Indonesia In Depth
- Active Adventure
- Beach Escapes
- Culture & Heritage
Overview
Day 1 - 3: Yogyakarta - Borobudur
- Arrive in Yogyakarta. Explore the city of Yogyakarta. Discover the famous Borobudur temple.
Day 4 - 5: Surabaya - Supakura
- Ride the train to Surabaya. Transfer to Supakura.
- Explore the scenery around Bromo Volcano. Hike up to the top for the incredible views.
Day 6 - 10: Bali - Ubud - Sanur
- Fly to Bali then drive to Ubud. Cycle around Ubud and visit Elephant Safari Park.
- Sightsee the central and southern parts of Bali. Relax on the idyllic beach in Sanur.
Day 11 - 16: Labuan Bajo - Komodo Island - Jimbaran - Departure
- Take the flight to Labuan Bajo. Visit Padar Island, Komodo Island.
- Head to Jimbaran. Board the departure flight from Bali’s airport.
Customizable itinerary
Don’t miss out on our 16-day Indonesia adventure tour if you want to experience a thorough exploration of the nation through travel!
Your journey starts from Yogyakarta – the cultural center of the country, with visits to the World Heritage Site Borobudur and other famous landmarks of the city. You will then travel to Sukapura and trek up the sacred Mount Bromo for a gorgeous sunrise the next day. In Bali, there is a variety of exciting activities to try out, such as visiting the sacred temples and scenic rice terraces, the Elephant Nature Park, and white-water rafting. Enjoy a beach break in Sanur before heading to Labuan Bajo. Here, you will have the chance to see the famous Komodo dragons and go snorkeling to admire the wonderful marine life. Jimbaran – a well-known coastal town, will be the last destination, where you will have not only pristine beaches but also fresh and delicious seafood – a perfect closure for this unforgettable trip!
Upon arrival at Yogyakarta airport, our guide will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel – check-in and the rest of the day will be spent at your leisure.
Yogyakarta, together with its twin city Surakarta (Solo), is the cradle of civilization on Java. This city was the seat of power that produced the magnificent temples of Borobudur and Prambanan in the 8th and 9th centuries and the new powerful Mataram kingdom. It is one of the foremost cultural centers in Indonesia. There is an abundance of activities to do in Yogyakarta, from strolling through the living museum of The Kraton, hanging out at the famous Alun Alun, to watching silversmiths produce amazing jewelry at Kotagede and trying a splurge shopping up at Malioboro road.
Let’s explore the iconic sights and sounds of Yogyakarta. The city calls itself the vanguard of Javanese culture. The venerable Sultan’s palace is the centerpiece of the city and is treated with respect by the people of Yogya. Surrounded by white-clad houses and quiet lanes, you’ll see that there is hardly any traffic in this part of town, where the becaks rule!
After a visit to Bringharjo traditional market, we will walk to The Fort Vredeburg museum, built in 1760 by Sultan Hamengku Buwono 1. Continue passing by some colonial buildings and visit Sonobudoyo Museum. We will end the morning’s trip at Taman Sari (as it is called by the locals), which is the former pleasure dome of the Sultans, featuring well-restored subterranean passageways, secret chambers and frivolous ponds.
For lunch, you will indulge in a selection of Javanese delicacies. A visit to the splendid temple complex of Prambanan, a short drive east of the city centre, is the main afternoon program. Comprising more than 200 large and smaller buildings, this place is a permanent reminder of Java’s Hindu past.
Note: All museums are closed on Monday.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Today you will have ample time to discover the mystery and history of the world-famous Borobudur temple, one of the biggest and most impressive Buddhist monuments ever erected by mankind. The prominent construction enjoys the splendid background of Menoreh mountain range. Originally there were seven statues here; those that remain are the great three-meter Buddha, who, unusually, sits on a throne with his legs in front of him rather than in the lotus position, flanked by the Bodhisattvas Avalokitesvara and Vajrapani.
