Java Highlights & Boat Journey through The Lesser Sunda Islands Bespoke Holiday Itinerary / Experience Tour

DAY 1 – DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Java.

DAYS 2 & 3  YOGYAKARTA  - JAVA

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.

On your first full day in Indonesia you’ll take a tour of cultural Yogyakarta. You will visit the Kraton, the traditional home of the sultan and the magnificent nearby tenth-century Hindu temple Prambanan.  You will stay at the temple until the sun sets; on a clear day the temple will appear as a silhouette against the backdrop of a sky of bright reds, pale blues and wisps of white clouds.

DAYS 4 & 5  BOROBUDUR  - JAVA

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 chance to witness the majestic sunrise over the volcanoes and the forested plateau to the east.  Built in the 8th century, the temple is covered by delicately sculptured reliefs representing the life of Buddha and the Buddhist belief in karma and reincarnation. After the temple you will have the choice of going back the hotel to relax or of spending the afternoon exploring the surrounding area.

DAYS 6 & 7  SIDEMAN - BALI

Take a short flight (roughly 1 hour) from Yogyakarta to Bali. On arrival, your local guide will meet you for your private transfer to the picturesque hills of East Bali. You’ll stay in a lovely retreat where you can totally relax and get a feel for authentic Balinese life.

You can opt to laze around the resort and take in the views, pool and spa or you might choose a more energetic stay. Activities on offer include a trek to nearby Pura Bukit which is home to traditional Ikat weavers, cycling through the foothills of Mount Agung or exploring the secluded coast nearby. Whatever you choose to do you’ll enjoy a remarkably beautiful landscape of rice paddy terraces, volcanic valleys, lush tropical forest and mountain terrain.

DAY 8  AMED – BALI  

Transfer to your beach resort in Amed on the East Bali coast. In the evening, enjoy sunset drinks in, before having dinner with your fellow guests to get better acquainted for the sea voyage ahead.

DAY 9 SEA TREK ADVENTURE - GILI ISLANDS

After a leisurely breakfast you’ll board your traditional vessel to begin your journey east across the Lombok Strait. The trench between Bali and Lombok is part of the ecological boundary known as The Wallace Line. The flora and fauna of the islands to the west are home to Asiatic animal and plant species, whereas the islands to the east of the invisible line have a greater similarity to species found in Australia.

During the afternoon you’ll make your first port of call in the Gili Islands. You’ll spend time enjoying the white-sand beaches and perhaps some snorkelling, kayaking or paddle boarding.    

DAY 10 SEA TREK ADVENTURE - LOMBOK

Enjoy breakfast moored off the coast of North Lombok. Then head onto land to explore the north of the island including a traditional village that is home to the indigenous Sasak people and a visit to a roaring waterfall.  In the afternoon you’ll be back on the vessel for a visit to a marine conservation area.

DAY 11 SEA TREK ADVENTURE – MOYO & SATONDA ISLAND

Today you moor up on Moyo Island for a village walk and waterfall walk, then back on the boat towards the small, peculiar volcanic island of Satonda. The island has a crater lake that was filled with saltwater when the largest volcanic eruption in history occurred on neighbouring Sumbawa Island in 1815, causing a tsunami.

There will be time to snorkel and swim in the surrounding waters which are home to beautiful corals and colourful fish. At dusk you might be lucky enough to witness thousands of flying foxes travelling from the island to feed on the mainland.

DAY 12 SEA TREK ADVENTURE – PULAU SANGEANG AND BANTA ISLANDS

The boat will have been sailing through the night and in the morning you’ll reach Pulau Sangeang.  The island has an active volcano that towers 1,800 metres above sea level so is only inhabited for short periods of the year when the local people visit to tend their crops. There is chance for more top notch snorkelling at a nearby reef and a location off the island where volcanic gasses escape in the form of bubbles from the sea floor among the corals.

In the afternoon you’ll sail south to the white sand beaches of Banta before proceeding towards Komodo National Park in the evening.

DAY 13 SEA TREK ADVENTURE – KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

Today the boat will anchor off Komodo Island, one of the islands that make up the Komodo National Park. You’ll go ashore for a ranger-led trek through the park searching for Komodo dragons. Back on-board you will cruise around the coast to Komodo village and later on to a red coral beach for swimming and snorkelling over one of the richest reefs in Indonesia, relishing the unforgettable spectacle of the region’s many varieties of coral and marine life. Later head to Gili Lawa Darat for some a hill climb to watch a magical sunset with panoramic views of the national park.

DAY 14 SEA TREK ADVENTURE – KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

Today there will be a chance for another ranger-led trek around Rince, one of the other islands that is home to Komodo dragons. The island is also home to a range of wildlife and the scenery is breath-taking. In the afternoon, there will be more time for snorkelling and perhaps a visit to Kukusan, home to a settlement of sea-gypsies. In the evening you will go ashore to an uninhabited island for a final night’s beach barbeque. With a raging bonfire, great food, dancing and the crew singing and playing guitars, this end-of-cruise celebration under the stars is a quintessential SeaTrek experience.

DAY 15 FLORES TO BALI

Early risers, we will have time for one last swim and snorkel, before cruising into Labuan Bajo harbour on Flores.  There will be time to watch local ‘strongmen’ perform the ‘Caci,’ a ritual whip-fight between two rivals in which the players, each armed with a rattan shield and a whip, will try to hit each other while dancing to the rhythm of traditional acoustic instruments. After the performance you will have a final lunch on the boat before transferring you to Labuan Bajo airport for the direct flight back to Bali. Alternatively you could continue the adventure with a 5/6 day private overland tour of Flores (speak to your travel consultant for details).

On arrival in Bali you’ll transfer to your preferred resort for a 3 night stay (the stay can, of course, be extended should you prefer). Depending on your travel style, there are a range of beach resorts on Bali or you could opt to stay in the hills around Ubud.

DAY 16 - 18 RELAXING AT A BALI RESORT

Spend 3 full days enjoying the relaxing atmosphere of Bali and reflecting on your adventure.

DAY 19  FLY HOME

Depart Denpasar airport for your flight back to the UK.

Your personalised quotation with Experience Travel Group will include:

• International Flights (which can be omitted from your quotation if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• Meals as described (full board and non alcoholic drinks whilst cruising)
• 24 hour in-country backup whilst away
• Your own dedicated travel expert in the UK

For more on our pricing policy read here.