Indonesia Culture & Landscapes: Java, Bali & Lombok - 12 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Yogyakarta (Java), Explore

Welcome to Java, Indonesia! Touchdown in Yogyakarta, a cosmopolitan city that blends modern city life and ancient culture. A driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel, where you can settle in before heading out to explore. Known for its artistic heritage, Yogyakarta is home to an 18th-century royal complex complete with a Sultan's Palace (the Keraton). End the day with a stroll along Malioboro Street, a giant bazaar filled with handicrafts and souvenirs, and sample local street food.

Day 2: Visit Borobudur Temple & Candi Rejo

This morning you'll discover the beauty of Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist temple. Located just outside of Yogyakarta, the pyramid-shaped UNESCO World Heritage Site was built by hand in the eighth century and lay forgotten under volcanic dust for years before it was resurrected. Climb the structure, taking in views of the surrounding mist-topped volcanoes and rice fields. You'll notice hundreds of Buddha statues and elaborate carvings.

Continue to Candi Rejo, a nearby rural village where you'll get a glimpse of local life. Accompanied by a guide, you'll meet the villagers and learn how they make a living producing krupuk (crackers) and tobacco. Next, take a bike or horse ride through the countryside, then visit the school, where you'll watch a traditional music performance. End with a delicious Indonesian meal before returning to your hotel.

Day 3: Palaces, Temples & Traditional Dance Performance

Continue your cultural exploration of Java this morning with a trip to Taman Sari, a palace that belonged to the early sultans. Tour the intricate palace grounds and learn about royal life and the ornate underground mosque. Next, visit another of Java's UNESCO sites, the sacred Prambanan temple complex, locally known as Roro Jonggrang.

Tour Prambanan's 240 Hindu temples, built in the ninth century. The three most famous are dedicated to the gods Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, and the tallest temple stands at 155 feet (47 m). As you wander through the complex, you'll admire the sculptures and ancient artwork, providing an insight into the peaceful coexistence of Buddhism and Hinduism in this region.

You'll return to Prambanan temple this evening to enjoy dinner and a traditional Ramayana ballet performance. Witness 200 dancers and musicians playing the gamelan, a traditional Javanese and Balinese orchestra, as they tell the story of Rama and Sita in one of Java's most spectacular dance performances. You'll be mesmerized by the battle between good and evil in this local tradition.

Day 4: Transfer to Mount Bromo, Visit Madakaripura Waterfall

Say goodbye to Yogyakarta today and take a scenic train journey east to Surabaya. Your driver will be waiting at the station to take you on the final three-hour journey to your hotel near Mount Bromo. This active volcano's name was derived from the Javanese word for Brahma, the Hindu creation god, and is one of East Java's most-visited sites. On the way, you can make an optional stop at Madakaripura Waterfall in the foothills of the stunning Tengger Caldera.

Day 5: Mount Bromo Sunrise Jeep Tour & Transfer to Banyuwangi

It's an early start today as you wake before dawn for your Mount Bromo adventure. You'll set off by Jeep to Mount Penanjakan, which looks over the Sea of Sand Crater, home to five volcanoes, including Mount Bromo. Watch the early-morning mist evaporate to reveal panoramic views of the sun rising over Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, which stretches over 300 square miles (800 sq km).

Your trip continues with a five-hour drive to Banyuwangi. This city lies in the far east of Java and is a surfing hotspot and jumping-off point for excursions to Mount Ijen, also known as Kawah Ijen (Lonely Crater). Check into your hotel and spend the rest of the day relaxing, ready for another early start to climb Ijen in the morning.

Day 6: Mount Ijen Sunrise Trek & Transfer to Bali

Set out before sunrise with your guide to Mount Ijen, a sulfur-mining site famed for its dancing blue flames and acid crater lake, the largest in the world. While climbing Mount Ijen, you'll see sulfur miners carrying baskets of yellow crystals, which they extract from the edge of the lake. The steep, three-hour hike takes you through the forest and past the milky-green lake. At the top, marvel at blue flames leaping from the crater, formed by burning volcanic gases and molten sulfur. Ijen is the only place where this otherworldly phenomenon occurs naturally. Your guide will give you a mask to protect you from sulfuric gas.

After the trek, return to Banyuwangi to catch the ferry to Bali, which takes around 45 minutes. The most famous of Indonesia's 17,000 islands, Bali is loved for its surf-friendly beaches, emerald rice paddies, towering volcanoes, and traditional temples. Head straight for the island's exotic forests and waterfalls in the northern village of Munduk.

Day 7: Sekumpul Waterfall Visit

Day 8: Tamblingan Lake & Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Today starts with a walk through lime-green plantations to some secret waterfalls, where you can cool off in crystal-clear water. Continue your hike to the shores of Tamblingan Lake, and opt to canoe across the glassy surface and visit shoreside temples. Don't miss the opulent 10th-century Ulun Danu Tamblingan Temple.

This afternoon, your driver will take you two hours south to Ubud, a bohemian town known for its Balinese culture, from temple ceremonies to dance displays and exquisite handicrafts. You'll stop at Ubud's UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, where you can wander walking trails through the paddies and learn about the centuries-old subak irrigation system still used today.

Day 9: Speedboat to Lombok

This morning you'll head to Padangbai's harbor for your two-hour speedboat journey to Lombok. This beautiful island is home to golden beaches, jungles, and Mount Rinjani, an active volcano over 12,000 feet (3,700 m) above sea level. Your driver will be waiting at the harbor to take you to your island hotel.

Spend the rest of the day relaxing on paradisiacal white-sand beaches or explore the island independently. Optional tours include hiking to hidden waterfalls, snorkeling adventures, and visiting the local Sasak people. End the day with cocktails on the beach and a seafood feast.

Days 10-11: Free Days in Senggigi

Spend the next two days soaking up the sun on Lombok's soft-sand beaches, wading into the warm, clear waters. If you're feeling active, take an optional hiking trip north to Sendang Gile and the Tiu Kelep Waterfalls or a day trip to Gili Rengit and Gili Layar. These lesser-visited, uninhabited islands are known for their glorious beaches and biodiverse marine life, which you can discover on a snorkeling trip.

For more island adventures, visit the nearby Gili Islands, a trio of tropical islands laced with powdery beaches lapped by azure waters. The Gilis offer some of Indonesia's best snorkeling and diving, with pristine reefs just offshore home to a host of colorful marine creatures. Look out for turtles and reef fish; the waters off Gili Meno are also known for their collection of underwater statues.

Day 12: Depart Lombok

Today your Indonesia adventure comes to an end. Transfer to the airport in Lombok for your onward flight. Safe travels!