Essential Java and Bali

DAY 1 – DEPART THE UK

 Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Indonesia.

DAY 2 – YOGYAKARTA

 Your driver-guide will meet you on arrival at Yogyakarta for the transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax after the flight.

DAY 3 – YOGYAKARTA

After breakfast, your guide will meet you for a tour of cultural Yogyakarta. You will visit the Kraton, the traditional home of the sultan and the royal court, and the elaborate two-storey mansion retreat known as the Water Palace.  In the afternoon you will leave the city and visit the magnificent tenth-century Hindu temple Prambanan.  If not as well restored as Borobudur, it is a splendid piece of architecture nonetheless, consisting of eight primary and eight minor temples on a central courtyard, surrounded by 244 small temples in the outer compound.  Worth staying at the temple until the sun sets; on a clear day it will appear as a silhouette against the backdrop of a sky of bright reds, pale blues and wisps of white clouds.

DAY 4-5 BOROBUDUR 

It's just over an hour’s drive from Yogyakarta to Borobudur; we recommend moving to a hotel at Borobudur so that you have two days to explore the temple itself and take in the magnificent scenes at both sunset and sunrise.

An early start on day 5 and a climb to the top of Borobudur will give you the chance to witness the majestic sunrise over Mount Merapi and the forested plateau to the east.  Built in the 8th century and constructed from two million individual bits of stone, the Buddhist temple is made of six square terraces with three circular terraces and 72 small stupas on top. It's covered by delicately sculptured reliefs representing the life of Buddha and the Buddhist belief in karma and reincarnation. Afterwards, choose between returning to your hotel to relax or spending the afternoon exploring the surrounding area.

DAY 6-8 UBUD

A 50-minute flight will take you from Yogyakarta directly to Bali where you will be met by your local guide and taken to your hotel in Ubud, in the southern foothills of Bali’s volcanic mountains. The cultural capital of Bali, Ubud is famous for its markets, temples, great selection of restaurants and its traditional Balinese architecture, and it's a great place for private exploration.  The town is surrounded by steep river valleys and glistening paddy fields.

During your stay, your guide will show you Ubud town itself. There will be time to explore the area’s art scene - Ubud is a mecca for artisans who paint and carve.

A full day can be spent enjoying a private walking/cycle tour through the beautiful countryside surrounding Ubud. You will embark on a guided walk through local villages and paddy fields. Take lunch in a local restaurant before being kitted out with mountain bikes and all the required safety equipment for an easy downhill cycle from Mount Batur through lush tropical paddy fields, coffee plantations and villages.

 DAY 9-13  – CANDI DASA

 From Ubud, travel to your peaceful beach hotel in Candi Dasa. Spend four days at leisure relaxing at a fantastic resort spending time at the exotic white sand beaches or perhaps visiting the town with its picturesque lily lake and local restaurants.

 DAY  14 – FLIGHT HOME

 Transfer by vehicle to Denpasar airport for your flight home.  Alternatively, we can change the tour to incorporate a visit to one of Indonesia’s other fascinating islands.

Your bespoke proposal with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (we can omit if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Original Experience Travel Group "signature" experiences 
• Full financial protection (ABTA and ATOL bonding.) 
• 24-hour in-country backup while away
• Your dedicated travel expert in the UK