Java & Borneo: Explore the Heart of Indonesia’s Diversity

• Highlights:

  ·         Arrival in Jakarta & welcome!

  ·         Transfer to hotel (Hermitage Jakarta).

  Welcome to Indonesia! Touching down in Jakarta Airport, avoid arrival queues with fast-track service through Immigration and Customs. You’ll be greeted by an airport representative after exiting your plane, escorted through the Visa on Arrival process, baggage claims and then ushered to your awaiting private guide who will then transfer you directly to your hotel in Jakarta.

  Accommodations: The Hermitage Jakarta (2-unit Deluxe Room, adjoining)

           Meals: N/A

• Highlights:

  ·         Begin your Jakarta tour at the Monas National Monument, a symbol of Indonesian independence.

  ·         Continue to Istiqlal Mosque, the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

  ·         Visit the Wayang Museum, home to rare Indonesian puppets & masks.

  ·         End your tour at Sunda Kelapa Harbor, a historic trading post.

  

This morning after breakfast, meet your private guide and embark on a full-day exploration of Jakarta. Begin with a visit to the nearby Monas National Monument, Indonesia's symbol of independence. If interested, take the elevator up the 129-meter (423-feet)-high marble, bronze and gold obelisk for terrific views of the city.

Continue to Istiqlal Mosque, also known as the Masjid Istiqlal (Independence Mosque), the largest mosque in Southeast Asia. Built almost entirely of marble, this is the most active mosque in Jakarta, and visitors are allowed when prayers are not in progress.

Then proceed to Jakarta Old Town (Kota Tua Jakarta), or Old Batavia as it is often called. This is the former downtown area of the capital and headquarters of the Dutch East India Company.

Next visit the wonderful Wayang Museum, which houses Indonesia's largest collection of rare puppets and masks. If interested, stop for lunch at Cafe Batavia (on your own expense) which has won international accolades for its interior decor.

End your tour at Sunda Kelapa Harbor, where the Portuguese traded with the Hindu Kingdom of Pajajaran in the 16th century. This historic trading post is home to the world's largest fleet of commercial sailing ships. Here the lines between Indonesia's past and present are sometimes blurred. The modern ships are mixed with colorful wooden cargo ships arriving from the islands with porters unloading their goods. Return to your hotel with the evening at leisure.

Accommodations: The Hermitage Jakarta (2-unit Deluxe Room, adjoining)

Meals: Breakfast

• Jakarta – Kumai – Tanjung Harapan Camp - Proboscis Tour – Houseboat

  Highlights:

  ·         Fly from Jakarta to Pangkalan Bun via NAM Air IN190.

  ·         Transfer to Kumai & the houseboat.

  ·         Travel to Seikonyer River, Tanjung Puting National Park’s main river.

  ·         Enjoy the wildlife, such as proboscis monkeys.

  After breakfast, you will be transferred to Jakarta Airport to catch the flight to Pangkalan Bun.

  Fly Jakarta – Pangkalan Bun on NAM Air (IN 190), departing 05.45 – arriving 07.00 Economy class

  Upon your arrival at Pangkalan Bun Airport, you will meet with your guide and then transfer to Kumai, which will take about 20 minutes. Upon your arrival in Kumai, you will be taken to to the houseboat and be greated by a welcome lunch on board.

  

  After boating down Kumai River, it will take approximately 15 minutes to reach Seikonyer River, the main river in Tanjung Puting National Park. Cruise up the Sei Konyer river and you will see nice vegetation around the river bank, Nipa Palm, Pandanus, and lush trees that grow up around the river.  Enjoy seeing the wildlife and birds, such as Macaque, Proboscis Monkey and Orangutan, if time still permits you will visit the Orangutan feeding in Tanjung Harapan.  Later, you will return to the boat and continue boating up to observe and learning more about Proboscis monkeys along the river banks. Proboscis monkeys are endemic animals that can be seen only in Borneo. Dinner and Overnight on the boat.

  

  Accommodations: Klotok Super Deluxe House Boat (2 Cabin)

  

  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

• Highlights:

  ·         Enjoy a second day at Tanjung Puting National Park.

  ·         Take your choice of what to explore at this beautiful park, known for its orangutans.

Today, you will enjoy another delightful day ahead at Tanjung Puting National Park.

Accommodations: Klotok Super Deluxe House Boat (2 Cabin)

Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

• Highlights:

  ·         Transfer to Pangkalan Bun airport.

  ·         Fly from Pangkalan Bun to Semarang via NAM Air IN 197.

  ·         Transfer to hotel (Plataran Borobudur).

  Depart to Kumai – Pangkalan Bun’s airport – Flight Semarang – Transfer Magelang

  After breakfast on board then boating down to Kumai then direct transfer to Pangkalan Bun airport.

  Flight: Pangkalan Bun - Semarang on NAM Air (IN 197), departing 11.05 – arriving 12.15 Economy class

Accommodations: Plataran Borobudur (1-unit duplex royal pool villa)

Meals: Breakfast

• Highlights:

  ·         Visit the Javanese countryside via a Dutch bicycle.

  ·         Visit Borobudur, a breathtaking 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple that is the largest man-made structure in the southern hemisphere.

  ·         Learn about this beautiful structure that was “rediscovered” in the early 19th century.

  

Hop on a traditional Dutch bicycle and head off to explore the beautiful Javanese countryside with Borobudur, the 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple, always in sight. Visit the local market, learn all about the process of making tofu (soybean cake), Nglipoh village (pottery-making) and gula jawa (palm sugar), before biking to Borobudur temple itself. Take your time to soak up the atmosphere of this unique Buddhist monument before heading back to enjoy your lunch with local specialties.

