The Gentle Secrets of Java and Bali - Azimuth Adventure Travel Ltd
Culture

The Gentle Secrets of Java and Bali

Discover incredible islands: Java the gentle one, Bali “the island of the gods”, as well as the paradise islet of Karimunjawa. Extraordinary shooting possibilities through the guidance of the professional photographer, Dominic C. Immersion into the heart of Indonesia’s culture and nature.

Indonesia is a land of rich contrasts and for Dominic C, the photographer who leads and advises you during this program, the archipelago is “a world within the world.” The 17,000 islands that comprise this nat...

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Denpasar airport
1h 20m-40km

Day 1Welcome in Bali

Day 1Welcome in Bali

Denpasar airport - Ubud

  • Greeting at the airport of Denpasar and transfer to Ubud. Situated in a cool hilly area north of Denpasar, Ubud is well known for its arts and culture. Despite the rapid growth of tourism, the place has kept a lot of its charm and authenticity. The rest of the afternoon is free.

Meal and accommodations
Accommodation: Cendana Resort & Spa

Day 2

Day 2

  • Get up early to take advantage of the best morning light to explore Ubud and its surroundings. First you head to the town’s central market which is already bursting with activities.

  • Then, take a walk through the Monkey Forest where you can observe and photograph the primates. Beware of their tendency to “pick on” the visitors.

  • Start the afternoon with a stroll in the vicinity of Ubud where you often encounter some rather reserved villagers pleased to pose for photos. You come back to Ubud before sunset after an exceptional stop for photographers along the famous rice fields of Tegalalang. Between 16 and 17hr ( 4-5pm) the luminosity is amazing over the horizon.

  • After dinner, Dominic takes you to attend a colourful Balinese dance performance. Night at the same hotel.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Cendana Resort & Spa
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Cendana Resort & Spa

Day 3

Day 3

  • Before daybreak, depart for Mt. Batur which you reach in time to catch the volcano’s caldera at sunrise. You can walk all the way down to lava flows dating from 1926/27 for moonlike shots.

  • After this first photo session, the trip continues with breakfast in Sebatu in a family of carvers. Afterwards, view a Balinese dance and gamelan performance with good opportunities to comfortably photograph both dancers and musicians.

  • Upon return to Ubud, you might stop over in Gunung Kawi and Tirta Empul temples, depending on the time. Night in the same hotel.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Cendana Resort & Spa
Lunch: Guesthouse
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Cendana Resort & Spa
1h
Kehen Temple
1h 30m

Day 4

Day 4

Ubud - Kehen Temple

  • Early morning transfer to the very beautiful temple of Kehen located in Bangli district. Although hardly visited by tourists, it is considered as one of the most venerated temples in Bali.

Kehen Temple - Sidemen

  • We pursue our journey towards Sidemen passing through a scenic little road on the slopes of Mt Agung. Check in hotel then visit the surroundings. Before nightfall, this small traditional village sitting in a narrow valley facing the mountain of fire bathes in layers of magnificent lights. Night in hotel.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Cendana Resort & Spa
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Villa Karma Loka

Day 5

Day 5

Sidemen - Tanah Lot

  • The entire morning is spent strolling around villages and rice fields, hoping to come closer to the rural lifestyle and feel the spirit of Balinese culture. Your walk is punctuated by numerous courtesy stops, a perfect occasion to familiarise yourself with the local habits and customs.

  • In the afternoon, transfer to the famous temple of Tanah Lot that you can photograph at sunset. Night in hotel.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Villa Karma Loka
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Agung Village
1h 30m
Denpasar airport

Day 6

Day 6

  • Your last day in Bali is devoted to photography. Choose the neighbouring beach or the surrounding rice fields. Beautiful Balinese models wearing traditional clothes join you to enliven your shots.

  • Transfer to Denpasar international airport in the afternoon then fly to Yogyakarta, the cultural capital of Java. Night in hotel.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Agung Village
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Hotel 3 star

Day 7

Day 7

  • The morning is spent discovering the city, beginning at Beringharjo Central Market on the famous Malioboro street. Following on to the Sultan’s Palace with its faithful servants still wearing traditional outfits.

