Archive:
Indonesia – 16 days
Indonesia is one of the most interesting countries of the world. It has been in existence for more than 70 years. Despite one official Indonesian language, almost 700 local languages are in use there.
Most of Indonesia inhabitants are Muslim but also are members of different Christian churches; they are also Buddhist and Hindu. The national motto of Indonesia is “unity in diversity” – this probably best describes the special nature of this island country where almost each island has its own traditions, language, history and unique culture. Indonesia is also characterised by extraordinary richness of its natural environment. A trip to Indonesia will also be an opportunity to see the legendary dragons of Komodo and to visit orangutans, a species that stands at the brink of complete extinction, mainly as a result of habitat destruction.
itinerary
Depending on the place and time of arrival, an evening organisational meeting at the hotel which will be located near the airport. Dinner and night rest.
D.
Early transfer to the airport in Jakarta. Flight to Pangkalan Bun. Drive to Kumai harbour. We will start our cruise on a traditional Klotok boat. During the cruise, we will enjoy a close encounter with the fascinating and unique nature of Borneo. We will see many species of birds and proboscis monkeys. If we are lucky, we will track orangutans. Lunch on the boat. After our meal, we will go for an evening encounter with forest inhabitants who are active at night and equally fascinating. Return to the land. Dinner and night rest at Rimba Lodge.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, a hike in the jungle and close encounters with the fauna and flora of the Borneo rainforests. Around noon, a boat cruise on the Sekonyer river, then a visit at the Camp Leakey Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre founded in 1971 by a couple of primatologists – primate researchers – Dr Biruté Galdikas and Rod Brindamour. At the visit, we will learn about the habits of forest people and problems of one of the most endangered species of anthropoid apes. In the afternoon, return for dinner and night rest at Rimba Lodge.
B.L.D.
Optional tour at sunrise – watching birds and other animals in the morning. Return for breakfast, after which we will leave Rimba Lodge and travel by boat to Kumai harbour. Transfer to the airport in Pangkalan Bun. Flight to one of the largest cities of Indonesia – Surabaya. Then we will drive for about 5-6 hours to a hotel near Mount Bromo, an active volcano. Dinner and rest before the morning attractions.
B.
Very early wake up, at about 03:30 am, and we will set off to the Mount Bromo (2392 m above the sea level) area. Before dawn, we will drive to the vantage point on Mount Penanjakan. We will see a magnificent spectacle of nature – the sunrise lighting the Mount Bromo volcano. After sunrise, we will travel on jeeps through the Sea of Sand, and then we will have a short easy hike to the caldera of the Mount Bromo volcano. It will be a small expedition into the Earth’s interior – we will smell sulphur and see traces of volcanic activity. At about 8 am, return to the hotel for breakfast. Transfer to Surabaya taking about 4 hours. Then flight from Surabaya to Makassar. Evening stroll around the largest city of the Celebes/Sulawesi island. Night rest in Makassar.
B.
In the morning flight to Palopo and then road trip to the Tana Toraja valley. En route, we will visit plantations of spices – cloves, black pepper, cinnamon. In the morning, drive to Tinombayo where we will see the spectacular landscapes of the Toraja land and megaliths scattered around vast rice fields. Next we will visit the stone-carved Lo’ko’ Mata Burial Site and we will see the holy trees in whose trunks, high above the ground, bodies of dead infants used to be placed by local people. The we will go to Batutumonga – a beautifully located town to the north of Rantepao. In the afternoon, a short hike through rice fields. In the evening, return to the hotel in Rantepao.
B.L.D.
Presentation of the unusual customs of Torajas for whom the funeral is the most important event in their life. Torajas mummify bodies of their dead relatives and keep them at homes, even for several years, treating them still as living persons. When finally the funeral is held, it may take up to seven days, and one of its most important elements is the ritual killing of holy animals – buffaloes=. Sightseeing: Londa – tombs carved in a high rock – and galleries of tau-tau – wooden effigies of the dead, Lemo – a cave burial site filled with legends and mysteries, Kete Kesu – one of the oldest dwelling sites of Torajas with preserved wooden richly decorated pillar houses whose fronts resemble boats or buffalo horns. In the afternoon, visits to other Toraja villages: Nanggala and Siguntuk. Night rest at a hotel near Rantepao.
