Bali adventure trip: sunset in the ride paddies

Indonesia: green, greener, greenest

Route: Bogor - Jakarta - Cipanas - Bandung - Yogyakarta - Malang - Mount Bromo - Kalibaru - Lovina - Tirtagangga - Ubud - Bukit

If you want to see the best of Indonesia but still have plenty of time to relax, then this Java and Bali adventure trip is perfect for you. During this three week Java and Bali adventure trip, you’ll travel by private car with driver and shared minibus to colonial cities and infinite tea plantations. You'll also travel by train to Yogyakarta’s mystical temples. You’ll catch sunrise on top of a smoking volcano and travel through aromatic clove plantations to the exotic island of Bali. You'll spot dolphins at Lovina and explore the magical Water Palace in the east. You'll walk across the lush green rice paddies dotted with small family temples at Ubud, then end your Bali adventure trip in a bungalow on a quiet beach.

On Java, you’ll travel by private car with driver (except from Yogyakarta) from June to October when transfers are by shared minibus. On Bali, you’ll travel by private car.

Duration	19 days / 18 nights departs daily from Jakarta or Denpasar	Accommodation	Charming cottages in the rice paddies, city centre, with views of volcano, in a valley, in the hills, on the beach. Comfort level 3 and 4 (see accommodation).
Price	£1418 per person - based on 2 people sharing	Includes	Transport as described, accommodation with breakfast, guided excursions
Transport	Shared minibus with driver and private car with driver.	Excludes	International flight, entrance fees, optional excursion in Lovina on Day 14.

Day 1: Arrival in Jakarta - Transfer to Bogor

On arrival at Jakarta airport, you’ll be transferred directly to the small town of Bogor to the east of Jakarta, roughly a 2 hour drive. Bogor is nestled in between two volcanoes and 270m higher than Jakarta, which means that it has a more comfortable climate. The cooler climate makes it a popular weekend retreat for Indonesians looking to escape the busy city, which is particularly noticeable on Sundays. You'll spend the night in a comfortable hotel.

Bali adventure trip: Bogor Botanical Gardens

Day 2: Bogor

Today, you’ll visit Bogor town with a guide. The Kebun Raya (botanical gardens) are the most important attraction in Bogor. This immense park is home to more than 15000 tropical plants and trees as well as lush green lawns, lotus ponds and greenhouses with over 5000 orchids. Following the little streets, paths and footbridges you’ll walk down to the river to visit a workshop where they make traditional wayang dolls. These handmade wooden dolls are used in a type of puppet theatre telling the story of Ramayana. The friendly workshop owner will be more than happy to show you around.

You'll also visit a gamelan instrument factory during your tour. It’s interesting to see the whole production process because you're more than likely to see a gamelan orchestra playing at some point on your Java and Bali adventure trip, certainly if you’re visiting the kraton in Yogyakarta. You'll spend another night in your hotel in Bogor.

Day 3: Jakarta City Tour

Today, you'll travel from Bogor to Jakarta for a city tour past all the major sights. Jakarta is a busy metropolis with skyscrapers, motorways and vast residential areas. Large parts of Jakarta have been modernised over the years, but there are parts of the city where it seems that time has stood still. We’ve chosen to arrange accommodation in the more quiet and relaxed Bogor, but we feel a city tour through Jakarta should definitely be included in any comprehensive Java and Bali adventure trip.

Your driver will take you to the old harbour in the city - the Sunda Kelapa - where you can walk along the 2km quay and see the old wooden schooners being offloaded. There are several historic colonial buildings around the harbour dating back to the Dutch colonial era. The Uitkijk (or Lookout), a Dutch 19th Century watchtower, is on the other side of the river and behind it, a warehouse dating back to the East India Company where you can see several historic sailing vessels and Batavia maps on display. You can follow the narrow streets behind the warehouse to get to the fish market Pasar Ikan. You’ll also visit Kota (the old centre of Batavia), Monas (the national monument) and the bright white marble Istiqlal mosque.

Towards the end of the afternoon you’ll head back to Bogor where you'll spend another night in your comfortable hotel with beautiful garden.