  • In the afternoon, you head towards the southern beaches where you can take good shots at sunset especially on Parangtritis beach, amusingly called “Paris” by the locals. Back to your hotel in the evening.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Hotel 3 star
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Hotel 3 star

Day 8

Day 8

Yogyakarta - Mt Merapi

  • Early morning departure towards the majestic hillsides of Merapi volcano where you come close to several lava flows left by the 2010, 1994 &1998 eruptions. This entire day is dedicated to the “sacred mountain of fire”. Venerated as much as feared by the people living on its slopes, its eruptions can be destructive while also representing a source of life. In this extremely fertile soil, rice can be harvested up to 3 times a year.

Mt Merapi - Babadan

  • Babadan Volcano Observatory is the highlight of the journey. On clear days the sunset spreads a rare orange luminosity on the grey peak.

Babadan - Borobudur Temple

  • Short transfer to Borobudur area. Night at hotel.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Hotel 3 star
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Saraswati Borobudur

Day 9

Day 9

  • At daybreak, your guide takes you a few hundred meters away from the hotel in order to make morning shots of Borobudur temple in the distance. In fact, you obtain the best angle for shooting from the cliffs of Punthuk Setumbu. Others interesting spots are later suggested.

  • Come back to the hotel for breakfast. Later in the morning, visit Borobudur itself then depart for Villa Sumbing Indah, which offers nice guestrooms on the slopes of Mt Sumbing. After enjoying a gastronomic dinner you’re invited to walk into the past on the trail of Selogriyo temple. Back to your hotel in late afternoon.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Saraswati Borobudur
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Villa Sumbing Indah

Day 10

Day 10

  • Depart at daybreak to photograph Mt Sumbing and the surrounding volcanoes, mainly Merbabu and Merapi, from Mampang village overlooking the entire region with its 1500m altitude. Splendid panorama especially if the day is clear when you can see the city of Yogyakarta over 60km away.

  • Drive to Ambarawa district and the swampy Rawapening lake. After checking in at the hotel, you have the afternoon to discover the surroundings and observe workers collecting mud sold to be transformed into fertiliser afterwards. You can even take part in fishing or mud collecting with local people. Back to your hotel in late afternoon.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Villa Sumbing Indah
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Nugraha Wisata
1h 30m
Semarang

Day 11

Day 11

Ambarawa - Semarang

  • Early morning transfer to Gedong Songo Temples from where you enjoy a very scenic panorama of the Ambarrawa valley. If the weather is overcast or foggy, you come back to the lakeside and get another opportunity to photograph the fishermen at work.

  • Back to hotel by mid-day, then depart for the coastal regency of Jepara located 3 hours away on the north coast of Java.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Nugraha Wisata
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Novotel Semarang
Semarang

Day 12

Day 12

Semarang - Karimunjawa

  • Free time until you transfer to the harbour where you board a two-hour express ferry boat to Karimunjawa. The travellers’ New Eldorado consists of 27 islands, each as idyllic as the other. The rest of the day is free. You can rent a scooter at the guesthouse and do the hour and a half drive around the main island, or go on an excursion in search of hidden beaches. Night in hotel by the sea.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Novotel Semarang
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Breve Azurine

Day 13-14

Day 13-14

Day 13

  • The whole day is spent cruising through the archipelago exploring; deserted idyllic islands like Gleyang, diving or snorkeling spots, and marine farms where you can swim with totally inoffensive black sharks. Back to hotel after sunset.

Day 14

  • You have the whole day free to do what you want on the main island of Karimunjawa. Night at the same hotel.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Breve Azurine
Lunch: Restaurant
Dinner: Restaurant
Accommodation: Breve Azurine
4h
Semarang
Departure

Day 15

Day 15

Karimunjawa - Semarang

  • Free time until your short transfer to the small harbour of Karimunjawa. Take the ferryboat to Semarang, the capital of Central Java, and visit the old part of the city if it is not too late in the evening.

Meal and accommodations
Breakfast: Breve Azurine
Lunch: Restaurant

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