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Wonders of YogyaYogyakarta lies in the central part of Java, just an hour’s drive away is the largest Buddhist monument in the world, Borobudur. You should plan at least 2 hours for your Borobudur tour so you can take your time to explore this immense temple complex at your own pace. Another highlight in the area around Yogyakarta is Prambanan, the mystical Hindu temple complex where you can wander among the ancient buildings and lose yourself in the legends of the goddess Shiva. You can easily combine the Prambanan and Borobudur tour into one impressive day trip. Both are listed as UNESCO world heritage sites.In Yogyakarta, you'll find more ancient temples, palaces, batik workshops and gamelan orchestras. One of the most interesting sights of the city is the Kraton, the palace where the sultan and his family resides. The Kraton once covered the entire area of buildings and the maze of narrow streets within the inner walls. A becak (taxi-bike) is the best way to explore the little streets. From June to October you'll travel by minibus with 8 other travellers, and outside this period you'll travel by private car with driver. |
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
Accommodation |
Comfortable, charming hotel |
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Price |
From £115 per person - based on 2 people |
Includes |
Accommodation with breakfast, transport by minibus (June - Oct) or air-conditioned private car with driver (Nov - May) for Prambanan and Borobudur tour. |
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Transport |
Transport by minibus or private car (depending on the time of year) |
Excludes |
Entrance fee (approx US $ 12 each) Guide inside the temples. (US $ 5 total) |
Day 1: Arrival YogyakartaToday you’ll be arriving in Yogyakarta where you can kick off your Yogyakarta Borobudur tour with a cooling dip in your hotel pool. In the afternoon you can explore the streets of Yogyakarta - you’ll find plenty of becak-riders waiting outside the hotel who will happy to show you the city. Becaks are a much better way to see the sights than on foot, as you'll get a great view from the seat of you cyclo and it costs close to nothing. You'll also save your energy for the Prambanan and Borobudur tour tomorrow. If you opt for a becak tour, you’ll ride through tiny backstreets that you'd never find on your own and your driver will know the way to all the attractions around the city. He’ll probably also show you a couple of batik workshops where you can watch the production process (by hand) and admire the beautiful paintings. Just bear 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…There's some good Indonesian restaurants close to your hotel. If you feel brave you should try a cup of the most expensive coffee in the world, produced here on Java. The civet coffee is made from coffee berries which have been eaten by and passed through the digestive tract of the Asian Palm Civet (a sort of wild cat). Failing that, you could always just go for a large bottle of Bintang beer. |
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Day 2: Prambanan and Borobudur tourAfter breakfast, you’ll visit two fascinating temples. If you're travelling from June to October, you’ll do this day trip in a small group (maximum 8 travellers), but the rest of the year you'll travel by private car. First on the list is Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple complex in the world. It’s best to go early in the morning to beat the crowds. 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 for your Yogyakarta Borobudur tour when you get there. We highly recommend taking a guided tour as you'll learn all about the stories illustrated on the stone walls, including the life of Siddhartha on his journey to becoming Gautama Buddha. At the top of the temple, there are 72 small open stupas, most with a meditating Buddha in the centre. To make a wish, reach through the latticed stonework and touch the lucky Buddha in the centre of the stupa. Men should touch the hand, women should touch the heel. Next, you'll visit the Prambanan temple with eight buildings spread around a central courtyard. The walls are filled with intricate carvings, including the story of Ramayana on the inner walls of the largest temple. |
Day 3: Departure Yogyakarta - End of moduleBefore you leave for your next destination, you can spend a while relaxing by the hotel pool or visit the Jalan Malioboro, the main street of Yogyakarta where you'll find lots of little shops and always a busy crowd.After this 3-day Yogyakarta Borobudur tour you can choose our Rumbling Mount Bromo or Hills and Plantations East Java tour, which will take you through East Java all the way to Bali. If you'd prefer to fly straight to Bali or one of the other Indonesian islands, just let us know. |
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