BALI & EAST-JAVA   BALI & LOMBOK   SULAWESI & BALI

Day 1 Arrival in Denpsar and transfer to Sanur
On arrival at the airport of Denpasar you will be picked-up and driven to your hotel in nearby Sanur. Sanur has a nice beach and when high tide you can easily swim in the sea. You can also engage yourself in several exciting water sports. Several restaurants are located right on the beach which makes them a perfect spot for a lunch or a sunset diner.

You will be staying in a comfortable hotel with swimming pool near the beach.

Day 2 & 3 Sanur
Relaxing, swimming, windsurfing and walking on the beach. On short distance from Sanur you will find a beautiful landscaped park with orchids and other tropical plants. Nearby you can experience how it feels to walk through a real mangrove forest, guides will explain you all about this fascinating ecosystem. Or you can drive to the Waterbom Park in Kuta: almost 4 hectares of landscaped tropical parks providing hours of fun and entertainment for the young and young at heart!. There are many ways here to fill a full day with thrilling activities on land and in water.

Day 4 From Sanur to Munduk
In the morning you will drive to the biggest reptile park in Bali. In nicely landscaped gardens you will see all sorts of exotic animals like the bloodthirsty Komodo dragons! After this visit you will continue the trip by car to the mountain village of Munduk. The trip will take around 3 hours and on the way you can make some stops at Balinese temples and viewpoints.

Munduk is a small typical Balinese village surrounded by endless rice fields and clove trees. It is situated at an altitude of around 800 meter. From your hotel you have great views and can even see the north coast of Bali as well as the ocean. There is no swimming pool, but nearby are some waterfalls where you could take a bath.

Day 5 Munduk, walk near Lake Tamblingan
After breakfast you drive to a height of around 1200 meter. Here you will start with an exciting walk through a real tropical rainforest with huge trees and big strangle figs. You will follow the shore of Lake Tamblingan. After a few hours of walking you will cross this lake by small canoe to the other side where your car is waiting for you to take you back to your hotel.

Day 6 From Munduk to Pemutaran
Today you will travel from Munduk to the north coast and then continue in western direction. This trip will take around 2-3 hours and on the way you can stop at a colorful Buddhist monastery and take a bath at the hot springs of Banjar. Pemuteran is a small fishing village with several hotels near the beach. In its hinterland are the wineyard of Hattem, the biggest wine producer in Bali. Nearby is the island of Menjangan and here you will find several of Bali’s finest dive points. It is also a great place for snorkelling, the visibility is good and current is limited. But also near to your hotel you will find several nice snorkel spots. The beach is volcanic in origin and has a greyish color. On short distance you will find a turtle centrum as well as a horse stable. Horse lovers can explore the surroundings and the beach on horse back. A few hundred meters from the coast is a coral rehabilitation area: one of the biggest area’s world wide. Here you can learn something about this fascinating ecosystem.

You will be staying in a comfortable hotel near the beach with swimming pool.

Day 7 & 8 Pemutaran
Snorkeling, swimming, horse riding or rent a boat to Menjangan.

Day 9 From Pemutaran to the Ijen volcano on Java
Today you will drive to the nearby harbour of Gilimanuk. Here you will get on board of a car ferry that will take you to the island of Java in around 45 minutes. Remain one hour of driving to your beautiful located hotel on the slopes of the East-Javanese Merapi volcano.

Dag 10 Ijen, walk to the crater
Early morning you will leave your hotel and drive to the parking place called Pal Tuding. Here you will start with a 3 kilometer or a 1,5 hour climb to the Ijen volcano. It is a beautiful volcano with a green lake. On the way you will pass many sulphur carriers: men that harvest the bright yellow sulphur from within the crater and carry there heavy loads for long distances.

After your reach your car you drive back to your hotel. Here you can relax, enjoy the view or go for some walking through nearby rice fields and villages. It is also possible to visit a coffee plantation and its factory.

Day 11 From Ijen to Bromo
You continue your tour to another spectacular volcano: a long but fascinating drive (around 5-6 hours) will take you to the Bromo. Your guesthouse is located right on the edge of the ancient Tengger crater, from where you have great views on the Bromo and its surrounding sea of ashes and volcanic sand.

Day 12 From Bromo to Wonosari
Rise before dawn to drive to Mount Penajakan for a spectacular sunrise. On your way back to the hotel you can stop and climb the relatively low Bromo-volcano and have a look in its working heart.

