Between temples and volcanoes : A Javanese story

Your guide will meet you at Yogyakarta airport and transfer you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.

In the evening, a welcome dinner gives you the opportunity to get to know your accompanying team.

The morning is devoted to visiting Yogyakarta, the cultural capital of Java, and in particular the area around the Sultan's Palace, built in 1756, where life is good. Your city walk 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.

Return to the hotel in the early or mid-evening.

This morning you reach the southern slopes of the Merapi volcano, where you begin a 2 to 3 hour walk. This walk allows you to get as close as possible to the volcano, and to see the devastating effects of the eruption of October-November 2010. The region was hard hit by the eruption, and still bears the scars. From a viewpoint at an altitude of 1,200m, you can admire an idyllic and grandiose panorama of Merapi, still marked by the destructive effects of the eruption.

You then approach the Gendol river, where the fiery clouds were engulfed during the 2010 eruption, hurtling down the slopes of Merapi at nearly 200km/h, before reaching the surrounding villages. At the end of your walk, you'll have a picnic on the slopes of the mountain.

Then it's on to the fascinating Merapi Museum, where you can learn a great deal about volcanology in general and the region in particular, including through an interesting documentary.

Early this morning you head for the Menoreh hills, around 25 km west of Yogyakarta, overlooking the Borobudur plain.

This is the start of an original walk through superb landscapes and along a number of ridges, giving you an extraordinary panorama of the green rice fields below and the volcanoes on the horizon (Mt Sumbing, Mt Merapi and Mt Merbabu).

Then, in the middle of the valley rises the imposing sanctuary of Borobudur, which you visit at the end of your hike.

After visiting this monumental Buddhist sanctuary, take a short transfer to the slopes of the Sumbing volcano and check into your hotel.

In the morning, you'll set off on a 1 to 3-hour hike through superb rice terraces towards the lost temple of Selogryo, discovered late by the locals (1835) in the midst of lush natural surroundings. The panorama of rice terraces before you is proof that Bali is not the only island to offer such idyllic scenery. You continue your walk through a thin high-altitude forest, passing through traditional villages and plantations before returning to your starting point on foot, through the rice paddies.

Afternoon transfer to Wonosobo, near the Dieng plateau. Overnight in a colonial-style hotel.

Situated on the slopes of the extinct Perahu volcano, Wonosobo is a small, high-altitude town surrounded by numerous plantations, including tea plantations. The surrounding land is extremely fertile, making Wonosobo one of Indonesia's richest agricultural regions. The morning is devoted to a magnificent 2 to 3 hour walk through the tea and tobacco plantations, starting from the shores of the volcanic lake of Menjer (1,200 m above sea level), where you can see the activity of the local people.

You then head for the Dieng plateau, situated at an altitude of 2,000 metres, and visit its main sites (Arjuna temples, Sikidang crater).

Finally, transfer to Bandungan, a high-altitude resort on the slopes of Mt Ungaran.

On the morning, you embark on a beautiful walk around the temples of Gedong Songo, which follow those of Dieng and are dedicated to Siva. They are scattered on the slopes of the ancient volcano at an altitude of 1,300 m, offering a superb panorama of the surrounding region.

You then return to the valley and board a traditional canoe for a magical tour of the Rawapening marshy lake (1 hr), where many fishermen are busy.

You will also make a stop in Ambarawa to visit the train museum, housed in a disused station and featuring around fifteen steam locomotives straight out of the 19th century.

Transfer to Surakarta (also known as Solo) in the late afternoon.

A cultural visit to the city of Surakarta, also known as Solo. Yogyakarta's twin sister city, Surakarta has nothing to envy. You will visit the city's two royal palaces: the Keraton Hadiningat and the Mangkunegaran Palace, a veritable museum of Javanese art. Surakarta is also renowned for the quality of its batik textiles, which you can find in many shops.

You can also visit the Danar Hadi museum, where you can learn more about the secrets behind the manufacture and history of this art form, which is so widespread in Indonesia.

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 (2329 m) spits out its volutes and the surrounding caldera 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 Tengger Hindu people who live in the region. 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 considered this place to be the entrance to purgatory.

You then make your way to the summit of Mount Pananjakan (2,775m) to witness a fabulous spectacle. You will 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. Unique! Return to the hotel in the early evening.

Early morning transfer to the outskirts of Kawah Ijen. After settling into your hotel, your guide will take you to some superb rice terraces, from where you will begin a pleasant walk through traditional villages and other plantations (fruit, spices, etc.). Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

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 then witness the weighing and the various employment contracts. A very powerful and striking image of your journey. Return to the hotel at the end of the morning. The afternoon is free.