Next, we will explore the village of Candirejo. This local community, set in an authentic Javanese village, is the expert in preserving traditional farming methods. A tour along its lanes by ‘delman’, a traditional Javanese horse-drawn carriage, will provide an insight into the daily life of the Javanese farmer.
Afterward, we will return to Yogyakarta. The evening will be at your leisure.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Today you will experience one of the highlights of your trip with an authentic train journey through Central Java. Enjoy the most beautiful rice paddies, stunning valleys and picturesque villages pass the eye as your train heads further into Central Java.
In the afternoon, you will reach Surabaya, where a car will take you to Sukapura, which nestles against the mighty slope of Gunung Bromo. En route there will be plenty of stops for you to marvel at the sights on dormant volcanoes, picturesque Javanese villages, old sultanate towns and the street sights with thousands of vehicles and people, moving goods to seemingly all directions at the same time!
Arriving in the late afternoon and rest of the evening free, preparing for a nightly excursion you will never forget.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
In the early morning, we will start our trip to sacred Mount Bromo. After a short jeep ride, we will reach Penanjakan point to enjoy the glorious sunrise. Later, we will drive to the huge caldera and take you across a wide-open terrain on horseback to reach the inner sanctum. Follow the trail up to the top of the active Bromo volcano and marvel at the incredible view from here.
Return to your hotel for a well-deserved breakfast. Afterward, transfer back to Surabaya, the rest of the day will be at your leisure.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Transfer to Surabaya Airport to catch your flight to Bali in the morning.
Upon arrival, we will take you straight to the heart of Bali. For many centuries, the rulers of the powerful kingdom of Ubud were patrons of the arts. In the early 20th century, European painters successfully fused tradition with western concepts, laying the groundwork for an art direction that flourish up to this day and age!
The rest of the day you will be free to do some exploration in the area.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Today you will have the best of culture and nature in a day. First, you will attend a playful introduction to the Balinese philosophy. The gracious Barong dance in Batubulan, performed by professional actors and dancers. Proceed to the rightfully famous woodcarving center of Mas. Young artisans with amazing skills emblaze tropical woods with life.
Then we will drive further to the east and enjoy the breathtaking view over the volcano and the Lake Batur, while having lunch in Penelokan, Kintamani. This is the largest lake in Bali and can be found in the smaller, secondary caldera of the Batur volcano, right at the foot of Mount Abang.
We will make the final stop at Tegalalang rice terraces for you to enjoy its stunning view before heading back to your hotel in Ubud.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Today’s itinerary will be packed with exciting adventures. Start the trip with the incredible view of Mount Batur Volcano, cycle your way through some of the island’s most beautiful scenery, the trail will then lead you to the Elephant Safari Park. Here your own elephant will be waiting to take you on a 35-minute safari walk through the Taro forest. Feel free to interact with these gentle giants.
Later, we will have time to experience white-water rafting on the Ayung River. Here you will travel through the exotic landscape down 27 sets of class II-III rapids for approximately 1.5 hrs.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
We will explore the central part of Bali in the morning, start from the beautiful area of terraced rice paddies nestling in the shadow of Mount Batukaru. This is the second-highest peak of Bali and also one of the holiest. In 2007 this area was nominated as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Later, you will visit Tanah Lot, one of the most beautiful and famous temples in Bali. The temple was built to commemorate the spread of Hinduism from Java to Bali centuries ago. Sitting on an eroded rocky outcrop between the sea and the beach, it is an admirable sight, especially during sunset.
Afterward, return to your hotel in Sanur, and the rest of the day will be spent at your leisure.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
You can spend the day enjoying the resort’s facilities or doing some self-exploration in the area.
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You will have a free morning until it’s time to meet your guide for transfer service to Denpasar airport to fly to Flores.
