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Java & bali
Detailed Itinerary Volcanoes and Gamelans in Eden 01/04/10
We begin on the famed island of Java, and start
our tour in the historic capital of Yogyakarta, Facts & Highlights
which is also the cultural and craft centre of Java. • 14 land days • Maximum 16 travelers • All meals
included • Start in Yogyakarta and finish in Denpasar •
On a series of day trips, we shall explore the hot Includes 1 internal flight • Discover Borobudur temple •
springs and beautiful setting of Gedong Songo, Wander through the temple complex of Prambanan • Sunrise
hike to the crater of Mount Bromo • Swim or snorkel
as well as the unbelievable ruins of Borobudor
at Menjangan Island Reef (scuba diving available; not
- the world’s largest Buddhist temple, which is included) • Explore Ubud, the cultural center of Bali •
renowned as the largest ancient monument in Experience the arts, dance and culture of Bali
the Southern Hemisphere. We will then depart Departure dates & price
Yogyakarta for our flight to Surabaya and then Aug 16 - Aug 29, 10 - $3495 USD
head south by minivan to a private environmental Nov 01 - Nov 14, 10 - $3495 USD
center. Then, it’s on to Mount Bromo where May 11 - May 24, 11 - $3595 USD
we will watch the magnificent sunrise on the Activity Level: 2
Comfort Level:
volcano, with an optional hike to the rim. Some rough roads and long drives.
We then continue to the lovely island of Bali,
Accommodations
where we will divide our time between the artistic
Comfortable, well-located accommodations with private
and cultural center of Ubud, and the beachside bathrooms throughout.
towns of Lovina and Candidasa. While in Lovina,
you will have the opportunity to either visit the
fascinating yet seldom visited Bali Barat National
US/CAN 1-800-741-7956 UK 0808-234-1714 INTL. 001-416-588-5000 www.eldertreks.com
Park, (particularly good
for those interested in
bird life), or join a trip to borobudur
Menjangan Island, with
it’s spectacular snorkeling
and swimming. The pace
slows down at Candidasa,
as we take traditional
fishing boats to a deserted
beach with nothing but a
small fishing village, white sand beach, great hiking
and crystal blue water for swimming or snorkeling.
For those with energy to spare, helping the villagers
drag the local fishing boats onto shore with their
morning catch is always appreciated.
DAy 1 ArrIVAl
Arrival in Yogyakarta, the cultural center of historic
Java. Transfer to our comfortable and charming guest
house (with a swimming pool) in the city. Following
dinner this evening we will attend a shadow puppet
performance, one of the traditional arts of Java.
DAy 2 yoGyAkArtA
In the morning we will take a tour by becak (three
wheeled bicycle taxi) through Yogyakarta, a lovely city
set in a broad, green crescent of fertile ricelands that
blanket the southern reaches of Mt. Merapi. The city is
known as the artistic heart of Java where it is possible
to see batik workshops, gamelan orchestras, ballet,
and all night puppet shows, in addition to some of the
best handicraft shopping in all of Asia. One highlight
of our tour will be our visit to the “Water Palace”,
once a splendid pleasure park of palaces, pools, and
underground passages and waterways for the Sultan of
Yogyakarta. Today, Yogyakarta’s artistic community has
established itself in this inspiring and serene setting.
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Yogyakarta underground
passages
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We will also have the opportunity to explore the Sultan’s DAy 4 PrAmBAnAn
Palace, the only active Sultanate in Indonesia, and enjoy A morning trip to Prambanan, a splendid 8th century
a buffet lunch on the Palace grounds. Hindu temple complex not far from Yogyakarta. This
will be our first opportunity to learn about Hinduism,
DAy 3 BoroBuDor AnD tHE GEDonG SonGo which surprisingly co-existed with Buddhism until the
An early morning drive to the fabled steps of overwhelming infiltration of Muslim traders in the
Borobudor (8th c.), the world’s largest Buddhist 13th century turned the course of history for Java. The
monument. This fantastic complex was buried beneath afternoon will be free in Yogyakarta for exploring (or
volcanic ash for almost 1,000 years until excavations shopping...) on your own. In the evening we will enjoy
in the late 19th century, and remains today a brilliant an open air performance of the Ramayana ballet.
synthesis of sculpture and architecture. We then
continue on to Gedong Songo, the sight of some of DAy 5 to mt. Bromo
the oldest temples in Java, but even more impressive This morning we fly from Yogyakarta to the city of
for its spectacular location. A sacred spot since early Surabaya, from where we drive to spectacular Mt.
times, the Abode of the Gods sits at over 5,000 feet Bromo. Enroute we will stop for lunch at a privately
above sea level, with a cool climate, beautifully terraced sponsored environmental project which encourages
mountains, and teeming with fascinating volcanic a return to more traditional forms of medicine and
activity. Late afternoon return to Yogyakarta. land usage. We will then continue on to our guest
house at Mt. Bromo, arriving in the late afternoon.