Day 4: Bogor - Bandung

On the drive from Bogor to Bandung you’ll pass immense tea plantations and rice paddies. The road crosses the Puncak Pass at 1500m and takes you through some of the most scenic countryside on Java. On the way, you can stop off for a walk through the plantations or to look around a small village. The hills are dotted with women hard at work picking tea leaves, which the men then process into a drinkable substance. You can see the production process at the small tea factory Gunung Mas (Golden Mountain). The visitors are often asked for a small donation, and for a small fee you can get a tour of the factory.

Your Java and Bali adventure trip then continues further into Java to Bandung. Set in a mountain basin, the climate here is comfortably cool. Bandung is a fast-growing industrial city with over 2 million inhabitants which was once known as the ‘Paris of Java’ due to its wide boulevards and stylish buildings. It’s still a pleasant, green city today. In the afternoon, you can wander through the streets of Bandung or your driver can drop you off at the local sights such as the Kebun Raja, surrounded by colonial Dutch architecture and the Jalan Cihampelas, known as ‘Jeans Street’ because of its many tailors and clothes shops.

You’ll stay in a charming hotel with a swimming pool.

Day 5: Bandung

Bandung’s most important attractions are actually outside the city in the volcanic hills, where you’ll find endless tea plantations and relaxing natural springs.

Today you’ll go on a hike to the hot springs near Maribaya, accompanied by a guide. Lie back in the warm water, close your eyes and let all the impressions of your trip sink in. Refreshed and relaxed, you’ll then continue on by car to Ciater where you can find some particularly photogenic plantations.

Tonight, you’ll stay another night in your hotel in Bandung.

Bali adventure trip: Bandung countryside

Day 6: Bandung - Yogyakarta

From Bandung you’ll travel by train to Yogyakarta, straight across the beautiful green countryside and past small rural villages. It’s a wonderful way to see the country, and it’s a cheap and comfortable way to travel.

In the early evening you'll arrive at Yogyakarta station, and from here you can catch a taxi to take you to your comfortable hotel. We won't arrange a transfer because the arrival times of the train can be a bit unpredictable, and it’s just as easy to hop in a taxi yourself at the station. Your small, charming hotel in Yogyakarta is located just outside the centre, and there’s a pool for a refreshing dip after the long train ride.

Day 7: Yogyakarta

Today you’ll have time to explore the streets of Yogyakarta. You’ll find plenty of becak-riders waiting outside the hotel who will happy to show you around the city. If you take a becak-tour, you’ll ride through tiny backstreets to all the attractions around the city and you'll get a great view from your seat. Your driver will probably show you a couple of batik workshops where you can watch the production process (by hand) and admire the beautiful paintings. Just keep in mind that the driver usually has a deal with the shop owner which means you’ll be charged a slightly higher price. Happy haggling…

You can also visit the Jalan Malioboro, the main street of Yogyakarta where you'll find lots of little shops and busy crowds.

Day 8: Yogyakarta - Borobudur and Prambanan Temple

After breakfast this morning, you’ll visit two fascinating temples. From April to October you’ll do this day trip in a group (maximum 6 travellers), but the rest of the year the day trip is based on private transport. Your first stop is the famous Buddhist temple complex Borobudur. It’s best to go early in the morning before the crowds arrive.

The Borobudur has 10 levels, and the higher you go the more beautiful the view becomes. You can choose whether or not you want a guide when you get there. If you choose to take a guide you’ll climb the Borobudur along the traditional pilgrim’s route from the east, walking clockwise on each level. The guide will be able to tell you the stories illustrated in the stone walls, including the life of Siddhartha on his journey to becoming Gautama Buddha. At the top of the temple are 72 small open stupas, most of them with a meditating Buddha in the centre. If you want to make a wish, then try to touch the lucky Buddha (in one of the stupas). Men should touch the hand, women should touch the heel. Sadly I couldn’t reach…

Next, you'll visit the Prambanan temple with eight buildings spread around a central courtyard. The walls are decorated with intricate carvings, including the story of Ramanyana on the inner walls of the largest temple. At full moon the story is acted out in the open air, with a magnificent view on the Prambanan temple. If you’re not here at full moon you can also see an open-air performance in Yogyakarta.

