Discovering Yogyakarta and crossing East Java - Nomadays

Indonesia

Discovering Yogyakarta and crossing East Java

Gentle Java is unlike any other tropical island in the world. Heir to an art and history that is as supernatural as its temples (Borobudur, Prambanan, etc.), this island is a landscape of rice paddies dominated by a hundred volcanic cones, which are as beneficial as they are destructive. You'll experience the power of nature at the foot of the Merapi volcano, the most active in Indonesia, the Bromo volcano, one of the most aesthetically pleasing, and in the crater of Kawah Ijen, the most...

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Day 1Welcome to Indonesia

Day 1Welcome to Indonesia

  • Your guide will meet you at Yogyakarta airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Meal and accommodations

Dinner: Included

Accommodation: Gallery Prawirotaman Hotel (or similar)

Day 2Yogyakarta, cultural capital

Day 2Yogyakarta, cultural capital

  • The morning is devoted to visiting Yogyakarta, the cultural capital of Java, and in particular the area around the Sultan's Palace, built in 1756, where life is good. Your city walk will take you to Taman Sari, known in the days of the Dutch colonial empire as the "Water Palace", and then to the puppet and batik workshops. At the end of the morning, you head for the Ratu Boko temple, perched on the Gunung Kidul hills overlooking the Prambanan plain. You then begin a short hike to the Hindu temple of Prambanan, through forest, traditional villages and rice fields. You then visit the Prambanan temple complex, and in particular Loro Jonggrang, a sumptuous 47-metre-high temple dedicated to the goddess Siva. It is considered́ to be the most elegant and breathtaking Hindu temple on the island of Java. Possibility (optional) of attending the Ramayana show. Return to the hotel in the early or mid-evening.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Gallery Prawirotaman Hotel (or similar)

Accommodation: Gallery Prawirotaman Hotel (or similar)

Day 3Rice fields of Java and the temple of Borobudur

Day 3Rice fields of Java and the temple of Borobudur

  • In the early morning, transfer to the banks of the Kulon Progo river, where you will enjoy a pleasant countryside start in a small Javanese village, from where you will discover the surrounding countryside by bicycle (Dutch). You'll have a gentle introduction to the Javanese countryside, and will make a few stops in the surrounding villages, where you'll have the chance to observe the local handicrafts. In the middle of the afternoon, transfer to the temple of Borobudur. Return to the hotel in the early evening.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Gallery Prawirotaman Hotel (or similar)

Lunch: Included

Accommodation: Gallery Prawirotaman Hotel (or similar)

Sukuh Temple
4h-12km
7h-290km
Tumpang

Day 4The last bastion of Hinduism

Day 4The last bastion of Hinduism

  • Morning transfer to the Sukuh temple, the last bastion of Hinduism in Central Java in the face of the spread of Islam. The temple's original iconography, including phallic figures and large turtle-shaped tables, suggests the existence of initiation and even orgiastic rituals. You then set off on a walk towards the village of Tawangmangu, on the slopes of the Lawu volcano. This walk is an opportunity to discover some of the plant species found in this region, as well as admiring superb panoramic views of the surrounding pine forest and high-altitude plantations. You finish your walk by crossing the Tawangmangu park, which leads you to a superb waterfall (Grojogan Sewu) in the middle of a tropical forest inhabited by a large community of monkeys. In the afternoon, transfer to Tumpang, near Malang, at the western foot of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru massif.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Gallery Prawirotaman Hotel (or similar)

Dinner: Included

Accommodation: Rani Homestay

Tumpang
2h
Tumpak Sewu
2h
Tumpang

Day 5Magnificent landscapes

Day 5Magnificent landscapes

  • Morning departure for the Lumajang region, skirting the southern flanks of the majestic Semeru volcano. You will then reach the Tumpak Sewu waterfall ("Thousand Waterfalls" in Javanese). As you descend into the gorge (on a slippery and sometimes steep path), you will feel the force of the hundreds of streams as they "plunge" over 100m. Seen from above, the beauty of this waterfall seems ephemeral as the fine mist soaks everything in its path. No wonder, then, that a photo of Tumpak Sewu with Mt Semeru in the background won the award for "best aerial shot" in 2019. And, if you're also taking your camera equipment with you, remember to protect it from moisture. Return to Tumpang in the late afternoon.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Rani Homestay

Dinner: Included

Accommodation: Rani Homestay

Tumpang
2h-35km
Cemorolawang

Day 6Spectacular Mt Bromo caldera

Day 6Spectacular Mt Bromo caldera

  • In the early morning, 4x4 vehicles will take you to the Tengger region, where the famous Mt Bromo (2329 m) spits out its volutes and the surrounding caldera forms a gigantic sea of sand. On this journey, you pass through the stunning forest of the Tengger-Bromo-Semeru National Park, skirting part of the crest of the Bromo volcano caldera, before descending to the sea of sand to reach the village of Cemorolawang (located on one of the opposite crests). Mt Bromo is the most revered́ of the Tengger Hindu people who live in the region. Climb the Bromo volcano in the early afternoon. You'll be able to admire its crater resembling a steaming cauldron. It's easy to understand why the Javanese once considered this place to be the entrance to purgatory. You then make your way to the summit of Mount Pananjakan (2,775m) to witness a fabulous spectacle. You will watch the world set against a lunar backdrop, with a breathtaking view of Mount Bromo, its sea of sand, and the Semeru volcano, both of which emit thick fumaroles. Unique! Return to the hotel in the early evening.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Rani Homestay

Lunch: Included

Accommodation: Lava View Lodges

Cemorolawang

Day 7East of Java

Day 7East of Java

  • Early morning transfer to the outskirts of Kawah Ijen. After settling into your hotel, your guide will take you to some superb rice terraces, from where you will begin a pleasant walk through traditional villages and other plantations (fruit, spices, etc.). Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Lava View Lodges

Accommodation: Teras Ijen Hotel

Day 8Green Crater

Day 8Green Crater

  • In the early morning, you set off again in a 4x4 towards the slopes of Kawah Ijen ("green crater" in old Javanese), which you can easily climb in the company of the men who extract sulphur every day from the edge of the largest acid lake in the world. These real "convicts" carry around 80 kg of ore on their backs for around 15 km to the processing plant! You then witness the weighing and the various employment contracts. A very powerful and striking image of your journey. In the late morning, transfer to Ketapang port or Banyuwangi airport.

Meal and accommodations

Breakfast: Teras Ijen Hotel