After lunch you will visit Borobudur Temple.

Accommodations: Plataran Borobudur (1-unit duplex royal pool villa)

Meals: Breakfast

• Highlights:

  ·         Explore Candirejo Village, a typical and peaceful Javanese village.

  ·         Visit a local’s home & enjoy traditional gameland music & food.

  ·         Transfer to hotel (Royal Ambarukmo).

  Magelang - Tour Candirejo by Andong – Yogyakarta

Depart for Yogyakarta with a visit Candirejo Village. Candirejo is a typical Javanese village, not far from the Borobudur, where the residents are supported by a local NGO that started a sustainable tourism project, aimed at introducing typical Javanese village life to visitors. Riding in a traditional horse and cart, you will explore this peaceful village and the surrounding countryside. You will ride along small rural lanes to fields where people are working on the land. You stop along the way to interact with locals, and your guide will explain the different activities – such as harvesting and drying chili (seasonal), or making cassava crackers and handicrafts from bamboo.

Next you will visit a local house, where the community will give a performance of traditional gamelan music, played with traditional Javanese percussion instruments. Afterwards, you will have the opportunity to join in and try and master some of these instruments. During the tour you will also enjoy a delicious Javanese meal at a community-funded pavilion house, known locally as a pendopo rumah.

After that you will drive to your hotel in Yogyakarta.

Accommodations: Royal Ambarukmo (2-unit junior suite / deluxe, adjoining or connecting)

Meals: Breakfast, lunch

• Highlights:

  ·         Engage in a Bahasa lesson, an Indonesian language.

  ·         Enjoy a free afternoon to explore Yogyakarta.

  AM. Indonesian Lesson including language practicing, PM Free

Today will be a busy and exciting day learning your first words in Bahasa, the language of Indonesia. For the first hour of this morning class, you will spend time learning some basic words and phrases, like how to say 'hello', how to greet people, and how to buy things in the local market. Like any language, Bahasa is linked to important cultural and customary practices, and this will be touched on while you learn the language. Following your hour of study, your teacher will accompany you to the local market, where you will get the opportunity to practice your new Bahasa vocabulary!.

Accommodations: Royal Ambarukmo (2-unit junior suite / deluxe, adjoining or connecting)

Meals: Breakfast

• Trails of Life Walk around Plataran Menjangan

  City tour by by becak including Batik workshop, PM Prambanan

  Highlights:

  ·         Explore Yogyakarta by becak / pedicab.

  ·         Engage in a Batik workshop, to learn about the traditional Javanese craft of dyed textiles.

  ·         Visit the Prambaran Temple, the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia.

Exploring Yogyakarta by becak (pedicab). Start with a visit to the walled Keraton palace complex in the city's old quater that was once the palace of Yogyakarta’s sultans. You will also visit Taman Sari water palace, a former leisure haven for the sultans. Then you head to a wayang kulit (shadow puppets) and batic factory, to see how these arts and crafts are made, you also will have a Batik Workshop.

Batik is a centuries-old Javanese craft that produces beautiful colored designs on textiles by dyeing them, having first applied wax to the parts to be left undyed. Each region has its own unique patterns linked to its cultural heritage.

In the afternoon we will visit Prambanan Temple.

Accommodations: Royal Ambarukmo (2-unit junior suite / deluxe, adjoining or connecting)

Meals: Breakfast

• Train to Mojokerto, by car to Bromo

  Highlights:

  ·         Take a scenic train ride to Mojokerto in Esta Java.

  ·         Continue on car to Bromo, a spectacular volcano.

A breakfast box will be provided by the hotel (to be eaten on board the train). At 06:00, you will be transferred to Yogyakarta Railway Station for a scenic train ride to Mojokerto in East Java (your guide will be along on 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.

From Mojokerto, you will continue by car to Bromo, an active volcano that is part of the 800 km2 Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. At 2,392m, it may be smaller in comparison to other Indonesian volcanoes; however, the dramatic views and spectacular landscape of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is something not to be missed.

Accommodations: Plataran Bromo (2-unit deluxe room, adjoining)

Meals: Breakfast

• Highlights:

  ·         Begin your journey closer to Mount Bromo, an active volcano.

  ·         Witness a beautiful sunrise at the Penanjakan viewpoint.

  ·         Continue to drive into the Bromo caldera & reach the top of the active volcano.

After a very early morning wake-up call, you begin your journey by jeep to sacred Mount Bromo, an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java. After a short, steep drive, you stop off at Penanjakan viewpoint to witness a glorious sunrise. Only when the first rays of dawn begin to appear, do you realize the splendor of the scene that greets you – a spectacular panorama featuring the highest mountain tops of Java. From here you drive into the huge Bromo caldera and then cross a wide, open terrain to get to the center of the caldera. Here you climb a staircase to reach the top of active Bromo volcano! After your adventure, you will be transferred back to your hotel for a well-deserved breakfast, and the rest of your day is free at leisure.

Accommodations: Plataran Bromo (2-unit deluxe room, adjoining)

Meals: Breakfast

• Highlights:

  ·         Transfer to Surabaya Airport.

  Today you'll be transferred to the Surabaya Airport as the end of your flight.

  End of services. Selamat Jalan – Have a good Journey!

Accommodations: N/A

Meals: Breakfast