Journey East Across Java & Bali

DAY 1 - DEPART THE UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Java.

DAY 2 – 4 BOROBUDUR (JAVA)

On arrival, meet your guide for the road transfer 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. Rise before the sun to climb to the top of Borobudur for the majestic sunrise over Mount Merapi and the forested plateau to the east.

DAY 5 – YOGYAKARTA (JAVA)

After breakfast, 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 two-story mansion retreat known as the Water Palace. In the afternoon, you will leave the city and visit the magnificent tenth-century Hindu temple, Prambanan. 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 & 7 – MALANG (JAVA)

Leave Yogyakarta to take a train east through the stunning central mountains towards Jombang, East Java. Your guide will accompany you. Your driver will meet you on arrival and take you to Malang, via the small plantation villages of Pujon Batu, where you can stop and take in the scenery and explore the villages. Stay in a hotel in the heart of the city.

You have a free day to explore the sights of Malang. You can explore the colonial architecture, various art centres, the botanical gardens, and a range of local temples. Malang is refreshingly temperate and is surrounded by beautiful countryside.

DAY 8 & 9 – BROMO (JAVA)

Drive through the dramatic volcanic peaks of East Java towards your hillside hotel in Bromo.

On the second day here, following an early rise, you will be taken to view the spectacular sunrise over the crest of the Bromo 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, you will walk around the peak as the sun sets over this breath-taking scenery.

* If time is tight, after Bromo, it's possible to transfer to Surabaya airport and fly over to Bali, skipping Ijen and East Bali to make the trip work within around 2 weeks. 

DAY 10 & 11 – IJEN (JAVA)

Board the train for a 4-hour journey across East Java. The train snakes through rice fields and lush jungle towards Banyuwangi. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel on the Ijen plateau.

It’s worth waking up early today to head out and explore the remarkable beauty of Mount Ijen. Travel through rural villages, coffee and clove plantations then into the rainforest. Humidity, wildlife, giant ferns and big trees cover the slopes of the mountain. Your effort will be rewarded with breath-taking views over the plateau and other-worldly turquoise sulphur lake of Kawah Ijan

DAY 12-14  PEMUTERAN (BALI)

Bid farewell to Java as you take a short ferry ride across the Bali Strait toward the West Bali National Park. The park is home to spectacular forests, mangroves and coral reefs. It’s one of the best snorkelling and diving sites in Bali with lovely white sand beaches. You’ll spend three nights here with accommodation in a peaceful beach villa on a bay overlooking the clear blue waters.

DAYS 15 & 16 MUNDUK (BALI)

Transfer along Bali’s north towards Munduk, where you’ll stay amidst a working coffee plantation. During your stay, you’ll trek through the coffee and cocoa plantations, passing through the mountains, forested valleys and beautiful waterfalls. For those interested, there is also a chance to canoe across the crater lake Tamblingan.

DAYS 17-19  UBUD (BALI)

Drive to the southern foothills of Bali’s volcanic mountains for three nights in Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali. Famous for its markets, temples, great selection of restaurants and its traditional Balinese architecture. During your time here, you will get an insider’s perspective on the artwork, architecture, food and scenery that make this region unique.

DAY 20 HOME OR STAY?

Depart Ubud for Denpasar airport for your flight home to the UK. Alternatively, stay in Bali and explore the island further, or continue the journey east with a short flight or boat ride to the next island along—Lombok. Call our Indonesia experts to discuss the options.