After breakfast and a shower you will leave your hotel and drive in an open jeep through the moon-like area of the Bromo and over a beautiful mountain pas. You will be standing safely at the back of this jeep where you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings best. Wherever you want you can stop and do some walking, for instance to a nice waterfall. Around noon you arrive in the town of Tumpang, where you change vehicles and drive in 45 minutes to the tea plantation of Wonosari. This nicely situated plantation, on the slopes of the Arjuna mountain, does not only consist of endless numbers of tea trees but also has a nice guesthouse, a great pool, a small zoo and playing area.

Day 13* From Wonosari to Surabaya, flight to Denpasar and transfer to Ubud
In the morning you drive in around 2 hours to the airport of Surabaya. From here it takes a one-hour flight to Denpasar and then an one-hour drive before you reach your next destination Ubud. Ubud and its adjacent villages form the cultural centre of Bali. There is lots to do: walking through nearby rice fields, following a cooking course, practising Balinese dances, visiting nearby handicraft villages were beautiful wooden, stone and silver objects are being made and in the evening you can enjoy one of the many dance performances held every evening. Several parks like an elephant park, reptile park and bird zoo are on short driving distances. A great adventure is rafting on the Ayung river. Ubud is an ideal place from were you can explore the surroundings.

In Ubud you will be staying in a cozy hotel with swimming pool.

Day 15. Ubud, bicycle trip
You will be leaving in the morning by car to the mountainous area of Penelokan and Batur. After admiring the view on the Batur volcano and its lake you will be driven to the starting point of an exciting bicycle trip. Going downwards following save secondary roads you will pass small villages and stop at many spots to enjoy the landscape, to visit a temple, a agriculture garden, rice fields etc. You will be guided by a knowlegable guide. The trip ends at a small restaurant near Ubud were you will be served a great Balinese lunch.

Day 16. Ubud
Pick your choice of activities for today!

Day 17 From Ubud to Denpasar, next destination
It will take around one hour before you reach Denpasar, from where you continue to your next destination.

ALTERNATIVES FOR THIS TOUR

A. It is possible to expand the Java-part with a visit to Yogyakarta.

Day 13 From Wonosari to Malang, train to Yogyakarta
In the early afternoon you will drive to the nearby city of Malang where you board a comfortable so-called ‘eksekutif’-train to Yogyakarta. The trip takes around 6 hours, part of it you will travel in the evening. It is also possible to take an evening flight from Surabaya to Yogyakarta or go overland (this will take you however an extra day).

Day 14-16 Yogyakarta
In this very nice Javanese town, centre of Javanese culture, a lot can be enjoyed and explored: visit the kraton of the sultan, the Buddhist monument Borobudur or the Hindu Prambanan temple, drive to the active Merapi-volcano or see how batik, wayang puppets and silver art crafts are being made in a traditional way. Go on a bike tour, explore town by horse cart and enjoy a spectacular Ramayana dance performance.

You will be staying in a pleasant hotel with swimming pool.

Day 17. Domestic flight to Jakarta, next destination

B. It is also possible to fly back to Denpasar after visiting Yogyakarta and end the trip with several nights at Ubud.

Day 13 From Wonosari to Malang, train to Yogyakarta

Day 14-16 Yogyakarta

Day 17 Flight from Yogyakarta to Denpasar, transfer to Ubud.

Day 18 Ubud, bicycle trip

Day 19 & 20 Ubud

Day 21 From Ubud to Denpasar, next destination

BALI & LOMBOK

Day 1. Arrival in Denpasar and transfer to Seminyak.
Upon arrival in Denpasar you will be picked-up and transferred in short time to Seminyak. Seminyak is located near a wide and white sandy beach. It is near famous Kuta, but is much more quiet then its neighbour. There is a good choice of excellent restaurants here as well as good shops. A nice place to enjoy Bali’s beaches and to relax. You will be staying at a comfortable and friendly hotel with swimming pool on walking distance of the beach.

Day 2. & 3. Seminyak, free program
Relax, take some surf lessons, enjoy good food and sunsets. Nearby is the Waterbom Park : almost 4 hectares of landscaped tropical parks providing hours of fun and entertainment for the young and young at heart!. There are many ways here to fill a full day with thrilling activities on land and in water.