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The Sultan’s water palace
DAy 6 mt. Bromo spirit. The rewards for your effort usually include one
A free day to relax at Mt. Bromo, a primordial volcanic of the most spectacular sunrises you could ever hope
landscape unmatched for its scenic beauty. For those to see. We have an early return down the mountain,
with energy to spare, we will have a hike to a beautiful and after a little time to relax, we will continue by
mountainside waterfall. This evening, following dinner minivan to the town of Banyuwangi, and the ferry
we will have a private instructional session on how to boat for the short crossing to the idyllic island of Bali.
play the gamelan instruments with a local expert. We Our accommodations for the next two nights are at a
will also learn about the local Tenggarese people, who charming guest house at Lovina Beach on the Bali Sea.
represent Java’s only remaining pocket of Hinduism
(all the others retreated to the island of Bali during the DAy 8 BAlI BArAt nAt’l PArk & mEn-
13th century conversion to Islam). For those joining our JAnGAn ISlAnD
optional adventure hike in the early hours to the summit A day trip to Bali Barat National Park protecting 200
of Mt. Bromo, an early evening is recommended. sq. km. of stunning scenery in northwestern Bali,
and featuring one of the world’s rarest and most
DAy 7 SummIt oF mt. Bromo, AnD on to endangered birds, the Bali Starling. Here we have an
loVInA BEAcH (BAlI) early morning option of hiking and bird watching
Early this morning (about 4 am) we begin our optional (this area has birds galore; including Bulbuls,
hike to the summit of Mt. Bromo. This is not a Sunbirds, Swiftlets, Warbers, Shrikes, Kingfishers
technically difficult hike, but does require a strong and Swallows - there are also many Silvered Leaf
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Prambanan Temple
Borobudor Temple
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Gedong Songo Temples
Borobudor Temple
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Mt. Bromo
Monkeys, Wild Pigs and Rusa Deer), followed by a DAy 10 BAlI BIrD PArk
boat trip to Menjangan Island for a picnic lunch, and Today is a chance to to see the beautiful bird life of
an afternoon filled with swimming and snorkeling, Bali. Get up close to Bali Starlings, South American
or just relaxing on the beach. For those not joining Macaws and Australian Cockatoos for just a few. Be
the morning hike, we enjoy a visit to some hot captivated by the radiance of Indonesian Parrots and
springs prior to the Menjangan Island journey. Late
afternoon return to our guest house at Lovina Beach.
DAy 9 to mt. BAtur & uBuD
Today we drive to the town of Ubud, in the magical
middle kingdom that is Bali’s most exotic and
artistic region. Along Ubud’s main street one can
see an extensive collection of shops and displays of
paintings, carvings, weavings and clothing. On our
way to Ubud we will stop at Mt. Batur, an active
volcano with a beautiful crater lake, and Besakih,
the home of the Hindu mother temple of Bali.
Overnight at our guest house set amidst beautifully
terraced rice paddies.
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Mt. Bromo
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rare Cassowaries, Black Palm Cockatoos, Hornbills
Blanco. Later, a seminar led by a master woodcarver
and one of the world’s largest and most varied col-
and mask maker will teach us about Balinese culture
lection of “Birds of Paradise”.
and how it is expressed in the forms of traditional
As we stroll through the park relax with the sounds
art and dance. The afternoon will be free for
of the waterfalls, and the tropical temperatures as
further exploring of the town on your own. In the
you learn more about the flora and fauna that lives
evening we will enjoy a traditional Balinese dance
here. Watch out for the Rare Komodo Dragons that
performances in a restored Hindu Palace.
also live here. Overnight in Ubud.
DAy 13 cAnDIDASA & PASIr PutIH
DAy 11 uBuD Early morning departure from Ubud to the lovely
A morning hike to explore the beautiful seaside resort of Candidasa. In the afternoon,
countryside and artisan’s villages set in the rice we travel to a remote white sand beach using
paddies surrounding the town. We will return to traditional fishing boats. Here we can snorkel,
Ubud in the late afternoon, with a chance to relax swim or enjoy a nature hike, or even just sit back
before going to dinner with a local family in a and relax while taking in the beauty of the Balinese
Balinese home. coast. Afternoon return by boat to Candidasa for a
special farewell dinner. Overnight in lovely seaside
DAy 12 uBuD - tHE ArtS oF BAlI accommodations.
We will visit some of the unique art galleries
near Ubud, including a guided tour of a gallery DAy 14 DEPArturE
featuring traditional and contemporary Balinese A morning transfer to the airport at Denpasar for
paintings. We will also have a lecture delivered by departing flights.
internationally renowned Balinese artist Antonio
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Questions & Answers
1.How bigarethe groupsandwhatarethey like? 6.What are our accommodations like?
