Depart your home country on your overnight flight to Java, Indonesia.
Staying in some of Indonesia’s best hotels and boats, this luxury holiday combines cultural discovery with untouched natural beauty.
You’ll travel from the awe-inspiring Borobudur temple and the tranquil rice paddies of Ubud to the dazzling turquoise waters of Komodo National Park.
Explore on dry land, too… get close (but not too close!) to the formidable dragons.
Sacred Trails & Secluded Bays in Indonesia
As with all our holidays, this itinerary is just a starting point. We will create a bespoke package which will be completely unique for you.
Day 1
Your adventure begins
Days 2 - 5
Borobudur, Java
On arrival in Yogyakarta, you’ll be welcomed to Indonesia by your private driver and taken to your amazing hotel near Borobudur: Amanjiwo, set against an extraordinary backdrop of ancient temples and smoking volcanos.
Borobodur is the world’s biggest Buddhist temple complex and lies just a short drive away. Spend a morning exploring the archaeological wonder at sunrise with your guide. Later today, you might also choose to visit Mendut or Pawon, two ancient Hindu temples a few kilometres away.
There is free time to relax at Amanjiwo, but you might be tempted to explore the surrounding area in more depth. You could take a guided tour of nearby Yogyakarta, a royal capital with a Kraton (palace) that functions as a city within a city, much like The Vatican. If you enjoy trekking, you could opt to explore the Menorah Hills, and if you’re very fit, you could even take a hike up Mount Merapi, an active volcano that forms part of the dramatic scenery for which Java is famous.
Days 6 - 9
Ubud, Bali
Today, you’ll take a short flight over to Bali and meet your private guide and driver on arrival. Once you’ve whizzed past the queues with a VIP immigration arrangement, you’ll be driven to beautiful Capella Ubud.
Relax and enjoy the wellness experiences at Capella, or spend your days exploring the surrounding countryside with our eye-opening experiences. Perhaps you’ll go on a downhill cycle ride from a viewpoint near Mt Batur, freewheeling through villages and past paddy fields, or on a trek with a local Brahmin. Then, head into Ubud itself to explore the myriad of markets and have lunch at one of the many restaurants.
Days 10 - 11
Flores
Today, you’ll take a short flight to Labuan Bajo on Flores. Check in to your beachfront hotel and get ready for your Komodo voyage.
Days 12 - 15
Komodo National Park
Board the boat today and set off on a once-in-a-lifetime voyage through Komodo National Park and nearby islands. The exact agenda will shift with weather conditions, but a typical four-day journey unfolds like this:
Snorkel and paddleboard off Sebayor Island to start. By evening, sip a signature sundowner on the roof deck as Sangeang Volcano glows on the horizon and reflects in the seascape.
Spend a day off-grid in Sape Bay, Sumbawa, sinking your feet into pink sands, kayaking to secluded bays, and diving over vibrant coral reefs. Pause for a picnic lunch at a private pop-up beach club.
Explore Komodo Island, where you’ll spot its legendary dragons alongside water buffalo, Timor deer, and flashes of birdlife. Back at sea, swim alongside hawksbills and green turtles.
Reflect on this adventure on your final night with a starlit pop-up dinner on a secret beach after drifting through Taka Makassar’s turquoise waters and gliding with manta rays.
Day 16
Fly home
After disembarking the boat, your driver will drop you off at Labuan Bajo airport for your flight back home.
Or, if you’d rather stay in Indonesia a little longer, extend your trip and explore other islands…
Temples, Volcanoes and Dragons of Indonesia
A 16 night family holiday with 2 teenage boys. We did enough cultural visits to keep mum happy but with volcano visit, swimming pools, Komodo dragons, snorkelling and seeing Manta rays the boys had a fantastically diverse holiday. I have used Experience Travel Group three times now and would highly recommend them.
Lynne
12 July 2019Excellent
850 Reviews
What’s included:
With ETG, what’s included goes well beyond the basics. From the moment your trip begins to your final farewell, the essentials are already taken care of, leaving you free to immerse, explore and enjoy without the hassle of hidden extras.
