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

Your English-speaking 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 real delight! You'll then spend the night in a simple but very 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.

Mid-morning, you head for the village port, where you board a speed-boat that takes you to the outskirts of the mythical Krakatoa volcano. You will circumnavigate the island, maintaining a safe distance, depending on the volcanic conditions (since the paroxysmal eruption at the end of December 2018, the volcano "Anak Krakatau" - as it is called by the Indonesians - is in an unstable phase where eruptions are random at the moment). Bivouac at the foot of the volcano or on one of the neighbouring islands.

The morning is devoted to exploring Krakatoa volcano and its surroundings. Depending on the activity of the volcano, you will climb the flanks of the old cone to observe the new one, born in 2021 and regularly erupting. Possibility of swimming in the sea. In the early afternoon, transfer by speedboat to Ujun Kulon National Park, and in particular Peucang Island, located off the north-west coast of the national park, where the water is translucent and the sand white. Here, the underwater life is vibrant, but you will also be accompanied by grey monkeys, deer, wild boar and many species of birds. At the end of the afternoon, you'll take a lovely hike to Cidaon, where you'll see wild bulls and a few Java peacocks. After dinner, a night hike to track down the surrounding wildlife.

In the early morning, you will head for the Cigenter River, which you will explore by canoe through thick tropical jungle. This will be an opportunity to track and observe the local wildlife: the river banks are lined with banteng and Javan rhino footprints, for example. The treetops are home to numerous hornbills; it is also not uncommon to spot pythons clinging to the branches of the trees, as well as monitor lizards scurrying towards the banks. 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, considered to be the gateway to Baduy country. You then begin a pleasant hike towards the village of Gazeboh, which marks the border between the "outer" Baduy zone and the "inner" Baduy. Immerse yourself in this culturally rich Baduy community. You will also climb the hill overlooking the village, to get a broader view of the surrounding plantations: rice fields, sugar cane fields, banana gardens, etc. You can also take a dip in the river of the same name. In the evening, you will be treated to a traditional music performance (Angklung & Suling, in particular).

At the end of the night, you can climb the hill again to watch a superb sunrise over the Baduy region. Then, in the middle of the morning, you will continue on your way to another indigenous village specialising in textiles. Return to Cipolager in the early afternoon and transfer to the Ciptagelar region, following the southern coast of Java.

The day is devoted to discovering Ciptagelar, the seat of the Kingdom of the Ancients, a legendary kingdom inhabited by tigers who, it is said, still haunt the forest, "and who have the peculiarity of making themselves as big as a buffalo or as small as a cat while keeping the same length of tail". In the Kingdom of the Ancients, Dewi Sri, or more precisely Pohaci, the nubile form of the goddess of the rice paddies, always has a room reserved in each house, and no-one other than the mistress of the house is allowed to enter. The centre of the village is occupied by the Ima Gede, a very large community house, also built entirely of wood, bamboo and thatch. This is where, every full moon evening, the women prepare the ritual rice cakes over wood fires in the huge kitchen, where the men also gather, sometimes arriving on foot from distant hamlets to exchange news and rice seeds. Mid-afternoon transfer to the southern suburbs of Bogor.

Part of the morning is devoted to discovering the wonders of Kampoeng Jamoe Organik, a space dedicated to traditional medicinal plants and created by the famous Indonesian cosmetics group, Martha Tilaar. Later, on the road to Bandung, which skirts the Pangrango-Gede volcano complex from the south, you stop off at the megalithic site of Gunung Padang, which has recently been the subject of in-depth archaeological, geological and geophysical studies. The name Gunung Padang translates as "mountain of enlightenment" in the local language, as it was once used for religious rituals. Earlier studies considered it to be a megalithic site of significant size, composed of stone terraces, but in the absence of radiocarbon dating, it was assumed that Gunung Padang was a prehistoric site built between several hundred and a few thousand years BC, in the tradition of the regional megalithic cultures of Asia. The latest study finally suggests that Gunung Padang is not a natural hill but a pyramid-shaped structure. The heart of the pyramid is made up of meticulously sculpted massive andesitic lava, enveloped by layers of rocky constructions. The oldest construction dates back to between 25,000 and 14,000 BC, well before the construction of the pyramids at Giza in Egypt! Transfer to Bandung in the late afternoon.

Rightly known as the "Paris of Java", Bandung is situated on a plateau at an altitude of 768m and is surrounded on all sides by majestic volcanoes. This is your chance to visit the Geological Museum and the Indonesian Volcanological Center, or even the Museum of the 1955 Conference of Non-Aligned Countries and the working-class district of Braga. In the early afternoon, you'll get a bit of altitude (and air at the same time) in the vicinity of the Tangkubanperahu volcano (2076 m - literally "upturned boat"), which dominates Bandung to the north. You can take a lovely walk along its ridges and flanks, which display impressive geothermal activity, and you'll even discover some 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 home of the Dutch planter, you'll be free to explore the surrounding green immensity on foot. You will also pass the tomb of Karel Albert Rudolf Boscha, the founder and patron of the surrounding 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 off at Kampung Naga, a traditional Sundanese hamlet renowned for its traditional houses, which are characterised by their functionality, simplicity, modesty, use of natural thatch materials, and fairly faithful adherence to harmony with nature and the environment.

In the early afternoon, you will reach the crater of the Galunggung volcano, around which you will hike, before descending and studying the effects of the last eruptions in 1982: a gigantic "Lahar" (flow of mud and ash) swept down the slopes of the volcano, forcing over 30,000 inhabitants to evacuate.

Early morning transfer to Baturaden, a high-altitude resort on the slopes of Mt Slamet. En route, and just before Banjar, you will stop at Karang Kamulyan, a historic site that is the birthplace of a folk tale, 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 beautiful morning will take you on a voyage of discovery of landscapes as sublime as they are varied: authentic villages, terraced rice fields, wild rivers and dense tropical forest… You will then be offered a relaxation session in an idyllic setting of hot springs. A reflexology massage using sulphurous mud will also be offered by a local therapist.

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 port and board a "speed-ferry" which will take you to the paradise that is the Karimunjawa archipelago (2-hour journey). The rest of the day is free.

Mid-morning, a traditional private boat (with crew and English-speaking guide) will take you to discover the most beautiful islands in the archipelago. Multicoloured coral reefs, turquoise lagoons, white sandy beaches and the most beautiful diving sites are all yours to discover! At lunchtime, a barbecue of fresh fish grilled over a coconut fire gives the fish an exceptional flavour (the meal is accompanied by fruit, fresh drinks and coffee/tea). This is your chance to discover the underwater flora and fauna of this protected national marine park and to admire the exceptional panoramic views until sunset. Please note that the programme is flexible and can be adapted at short notice according to your wishes. The tour can also be taken by speedboat, 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 capital of Java, and particularly the area around the Sultan's Palace, built in 1756, where life is good. Your stroll through the city 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.

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'll feel the force of the hundreds of rushing 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 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. Possibility (optional) of hiring a boat to go and observe the underwater world around the island of Mejangan, where all of Bali's richest fauna seems to have gathered. A veritable polychrome aquarium awaits you in these coral reefs! This is where the rare Bali starling, for example, has found refugé.