Wake up at 0330hrs for a sunrise tour of Mt Bromo. Travel by 4WD jeep to Penanjakan for stunning views of the Bromo volcano and the sunrise. Continue by jeep to the volcano caldera, often mist-covered, creating a moon-like atmosphere. Ride horseback for 20 minutes to stairs leading to the rim of the active Bromo crater. Return by horse and jeep to your hotel for breakfast.

After checking out, drive to Surabaya. Have a late lunch at a local restaurant in Surabaya before transferring to Surabaya Airport for your late afternoon or evening flight. (B,L)