Day 4. From Seminyak to Ubud
In the morning you will drive in around one hour to the village of Ubud. Ubud and its adjacent villages form the cultural centre of Bali. There is lots to do: walking through nearby rice fields, following a cooking course, practising Balinese dances, visiting nearby handicraft villages were beautiful wooden, stone and silver objects are being made and in the evening you can enjoy one of the many dance performances held every evening. Several parks like an elephant park, reptile park and bird zoo are on short driving distances. A great adventure is rafting on the Ayung river. Ubud is an ideal place from were you can explore the surroundings.

In Ubud you will be staying in a cozy hotel with swimming pool.

Day 5. Ubud, bicycle trip
You will be leaving in the morning by car to the mountainous area of Penelokan and Batur. After admiring the view on the Batur volcano and its lake you will be driven to the starting point of an exciting bicycle trip. Going downwards following save secondary roads you will pass small villages and stop at many spots to enjoy the landscape, to visit a temple, an agriculture garden, rice fields etc. The trip ends at a small restaurant near Ubud were you will be served a great Balinese lunch.

Day 6. Ubud
Pick your choice of activities for today!

Day 7. From Ubud to Amed, walking near Sidemen
Today you will drive eastward to the mountains of Sidemen. Here amidst beautiful scenery of rice fields you will make a easy walk through rice fields and crossing rivers. After a great lunch at a beautiful spot you will continue the trip to Amed. Amed is one of the several small fishing villages located on a long stretch of black sand beach on the eastside of Bali. In contrast of a lot of other Bali beaches Amed has remained it’s rural atmosphere and numbers of accommodation and visitors is limited. Snorkeling and diving is great here, you find some of the best diving spots here. Fishermen catch their fish everyday in colorful boats and in the dry season a part of the beach is used for processing sea salt.

You will be staying at a hotel with swimming pool, just on the edge of the beach.

Day 8 & 9 Amed
Relaxing, swimming, snorkeling and exploring the surroundings. Short walks can also be made in the nearby hills.

Day 10. From Amed to Padangbai and by ferry to Lombok
Start early in the morning and drive to the harbour town of Padangbai were you will take the ferry to Lombok. The crossing takes around 4 to 5 hours. Afternoon arrival in Lombok and you will be driven in around 1 hour to Senggigi, located on a wide stretch beach. Overnight will be in a hotel located near the beach and with swimming pool.

Day 11. Senggigi, bicycle trip
In the morning you will be driven to the starting point of a great bicycle trip. It is relaxed riding whilst enjoying landscapes, views and small villages. You will be learning some more of the Balinese culture in Lombok.

Day 12. From Senggigi to Senaru
After lunch you will start with your-3 hour drive to the village of Senaru. On the way you can stop at a forest with monkeys (which you can feed, but take care!) and at a traditional markets. Senaru is a small village located on the northen slopes of the Rinjani mountain. Views are amazing here, life still traditional, and opportunities for walking are plenty. Accommodation is simple but from your room and hotel you can enjoy great views. There is no swimming pool.

Day 13. Senaru, panorama walk
In the morning you will be walking for around 3-4 hours through rice fields, agriculture fields and traditional Sasak villages. Your guide is very knowledge and will explain you all about tropical fruits, plants and village life. The tour will end near a waterfall in which you can take a fresh dip. The rest of the day is free to spend.

Day 14 From Senaru to Tetebatu, snorkeling trip
Today you will join a very nice snorkeling trip in the eastern part of Lombok. Corals are still in very good shape. You will reach the small harbour in around 2 hours and here you will board a boat that takes you to a small island fringed with a white sandy beach. There is lots of opportunity to snorkel and you will have lunch on the beach. In the afternoon you will return back to the mainland and continue driving for around 1,5 hour to the cool village of Tetebatu. Tetebatu is also nestles against the slopes of the Rinjani, but on the southern side.

Your accommodation is simple but with enough comfort (no swimming pool).

Day 15. Tetebatu, walking in the surroundings
You can choose between several walks: see the forest, monkeys and waterfall of the Rinjani national park or walk through rice fields and tobacco fields through villages.

Lunch will be at Pringasella, a village where people dye, spin and weave clothes and blankets. You will also have a look at a pottery village of Masbagik.

