From Java to Raja Ampat: an Indonesian Extravaganza

North Sulawesi

Explore the Minahasa Highlands

Explore the local village of Woloan, where you will see the traditional Minahasan-style houses being built. After a brief exploration, it’s off to see the traditional food & flower market in Tomohon, where you will find local ‘delicacies’ including monkeys, rats and even bats! Some of the animals are roasted whole, and some people may find this image disturbing (please let us know if you would like to take this out of your trip). After the markets, you will head up to the serenity of Tondano Lake and Pulutan Village, where local pottery making is thriving. As you start to head back towards Manado, the weaving factories are a must-see, where you’ll observe the local weaving traditions that are practised to this day. The last stop of the day is Lake Linow, which is locally known as the “changing colour” lake.

North Sulawesi

Snorkelling & Diving in Bunaken

Dive into the waters of Bunaken National Marine Park to discover a paradise filled with some of the highest levels of marine biodiversity in the world and top-quality coral reefs. Known as one of the best snorkel and dive destinations worldwide, the park is home to clear, warm waters, calm conditions and shallow reefs, making it an ideal spot for both beginners and the more seasoned divers. On a day trip around the park, you’ll likely swim with sea turtles, countless tropical fish species, reef sharks and many more critters among the colourful coral.

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.

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.