All the beauty of Java, the island of a thousand faces

Your English-speaking tour-guide will meet you at Jakarta international airport and transfer you to the seaside in the far west of Java. In the early evening, you will be welcomed by a family of fishermen, who will invite you to taste crabs, prawns and other grilled fish… a true delight! You'll then spend the night in a simple yet lively hotel (Indonesians come here to spend the weekend and contact is easy and cheerful)! From the hotel, you can sometimes hear the distant rumble of a Krakatoa explosion.

In the middle of the morning, you’ll head towards the harbor of the village,from there you’ll take a speedboat to set sails to the outskirts of the legendary Krakatoa Volcano.Then you make a tour of the island keeping a safe distance,because of the unstable volcanic conditions (since the eruption, end of december 2018). Depending on the activity of the “Anak Krakatau”, as Indonesians like to call it,

You will camp at the foot of the volcano or on one of the surrounding islands.

The morning is dedicated to the exploration of the Krakatoa volcano. Depending on the activity of this one you may have the opportunity to climb it, passing along the slopes of the ancient cone to observe the new one, born in 2021 and regularly erupting.

After the climb, you’ll have time to swim in the sea before returning to Carita. In the early afternoon transfer by speedboat to Ujun Kulon National Park, and in particular to Peucang Island, located off the northwest coast of the national park. With its crystal-clear waters and white sandy beaches, Peucang is a tropical paradise. The vibrant marine life is complemented by encounters with grey monkeys, deer, wild boars, and a variety of bird species. In the late afternoon, enjoy a scenic hike around Cidaon, where you may spot wild bulls and a few Javan peacocks in their natural habitat. After dinner, experience the thrill of a night hike, tracking the sounds and movements of nocturnal wildlife.

In the early morning, you’ll head towards the Cigenter River for an exciting canoe adventure through dense tropical jungle. This is a unique opportunity to spot local wildlife: the riverbanks are marked with the footprints of bantengs and Javan rhinoceroses, offering a glimpse into the park’s rich biodiversity.

Look up, and you’ll see hornbills perched in the treetops, while pythons hang from branches and monitor lizards dash toward the water’s edge. . In the early afternoon, transfer to the island of Handeleum. Here you can explore the surrounding jungle and underwater life. You will also stop off on the island of Badul, uninhabited and renowned for its white sandy beaches.

Return to Carita in the late afternoon.

Early departure for the village of Ciboleger, known as the gateway to Baduy country. From there, you’ll enjoy a scenic hike to the village of Gazeboh, marking the border between the 'outer' and 'inner' Baduy communities.

Immerse yourself in the rich culture of the Baduy people, then climb a nearby hill for panoramic views of the surrounding plantations—rice fields, sugarcane, banana groves, and more. You can also cool off with a refreshing dip in the river of the same name. In the evening, enjoy a traditional music performance featuring Angklung and Suling instruments.

Before dawn, you can climb the hill again to witness a breathtaking sunrise over the Baduy region. Later in the morning, continue your journey to another indigenous village known for its traditional textiles. In the early afternoon, return to Ciboleger and transfer to the Ciptagelar region, following the scenic southern coast of Java.

The day is dedicated to exploring Ciptagelar, the heart of the Kingdom of the Ancients, a legendary realm said to be inhabited by mystical tigers, capable of growing as large as a buffalo or as small as a cat, all while keeping the same tail length. In this ancient kingdom, Dewi Sri, or more precisely Pohaci—the youthful goddess of the rice paddies—has a dedicated room in every home, where only the lady of the house may enter.

At the village's center stands Ima Gede, an impressive community house crafted entirely from wood, bamboo, and thatch. Here, under the full moon, women gather to prepare ritual rice cakes over wood fires in the vast kitchen, while men from distant hamlets arrive on foot to exchange news and rice seeds.In the mid-afternoon, you’ll transfer to the southern outskirts of Bogor.

