Day 01: March 06, 2016: Arrive at Jakarta Airport

Upon arrival at Jakarta we are warmly and traditionally welcomed and then transferred to our hotel. Evening, we have a dinner meeting.  It is recommended that you do arrive at Jakarta no later than 1600 hours of this day. We will have a welcome dinner – a good opportunity to get acquainted with the other participants followed by an orientation of the tour.
Overnight: Sheraton Bandara Hotel (1 night) (D)

Day 02: March 07, 2016: Jakarta/Pangkalan Bun (Flight)

After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Pangkalan Bun. Upon arrival check into our hotel which is about 20 minutes drive from the Pangkalan Bun Airport. Afternoon we will have a tour of the Pangkalan Bun town including motorized canoe trip on the Arut River that splits the Pangkalan Bun into two parts. This is a good cultural experience as the locals use the river for transportation, bathing, washing, swimming, etc.
Overnight: Grand Kecubung Hotel (3 nights) (B, L)

Day 03: March 08, 2016: Pangkalan Bun Eclipse Preparation Day

Whilst the preparation work is being done, we will visit Tanjung Keluang beach by small speedboats to see a small conservation project ran by the Indonesian Nature Conservancy Agency. Here Green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) are protected and released. The turtles lay their eggs on the picturesque peninsular of Tanjung Keluang, from March to November every year, but face many threats. There is an adoption program available at Tanjung Keluang, which allows you to weigh and measure a turtle, name it, then release it into the sea. When releasing a turtle, you place it on the sand with their head pointing inland. We will culminate this visit by going to the site of the viewing to get acquainted for the big event the next day. (B, L)

Day 04: March 09, 2016: Total Eclipse of the Sun

Today is the day. With all our gear we are transferred to the eclipse-viewing site prepared for you in advance. Lunch or lunch box provided. Later, we return to our lodge.  Evening we enjoy a BBQ dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 05: March 10, 2016: Pangkalan Bun/Kumai Harbour/Camp Leakey/Rimba Lodge

After a short 20 minutes drive to Kumai harbor we board our Klotoks - a traditional wooden river boats with a roof to navigate amongst the streams at Tanjung Putin National Park. The park serves as an orangutan rehabilitation centre, where orphaned or formerly captive individuals are trained to live in the wild. We view the daily hour-long feedings of the orangutans at various jungle platforms. The river cruise will be our first real experience of the rainforest watching birds and wildlife. A delicious Indonesian hot lunch cooked onboard is served. We will boat to Camp Leakey in time for the afternoon feeding time with lunch on board. At the famous Camp Leaky we go on a very easy trek using a mostly even pathway through the jungle to the feeding station for the afternoon feeding. We then return with our boat to the Rimba Ecolodge for the evening. A day into nature at it’s best.
Overnight: Rimba Lodge (1 night) (B, L)

Day 06: March 11, 2016: Rimba Lodge/Kumai/Pangkalan Bun Semarang/Yogyakarta (Flight)

Early morning we take our boat to the pier in Kumai and are transferred to the airport for our flight to Semarang, from where we drive approximately 3 hours to the historical city Yogyakarta exploring the countryside of Java. Upon arrival we are welcomed in the traditional Javanese style and transferred to our hotel. Evening is free at leisure.
Overnight:Melia Purosani, Yogyakarta, Deluxe room (2 nights) (B, L)
www.meliajogja.com

Day 07: March 12, 2016: Jogjakarta Borobudur, Mendut & Pawon

Our tour of this historical city starts with a visit to the Kraton, the Sultan’s Palace located in the city centre. The palace was the center of the Mataram Kingdom and is now a center of the Javanese art and culture. We then head to the Borobudur Temple complex. This famous Buddhist temple, dates to the 8th and 9th centuries and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs and around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of Buddha. We also visit the Pawon and Mendut Temples discovered in 1834. Evening we are treated to a wonderful dinner-theatre show that features a beautifully staged Ramayana ballet performance. (B, L, D)

Day 08: March 13, 2016: Jogjakarta/Bali (Flight)

Today we visit the stunning Prambanan Temple Compounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 240 Hindu temples decorated with reliefs illustrating the Indonesian version of the Ramayana epic - masterpieces of stone carvings dating to the 8th century AD in Java. After lunch transfer to the airport for flight to Denpasar Airport in Bali. Upon arrival in Bali we are warmly and traditionally welcomed and then transferred to our hotel in Ubud, Bali’s artistic heart. Evening is free to explore Ubud.
Overnight: Camplung Sari Hotel, Ubud (3 nights) (B, L)

Day 09: March 14, 2016: Ubud

We start the day with a drive to Batubulan village to see the famous Barong and Keris dance performances. This is followed by a visit to Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave), a Hindu meditation center dating back to the 11th Century. Next we visit Mengwi the 18th-century Royal Water Temple of Pura Taman Ayun, which is part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy – a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is the largest and most impressive architectural edifice of its type on the island. Our tour ends at Kedaton, the Monkey Forest. Balance of the day is free to explore Ubud's many museums. (B, L)

Day 10: March 15, 2016: Ubud

We head to Tampak Siring to visit the holy spring water temple of Tirta Empul followed by Kintamani to enjoy the amazing panoramic views of Lake Batur, Mt. Batur and Mr. Agung. Taste delicious local cuisine lunch at a local restaurant. Throughout our tour we see rice terraces which run through Subak, the cooperative social system that controls the water. Subak has shaped the landscape over the past thousand years and are an integral part of religious life. Water from springs and canals flows through the temples and out onto the rice paddy fields. Water temples are the focus of a cooperative management of water resource by a group of subaks. Since the 11th century the water temple networks have managed the ecology of rice terraces at the scale of whole watersheds. Afternoon we proceed to Besakih Temple, the largest holiest site in Bali and home to the island's Mother Temple, located on the slopes of Mount Agung. The temple is comprised of 3 main complexes dedicated to the Hindu Trinity. It was built during the late 8th century AD. Evening free to enjoy Ubud. (B, L)

Day 11: March 16, 2016: Ubud /Nusa Dua Beach

We start with a visit of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a magnificent lakeshore temple, followed by a visit to the magnificent Eka Karya Botanic Garden that features 2,000 species of plants and 20,000 plant specimens ranging including orchids, roses, palms, ferns, bamboos and medicinal plants. After lunch we continue to Tanah Lot, a temple that sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tides of the Indian Ocean to enjoy magnificent views of the sunset. From here we continue to Nusa Dua, Bali's prestigious resort enclave.
Overnight: Melia Bali (Deluxe garden view room) (2 nights)  (B, L)

Day 12: March 17, 2016: Nusa Dua, Bali

Day free for us to enjoy not only the beach, but also join the many activities that the resort offers. The beachfront resort is a unique sanctuary of exotic beauty and comfort for those who seek a dream vacation. The entire property occupies 10.7 hectare of lush tropical gardens with an enormous lagoon swimming pool winding throughout the grounds. The contemporary tropical architecture, bold décor and spacious gardens express the essence of Bali. We can relax on the beach or play water polo, water basket-ball, beach volley ball, beach soccer, aquarobic, bicycle, table tennis, gymnasium, and billiard or get optional spa treatments. (B)

Day 13: March 18, 2016: Bali/Departure

Depending on your flight timings you will be transferred to the airport for your flight. Checkout time is 12noon. For optional extensions to view the spectacular Mt. Batur volcano and/or Mt Bromo volcano please ask for details. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

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Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 20 participants

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

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