Best of Indonesia - Temples, Volcanoes & Islands

Tour Itinerary

• Day 1 • Fly to Jakarta

  Our journey begins with an overnight flight to Jakarta.

• Day 2 • Arrive in Jakarta

  Arrive in Jakarta and transfer to our hotel in one of the city’s characterful central neighbourhoods. Indonesia’s capital is a city of contrasts, balancing fast-paced modern life with quieter residential districts and leafy parks. The rest of the day is yours to settle in and perhaps stretch your legs on a stroll through the local area, where independent cafés serve coffees sourced from islands across the Indonesian archipelago, each with its own distinct flavour and story. Tonight, relax and enjoy dinner at the hotel.

• Day 3 • Jakarta & travel to Yogyakarta

  This morning, we’ll explore Jakarta on a guided tour, discovering its striking contrasts and religious diversity at Istiqlal Mosque and the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption. We’ll visit the National Museum before exploring the historic colonial quarter of Batavia, including the Wayang Museum and lunch in a grand heritage building. Later, we’ll take the train to Yogyakarta, travelling through ever-changing landscapes of rice paddies, palms and volcanic peaks, before checking into our hotel and enjoying an evening at leisure.

• Day 4 • Borobudur & Yogyakarta

  After breakfast, we’ll visit UNESCO-listed Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, exploring its terraces and intricate carvings. We’ll then enjoy a hands-on introduction to batik, learning from local artisans how hot wax and dye are used to create its intricate patterns. After some free time at the hotel, we’ll explore Yogyakarta after dark on a food tour, sampling local specialities from lively market stalls and eateries, travelling by traditional bajaj through bustling neighbourhoods before enjoying a local restaurant meal and returning to the hotel.

• Day 5 • Yogyakarta

  This morning, we’ll visit Yogyakarta’s Keraton royal palace, the ceremonial heart of the city and a living centre of Javanese culture, where we’ll learn about the former kingdom and watch young performers rehearse traditional court dance. We’ll then continue to Prambanan, Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple complex, exploring its soaring 9th-century temples, intricate Ramayana carvings and earthquake-scarred ruins, set against the fertile plains and volcanic peaks of central Java. This evening, we’ll enjoy a traditional Indonesian dance performance with dinner included.

• Day 6 • Travel to Bromo

  Today, we journey east across Java towards the dramatic landscapes of Mount Bromo. As rice paddies, coconut groves and volcanic peaks drift past the window, the route offers a glimpse of everyday life in rural Indonesia. Gradually, the roads begin to climb into the highlands, the air grows cooler and sweeping views open up across forested hills and distant mountains. Arriving in the Bromo region, we’ll settle into our hotel amidst the lush scenery, with time to relax and enjoy the remarkable setting before tomorrow’s adventures.

• Day 7 • Mount Bromo

  Before dawn, we’ll travel by jeep into Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, crossing the volcanic plain to a viewpoint overlooking Mount Bromo and its neighbouring peaks. As the sun rises, the dramatic landscape of craters, mist and rugged volcanoes is revealed, with the option to walk to Mount Bromo’s crater rim for a closer look. After breakfast and time to relax at the hotel, we’ll leave the highlands and drive to Surabaya, Java’s second-largest city, for an overnight stay ahead of tomorrow’s flight.

• Day 8 • Travel to Labuan Bajo, Flores

  This morning is at leisure before we fly east to Flores, the gateway to Komodo National Park. On arrival in Labuan Bajo, we’ll transfer to our beachside resort for three nights, where Flores’ slower pace, palm-fringed hills and turquoise waters offer a striking contrast to Java’s bustling cities and historic temples. The remainder of the day is free to relax and enjoy the resort as we prepare to explore Komodo National Park.

• Day 9 • Cooking class & Village experience

  Today, we’ll discover Flores through a hands-on cooking experience, learning from a local chef how the island’s fresh produce and distinctive ingredients shape its traditional cuisine before enjoying the meal we’ve prepared in the surrounding gardens. Later, we’ll head into the hills above Labuan Bajo for sweeping sea views and a visit with local villagers, learning about Flores’ tribal heritage, ceremonial dress and community life inside a traditional-style house, followed by a performance of traditional music and dance. We’ll then return to the hotel for a free evening.

• Day 10 • Komodo National Park

  Today, we’ll explore UNESCO-listed Komodo National Park by private boat, beginning with Padar Island, where those who wish can climb to a viewpoint overlooking its dramatic beaches and turquoise bays. We’ll continue to Pink Beach for time to swim, relax and enjoy lunch overlooking the coast, before visiting Komodo Island with local rangers in search of the legendary Komodo dragon and other wildlife. Our final stop is a coral-rich marine haven, where we can swim or snorkel among vibrant reefs, with the chance to spot manta rays, turtles and tropical fish, before returning to Labuan Bajo for a free evening.

• Day 11 • Labuan Bajo to Bali

  Today, we’ll leave Flores behind and fly to Bali, transferring to Ubud, the island’s cultural heart, surrounded by emerald rice terraces, tropical forests and river valleys. The lush, carefully cultivated countryside, dotted with temples and traditional villages, offers a striking contrast to Flores’ rugged, untamed landscapes. After checking into our hotel, the remainder of the day is free to relax, explore the local area or enjoy the hotel’s facilities.

• Day 12 • Goa Gajah & Pura Tirta Empul

  This morning, we’ll explore a more spiritual side of Bali, beginning at Goa Gajah, the ancient ‘Elephant Cave’ sanctuary, with its rock carvings, jungle-cloaked ruins, bathing pools and active shrines. We’ll then visit Tirta Empul, one of Bali’s most revered water temples, learning about its sacred spring and cleansing rituals, with time to explore or take a dip in the waters. Before returning to Ubud, we’ll stop at the iconic Tegallalang Rice Terraces, where generations of farming have shaped the lush green landscape. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy Ubud, perhaps visiting its cafés, galleries, boutiques, Monkey Forest or Royal Palace.

• Day 13 • Ulun Danu Beratan Temple & Balinese daily life experience

  This morning, we’ll travel into Bali’s central highlands to visit Ulun Danu Beratan, a beautiful lakeside temple seemingly floating on Lake Beratan, surrounded by misty mountains. We’ll then explore the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, walking through the emerald fields while learning about the traditional farming and irrigation systems that have sustained local communities for generations. Later, we’ll visit a traditional family compound to discover Balinese customs, architecture and spiritual traditions, learn the Balinese alphabet and receive a keepsake featuring our name written on palm leaf. After a typical Balinese lunch, we’ll continue to Sanur, where our beachfront resort offers a relaxed setting for the final days of our Bali stay.

• Day 14 • Free day in Sanur

  Today is free to enjoy Bali at your own pace. Perhaps spend the day unwinding by the pool, strolling along Sanur’s beachfront promenade or settling into one of the many cafés and restaurants dotted along the coast. With calm waters, swaying palms and a relaxed atmosphere, Sanur is an ideal place to slow down and savour the final days of our Indonesian adventure. For those wishing to explore further, a range of optional excursions can be arranged locally, offering additional opportunities to discover more of Bal’s culture, landscapes and traditions.

• Day 15 • Journey home

  Transfer to the airport and begin our journey home, bringing our exploration of Indonesia to a close.