Part of the morning is dedicated to exploring Kampoeng Jamoe Organik, a space focused on traditional medicinal plants, created by the renowned Indonesian cosmetics brand Martha Tilaar.

Continuing towards Bandung, you’ll make a stop at the fascinating megalithic site of Gunung Padang, recently studied in-depth through archaeological and geological research. Meaning "mountain of enlightenment" in the local language, this site was once a sacred place for religious rituals.

While previously thought to be a series of stone terraces from a few thousand years BC, new studies reveal it may actually be a pyramid-shaped structure, with its core made of carved andesitic lava, wrapped in layers of stonework. Astonishingly, the oldest construction dates back between 25,000 and 14,000 BC—long before the pyramids of Giza!

OPTIONNAL on days 8 and 9, you can choose to climb Mount Gede before continuing on to Bandung. - Supplement of €150 per person.

Contact us for more details.

Rightly Often called the "Paris of Java," Bandung sits on a plateau at 768 meters, surrounded by majestic volcanoes.

You’ll have the opportunity to visit the Geological Museum, the Indonesian Volcanology Center, or the Museum of the 1955 Non-Aligned Movement Conference, as well as explore the vibrant Braga district.

In the early afternoon, head north to the Tangkuban Perahu volcano (2,076 m), meaning "upturned boat," which overlooks the city. Enjoy a scenic walk along its ridges, where geothermal activity is on full display, and discover unique endemic tree species.

Return to Bandung in the early evening.

Morning departure for the hills of the Malabar region, famous for its tea plantations. Once you've settled into a room near the former Dutch planter's residence, take the opportunity to explore the lush, green surroundings on foot. Along the way, you’ll come across the tomb of Karel Albert Rudolf Bosscha, the visionary founder and benefactor of the nearby tea plantations.

In the early morning, take advantage of the cool altitude to embark on a lovely walk through the tea plantations and visit the processing factory, where you will learn a great deal about the uses of tea.

At the end of the morning, transfer to the Papandayan volcano, through the entire volcanic chain. Not far from here, you can even see the steaming geysers of the Kamojang crater. A walk towards the crater allows you to observe the intriguing bubbling mud pools, steam vents and sulphur deposits. You then continue with a visit to the Kamojang geothermal centre, in the heart of a vast caldera several kilometres long.

Morning transfer to the outskirts of Tasikmalaya. On the way, you'll stop at Kampung Naga, a traditional Sundanese hamlet renowned for its distinctive houses, characterized by their functionality, simplicity, and use of natural materials like thatch, all in harmony with the surrounding environment.

In the early afternoon, you’ll reach the crater of the Galunggung volcano, where you’ll embark on a scenic hike around its rim. Afterward, descend to explore the striking landscape shaped by the volcano’s last major eruption in 1982.

Witness the aftermath of the massive lahar—a powerful flow of mud and ash, that swept down its slopes, forcing over 30,000 residents to evacuate.

Early morning transfer to Baturaden, a high-altitude resort on the slopes of Mt Slamet. Along the way you will stop at Karang Kamulyan, a historic site that is the birthplace of a folktale, known locally as Ciung Wanara. It tells the story of the kingdom of Galuh and the origin of the name of the river Pamali.

A delightful morning awaits, taking you through breathtakingly diverse landscapes: authentic villages, terraced rice fields, wild rivers, and dense tropical forests. After this scenic journey, unwind with a relaxing session at natural hot springs, set in an idyllic environment. A local therapist will also treat you to a reflexology massage using sulphurous mud.

Afternoon transfer to Wonosobo.

Morning transfer to the Dieng plateau. Intensely populated and cultivated, the plateau is an archaeological site with eight ruined Hindu temples. The day is devoted to discovering the various tourist attractions (Telaga Warna lake, temples, smoking crater of the Sikidang volcano, etc.).

Afternoon transfer to the slopes of Mt Sumbing.

