Java and Sulawesi Adventure

DAY 1 - DEPART THE UK

 Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Yogyakarta.

DAYS 2 – 4 BOROBUDUR (JAVA)

On arrival, you’ll be met by your guide for the road transfer west to your hotel near the stunning Borobudur temple. You will have plenty of time to relax after your journey, taking in the beautiful green surroundings of paddy fields and volcanoes before exploring this unique and memorable region. Climb to the top of Borobudur for epic vistas 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 comprises 6 square and three circular terraces with 72 small stupas.

DAY 5 – YOGYAKARTA (JAVA)

After breakfast, you will head into Yogyakarta, part of the only sultanate remaining in Indonesia. 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. While not as well restored as Borobudur, it is a splendid piece of architecture consisting of eight primary and eight lesser temples around a central courtyard, surrounded by 244 small temples in the outer compound. Stay at the temple until the sun sets when, 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.

DAY 6 MALANG (JAVA)

Leave Yogyakarta to take a train east through the stunning central mountains towards Jombang, East Java. On arrival, your driver will meet you for the onward journey through the beautiful countryside to Malang via small plantation villages, where you will have a chance to stop and take in the scenery and explore the villages.

Your guide will take you on a tour of Malang, where you will see the colonial architecture, various art centres, the botanical gardens, and a range of local temples. Malang is refreshingly crisp and surrounded by glorious countryside.

Day 7 & 8  Mount Bromo

Drive through the dramatic volcanic peaks of East Java towards your hillside hotel in Bromo. After time to relax at the hotel, take a stunning walk around the mountain as the sun sets. By this point, you’ll have reached a vantage point to see the sun go down over the magnificent Mount Bromo.

On the second day, following an early rise, you will be taken to view the spectacular sunrise over the crest of the volcano. Climb to the peak of Bromo, where you can take in the magnificent view of its crater lake and the surrounding mountains. After relaxing at the hotel, head to a different viewpoint to watch the sunset over this breathtaking scenery

DAY 9 MAKASSAR (SULAWESI)

Today, you’ll travel to Surabaya and catch a short afternoon flight to Makassar in southern Sulawesi.

DAY 10 MAKASSAR TO TANA TORAJA (SULAWESI)

Today you’ll begin the drive to Tana Toraja; it’s a long but scenic journey to reach this fascinating part of the world, with stops along the way. There are now 50-minute flights between Makassar and Tana Toraja, but they are few and far between, so speak to your Indonesia expert for details.

The scenic drive follows the coast to Pare-Pare where you will stop for lunch. From there, head inland up into the stunning mountains before arriving, late afternoon, at your hotel. Accommodation is in traditionally-styled Tongkonan houses and facilities include a swimming pool.

DAY 11 TANA TORAJA (SULAWESI)

Explore the eerie yet beautiful traditional ancestral hanging graves, effigies and cave tombs of Lemo and Londa. On their death, Toraja people are entombed in caves or hanging graves on the cliffs around these sites, which are guarded by tau tau (life-sized wooden effigies) carved in their image. Learn about the intricate Christian and ‘animalism' hybrid religion that has developed uniquely in this region of Sulawesi. You will also visit Kete Kesu, a beautiful Toraja village, where you can see the incredible Tongkonan houses and rice barns, designed to look like boats.

DAY 12 TANA TORAJA (SULAWESI)

Today will begin with a walk around the markets to see the local farmers selling their wares—among them coffee, cloves, and nutmeg. Every sixth day, cattle are brought to market, and though traditional money is accepted in Toraja, on this day, you can see that the real local currency in Toraja is cattle!

You will then head to Batutumonga for stunning views across the countryside surrounding Rantepao, one of Tana Toraja’s main towns.

DAY 13 MAKASSAR (SULAWESI)

 After breakfast, you’ll begin the journey back to Makassar, stopping for breaks along the way. As before, a short flight may be an option, so speak to your travel expert for details.

DAY 14 - 16  WAKATOBI, BUNAKEN OR GANGGA ISLAND

 The conditions of the waters around Sulawesi nurture some of the best marine life in the world (the island featured in the 2017 Blue Planet II series). Think turtles, dolphins and exceptionally vibrant coral. There are several options for the beach part of your holiday, and discussing the pros and cons with your consultant is best.

You can fly north to Manado, where a car and boat ride will take you to Gangga Island or Bunaken. Alternatively, you could fly to southeast Sulawesi and head to Wakatobi.

DAY 18 HOME OR STAY

Depart Manado for your flight back to the UK.

If you have extra time to spare, we recommend extending your beach stay or incorporating a further 3-4 days in Sulawesi (pre-beach) to spot wildlife on the northern mainland in Tangkoko Nature Reserve.