Day 9: Yogyakarta - Malang

Early this morning, you’ll leave Yogyakarta for the 2 hour trip to Surakarta, also known as Solo. Driving through the Javan countryside you'll see the Prambanan towering high above the road. In Surakarta, you’ll notice that the town is famous for antiques and batik and you can find both at two enormous markets in the city - the Pasar Triwindu (antiques) and the Pasar Klewer (batik). Like Yogyakarta, the kraton (palace) of Surakarta forms the centre of the city and within the palace walls you'll find a maze of narrow streets, two large squares, a mosque and the royal quarters.

After visiting the town you’ll continue your Java and Bali adventure trip for 6 hours, until you reach the city of Malang. The city has a distinct colonial atmosphere, particularly in the streets of the Tugu district. This is the historic part of the city with buildings dating back to the Dutch colonial era. The city is split in two by the river Sungai Brantas. On the south side, you’ll find several restaurants and shops around the Alun Alun. Malang also has several interesting markets, like the flower market Pasar Bunga which is great to visit early in the morning. You’ll stay in a friendly hotel just outside the city centre.

Day 10: Malang - Mount Bromo

Today, you’ll head up to the highlight of Eastern Java - the Tengger mountains and Mount Bromo. You won’t leave Malang until late morning so you can rest and take it easy for a while. You’ll need your energy because tomorrow is going to be a tiring day.

After a 3 hour drive you’ll arrive at your comfortable hotel near Mount Bromo. You can take a walk across the crater rim later that afternoon if you like. The slopes of the volcano are scattered with little houses where the locals live. They're very green but up ahead you'll be able glimpse the bare, barren rocks of the volcano which you’ll visit tomorrow.

Day 11: Mount Bromo - Kalibaru

You’ll head into the mountains by jeep early this morning to the viewpoint on the crater rim, accompanied by a local guide. There are some magnificent views across the mountain range and crater from here and you’ll see the sun slowly rising, colouring the mountains deep red. In the afternoon Mount Bromo is often covered in thick clouds, so getting here early in the day is worth the effort. From the viewpoint you’ll drive down narrow tracks to the foot of the volcano from where you can climb the volcano. It’s a tough climb to the top but well worth the struggle. Once you're back at the bottom, you’ll be pleased to find a horse waiting to take you back to your accommodation. Riding through the barren landscape and the vast plains of the crater is an amazing experience and for many travellers one of the highlights of their Java and Bali adventure trip. You don’t need to be an experienced rider by the way as the horses are very well trained.

Back at your hotel you can freshen up and pack your things, but then it's time to leave. It's a pretty long drive to Kalibaru, most of it along winding roads through the mountains. You'll arrive at your comfortable hotel in Kalibaru in the late afternoon.

Day 12: Kalibaru

This afternoon, you'll go on a guided walk through the plantations around Kalibaru. Your english-speaking guide will tell you all about the crops that are grown here. It’s amazing how effectively the locals use the natural resources for shampoo, medicine and all kinds of other things. During the walk, you’ll visit a coffee plantation and see how cocoa, rubber and cloves (for cigarettes) are grown. Later on you can watch the rubber production process in a small rubber factory.

Your comfortable hotel in the small mountain village has a swimming pool and the rooms are located in an interesting garden with several plants and trees all displaying their Latin and Indonesian names. Just enjoy the beautiful surroundings and the peaceful little village. There's not much to do here, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Day 13: Kalibaru - Lovina

It's time to say goodbye to Java, but you've got Bali to look forward to next. You'll drive from Kalibaru to Ketapang where you can board the ferry for the 30-minute crossing to Bali. On arrival in Giliamanuk you'll continue by car to Lovina.

Lovina, on the north coast of Bali, has been a popular hideaway for backpackers and adventure travellers for years. This has given it a laid-back character with lots of little restaurants, shops and diving schools. Lovina beach may not be the prettiest in the world, with dark volcanic sand, but it is a good place for swimming and snorkelling. Thanks to the large shrimp population the area attracts lots of dolphins which makes for a great day trip. Your attractive resort is directly on the beach and has a lovely pool. It's within walking distance of the main places of interest in Lovina.

