Day 01: Arrive Surakarta

Upon arrival at Surakarta in Central Java, Indonesia, we are warmly and traditionally welcomed and transferred to our hotel. Hotel check in time is 2PM. Surakarta is often referred to as Solo and its airport is serviced by flights from Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore besides multiple flights in the day from other Indonesian cities including Denpasar (Bali) and Jakarta. We have a 3-night stay overnight at the centrally located hotel with its elegant Javanese styled rooms.
Overnight: The Royal Surakarta Heritage Hotel, Surakarta (3 nights)

Day 02: Surakarta

After breakfast, we start with a visit to the Kraton, the Palace of the Pakubuwono Kings. Built in 1675 it is a reflection of the Javanese and classical European styles. We also visit Windujenar Antique Market looking for curiosities.  Solo is known for its Batik - Indonesia's national fabric. Batik making in Java is an ancient tradition that has been passed down through generations. Batik is a cloth that is traditionally made using a wax-resist dyeing technique and has notable meanings rooted to the Javanese conceptualization of the universe. Certain patterns can only be worn by nobility; traditionally, wider stripes or wavy lines of greater width indicated higher rank. Consequently, during Javanese ceremonies, one can identify the royal lineage of a person by the cloth one is wearing. In 2009, UNESCO designated the Indonesian Batik as a "Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity". We visit the Museum Batik Danar Hadi, which houses Indonesia’s largest collection of batik and has a workshop where we see the process of traditional batik making from start to finish. Afternoon we are free to explore the main centres of production for Batik, with renowned areas such as Kampung Kauman or Laweyan and visit workshops where we see the process of traditional batik making from start to finish. The Gede Solo as well as the Klewer Markets are both within a 10 minutes’ walk. (B, L)

Day 03: Surakarta/Sangiran/Ceto/Sukuh/Surakarta

Today we visit the Sangiran Early Man Site*, a WHS and an archeological treasure trove of fossils and remnants from the prehistoric era. The most important discovery however was the skeleton of the Java Man (Pithecanthropus erectus) an important predecessor of the modern human. We visit the world-class museum, which contains many fossils of Meganthropus palaeo and Pithecanthropus erectus/Homo erectus. After lunch we head to the western slope of Mount Lawu and visit the 15th-century Javanese-Hindu temples of Candi Ceto and Candi Sukuh, which looks surprisingly like a Mayan pyramid. By this time, Javanese religion and art had diverged from Indian precepts that had been very influential on temple styles during the 8-10th century. This was the last significant region of temple building in Java before the island's courts were converted to Islam in the 16th century. Surakarta is also known in the Javanese language as, Solo. Evening walk around the city and see its lifestyle. With a population of over half, a million and yet no high risers. It is probably the reason why people find Solo as a town with very friendly people. (B, L)

Day 04: Surakarta/Borobudur/Yogyakarta (Drive)

We travel to Yogyakarta to visit the famous and majestic Borobudur Temple Compounds*. Built between AD 750 and 850 using forced labor from the surrounding countryside, Borobudur predates Angkor Wat in Cambodia by three centuries. Though a Buddhist creation, it incorporates Persian, Babylonian and Greek influences too. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 square metres. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a Buddha statue. We continue to Yogyakarta and check into our hotel. In the evening we can join an optional Wayang kulit performance, the famous shadow puppet theatre of Java, also featured in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The puppets relate stories that are usually drawn from Hindu epics, like the Ramayana or Mahabharata. We overnight at our elegant resort for 2-nights here.
Overnight: Yogyakarta Plaza Hotel, Yogyakarta (2 nights) (B, L)

Day 05: Yogyakarta

Our explorations start after breakfast as we visit the 1755 built Kraton Yogyakarta. Kraton is a palace with Javanese designs and architecture. Continue to Taman Sari, also known by the Dutch name Waterkasteel (water castle). It was built as a pleasure garden by the first Sultan in 1765. One of the bathing pools was dedicated to the sultan's harem, and he had a tower overlooking the area so he could take his pick. Afternoon visit to the Prambanan Temple Compounds*. Here 240 Hindu temples are decorated with reliefs illustrating the Indonesian version of the Ramayana epic. These are masterpieces stone carvings dating to the 8th century AD. We also visit the neighbouring Buddhist ensemble at Sewu, which comprises a central temple surrounded by a multitude of minor temples. In the evening we are treated to a sumptuous buffet dinner followed by a Ramayana Ballet performance, presented in a series of dance movements done by beautiful dancers accompanied by gamelan music. This will be our adieu to Java. (B, L, D)

Day 06: Yogyakarta/Bali (Flight)/Ubud (Drive)

A short flight gets us to Bali. A line of volcanoes dominates the landscape of Bali and have provided it with fertile soil which, combined with a wet tropical climate, make it an ideal place for crop cultivation. Water from the rivers has been channeled into canals to irrigate the land, allowing the cultivation of rice on both flat land and mountain terraces. Upon arrival, we are transferred to Ubud, Bali’s artistic heart and have time on our own to explore the many crafts centres in the area. We have a 4nights stay at our elegant resort in Ubud. One has to be prepared to be mesmerized at the charming and idyllic ambience of the hotel.
Overnight: Agung Raka Resort, Ubud (4 nights) (B)

Day 07: Ubud/Mengwi/Kedaton/Ubud

We visit Batubulan village to see a performance of Balinese Dances, which are also included in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. At Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) we visit this Hindu meditation center dating back to the 11th Century. We continue to Mengwi to visit the 18th-century Royal Water Temple of Pura Taman Ayun, which is part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali*. The temple is the largest and most impressive architectural edifice of its type on the island. We culminate the day at Kedaton, the Monkey Forest. Balance of the day is free to explore Ubud’s many museums.  Known as Bali's art and culture capital, Ubud is the ultimate place to enjoy various traditional performances, from the notorious Kecak fire dance to local youths practicing their gamelan in the town hall. One can catch these performances anywhere from the Royal Palace to restaurants and public places. (B, L)

Day 08: Ubud/Kintamani/Besakih/Ubud

Today we head to Tampak Siring to visit the holy spring water temple of Tirta Empul, another important component of the Cultural Landscape of Bali*. Next, we head for Kintamani, where we enjoy the amazing panoramic views of Lake Batur, Mt. Batur and Mr. Agung. Throughout our tour we see rice terraces, which are managed through Subak*, the cooperative social system that controls the water, which has shaped the landscape over the past thousand years and is an integral part of religious life. Water from springs and canals flow through the temples and out onto the rice paddy fields. Since the 11th century the water temple networks have managed the ecology of rice terraces at the scale of whole watersheds. We have an afternoon visit of the Besakih Temple, the largest and 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. (B, L)

Day 09: Ubud/Tanah Lot/Ubud

As we come close to our inspiring journey we visit the 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 at a local restaurant 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. Here we enjoy magnificent views of the sunset. With this memorable experience we take our drive back to Ubud for our last night in Indonesia. (B, L)

Day 10: Depart Ubud

Breakfast at the hotel. Our Tour of The World Heritage Sites in Indonesia comes to an end. We will have seen a small part of the heritage that Indonesia has to offer. Before long, you will be planning another journey to this unique country of islands. We are transferred to Denpasar International airport for our flight. Hotel checkout time is 11AM. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

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Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 08 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
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