Between temples & volcanoes, a Javanese story

Airport pick-up in Yogyakarta (or Jogjakarta) by your guide and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.

In the evening, welcome dinner. An opportunity to meet your accompanying team.

Early this morning we head towards the Menoreh hills, located approximately 25 km west of Yogyakarta and overlooking the Borobudur plain.

Then, in the middle of the valley rises the imposing sanctuary of Borobudur, which we visit at the end of our walk.

At the end of your visit to this monumental Buddhist sanctuary, short transfer to the slopes of the Sumbing volcano, and check-in at the hotel.

In the morning we begin a 1 to 3 hour trek through magnificent terraced rice fields towards the lost temple of Selogryo, discovered late by locals (1835) in the midst of lush nature. The panorama of terraced rice fields that unfolds before us is proof that Bali is not the only island to offer such idyllic landscapes.

We continue our walk through a thin high altitude forest, during which we also cross traditional villages and plantations then we return to our starting point on foot, through the rice fields.

Afternoon transfer to Wonosobo, near the Dieng Plateau. Night in a colonial-style hotel.

Located on the slopes of the extinct volcano Perahu, Wonosobo is a small highland town, surrounded by numerous plantations, including tea plantations. The surrounding lands are indeed very fertile and this is why Wonosobo is one of the richest agricultural regions in Indonésie. The morning is devoted to a magnificent walk of 2 to 3 hours through tea and tobacco plantations, starting from the shores of the volcanic lake Menjer (1200 m altitude), where we discover the activity of the local people.

We then head towards the Dieng Plateau, located at 2000 meters altitude, and visit its main sites (Arjuna temples, Sikidang crater).

Finally, transfer to Bandungan, a highland resort located on the slopes of Mount Ungaran.

In the morning, we embark on a beautiful walk around the Gedong Songo Temples, which date from a later period than those of Dieng and are dedicated to Shiva. They are scattered on the slopes of an ancient volcano at 1,300 m altitude and offer a superb panorama over the surrounding region.

Then we head down to the valley and board a traditional canoe for a magical tour of the Rawa Pening Lake (1 hour), where many fishermen are at work.

We also make a stop in Ambarawa to visit the train museum, set up in a disused station and where about fifteen steam locomotives from the nineteenth century are on display.

Transfer to Surakarta (also called Solo) in late afternoon.

Morning transfer to the Sukuh Temple, the last bastion of Hinduism in central Java facing the spread of Islam. This temple features original iconography, such as phallic figures and large turtle-shaped tables, which would reveal the existence of initiatory, even orgiastic rituals.

Then we embark on a walk towards the village of Tawangmangu, on the slopes of the Volcan Lawu. This walk is an opportunity to discover certain plant species present in this region but also to admire superb panoramas of the pine forest and the surrounding high-altitude plantations. We will end our walk by crossing through Tawangmangu Park. Our first steps in the park lead us towards a superb waterfall (Grojogan Sewu) in the middle of a tropical forest inhabited by a large community of monkeys.

4 hours of walking – Positive elevation gain: 400m / Negative elevation gain: 300m

In the afternoon, transfer to Tumpang, around Malang, at the western foot of Mount Bromo.

Early departure to the Lumajang region, skirting the southern slopes of the majestic Semeru Volcano. You then reach *Tumpak Sewu waterfall ("Thousand waterfalls" in Javanese). As you descend into the gorge (via a slippery and sometimes steep path), you will feel the force of these hundreds of streams tumbling down as they plunge over 100m. Viewed from above, the beauty of this waterfall seems ephemeral as the fine mist permeates everything in its path.
It's no wonder then that a photo of Tumpak Sewu with Mt Semeru in the background was awarded "best aerial shot" in 2019. And, if you also bring your camera equipment, remember to protect it against humidity.

Return to Tumpang in late afternoon.

Early in the morning, 4x4s take us to the Tengger region, where the famous Mount Bromo (2329 m) spews its plumes, and the caldera surrounding it forms a gigantic sea of sand. During this journey, we cross the remarkable forest of the Tengger-Bromo-Semeru National Park, also skirting part of the ridge of the Bromo volcano's caldera, before descending to the sea of sand to reach the village of Cemorolawang (located on one of the opposite ridges). Mt Bromo is the most venerated by the Hindu Tengger people who live in the region. Ascent of the Bromo volcano in the afternoon. We can thus admire its crater resembling a smoking cauldron. It is then easy to understand why the Javanese once considered this place as the entrance to purgatory.

Then you reach the summit of Mount Pananjakan (2,775m) to witness a fabulous spectacle. You witness the sunset in a lunar landscape, with an unobstructed view of Mount Bromo, its sea of sand, and the Semeru volcano, both releasing thick fumaroles. Unique!

Return to the hotel early in the evening.

Early morning transfer to the Kawah Ijen area. After checking in at the hotel, your guide takes you to magnificent terraced rice fields from which you begin a pleasant walk through traditional villages and other plantations (fruits, spices, etc.).

Return to the hotel in late afternoon.

Free morning until the transfer to Ketapang port or Banyuwangi airport.