Day 16. From Tetebatu to Gili Meno
From Tetebatu you will drive in around 3-4 hours to the harbour of Gili Meno. On the way it is possible to make several interesting stops near Mataram like the Narmada water palace or the temple of Lingsar. From Bangsal you will take an out rigged canoe and sail in 45 minutes to the white-sandy beach island of Gili Meno.

Day 17.& 18 Gili Meno
Swimming, snorkeling, walking, visit the bird park etc.

Day 19. From Gili Meno to Denpasar
You will be driven to Mataram and take a domestic flight back to Denpasar. From here you depart to your next destination.

SULAWESI & BALI

Day 1 Arrival in Manado
You will be picked-up from the airport and driven to your comfortable hotel in around one hour. This hotel is situated right on the beach, outside of Manado. It has a big swimming pool and a small pool especially for smaller children. You will be staying in a cottage with sea view. The beach here however consists of greyish volcanic sand.

Day 2 Manado
Relaxing, swimming or snorkeling at the houserif near the coast.

Day 3 Manado, snorkeling Bunaken National Park

Full day of snorkeling (or diving) in Bunaken National Park: one of the finest spots in Indonesia. You will be sailing from your hotel to several snorkel locations near the islands of Bunaken and Siladen. In the afternoon you return.

Day 4 From Manado via Tasikoko to Pulisan
In the morning you drive in around one hour to Tasikoki. Tasikoki is the location of a centre for confiscated animals, that are protected by law. In an extensive area you will find several kinds of primates, bears, turtles and many bird species. The animals will be prepared to return to their natural habitat. You will be guided along the different cages and learn how the rehabilitation takes place. Before leaving you will enjoy a pick nick lunch on the beach: you can help grill the fish.

After lunch you will continue driving eastward, last half hour the road is in bad condition. At the last village, Pulisan, you leave the car and walk the last kilometer via a forest road to your hotel. You will be staying in simple, but well kept cottages near a long stretched white sandy beach and surrounded by tropical forest. The house reef is nearby and offers wonderful snorkeling.

Day 5 Pulisan
Swimming, snorkeling or diving (there is a dive centre), searching for dolphins, island hopping (walking and snorkeling) near the beautiful Bangka islands, walks through the forest.

Day 6. Pulisan, excursion to Tangkoko
Short after lunch you will sail in around 45 minutes to Tangkoko Batuangus Park. In this park you will find a large concentrations of mainly fruit eating animals. Under guidance of a forest ranger you will walk through the forest and will sea huge strangler figs, beautiful palm trees and with some luck the black endemic monkeys, hornbills and at dusk the small tarsier, a primate as big as the size of a human hand. In the late afternoon you will sail back to Pulisan.

Day 7 From Pulisan to Tomohon with several stops in the Minahasa Highland
In the morning you leave from Pulisan to the cool mountains of the Minahasa Highland. On the way you will make several interesting stops like old Minahasa tombs, a beautiful colored sulphur lake, a waterfall, a pottery village, the famous Tomohon market and a house building village. Lunch will be in a fish restaurant on the shores of Lake Tondano. You will arrive in the afternoon in Tomohon, situated on an altitude of around 800 meter and known for its many flowers. Your hotel covers a large area and has a big swimming pool.

Day 8 Tomohon
There are several interesting activities to explore: horse riding to the foot of the Wawu-mountain (there are also some pony’s), climbing the Mahawu or Lokon volcanoes or a spectacular rafting trip on the Tondano or Minanaga rivers.

Day 9 From Tomohon to Manado, domestic flight to Makassar
Today you will drive in around 1,5 hour to the airport of Manado from where you will take a flight to Makassar (around 1,5 hour). From the airport it will take you an hour to reach your comfortable hotel near the coast with garden and swimming pool. In the afternoon you can walk to the nearby Fort Rotterdam: an old remaining fort from Dutch colonial times or visit the old harbor of Paotere where you can find tens of wooden sailing ships.

Day 10 From Makassar to Bambapuang
A long but interesting car drive is scheduled for today. You will be driven for around 6-8 hours to the mountain village of Bambapuang. On the way you will make a nice walk and canoe trip through beautiful lime stone cliffs. These cliffs form a part of the national park of Bantimurung-Bulusaraung. There also many caves and in some of these cave prehistorical prints can be found. The footpath is easy to follow and almost flat. On the way back you will peddle with a small canoe to a bridge where you car will meet you.

After a nice home-made lunch right above a fishpond you will continue driving to your accommodation in Bambapuang, a beautiful located small hotel. This hotel however does not have a swimming pool.