Each group is limited to 16 participants, usually made up of an We always stay in very good accommodations, both hotels and guest
equal number of singles and couples, and an equal number of men houses, where every room has a private shower or bath (please note the
and women. Tour members represent an extremely wide range of exception on the Siberut Island adventure option). The accommodations
backgrounds, but all share in an independent, tolerant and curious have been chosen on the basis of location, atmosphere and local charm.
attitude toward travel (and toward life in general). For example, in Sumatra, we stay at a lovely small hotel where all 9
rooms look out over the Ngarai Canyon in Bukittinggi.
2.What is included inthe price forthis program?
All accommodations; all meals (except in Singapore where travellers are 7.What are the meals like?
responsible for their own meals); all internal transportation as specified Other than breakfasts at our guest house or hotel, we will be eating
in the itinerary; all day trips as outlined in the itinerary; and the services in local restaurants where there is always a full selection of vegetables,
of an experienced trip escort. In Sumatra, we also include guides, cooks chicken, beef, fish or shrimp, as well of course as the ubiquitous servings
and porters for the optional Siberut Island trekking adventure. Not of rice or noodles. In many cases, we simply order a number of dishes,
included in the land cost are the following: Singapore / Medan flight, and all share - “Indonesian style”. Generally, the food is delicious with
guides in Singapore, departure taxes, tips, and any items of a personal something for everybody.
nature. 8.What about weather?
3. Are these “educational”tours? Our tours to Indonesia all take place between late February and the end
Yes, in the broadest sense of the word “educational”. Although we visit of November, or the “dry” season in Indonesia. Daytime temperatures
many temples and historical sites, and have talks and discussions on are around 80 - 85, while nighttime temperatures are around 70. It
many apsects of Indonesian history and culture, this is only one aspect of does, however, occasionally rain during these months.
what we do. We believe that it is equally educational to really get to know 9.What clothing is necessary?
another culture in-depth, to meet new people on a non-commercial Generally, you will need only casual summer weight clothing for the
basis, visit their homes, and even try to learn a few words in the native trip, although a sweatshirt or jacket for cool evenings and a collapsible
language. Sometimes the most “educational” moments are spent sipping umbrella are very practical. Laundry facilities are readily available, and
a cold drink in a street market. are inexpensive. You will not need many clothes - many people in the
4.Why travel to Indonesia? past have brought too much; no one yet has brought too little. You will
The members of our Indonesia tours in the past have all been delightfully find a detailed “what to bring” list in our Trip Kit booklet that we will
surprised at how one country can contain such spectacular beauty, send you a couple of months prior to departure.
wonderfully open and friendly people, a highly developed sense of art, 10. Is Indonesia a safe place to visit?
music and spirituality, along with a wealth of history to boot. In short, Indonesia is very safe to visit, and a man or a woman can walk alone,
there is something for everyone. Many of our clients have also relished the almost anywhere, and not only be safe, but feel safe. The food is
opportunities for many heartfelt moments spent with some of our friends generally safe anywhere you go, although there are some necessary
in the country: the type of experience that makes us feel lucky to have the precautions that your guide will explain to you with respect to drinking
opportunity to meet such lovely people within their own culture. water (bottled water is readily available everywhere).
Whether your interests lie in the beauty and colour of the flowers or 11. How strenuous is the tour?
jungle, the spectacular and varied architecture that is exemplified in This trip is an active tour in that we are moving through many different
temples and homes across the country, or in the bustling markets with places in the country, exploring most of them on foot, and visiting some
their goods for shoppers (including textiles, silver, batik, wood carvings, temples and reserves which require walking uphill. As with travel in
laquerware, ceramics, and a host of others), you will surely collect a most countries, the more fit you are the better you will enjoy your trip.
wonderful set of memories from a visit to Indonesia. Please note that for those joining the trekking option in Sumatra, you
5. How do we travelwhile in Indonesia? must be prepared to hike along paths, (sometimes muddy) for about
All land transportation is included in the cost of the trip. We have air- 2 hours in the morning, and 2 hours in the afternoon. The pace is
conditioned minivans for road travel, and we travel by ferry boat from relaxed with frequent rest stops. Nights while trekking are a wonderful
Java to Bali. On the Sumatra trip, for those joining the option to Siberut experience, spent in the homes of local tribal villagers, where we will be
Island there is a local ferry service transporting Siberut locals, cargo and sleeping on the floor (foam sleeping mats are provided). However, there
livestock from Sumatra to the island and back. For those combining our is a price to pay for this unique cultural experience: on these two nights
two Indonesian trips, we fly from Sumatra to Java. there are no private rooms, no bathroom facilities, and no electricity.
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