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Volcanoes, temples and beachesDuring this Java adventure travel module, you'll spend 5 days touring the fascinating area between Bandung to Yogyakarta, travelling past tea plantations and rice paddies, active volcanoes, traditional villages and beautiful nature reserves. Starting in Bandung you’ll travel overland through Java via Leles to Cipanas where you’ll visit a Hindu temple by dokar (horse and cart) and bamboo raft. On the way you'll also climb the active volcano Papandayan, visit a traditional Javan village and relax on the beach of Pangandaran before heading to the Dieng Plateau with its towering mountain ridges and highlands, spectacular views and active craters. It really is Java adventure travel at its best, and the trip ends in Yogyakarta where you can explore the largest Buddist temple in the world. |
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5 days / 4 nights |
Accommodation |
Comfortable, atmospheric hotels Comfort level 4 (see accommodation) |
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Price |
£359 per person - based on 2 people |
Includes |
Accommodation with breakfast, transport by air-conditioned private car with driver |
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Transport |
Private car |
Excludes |
Entrance fees (for dokar, bamboo raft, guide at temple, Papandayan, Dieng village) |
Day 1: Bandung to CipanasSetting off from Bandung you’ll start your Java adventure with a drive to the small village of Leles where a dokar (horse and cart) will be waiting. Next, you'll head off to a small lake which you'll cross by bamboo raft (you'll need to pay a small fee for this on the spot). The village of Desar Cangkuang is located on a peninsula and has a wonderful little 9th Century Hindu temple. You can also find the tomb of Arif Muhamad and, if you’re lucky, you may be invited by one of the locals to take a look inside one of the traditional family homes.In the afternoon, you’ll be heading up the active volcano Papandayan. This one is not as well-known as some of the other volcanoes in Indonesia which means you won’t find many tourists here. The driver will take you to the foot of the volcano and then you'll walk for an hour to the top (2622m) accompanied by a guide to lead the way through the rocks to the craters. Please note that the cost of the guide is not included in the trip. Steam and wafts of sulphur rise up from the ground and in several places you'll bright yellow crystals where the sulphuric air has come into contact with oxygen and crystallised. In the late afternoon, you’ll drive back to Cipanas where you’ll stay in a lovely stilted bungalow over the water. |
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Day 2: Cipanas - PangandaranToday you’ll continue your Java adventure tour from Cipanas to the coastal town Pangandaran. As you head down from the green hills towards the coast you'll notice the temperature slowly rising. On the way, you’ll stop off at Kampung Naga, a Sundanese mountain village where the locals lead a very traditional way of life, living in wooden houses with thatched roofs and using mainly natural resources. The village is surrounded on all sides by towering mountains with a small river running through it.After Kampung Naga, you'll continue on to Pangandaran, a friendly little fishing town with black volcanic beaches. Pangandaran has the vibe of the beach resort on Bali with plenty of restaurants, shops and bars, though it's pleasantly small-scale. It’s one of the more popular resorts on Java and the perfect place to spend a relaxing day. Just chill out on the beach or go for a walk along the coast to see the fisherman hauling in their catch. You’ll stay in a friendly hotel with lots of local charm and swimming pool for refreshing dips. |
Day 3: Pangandaran beachThere’s nothing planned for today, which means that you can spend the day lazing around on the beach or by the pool, though there’s plenty to see and do if you fancy exploring the area.You can visit the Green Canyon by a tiny boat. Travelling on the water is a magical way to see the area - the light, colours and the infinite shades of green are really unforgettable. You could also go hiking in the nearby National Park, which is home to several species of monkey. Another interesting attraction is a ‘home factory’, a small sugar or krupuk (prawn crackers) factory run by friendly local families. It’s surprisingly interesting and fun to see how these products are made. You can also visit the Dalang, the owner of a puppet factory where they make the wooden puppets which are used in traditional West Java puppet theatre telling the story of Ramayana. You can arrange all of these optional excursions at your hotel reception. You’ll spend another night in the hotel in Pangandaran before continuing your Java adventure travel tomorrow. |
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Day 4: Pangandaran - WonosoboWonosobo sits at 900m above sea level, nestled amongst the hills of the central mountain range. It's a friendly rural village with a lively market, and the temperature is lovely and cool thanks to the higher altitude. Today, you’ll continue your Java adventure from Pangandaran to Wonosobo, which is also the departure point for a visit to the Dieng Plateau, perched high in the mountains at 2093m.You can spend the rest of the day in Wonosobo, wandering through its local market. You’ll stay in a basic but comfortable hotel in the town centre. |
Day 5: Wonosobo - YogyakartaYou'll make an early start today to catch the best views from the Dieng plateau. The steep mountain ridges and terraces with vegetable fields make for some fantastic vistas from this enormous volcanically active plateau. Scattered around the plateau you’ll also find some of the oldest Hindu temples on Java. The temples date back to the 8th century AD and, like Borobudur, remained undiscovered for centuries.From the temples, you’ll drive higher up into the mountains along bubbling, steaming craters and end at a volcanic lake called Green Lake (Telaga Warna). The water in the lake regularly changes colour - most unusual… After visiting the plateau, you’ll begin the final journey of your Java adventure trip on to Yogyakarta, where you can continue with our Wonders of Yogya tour which includes Borobudur and Prambanan Temple. You can then travel overland to Bali with our Rumbling Mount Bromo tour and Hills and plantations tour, or you could skip East Java and take a domestic flight from Yogyakarta to Denpasar on Bali. |
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