Essence Of Indonesia 10 Days

Arrival at Yogyakarta International Airport.

Meet and greet by guide, then transfer to your hotel in Yogyakarta.

Rest of the day at leisure.

Evening: Gather for welcome dinner at hotel with guide introduction to the program.

Spend the night in Yogyakarta

Breakfast at hotel

Start your journey of Yogyakarta with a visit to The Sultan’s Palace, constructed between 1756 and 1790, a prime example of traditional Javanese sultanate architecture. This living museum, still the residence of the Sultan, offers a rich display of Javanese culture and relics. As you explore the various rooms and chambers, you’ll gain deeper insights into the cultural heritage of Java.

Continue your tour with a ride in a Becak (local trishaw) to the neighboring Kauman village, located near the Kraton. This village serves as the spiritual heart of Islam in the region, as endorsed by the Sultanate. Its narrow gangs (laneways) are designed to minimize noise and traffic, ensuring a peaceful environment for the santri (Islamic students) as they study. The laneways, passable only on foot, were also intended to symbolize equality among all.

End your Becak ride at Taman Sari Water Palace, the site of a former royal garden featuring a central bathing complex. This historic addition to the royal complex, built over 200 years ago by the first Sultan, offers a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the Javanese royalty.

Next, drive Prambanan Temple which is located east of Yogyakarta city. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant near Prambanan temple complex.

Following the lunch, explore the Prambanan Temple, Widely regarded as the most beautiful and graceful Hindu temple in Indonesia, Prambanan consists of many temples with sharp, jaggedly sculpted towers, the tallest of which rises a staggering 47 meters into the sky.

Return to Yogyakarta, proceed to the hotel, check in, and enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

In the early evening, we will go out to see how locals spend their evening. Drive around the souvenir market of Malioboro and stop at Alun Alun Kidul, the famous South Square known for its twin Banyan trees. The locals meet here to chat, socialize and enjoy the evening hours.

Dinner will be at a restaurant with traditional design. Enjoy the regal atmosphere of antiques filled surroundings while tasting the authentic Javanese cuisine. Return to hotel.

Spend the night in Yogyakarta

Breakfast and lunch included.

Rise early this morning to witness the breath-taking sunrise backdrop of Borobudur Temple. Depart from your Borobudur hotel at around 04:30 and be transported to Dagi Hills. Hike to the top of Dagi Hills is approximately 45 minutes and immerse yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds you.

Once at the top, take the opportunity to watch the sunrise over the Borobudur Temple. After sunrise, enjoy a picnic breakfast on the top of Dagi Hills.

After breakfast explore the massive Buddhist temple on foot, learning about the history of the temple and its symbolic design and discovering hidden corners and carvings around each turn.

Next, travel to a nearby temple of Pawon and Mendut. Learn about the temple’s history and unique architecture while walking around these small but impressive monuments.

Take a break for a leisurely lunch, soaking in the rustic ambiance while indulging in local delicacies. In the afternoon, engage in an in-depth exploration of Candirejo, an authentic rural village. Traverse the village lanes aboard a dokar, a traditional horse cart, weaving through scenes of everyday life, from crafting cassava crackers to harvesting seasonal crops. Frequent stops allow for capturing photos and engaging with locals, gaining insights into their daily activities and vibrant traditions.

Bid farewell to the warm residents of Candirejo, concluding your day trip from Yogyakarta with a camera filled with cherished memories.

Time: approx. 04:30 – 15:00

Inclusions: Private air-conditioned transportation, English speaking guide, all entrance fees and parking, becak ride, breakfast, lunch, bottled water.

Note: Visit to Borobudur Temple is currently allowed until the temple yard only. It is not allowed to enter or climb to the temple building.

Spend the night in Yogyakarta

Breakfast and lunch included.

Take a bicycle around the ancient capital to unearth a unique silver heritage, a royal cemetery, and an eclectic mix of Javanese Dutch architecture.

In the morning depart to Kotagede, a town with remains of the 16th century capital of the Mataram Kingdom. Set off on bicycle (or becak) to tour the maze of narrow alleyways throughout this charming and quaint town. The streets are lined with tiny silversmith workshops where artisans produce silver tea sets, hand beaten bowls, delicate filigree and modern jewellery.

Go past the artistically decorated wooden Javanese Joglo dewellings as well as beautiful walled Kalang houses, once homes of the wealthy Dutch merchants. Wander into a small bakers shop and smell the aromas as Kembang Waru cookies, introduced by the Dutch colonists, are being baked over an open charcoal fire.