On arrival at Komodo Airport Labuan Bajo, our representative will welcome you and take you to your hotel. Labuan Bajo was once a small fishing town that today has flourished to become the gateway to the exotic destinations in East Nusa Tenggara.
The rest of the day will be at your leisure.
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Early morning, we will get on board for Padar Island to see the beautiful panoramic when the sun is rising. Padar island is popular for its magnificent landscape with its clear sky, white sand beaches, and nearby attractions from the top of the hills.
Back to the boat for breakfast, then we will continue to cruise to Komodo Island. Upon arrival, we will walk for about 1.5 miles to Banugulung to see the activities of the giant Komodo Dragons. The dragons can grow up to 3m long and 150 kg in weight. The total number of these lizards is estimated at 3.500 – 5.000 inhabited in Komodo, Padar and Rinca Island.
We will then go back to the boat and head to Pink Beach to take an opportunity to swim or snorkel on the beautiful beaches Pantai Merah (Pink Beach), which is also one of the best spots for observing underwater life and corals in Indonesia. Afterward, you will return to Labuan Bajo.
Meals: (Breakfast/Lunch/_)
Enjoy morning breakfast and day at your leisure at the resort or self-exploration around the beautiful surrounding.
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Enjoy another free day at the resort or you can opt for some self-exploration of the beautiful surrounding.
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Enjoy the day at your leisure before you are picked up for your departure transfer back to the airport.
Upon arrival in Bali, you will stay at your hotel in Jimbaran. This charming fishing village has changed into a pleasant and peaceful little resort in recent years with one of the best beaches in Bali.
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After breakfast and a leisurely morning on your own, you will check out and your private driver will pick you up and take you to the airport for your departure flight.
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Useful Information
This tour is built upon our firsthand knowledge & experience, offering you the best choices available. The price of this trip varies depending on the number of people in your party, dates of departure, and availability of ground services. Please click on REQUEST A FREE QUOTE (above) and supply the required information, enabling us to send you your personalized quote within 24 hours!
Note: Amendments CAN be made to this tour to suit your requirements.
What’s Included?
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- Train ticket from Yogyakarta to Surabaya – Executive Class
- Domestic flight Surabaya SUB to DPS Bali on economy class by Garuda Indonesia
- Accommodation with daily breakfast at selected hotels
- Day excursions to Komodo Island on open-deck boat
- Jeep during Mt. Bromo Sunrise Trip
- Combination Cycling and Rafting Trip
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- Private Vehicles and Drivers
- Private English Speaking Guides (Other languages if available, upon request)
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
- Entrance fees for all mentioned sights visited
- Service Charge & Government Taxes
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What’s Not Included?
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- Your International Flights to and from Bali and domestic flights Bali – Labuan Bajo
- Indonesia entry Visa Fees (contact us for further information)
- Personal Expenses (such as laundry, telephone, drinks, etc.)
- Any bank fees or charges at your end
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- Meals other than those mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal Travel Insurance
- Tips for guides and drivers
- Other services not mentioned in the program
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Free service. No credit card required
Reviews on Our Service
We are committed to giving our customers unforgettable experiences in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and beyond, not just something staged for tourists. Read reviews written by our customers about their experiences in Indochina after they have returned home. These include the ratings and comments on attractions, guides, activities, hotels and food.
Simply Perfect!
Simply perfect. We had an amazing three weeks (albeit busy and active – as we requested!) which included a perfectly curated itinerary in Vietnam and Thailand.
From the time I connected with Stella, I knew she’d be able to do exactly as I asked. As for the pre trip/planning portion, I had researched all we wanted to do within the two countries, gave her a budget and advised of the duration of our trip. She mapped all of the logistics: arranging private transportation, English speaking tour guides and enlisted us with specialty activities (some that we joined in with other small groups some of which we did alone). The initial itinerary was “massaged” a couple times to keep everything aligned (us making various decisions) and in line with our initial ideas. Stella ran with every suggestion made! We received a an incredibly detailed itinerary that just made us even more excited for our trip.
