Depart your home country on your overnight flight to Java, Indonesia.
Most suited for
Families, Couples
Ideal time to visit
April - October
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.
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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
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:
All flights (unless you’ve booked your own!)
Expert guides and drivers
All accommodation
Many meals and snacks
Immersive experiences throughout
All regional transfers
Tips
24/7 In-Country support
Personal travel consultant throughout
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:
Bespoke Holidays £4,500 - £8,500pp
Bespoke Luxury Holidays £8,500 - £14,500pp
Bespoke Family Holidays from £4,000 - £7,500pp
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
Regional Expert
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.
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Indonesia, Komodo National Park
Plataran Komodo Resort & Spa
A peaceful island resort near Komodo. Boats on the shore, space to spread out, and dragons just a trip away.
Highlights
Highlights
Spellbinding scenery
Best for
Solo
Couples
Families
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Java, Indonesia
Amanjiwo
A very special, luxury hotel overlooking Borobudur Temple. Rooted in Java’s cultural heart.
Highlights
Highlights
Soul-stirring scenery,
Phenomenal pool
Best for
Couples
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Indonesia, Ubud
Capella Ubud
Bold and beautifully designed, Capella Ubud is made up of fabulous tented rooms and private villas dotted throughout tropical greenery.
Highlights
Highlights
Bold design,
Luxury tents,
Tropical haven
Best for
Couples,
Families with teens
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Indonesia
Rascal Voyages
This fabulous fleet is the stuff of legend. Seriously. These boats are best described as exclusive floating villas.
Highlights
Highlights
Once-in-a-lifetime adventure,
Exclusive access
Best for
Couples
Families
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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.
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Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Explore Komodo
Komodo National Park sits right in the middle of the Indonesian archipelago, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. It’s made up of three main islands – Rinca, Komodo and Padar – and a smattering of smaller volcanic islets.
There’s a lot to explore here, both above and below the turquoise water. While the celebrated Komodo dragons found on Rinca and certain islands steal the spotlight, the park is also home to wild deer, buffalo, boars, monkeys, wild horses, sea eagles, sulfur-crested cockatoos and flying foxes.
With ETG, you’ll discover secret coves as well as visit the main highlights like Padar Island, which has arguably the most impressive panorama of the surreal scenery, and the Pink Beach (a wonderful place for snorkelling – snorkels and fins will be provided).
You’ll also have the chance to track the infamous dragons on dry land, looking out for the dens and nests and learning a lot more about this mysterious creature from a guide.
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Komodo National Park, Indonesia
Wildlife Spotting in Komodo National Park
Komodo National Park is a haven for wildlife lovers: over 250 types of plants, 58 species of mammals and 128 types of birds live here.
The UNESCO-protected park covers five main islands – Komodo, Rinca, Padar, Gili Motang and Nusa Kode – plus a handful of smaller ones dotted in between.
It’s a very different landscape from the rest of Indonesia. Instead of tropical rainforest, it’s dry, rugged and really hot – more like savannah than jungle. These conditions are actually perfect for reptiles, especially the legendary Komodo dragon, which thrives here.
It’s a unique and wildly beautiful part of the planet – and well worth seeing with a good guide while exploring Indonesia.
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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.
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Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Countryside Walk with a Balinese Priest
Ever wondered what daily life in ‘The Island of the Gods’ really feels like? This private walking tour through the Balinese countryside is a wonderful way to find out.
You’ll spend the day wandering through rice paddies and little villages, away from the main tourist trail. But the real magic? It’s in the stories and the unique, local insights you’ll hear along the way…
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Bali, Indonesia
Biking in Bali
With its kaleidoscopic landscape, there is so much more to see in Bali than the beaches. A e-bike tour is a great way to get away from the crowds and see the island in a new and unique light. From the striking volcanic mountains and hills to the lush tropical forests and paddy fields and on to the dramatic coastline and river valleys, Bali has some truly breathtaking scenery to cycle through.
We can arrange various tours throughout the island and can design them to meet every ability, from a gentle downhill cycle or challenging climb. You’ll be picked up by your local guide and provided with excellent quality bikes and safety equipment. A support vehicle can be arranged throughout and the guide will proceed at a pace that suits all.
Some of our favourite tours on the island are around Ubud including the one-way adventures from Wanigiri to Ubud and from Ubud to Sideman. Both are wonderful alternatives to a road transfer. You’ll take small paths, only accessible on bikes with verdant views of rice terraces and forests, mountains and valleys and, depending on the season, you’ll also see farmers planting or harvesting their crops.
Another great cycle ride starts with an early morning pick-up from your hotel in Ubud. You’ll be driven to a beautiful spot overlooking Mount Batur for breakfast before a downhill ride through lush tropical paddy fields, coffee plantations and a tour of a village temple. After a traditional lunch in a local village that provides a wonderful insight into the local Balinese way of life, you will be picked up and dropped back in Ubud.
Please speak to one of our consultants about arranging a cycle tour and how it can fit into your wider holiday in Bali.
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Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Lunch at a Social Enterprise Restaurant in Ubud
Most ETG experiences include a lunch, and we design the experience to ensure you steer clear of ordinary tourist buffets and focus on flavours of the local cuisine.
We also like to ensure at least one meal during your holiday at a social enterprise restaurant. Typically, establishments that collaborate with local community programs and offer vocational training, which create life-changing employment opportunities for marginalised youth.
Beyond the skills they teach their trainees, these restaurants serve lovely home-cooked food and are a platform for cultural exchange, where you can chat with staff members and learn about local customs.
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.
