Smiles & Volcanoes : Java & Bali

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.

In the early morning, transfer to the banks of the Kulon Progo river, where you will enjoy a pleasant countryside start in a small Javanese village, from where you will discover the surrounding countryside by bicycle (Dutch). You'll have a gentle introduction to the Javanese countryside, and will make a few stops in the surrounding villages, where you'll have the chance to observe the local handicrafts. In the middle of the afternoon, transfer to the temple of Borobudur. Return to the hotel in the early 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 (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. In the late morning, transfer to Pemuteran, a small seaside resort on Bali's north-west coast, far from the tourist concentrations.

Day at leisure (but the driver and guide remain at your disposal). Possibilitý 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.

In the early morning, you take to the highlands of Bali. On the way, visit the temple of Pulaki, located at the foot of a cliff and inhabited by a large communitý of monkeys. The road branching off into the mountains is magnificent. Your destination, the small village of Belimbing, is surrounded́ by some of the island's most breathtaking rice terraces. The afternoon is then devoted to an extraordinary walk to discover the surrounding nature.

This morning you set off for the southern slopes of Mt Batukaru (2,270m). Visit the Luhur Batukaru temple, set in lush greenery and featuring several multi-roofed "meru", some dating back to the 17th century, dedicated to the ancestors of the Tabanan dynasty and to local protective deities. Transfer to Jatiluwih, a small village in the middle of Bali's most beautiful rice fields, in the central-western part of the island. In the early afternoon, you embark on a superb hike through the ocean of rice terraces that surround you. You then head back to Bedugul to visit the famous Hindu-Buddhist temple of Pura Ulun Danau. This temple, which appears to float on the waters of the lake, is one of Bali's most famous. A sacred place surrounded by verdant gardens dedicated́ to the goddess Dewi Danau. Afterwards, you make a short stop at the local market́. Finally, you make your way to Ubud, the cultural capital of the island of the gods.

A day exploring Ubud and the surrounding area. In Ubud, elegant temples and palaces with carved facades line the streets. During our stroll through the city, we'll discover Puri Saren and the detail of its wooden doors, Pura Saraswati and the finesse of its ornamentation, Pura Puseh and its splendid sculptures, as well as many other museums and galleries. Another of Ubud's tourist attractions, set slightly back from the town centre, is the Monkey Forest Temple. Walks and hikes outside Ubud, meanwhile, take you to places where the views of the surrounding countryside are breathtaking, so unspoilt is the rural landscape. A family of Balinese artists welcomes us to their traditional home and offers us a meal, no less typical of Ubud, Ubud, accompanied by Balinese dances. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

A day at leisure to explore Ubud and the surrounding area in greater depth.