Java, Borneo & Beach: Orangutans, Temples & Castaway Islands

Java

Malang's Ancient & Colonial History

Sometimes referred to as the ‘Paris of East Java’ and famous for its cool mountain air and the breathtaking surrounding countryside, the ancient city of Malang is an interesting mix of traditional Javanese temples, Dutch Colonial architecture, and modern Indonesian society. Experience this firsthand with your expert local guide.

You will start the day by visiting the Singosari Temple, located about 12 kilometres north of Malang and partially restored in the 1930s. It is one of the monuments built in memory of Kertanagara, the last of the Singosari Kings, who died when his palace was seized by a usurper in 1292. In its original state, the roof would have mirrored the cosmic Mt Mahameru of Hindu mythology, four lesser pinnacles on each side surrounding a taller, central ‘peak’. The most impressive feature of the temple is the highly detailed kala heads that decorate the roof, although oddly, they become mere outlines above the lower-level entrance and wall niches, showing that the fine carving was executed from the top downwards.

You will also visit Jago (or Jajaghu) Temple, constructed in 1275 – 1300 AD and believed to be the burial place of King Wisnuwardhana’s ashes, the fourth king of the Singosari kingdom. Situated to the east of the city in the village of Jago in the Tumpang District, the journey between the two temples provides you with the opportunity to experience the contrasting architecture of the city and the dramatic volcanic peaks and lush countryside that surround it.

Java

Sunset over Mount Bromo

As the day draws to a close, take a jeep to Bromo to visit the crater and Penanjakan Mountain. Watch as the sun sinks behind the volcanic peaks, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

With fewer visitors than at sunrise, the scene feels calmer and more magical – a truly special way to experience Bromo.

Java

Sunrise over Mount Bromo

Part of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and 2,329 ft above sea level, the active Mount Bromo in East Java is part of some of the most dramatic scenery in Java, no easy feat in this island of jaw-dropping scenery. Watching the sunrise over the vast volcanic peaks and craters of the national park, along with the lush green fields of the hills below, is a beautiful and incredibly peaceful sight.

Following an early rise, you will be taken, at first by jeep and then on foot, to a natural platform overlooking Mount Bromo’s caldera to view the spectacular sunrise over the crest of the volcano and the national park beyond. Starting in darkness, you will witness the unmasking of the beauty of the peaks, and often shrouded in mist, the vast expanse of green below will open up to create a dramatic contrast with the dark rock and sulphur of the caldera.

After a short drive to the flat plane of the caldera base, covered in the silver dust of sulphur, you will have the option of a pony ride past the Hindu temple of Pura Luhur Poten and to the base of the volcanic peak. After climbing up the steep sides of the peak, you will be able to take in the magnificent view of its crater lake and the surrounding mountains now firmly emblazed in the glory of the bright sun. You will then be taken back to your hotel to relax and recover from the early start.

Java, Indonesia

Traverse Rural Java by Train

A great way to see the spectacular scenery of Java is to take one of the trains that roll past the volcanic peaks and paddy fields covering the island. The first class executive carriage on an intercity train is very comfortable, with air conditioning and reclining airline-style seats. If you are in a group, the seats can also be spun around so that four face each other. While they do not travel at the speed of the modern railway systems elsewhere in the world, the trains generally do run on time, and it’s quicker and more fun than travelling by car. If you’re on board at lunchtime, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the good food.

Java

Mount Ijen Morning Trek

The volcanic Ijen Plateau is dominated by the dramatic cones of the Ijen, Merapi, and Raung volcanoes, creating a striking skyline that feels wonderfully wild.

The tour begins early in the morning for anyone keen to take in the extraordinary beauty of Mount Ijen.

Along the way, you’ll pass through rural villages, coffee and clove plantations and stretches of Javanese rainforest before reaching the showstopper at the rim: a vivid turquoise sulphur lake, surrounded by sheer crater walls at 2,883 metres above sea level. Mount Ijen remains one of Indonesia’s most spectacular natural phenomena.

