Premium Java and Bali - 11 Days

Selamat datang! Welcome to Indonesia. You’ll be met by a local representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm in Jakarta. If you arrive early, why not check out some of Jakarta's museums, like the Wayang (puppetry), Seni Rupa Dan Keramik (fine arts) and maritime museums. For city monuments, don't miss Si Jagur – an old Portuguese cannon ornately decorated with a disguised meaning, or the Monas (National Monument) dedicated to the spirit of the Indonesian people. After the meeting tonight, join your group for an authentic Indonesian dinner at a restaurant housed in a Dutch mansion.

Familiarise yourself with the city on a full-day tour with your expert local leader. Take in Sunda Kelapa port – where the Dutch first landed – temple-filled Chinatown and the old town of Batavia. Wander around Fatahillah Square, visit Candra Naya (a Chinese mansion) and gain an insight into the beautiful Peranakan architecture. Have lunch at a Chinese restaurant that has been serving some of the city’s best and most authentic food for more than a century. Learn the story behind the restaurant and its cuisine during an Exclusive Experience – a storytelling session with the owner. After lunch, explore the religious history of the city at Cathedral Church and Istiqlal Mosque – the largest mosque in South East Asia.

Catch an early morning train to Yogyakarta, then head north to your accommodation for the night near Borobudur Temple. Check in and settle into your room. Later this afternoon, you’ll head to the Manohara Borobudur Culture Centre to gear up for your climb up Borobudur Temple. You’ll receive a flashlight and a pair of upanat – special sandals made from pandan leaves and coconut shells, designed to help protect the temple’s stones from damage. Meet your local guide, then begin the climb up to the 9th level of this UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buddhist temple. From the top, you’ll get a view of the temple and its surrounds basking in the glow of the sunset. Pause to reflect and revel in the peaceful ambience, then begin your descent and return to the Cultural Centre for dinner. After, return to your accommodation for the night.

Have breakfast with views of the tranquil rice fields surrounding your hotel this morning, then transfer to Candirejo Village, where you’ll join a local guide for a walking tour and exclusive agrotourism visit. Learn about the tumpangsari farming system and try your hand at playing traditional gamelan music. Have a traditional snack and brown sugar tea, then join your group for lunch under a pendopo (gazebo). After, transfer to Yogyakarta and check into your Feature Stay for the next two nights – the Royal Ambarrukmo Hotel, located on the grounds of the historic Yogyakarta Royal Palace and Gardens. The rest of your evening is free – there’s the option to watch a traditional performance of Ramayana ballet at the Pura Wisata Ampitheatre.

This morning after breakfast, hop on a becak (cycle rickshaw) for a tour of the local market – discover the heritage of Kotagede, renowned for its exceptional silver art and cuisine, and maybe pick up a snack or some souvenirs. Then, dive into the ancient textile art of Batik with a hands-on class in a local village – you’ll learn how to draw with wax on cloth and create your own keepsake to take home. Next, visit Prambanan – a 10th-century Hindu temple on the outskirts of Yogyakarta. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed site is the largest Hindu complex on Java. Set in a tranquil park, it’s a great spot for a stroll along the river and some photo ops. Tonight, try some local cuisine at an Exclusive Experience at Gadjah Wong Restaurant, located on the banks of the Gadjah Wong River. Listen to the owner’s story as you feast on Indonesian cuisine.

After breakfast, fly from Yogyakarta to Bali. When you arrive, drive to your accommodation in Ubud for the next three nights, surrounded by rainforest and rice paddies. Ubud is Bali's centre of arts and culture – a thriving hub of markets, shops and warungs (small, family-owned businesses), close to rice terraces and lush jungles. Tonight, you might like to attend a fire dance performance at the temple or browse the lively Gianyar Night Market.

It’s a very early start today – you’ll wake up at 4 am to head to Mt Batur before sunrise. It’s worth the early wake-up call – on a clear morning, it's possible to see all the way across the Lombok Strait to the peaks of Lombok's Mt Rinjani. Sit down to a delicious breakfast spread complete with a glass of prosecco and take in the memorable mountain views. After, you’ll visit the village of Undisan, where you’ll join a local guide for a tour of the rice fields. Learn how the Balinese use herbal plants to treat different health conditions and browse homemade jewellery and handicrafts. Then it’s time to roll up your sleeves for a Balinese cooking class where you’ll learn how to make local specialties and tuck into a tasty lunch. After a day filled with adventure, tonight is free for you to sit back, relax and enjoy your beautiful hotel to the fullest.

After a free day – perhaps spent relaxing by the pool – you’ll join Balinese royalty for dinner at one of the exquisite royal palaces of Ubud. Of course, you’ll have to look your best, so an appropriate traditional outfit will be provided for you to wear. Immerse yourself in the stories shared by a member of the royal family as they explain royal cultural traditions and provide an insight into royal family life. You’ll also watch an intricate and culturally significant Legong dance – a special performance that’s one of the most famous in the royal court.

Travel to Griya Beji Waterfall today for an Exclusive Experience – a purification ceremony with a local priest. At this secluded waterfall, the priest will guide you through the steps of the ceremony known to locals as ‘melukat’. Soak up the sense of healing and relaxation as you enter a canyon hidden in a cave, then continue to the waterfall. Later today, you’ll travel to Sanur – a seaside town in the south of Bali. When you arrive, you'll have some free time to relax on the beach or at the hotel. Tonight, maybe head out to one of Sanur’s best restaurants with your group – your local leader will have all the best recommendations.

Today is free for you to enjoy Sanur however you like. Maybe drop into a local warung for lunch, sign up for a surf lesson, take a trip to Tanah Lot Temple or shop along Jalan Danau Tamblingan. This afternoon, you’ll celebrate the final night of your trip in style – board a private yacht and take in Bali’s breathtaking southern coastline around Nusa Dua and the Bukit Peninsula as you set sail for one final adventure. Raise a glass and have a barbecue dinner on board as you watch the sunset – here’s to a trip well-travelled!

With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you'd like to spend more time in Sanur, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.