Bali adventure trip: Lovina beach parasols

Day 14: Lovina

Early this morning, you’ll board a boat for a dolphin-spotting trip. The water is as smooth as a mirror this time of day. Luckily the fishermen know where the shrimp are hiding in the currents and before you know it, you'll hear splashing alongside the boat as the first group of dolphins appear.

After your dolphin trip you can enjoy breakfast back at the hotel and spend the rest of the morning relaxing. In the afternoon you can choose to visit the hot springs (optional) where you can swim in the hot sulphuric waters. In that case, you'll be picked up at your hotel around midday, returning to Lovina later that afternoon.

Day 15: Lovina - Ubud

Today, your Bali adventure trip continues to Ubud. When you arrive, you can settle in to your bungalow amongst the rice paddies. From your porch, you can look out across endless green terraces, ducks wobbling along the rims of the paddies and butterflies fluttering among the exotic flowers. The bungalows here are beautifully decorated with bamboo furniture and Balinese batiks. Just a short walk away, you’ll find the shops and art galleries of several accomplished Balinese painters and sculptors. You can also spend the rest of the day exploring the village or swimming in the hotel pool, which overlooks the rice fields.

Bali adventure trip: On the way to the temple

Day 16: Ubud

This morning you can take it easy, and later on you’ll be collected by our enthusiastic guide for a guided walk through the surrounding area. You’ll visit a number of villages around Ubud where you’ll find several painters, sculptors and silversmiths. You can take a look inside a local house where you might see the village women busy making small incense bowls.

You’ll also cross through the spectacular rice terraces that seem to cascade down the hills like a giant green waterfall. Balancing precariously on the rims of the paddies, you’ll see the local farmers hard at work harvesting the rice. It looks easier than it is, so give it a try if you like…

At the bottom of the valley you’ll visit the mysterious royal tombs, hidden away among the dense green vegetation. You’ll arrive back at your bungalow after lunch, so you can spend the rest of the afternoon wandering round the town centre or enjoying another relaxing massage.

Day 17: Ubud - Tirtagangga

Arriving at the entrance of Tirtagangga water palace, the guard will ask you for a small admission fee, but if you tell him you’re a guest in the palace you won’t be charged anything. Stepping through the gate you’ll be met by Balinese statues spouting water, intricate fountains and little cobbled paths that you can hop across like stepping stones. The ancient Balinese rules had a soft spot for ornamental waterworks, which also serve as an irrigation system for the surrounding rice fields. If you’ve got some time left, you can follow the main road down to the coast where you’ll find another beautiful water palace, though this one is overgrown and no longer in use.

You’ll stay in a bungalow with a great outdoor bathroom in the palace gardens. The accommodation isn’t particularly luxurious but the settings are certainly remarkable. If you want to enjoy a little more luxury we can arrange an upgrade to one of the villas. There’s a fantastic view across the palace grounds from the restaurant and the water reservoir is now used as a swimming pool.

In the afternoon you’ll take a guided hike through the rice paddies around Tirtagangga. Balancing along the little dykes between the rice paddies you can cross over to some small, isolated villages. The locally brewed palm wine is delicious and it’s interesting to see how the wine is ‘pumped’ out of the palm trees.

Bali adventure trip: Bali beach bungalow

Day 18: Tirtagangga - Beach resort

The next stop on your Java and Bali adventure trip is the beach and you’ll arrive at your resort today. It’s small, with just 9 bungalows and a restaurant but there are several pools. All bungalows have a wonderful seaviews, and the sea is great for swimming - just watch out for the surf boards. If you want to learn how to balance a board, you can take a surfing course here, as well as diving, sailing and other watersports.

Day 19: Departure - End of itinerary

Sadly it's time to say goodbye to this little piece of paradise, although we can easily extend your stay by a couple of days.

If you can't stay any longer, you'll begin your journey home today. The resort is just 20 minutes from the airport, which makes it the ideal place to end your Java and Bali adventure trip.

Accommodation images

Bali adventure trip: bungalow in the rice paddies Bali adventure trip: bedroom Bali adventure trip: swimming pool

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