Embark on an unforgettable 15-day, 14-night adventure through the heart of Indonesia with our Jawa – Bali – Lombok Tour. Discover the cultural treasures of Java, from ancient temples to vibrant markets. Experience Bali’s stunning beaches, lush rice terraces, and vibrant nightlife. Conclude your journey in Lombok, where pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and majestic mountains await. This comprehensive tour offers a perfect blend of natural beauty, cultural immersion, and thrilling adventures. Join us for the ultimate Indonesian experience!
Start in Yogyakarta and end in Bali! With the In-depth Cultural Tour Essence of Indonesia, Private Tour, you have a 15-day tour package taking you through Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and 13 other destinations in Indonesia. Essence of Indonesia: a private tour includes accommodation in a hotel as well as an expert guide, meals, transport, and more.
This unforgettable 15-day tour allows you to discover two of the most inspirational islands in Indonesia—Java and Bali—as well as relax on the sandy beaches of Gili Trawangan Island. The tour begins in Yogyakarta, the center of art and Javanese culture, and continues east to the breathtaking volcanic landscapes of Mount Bromo and Ijen. The journey will then take you to Bali through picturesque landscapes to discover temples, rural Balinese villages, and local culture. Finally, you will set foot on Gili Trawangan Island to relax at the most beautiful beaches. This trip offers the perfect balance of diverse activities and leisure time to truly experience and enjoy Indonesia.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Yogyakarta
In and around Yogyakarta Arrive at the Yogyakarta International Airport, where your guide will meet you and assist with the transfer to your hotel for check-in. Spend the rest of your day at leisure, enjoying the hotel’s facilities and relaxing after your flight. Overnight in Yogyakarta
Day 2: YOGYAKARTA, BOROBUDUR, CANDIREJO, YOGYAKARTA
In and around Borobudur After breakfast at the hotel, you will be picked up at 7 a.m. for the morning tour in Borobudur. With your guide, explore the largest Buddhist temple in the world and discover the incredible history behind its construction. Consisting of thousands of blocks of volcanic and river rock, the temple was built entirely by human labor and took over 75 years to complete. Continue with a visit to the nearby Mendut Temple. Older than Borobudur, this pyramid-shaped temple houses three impressively carved stone statues.
You’ll also visit Pawon Temple, a simple yet beautiful monument known for its precise symmetry. Following the temple tour, stop for lunch at around 12 p.m. at a restaurant set amid the rice fields. Next, you’ll get a taste of local life with a horseback ride through Candirejo Village. You’ll travel along small lanes lined with traditional houses and stop to see village activities such as making cassava crackers, playing the gamelan, and harvesting and drying vanilla and chilly. Return to your hotel at about 5 p.m. Overnight in Yogyakarta
Day 3: YOGYAKARTA, KRATON, TAMAN SARI BY PEDICAB, PRAMBANAN TEMPLE, YOGYAKARTA
Breakfast at the hotel You will be picked up at 8 a.m. to visit the Sultan’s Palace, also known as ‘Kraton’. Built between 1756 and 1790, it’s a fine example of traditional Javanese sultanate architecture. As you walk through the various rooms and chambers, you will learn more about this aspect of Javanese heritage and culture. At the Kraton exit point, a pedicab known as Becak will wait for you to take you to Taman Sari, also known as the Water Palace. Dedicated to his harem as a bathing pool, this palace was built by the first Sultan of Yogyakarta.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant at around 1 p.m. Afterwards, visit Prambanan Temple, an ancient Hindu temple complex built in the ninth century that features three main inner shrines dedicated to the Hindu trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Then transfer back to your hotel at approximately 6 p.m. Overnight in Yogyakarta
DAY 4: YOGYAKARTA, MOJOKERTO TRAIN, TROWULAN, AND BROMO
In and around Mojokerto Early in the morning, after breakfast at 5.45 am, transfer to Yogyakarta train station, board the Sancaka morning executive train to Mojokerto and enjoy your scenic train ride to East Java. The train departs at 06:30 and arrives at 10:20 (the schedule is subject to change without notice). Upon arrival in Mojokerto, your driver will be waiting to transfer you to Tosari village, located just on the outskirts of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.
The climate here is cool all year round, as the village perches at an altitude of about 1,700 m above sea level. Before heading to Pasuruan and reaching Tosari village, visit Trowulan, which was the capital of the Majapahit empire centuries ago. Stop at the Pasuruan harbor for lunch at around 1 p.m. In this charming fishing village, you’ll see traditional wooden boats and the daily activities of the local fishermen. After lunch, transfer to Tosari village and check in at your hotel at about 6 p.m. Enjoy dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Bromo
DAY 5: KETAPANG – BROMO MORNING SUNRISE
In and around Ketapang Awake early this morning for a sunrise tour of Mt. Bromo from Penanjakan. Leave the hotel by 44 Jeep at 3:30 am to reach the first stop point at Penanjakan I (2770 m), approximately 40 minutes from the hotel, passing through a plain known as the Sea of Sand. Reach the viewpoint for the stunning views as the sun rises up from behind the Bromo volcano. After that, continue by Jeep to the volcano’s caldera, which is usually still covered in fog in the morning, then horseback riding for 25 minutes will take you to the first stairs, which will take you to the edge of the mountain, which is still active, Bromo crater (2329 m).