After exploring the fresh food and spices on offer at the local market, you walk through small alleyways and here we enter the house of a local family who will offer you some fresh coffee, tea and local snacks. Next visit the oldest mosque in Yogyakarta dating back to 1575, and the Royal Cemetery, a site of ancient grandeur where visitors are required to wear traditional Javanese dress to enter. Continue walking through small lanes and see people in their daily lives until the end point. Drive to local restaurant for lunch and return to hotel.

Time: approx. 08:30-13:30

Inclusions: Private air-conditioned transportation, English speaking guide, all entrance fees and parking, bicycle or becak ride, lunch, bottled water.

Spend the night in Yogyakarta

Breakfast at hotel

Check-out and depart to Yogyakarta International for your flight to Bali:

Recommended by Garuda Indonesia, GA 252, depart at 13.40 and arriving in Bali at 16.10 pm

Note: Airfares are not included in the package price

Upon arrival in Bali, transfer to the selected hotel in  Sanur

Spend the night in Sanur

Breakfast at hotel

During this full day tour discover the culture, countryside and stunning scenery of Bali. Start the day with a performance of the famous Barong and Keris Dance. This traditional Balinese dance narrates the fight between good and evil and is a classic example of the Balinese way of blending myth and history into one reality.

Drive to Tampaksiring to visit the unique temple of Gunung Kawi. Set at the bottom of a lush green river valley, these 11th century temples feature 10 rock cut shrines, called candi, carved into the cliff face. The awe inspiring shrines combine ancient Hindu and Buddhist temple attributes. Walk down the many stairs to the temple taking in the views of the terraced rice fields along the way.

Continue to Kintamani set around the rim of the Gunung Batur crater. Look out over Bali s most active volcano, Mount Batur, which soars over 1,800 metres into the sky. In the centre is a beautiful turquoise green lake, the largest lake of the island. After a late lunch in a local restaurant with beautiful views, drive back to the south with a stop in Tegalalang to see Bali s most iconic rice terraces.

Time: approx. 08:30-17:00

Inclusions: Private air-conditioned vehicle, English speaking guide, all entrance fees and parking, lunch, bottled water.

Spend the night in Sanur

Meet your guide an driver and then start the day with a visit to Pura Taman Ayun, the 17th Century temple of Mengwi, set in a beautiful park with trees and ponds full of lotus blossoms. The large spacious temples and multi-tiered shrines are surrounded by a wide, elegant moat.

Continue to visit a Monkey Forest where monkeys roam freely in their own sacred forest.

Next drive to the stunning coastal Tanah Lot temple located on a rock island in the sea. Without a doubt the most famous and photographed place in Bali, this sacred Hindu temple sits majestically on a large offshore rock which has been shaped over the years by the crashing waves of the surrounding sea.

Time approx. 14:00-19:30.

Inclusions: Private air-conditioned transportation, English speaking guide, all entrance fees and parking, bottled water.

Spend the night in Sanur

Breakfast at hotel

Experience an evening of Kecak dancing at a cliff top temple followed by a barbeque seafood dinner under the stars.

In the late afternoon you will be taken to the location of the famous cliff hanging temple at Uluwatu. Perched on the edge of a steep cliff, the temple sits 70 meters above the crashing waves of the Indian

Ocean. The temple is inhabited by a large number of monkeys, many of whom can be found roaming the pathways.

As the sun sets over the glittering ocean, watch a dramatic Kecak Dance or Ramayana Monkey Chant performance at the temple. Wearing traditional checked cloth around their waists, the male dancers chant in unison while depicting a battle from the Ramayana.

After the performance drive to one of the beautiful beaches for a seafood dinner by the beach. Choose from a tantalizing array of fresh seafood options, including prawns, crab and crispy squid. Don’t forget to savor the unique flavors of “kangkung,” also known as Indonesian water spinach, and spice up your meal with the fiery notes of sambal, the quintessential Indonesian sauce.

Time: 15:30-21:00

Inclusions: Private air-conditioned vehicle, English speaking guide, all entrance fees and parking, dinner, bottled water.

Note:

– The performance seats might be full quickly in this venue, thus we might alternate to attend the same show at the other location nearby Uluwatu area .

– Please inform in advance if you are food allergies condition.

Spend the night in Sanur

All day at leisure

Spend the night in Sanur

Free at your own leisure until the transfer time to Bali airport for your next destination.

Check out time: 12.00