Day 11 From Bambapuang to Toraja (Rantepao)
From Bambapuang it only takes two more hours before you reach the heart of Toraja. You can drive straight to your hotel or visit some interesting sights on the way.

The mountainous district of Toraja is the homeland of several ethnic groups who are called Toraja (Toraja means ‘the people of the mountains’ or ‘the people of the west’. The Toraja call their traditional religion Aluk to Dolo (rites of the ancestors) and they live according to the patron that was defined by the ancestors and gods. These include the impressive rituals that accompany the burying of the deceased. The beautiful carved houses with the remarkable roofs, the so-called tongkonan, are also built according principles of Aluk to Dolo. Although most Toraja are Christian nowadays, still many traditions live on.

If during your stay at Toraja there will be the unique opportunity to visit an impressive funeral- or house ceremony or the big animal market we will try to alter the program, according to your wishes, to fit in these visits. Please take into mind that during ceremonies pigs and buffalos are being slaughtered.

Day 12 Toraja, sightseeing and short walks
Today you will visit several Toraja villages by minibus to get a good picture of the culture of past and present Toraja. These picturesque villages are located in an amazing mountainous landscape dominated by rice terraces and bamboo forests. You will see the different ways the Toraja burry their death, like hanging graves as it was done in the old days and the well known stone graves guarded by puppets, tau-tau, high up a rock. Also the baby graves in the trunk of big trees as well as huge richly carved traditional houses with their rice barns will be on the program.

In the evening you will enjoy a Torajan meal served in traditional house in a small kampung on a short distance of Toraja. Most famous is the pa’piong manuk: chicken with grated banana stem cooked in a bamboo tube. Cooked young fern and red rice are the perfect match for this chicken dish. If you arrive on time you can witness your meal being prepared.

Day 13. Toraja
You can visit even more Torajan sights, make short walks or enjoy a wonderful rafting trip on the Maulu river. This spectacular trip takes you to a beautiful gorge, with small waterfalls, forest and remarkable lizards who warm themselves on big rocks. The rapids are of class II and III so suitable for beginners.

Day 14 From Toraja to Makassar and a domestic flight to Denpasar, transfer to Sanur
Today the second long car trip. In around 7 hours you will drive from Toraja to the airport of Makassar where you will take an afternoon flight to Denpasar. On arrival at the airport you will be taken to Sanur. Sanur has a nice beach and when high tide you can easily swim in the sea. You can also engage yourself in several exciting water sports. Several restaurants are located right on the beach which makes them a perfect spot for a lunch or a sunset diner.

You will be staying in a comfortable hotel with swimming pool near the beach.

Day 15 & 16 Sanur
Relaxing, swimming, windsurfing and walking on the beach. On short distance from Sanur you will find a beautiful landscaped park with orchids and other tropical plants. Nearby you can experience how it feels to walk through a real mangrove forest, guides will explain you all about this fascinating ecosystem. Or you can drive to the Waterbom Park in Kuta: almost 4 hectares of landscaped tropical parks providing hours of fun and entertainment for the young and young at heart!. There are many ways here to fill a full day with thrilling activities on land and in water.

Day 17 Sanur – Ubud
In the morning you will drive in around one hour to the village of Ubud. Ubud and its adjacent villages form the cultural centre of Bali. There is lots to do: walking through nearby rice fields, following a cooking course, practising Balinese dances, visiting nearby handicraft villages were beautiful wooden, stone and silver objects are being made and in the evening you can enjoy one of the many dance performances held every evening. Several parks like an elephant park, reptile park and bird zoo are on short driving distances. A great adventure is rafting on the Ayung river. Ubud is an ideal place from were you can explore the surroundings.

In Ubud you will be staying in a cozy hotel with swimming pool.

Day 18 Ubud, bicycle trip
You will be leaving in the morning by car to the mountainous area of Penelokan and Batur. After admiring the view on the Batur volcano and its lake you will be driven to the starting point of an exciting bicycle trip. Going downwards following save secondary roads you will pass small villages and stop at many spots to enjoy the landscape, to visit a temple, a agriculture garden, rice fields etc. The trip ends at a small restaurant near Ubud were you will be served a great Balinese lunch.

Day 19 Ubud
Pick your choice of activities for today!

Day 20 From Ubud to Denpasar, next destination