Next, back to the hotel at 7 a.m. for a quick shower and breakfast. At 7:30 a.m., check out of your hotel to continue your trip. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on the way at around 1:30 p.m. Continue your journey to the eastern tip of Java to reach Ketapang. Check in to your hotel at 5:30 pm, and the rest of the day is free for leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight in Ketapang
DAY: KETAPANG, IJEN, MORNING TREK, UBUD
In and around Ubud Wake up early in the morning, grab the breakfast box prepared for you at the hotel, and join one of the most inspiring trips in Java. Board a 44-foot Jeep to reach Ijen Paltuding at 4:30 a.m. It will take about 1 hour to reach the base camp Paltuding (1850 m) from your hotel in Ketapang, passing through the mountainous road. The trek to the top of the volcano is 3 kilometers with a packed dirt pathway; it is a moderate hike that will take a few hours (1:30–2:30) up to the peak of Mt. Ijen (2385 m). On the way, you will meet the sulfur people, those tough locals who carry 80 kg of baskets filled with “yellow gold”.
The sulfur mining is done at the base of Crater Lake, way up. Once you arrive there, the views are truly stunning. Whatever direction you turn, mountain tops peak above the clouds. Down at the jade-colored lake, seams from deep below are transformed into yellow crystals. Descending from the top of Mt. Ijen via the same road, sometimes it looks even more difficult with its steep and slippery path.
Transfer back to your hotel at around 10 a.m. Afterward, at 11:30 am, drive towards Ketapang and then cross by ferry to reach the western tip of Bali’s island, Pemuteran. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in Pemuteran at 2 p.m. Then you will be taken to Ubud, where you will arrive at about 8 p.m. Overnight in a hotel in Ubud
Day 7: UBUD
Breakfast at the hotel Day free at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax by the pool reading your book, or listen to your favorite music. Overnight in a hotel in Ubud
Day 8: UBUD-BBESAKIH TEMPLE-PPENGLIPURAN VILLAGE
In and around Besakih After breakfast, start the tour at 8:30 am by visiting Penglipuran village with its traditional countryside and unique characteristics of life, socializing, and culture. The next stop is Besakih, the “Mother Temple” of Bali. The complex houses 30 temples, made up of 7 levels of terraces on the mountainside. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant at 1 p.m. Then, drive back down and stop at the Goa Lawah Temple, known as ´Bat Cave,” where thousands of bats are hanging on the rim of the cave. Drive back to the hotel at around 5 p.m. and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in a hotel in Ubud
Day 9: UBUD-BBEDUGUL-BRATAN LAKE TOUR-KUTA
After breakfast at the hotel in the morning, start a sightseeing tour at 8:30 a.m. by visiting the beautiful Taman Ayun Temple, which dates back to the Royal Mengwi Dynasty. Continue to Bedugul, located on the shore of Lake Bratan, where you can enjoy the cool mountain breeze and a stunning view of the Ulun Danu Temple. Then stop by the local market, where fresh vegetables and fruits are sold. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant at around 12:30 p.m. After lunch, visit the beautiful Jatiluwih rice terraces. Afterward, visit Pura Luhur Batuku Temple on the slopes of Gunung Batukaru. Then, drive to Kuta at about 6 p.m. for your overnight stay. Overnight in a hotel in Kuta
Day 10: KUTA, ULUWATU TEMPLE, JIMBARAN, KUTA
Breakfast at the hotel and a free morning at leisure In the afternoon, at 3:30 pm, drive to Uluwatu, a beautiful holy temple at the southern tip of Bali and an exquisite monument perched above the sea. The temple and its surroundings are the home of hundreds of monkeys, which are considered the guardians of the locals. Enjoy the best of Bali’s sunset experience in a romantic atmosphere with the golden color of the far horizon while listening to the chanting of the hundred Balinese performing the most popular dance in Bali, Kecak. The performance tells the story of an eternal love story between Rama and Shinta. Then, back to your vehicle at 7 p.m. for a short transfer to Jimbaran to end the day with a hearty, fresh-grilled seafood dinner. Return to your hotel at around 9 p.m. Overnight in a hotel in Kuta
Day 11: Kuta-Padang Bay-Trawangan
In and around Gili Trawangan Breakfast at the hotel, then check out and transfer at 6.30 am to Padang Bay and catch the speed boat, which departs at 8.30 am to Gili Trawangan. Arrive at Gili Trawangan for a direct transfer to the hotel with local transportation called ‘Cidomo’. Rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Gili Trawangan.
Day 12: GILI TRAWANGAN
Breakfast at the hotel Day free at leisure to enjoy the hotel facilities, relax by the pool reading your book, or just listen to your favorite music. Overnight in a hotel in Gili Trawangan
Day 13: GILI TRAWANGAN
Breakfast at the hotel Enjoy a snorkeling trip at Turtle Point, the Blue Coral, and underwater statues. Relax by the pool, read your book, or just listen to your favorite music. Overnight in a hotel in Gili Trawangan
GILI TRAWANGAN—PADANG BAY—KUTA—DAY 14
Breakfast at the hotel Check out the boat and get on ‘Cimodo’ to catch the speed boat at 10 a.m. back to Padang Bay. Arrive at Padang Bay for a direct transfer to your hotel in Kuta. The rest of the day is free at leisure. Overnight in a hotel in Kuta
Day 15: Kuta Departure
Breakfast at your hotel, a free program until check-out time, and, at the appropriate time, a transfer to the airport to catch your flight home.
Included
- All transfer pick-ups and tours
- All boat tickets
- All entrance fees
- All performance tickets
- Hotel
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- English-speaking guide
Excluded
- Personal expenses
- Flight ticket