Once we arrived, Stella continued with excellent communication by providing us with very specific info communicated on what we could expect, (meeting places, time frame, what to bring for the day, etc). In fact, many people we ran into envied our personalized situation. She left all the guess work out of our trip and we were well prepared in every instance.
Everything was simply wonderful-and we experienced it with a local
flair. I only wish we had a company like this in all countries we want to visit. The experience made it so carefree and we were right at budget. We greatly appreciate all of Stella’s hard work on our behalf, and her company high class, top tier company, Asia Pioneer Travel!
Trip to Cambodia and Vietnam
We just finished an amazing 18-day trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. Winston Dinh was our travel designer. He went above and beyond his duty to make sure that we had a perfect trip. He was always available to respond to our request and/or questions. We could not ask for a better travel designer.
The only one thing we wish that our hotels in Da Nang and Hoi An would-be walking distance to the center of night light activities. Other than that, we were very happy with our hotel arrangement.
We already planned for your next trip in 2025. Winston will be the first person that we will contact to help us with our next trip. Thanks, Winston, for a job well done.
THE BEST OF THE BEST……WHAT MORE CAN YOU ASK FOR!
Chloe from Asia Pioneer travel prepared for my friends and I a wonderful trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. The planning of the itinerary was a lot of fun and we felt very much part of the process. Chloe and her team delivered everything as planned. guides, vehicles, hotels were first class and were delivered on time and as promised.
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In Angkor Way my friend jumped off a small ledge and broke her heel. CHLOE, ASIA PIONEER AND OUR LOCAL GUIDE WENT INTO QUICK ACTION HAD HER IN VERY COMPETENT HANDS IN A MODERN HOSPITAL WITHIN MINUTES. SHE WAS WELL TREATED BUT SHE DID END UP IN A WHEELCHAIR FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP..
As they say in Vietnam every thing is possible SO CHLOE and her team went into action modified our itinerary and planned other activities compatible with a person in a wheelchair..
In the blink of an eye they made this all possible. . They ARE A WELL GROOMED MACHINE THANK YOU VERY MUCH CHLOE. for making this the trip into an unforgettable memory. I GIVE CHLOE THE HIGHEST RATING AND GIVE HER MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS AS TRAVEL PLANNER FOR VIETNAM AND CAMBODIA.
An incredible Lifetime Adventure in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand – Experience Local Culture – Thank You Asian Pioneer
Special thanks to Lizzie Pham and the Asia Pioneer Travel Team for an incredible experience in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand in November 2024. They were always available from our original booking through our travels, and selected knowledgeable, professional, and friendly guides and drivers. My wife and I had the trip of a lifetime. My sister had made a similar trip, with Asia Pioneer, in February and strongly recommended them. We had considered a large tour group and realized, that for approximately the same price, we could have our own private tour. Our ability to be flexible was an advantage not available to large tour groups. Every day was well planned and full of sights and activities. What made this trip extra special was our experience with the local culture which was an important goal. We will always remember taking a Vespa tour through Hanoi learning about the local religion, tasting fruit in the market, and fully appreciating the significance of the tea culture. Biking around a small island on the Mekong Delta, being rowed in the small waterways, making candy with a local family, and catching our own fish to eat for dinner was a highlight. Exploring a local Cambodian floating village and sipping coconut milk while on a floating restaurant (with caged crocodiles) just added to the adventure. Taking a tuk-tuk around Bangkok walking through the Flower market and watching them make Pad-Thai (my favorite) and eating it was yet another “WOW”. The nighttime was yours and with local car or tuk-tuk service being inexpensive we were able to have drinks, on the rooftop, at the famous Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, enjoy Hanoi street food, Pub Street and the Phare Circus in Siem Reap, and eat incredible street food in Bangkok. We are so glad that we had the Asia Pioneer TravelTeam manage this remarkable journey.
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