B.L.D.
We will visit rural village and small towns of Torajas: Pallawa and Sa’dan. Close encounters with the local families will enable us to get to know better their unusual culture and enjoy the beauty of this mountain region. We will see the holy place of megalithic stone circles in Bori. In the afternoon, another rural village named Marante, with large Toraja houses scattered around rice fields. Night rest at a hotel near Rantepao. During our stay in the Toraja land, we may be able to take part in their extraordinary funeral ceremony that is celebrated with more panache than a wedding. Families of the dead prepare to funerals even for several years, and can spend their life earnings for those preparations. Especially for the funeral, bamboo pavilions for guests are erected, centred around the square where the individual rituals take place, which include reception of guests or ritual killing of buffaloes.
B.L.D.
After breakfast, we will drive to Palopo, and then fly to Makassar. A visit in Makassar, then flight to Yogyakarta. Transfer to the hotel, depending on the time of our arrival. An evening stroll around one of the oldest towns of Indonesia.
B.
After breakfast, we will visit the Kraton Palace and the Taman Sari Water Palace. Lunch at a local restaurant, not included in the tour price. In the afternoon, a drive to Prambanan. We will see the ruins of ninth-century Hindu temples. We may watch an optional spectacle inspired by the Hindu Ramayana mythology at 7.30 pm (we definitely recommend it!).
B.
After breakfast, at about 8 am, we will leave for Borobudur – ruins of one of the largest Buddhist temples in Asia. In the afternoon, a walk and shopping on the Malioboro Street. B.
The order of visits may change.
In the morning, transfer to the airport and flight to Denpasar on Bali. After arrival, we will start visiting the southern part of the island. To start with, the Uluwatu temple located on a cliff (the time will depend on the time of our arrival), and then the scenically located Tanah Lot temple at the ocean and the royal temple Taman Ayun. In the afternoon we will drive to Ubud, have an evening walk, then relax and have dinner.
B.
After breakfast, we will set off to the north to the Mount Agung volcano, one of three volcanoes on the island. We will visit the most important temple on Bali – Pura Beshaki. Then we will go to a coffee plantation where we will be presented the secrets of the famous kopi luwak coffee. In the afternoon, we will see the Tirta Empul temple and the Monkey Forest which also houses some temples located in the extraordinary rainforest scenery. Moreover, a big attraction of this place are family groups of monkeys who live there and the adjacent forests. Night rest in Ubud.
B.
Breakfast, then drive to the Denpasar airport (for about 1 hour) and flight. Arrival in Labuan Bajo. Transfer to the harbour, we will set off to the sea and have lunch on our boat. The exact course of the cruise, i.e. when and how we will visit the individual islands, will be agreed on-site with the captain. Night rest on the boat. We will also have all our meals on the boat. Usually, on the first day we see the amazing flying fox bats. We will sail in an area where some coral reefs are located. The boat crew will lend snorkelling equipment.
B.L.D.
A visit in the Komodo National Park on the Komodo island where we will be able to meet one of the largest living land reptiles – Komodo dragons. We will start from the Rinca island, then we will have a stop on the deserted island of Padar, next we will have lunch on the boat, and in the afternoon we will sail to Komodo and have a walk there, looking for Komodo dragons. Return to the boat and we will continue our cruise.
B.L.D.
In the morning, you may snorkel in the warm and transparent waters of the Flores Sea (about 29°C). It will be a close encounter with the inhabitants of one of the most magnificent coral reefs of Asia. Lunch on the boat. Flight to Bali. Transfer to a hotel near the airport.
B.L.
Last shopping and a visit to Denpasar. Transfer to the airport and flight.
B.
Practical information
Final notes
- The tour may be combined with a tailor-made trip to Lake Toba on Sumatra and extended by a trip to the Kayan Mentang National Park.
- This trip may have the form of a self-guided tour at any selected period. The itinerary can be modified for the purpose of the specific trip. The price will depend on the number of travellers, the length of the trip and the individual itinerary prepared for those interested.