Kalimantan

Orangutan Feeding at Camp Leakey Research Centre

Indonesian Borneo, or Kalimantan, to take its proper name, has the highest number and greatest density of orangutans in the world. Camp Leakey, found in the rainforests to the west of Pangkalan Bun in Central Kalimantan, is one of the best places to see for yourself the attempts to preserve this population and protect the forest against the ever-more aggressive loggers.

Established in 1971 by Dr. Biruté Galdikas and her then-husband Rod Brindamour, Camp Leakey is a world-renowned research facility predominantly focused on orangutans. However, it also has far-reaching projects on other endangered primates, such as the proboscis monkey, and studies on the rainforest ecosystem as a whole.

Home to a population of ‘ex-captive’ orangutans and their offspring, Camp Leakey offers guests the opportunity to get close to these wonderful animals and experience their behavioural techniques firsthand. The park’s eco credentials are fantastic, and its history of reintroducing orangutans into the wild is impressive.

After an early breakfast at your lodge, a 2.5-hour cruise up the Leakey River will take you towards Camp Leakey – an orangutan research and breeding centre. You will be led by a local Ranger and your guide on a trek through the jungle to the feeding platform, where you will be able to see and help with the feeding of the orangutans. You will also have time to explore the centre’s little museum, where you will start to get a feel for and understanding of the tragic destruction that is going on all around this beautiful wilderness.

Borobudur, Java, Indonesia

Explore the Mysteries of Borobudur Temple

Borobudur, a vast 9th-century Buddhist temple set an hour north of Yogyakarta, is one of Southeast Asia’s most remarkable ancient sites. Built from over two million carved stones, it rises in terraces with intricate reliefs and 72 stupas housing statues of Buddha. Lost for centuries and later restored, it’s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The best time to see it is at sunrise — we know a secret hilltop spot for an unforgettable view of the temple complex, framed by mist-laden jungle and volcanoes.

Borobudur, Java, Indonesia

Explore UNESCO Heritage at Prambanan Temple

Prambanan is a huge Hindu temple complex erected in the middle of the ninth century, some 50 years after the nearby and more illustrious Buddhist temple of Borobudur. However, while it does not have quite the same level of fame as Borobudur and is still not fully restored to its former glory, it is undoubtedly a magnificent piece of architecture and the sculptures and reliefs on the main Shiva temple are among the best examples of Hindu art to be found. Like Borobudur, Prambanan is blessed with the natural beauty provided by a lush green plateau surrounded by volcanic peaks.

Very little is known about the early history of the temple but it is thought that it was built by Rakai Pikatan to celebrate his marriage to the Buddhist Sailendra Princess Pramodhavardhani. This united the Sailendras to the south with the Hindu Sanjayas to the north and meant the return of a Hindu dynasty to sole power in Java. The main temple complex consisted of 8 main and 8 minor temples on a central courtyard, surrounded by 244 small temples in the outer compound. Unlike many temple complexes, Prambanan was not constructed in a symmetrical manner. The largest of the temples, dedicated to Shiva, rises majestically to 47m and is lavishly carved. At the time of writing, you could not get particularly close, but you could still admire the huge range of sculptures and reliefs that tell the story of Lord Rama’s wife, Sita. It is possible to climb and enter the remaining temples and admire their intricate artwork or simply sit and enjoy the setting.

As was the case with Borobudur, the temple was destroyed by a combination of the Hindu-Buddhist exodus east and a number of eruptions and earthquakes. It was not until 1937 that reconstruction started in earnest. As it stands, the central 16 temples have been reconstructed but only two of the 244 outer structures have been rebuilt – although the remains of these are piled in position. The temple also suffered from an earthquake in 2006 and while the temples remained standing, hundreds of stones collapsed or were cracked, which has put the effort to fully restore the entire complex back even further.

The best time to visit the temple is at sunset, when you can climb one of the eastern temples and watch as the sun sets in between the three largest temples to the west. 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. On certain evenings, there is a performance of the famous Ramayana Ballet – Java’s most spectacular dance-drama – in a theatre just to the west of the temple. In the dry season, this is performed in the outdoor theatre with the illuminated temple in the background, and it is a great accompaniment to the temple visit. Speak to your consultant to see if you can fit it into your holiday dates.