In the early morning, visit the famous Borobudur sanctuary, built in the 8th and 9th centuries during the Sailendra dynasty.

Afternoon transfer to Jepara.

In the early morning, transfer to the harbor of Jepara, where you’ll board a speed-ferry that will take you to the paradise that is the Karimunjawa archipelago (2-hour trip).

The rest of the day is free at leisure.

In the morning, a traditional private boat (with crew and guide) will take you to discover the archipelago's most beautiful islands. Multi-coloured coral reefs, turquoise lagoons, white sandy beaches and the most beautiful dive sites will be yours to discover!

At lunchtime, a barbecue of fresh fish grilled over a coconut fire gives the fish an exceptional taste (the meal is accompanied by fruit, fresh drinks and coffee/tea). This is also the opportunity to admire exceptional panoramic views until sunset. Please note that the program is flexible and can be adapted at short notice according to your wishes.

The tour can also be taken by speed-boat, if required.

A day at leisure. You can take advantage of the hotel's facilities, relax by the sea, explore the island on a scooter, or even go diving in the surrounding area.

Morning at leisure until transfer to the port of Karimunjawa, where you take the speed ferry back to Jepara (2 hrs).

Transfer by private vehicle to Yogyakarta, the cultural capital of Java.

The morning is devoted to visiting Yogyakarta, the cultural heart of Java, starting with the area around the Sultan's Palace, built in 1756, where life is relaxed and vibrant. Your city walk will take you to Taman Sari, once known during the Dutch colonial era as the "Water Palace," followed by visits to puppet and batik workshops.

Late in the morning, you’ll head to Ratu Boko temple, perched on the Gunung Kidul hills with stunning views over the Prambanan plain. Then, embark on a short hike through forests, traditional villages, and rice fields to reach the iconic Hindu temple of Prambanan. Once at the temple complex, you’ll visit Loro Jonggrang, a magnificent 47-meter-high temple dedicated to the goddess Shiva. Widely considered the most elegant and awe-inspiring Hindu temple on Java, it’s a true marvel.

Optionally, you can attend the Ramayana ballet performance

Return to your hotel in the early to mid-evening

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.

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

In the early morning, 4x4 vehicles will take you to the Tengger region, where the famous Mt Bromo (2,329 m) spits out its volutes, and the caldera that surrounds it 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 Hindu Tengger people who live in the area.

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 regarded this place as the entrance to purgatory.

You then make your way to the summit of Mount Pananjakan (2,775m) to witness a fabulous spectacle. You can 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. A truly unique experience!

Return to the hotel in the early evening.

Transfer to East Java, and in particular the village of Kalibaru, situated in the midst of various plantations that were once exploited by Dutch colonists. In the afternoon, you embark on a pleasant hike in the surrounding area.

Morning departure by 4x4 to Meru Betiri National Park. After around 5 hours on the road, which can be chaotic at times but takes you through superb rubber, cocoa and coconut plantations, you arrive in the small village of Sukamade. In the afternoon, take your first walk to explore the surrounding area, and in the evening head for Sukamade beach, where you will witness a fabulous spectacle: sea turtles laying their eggs.

Short morning walk to "Cap Vert", a superb white sandy beach bordered by crystal-clear waters. Swimming is possible.

Approx. 1h30 hours' walk.

Then on to Ketapang, on the edge of Kawah Ijen.

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 will then witness the weighing and the various employment contracts. A very powerful and striking image of your journey. In the late morning, transfer to the port of Ketapang where you board a ferry bound for Bali.

Short transfer to the seaside resort of Pemuteran, a small resort on the north-west coast of the island of the gods, far from the concentrations of tourists.

Day at leisure. You have the option (optional) to hire a boat and explore the vibrant underwater world surrounding Mejangan Island, where Bali's richest marine life thrives. A true polychrome aquarium awaits you amidst the colorful coral reefs! This is also where the rare Bali starling has found its refuge.