Here’s what comes as standard in all of our holidays:
Pricing:
As every holiday is bespoke, prices vary depending on destination, flights, hotel choices, inclusions and travel dates. We aim to include as much as possible upfront, so you know exactly where you are. As an approximate guide:
Meet Our Indonesia Experts
Lola’s love for Indonesia runs deep – and not just for Bali (though she has a soft spot for its magical interior and knows exactly where to find the best warung for lunch). What really excites her is helping travellers uncover the country’s sheer variety – from the smouldering volcanoes of Java to the rich marine areas in far-flung corners like Raja Ampat.
“This trip is the ultimate escape in tropical Indonesia. I can promise these hotels will blow you away – just as they did me.”
Lola
Indonesia Specialist
Explore Our Hotels & Villas
Wherever you go, and whatever you do, at the end of every day you can always be sure of a comfortable rest. Every location on our list of hotels is handpicked, and in its own way, shares the history, the hospitality, and the soul of the destination. Below are some examples of the different hotels we use.
The ETG Guarantee
We guarantee you an experience no one else has ever had.
The travel magic you’ll remember won’t be found on a well-trodden – or over-Instagrammed – itinerary. It will be the surprises, discoveries and secrets that you’ll uncover along the way with us.
Do you ever feel like people aren’t listening to you?
We get it. And we will – that’s a promise. Your holiday starts with with a proper, no-pressure call to understand what you want, what you don’t want, and what matters to you. From there, we create a completely unique adventure, inspired by our conversation together.
And because of our long-standing relationships with trusted partners across Asia, you’ll have access to experiences you can’t find on Google. The kind of special experiences that are literally impossible to find on your own.
Experiences in Indonesia
Crafting bespoke packages is the heart of what we do. Each holiday is specially designed to confound preconceptions and share magical, memorable, and truly exceptional experiences.
Important FAQs about Indonesia
At Experience Travel Group, we’ve been crafting immersive holidays in Indonesia for over a decade – long before most travellers look beyond Bali. Our in-depth local knowledge, long-standing partnerships, and genuine love for the country mean we can help you experience Indonesia in a way that’s special and unusual.
Over the years, we’ve developed thoughtful experiences that bring together cultural richness, comfort, and freedom to explore. Think family-friendly beach retreats, wildlife encounters, volcano treks, or private boat trips through island chains few people can name – all tailored to suit you.
With our expert planning and on-the-ground support, you can relax knowing everything’s taken care of – while still having the freedom to discover Indonesia your way. We don’t do one-size-fits-all. Every trip is personalised, every route considered, and every detail planned to help you uncover what makes this country truly remarkable.
Let us show you the Indonesia we know and love.
The short answer? Your best bet is during the summer. The slightly longer answer? Indonesia is massive – a 4,000km stretch of sea and islands, home to thousands of microclimates and shifting seasons. So when you search for the “best time to visit Indonesia” and get five different answers… they’re probably all right. Just for different places.
Most travellers aim for April to October, when much of the country sees its driest, sunniest weather. This works especially well for Bali, Lombok, Java, and Komodo. These months also line up neatly with the European and US summer holidays, which makes planning easier, especially for families.
But here’s where it gets interesting. If you’re heading to Raja Ampat or West Papua, the best time is the opposite – from October to April. Wildlife in Sumatra is great in the mid-year months, while the rainforests of Kalimantan stay steamy year-round (it’s a jungle, after all). And if you’re hoping to catch a particular cultural event or religious festival, that can shift the calendar entirely.
Every ETG holiday to Indonesia is designed to feel seamless, immersive and stress free. We’ll arrange international flights (if you’d like us to), your drivers and guides, and stays in characterful hotels we know and trust.
You’ll experience Indonesia in a way that’s completely tailored to you – from quiet moments to big adventures – all planned by our Indonesia specialists. And while you’re away, our local team is on hand 24/7, so you’ll always feel well looked after.
The Curious Traveller’s Guide to Indonesia
Want to know more? With over 17,000 islands and endless options, planning a holiday to Indonesia can feel a bit much – so we’ve put together our Curious Traveller’s Guide to Indonesia to make things simpler.
It’s our experts’ pick of standout experiences and places to stay, with honest advice on the best regions and tips for first-time visitors and return travellers.