CULTURE & TEXTILES OF INDONESIA

Arrive in Yogyakarta Airport. After the immigration process and pickup luggage, meet our tour guide at the exit gate and take you to the hotel and check-in.

First visit The Keraton Sultan Palace built between 1756 and 1790, is a splendid example of traditional Javanese court architecture (constructed as a miniature model of Javanese-Hindu Kingdom. There are performances in the keraton’s inner pavilion that are included in your entrance ticket. Then walk to Yogyakarta city back and visit Leather Puppet Artist to see the detailed work of crafting puppet. Next drive to Solo and visit Laweyan village where making and selling Batik, the local Indonesia textile. After lunch,drive to Dinar Hadi Museum, one of the world’s finest batik museums. This museum is owned by Santosa Doellah and his wife, Danarsih Hadipriyono. The handpicked owner’s private collection (1078 pieces from a collection of 11,000) are magnificently displayed on wooden trellises throughout 11 rooms of this grand old colonial building. An obligatory guided tour, helpfully tailored to the visitor’s time and interest, covers the highlights among the antique and royal pieces on display (No photography allowed).

Today visit Borobudur Temple, one of the grandeur of Buddhist monuments rivaling Angkor Wat. Built under the Sailendra dynasty and took almost 100 years to complete. A massive pyramid that rises up from the green plains like the neighboring volcanoes, it has 6 levels to pronounce the sacred number of Buddhist rituals and moral stories beautifully sculptured on its walls and balustrades. The top level is dotted with 72 small, latticework stupas, each with a statue of Buddha inside, visible through the grates. Next, drive to Tirtodipuran Village for your Batik workshop to create and bring home your own masterpiece.

Transfer to Yogyakarta airport for your flight to Denpasar. Arrive in denpasar airport, meet your guide at the main exit gate for transfer 90 minutes driver to your hotel in Sidemen. Check in and the rest of the day is at leisure.

Today visit the ancient 700-year-old Tenganan, a village walled by surrounded mountains and home to a community of Bali Aga people, descendants of the earliest aboriginal. Houses in villages are designed the traditional way, made of stone, clay, wood and thatch, and people still live the ancient Balinese lifestyle, holding the traditional religious ritual ceremonies. Only Bali Aga people who were born in the village are allowed to live here (around 400 people still living in this small village) and people are classified by which street they live on — the lesser “third street” is the lowest rung.

Meet the guide at your hotel to drive to Sidemen Village for a hiking tour. Start walking through vegetable plantation and rice field, crossing a small bridge leading to a village where we will have a chance to meet farmers. Continue hiking up the hill through small walking paths, leading to Sangkahan Gunung Temple Hill located about 1200 meter elevation. Take a walk behind the temple to enjoy stunning view of rice terraces and enjoy authentic lunch served in a neared-by Boutique Resort.

Transfer to Denpasar airport for your flight to Waingapu.
Arrive in Waingapu airport, meet our guide at the exit gate and transfer to the hotel for check in. In the afternoon, drive to Prailiang, also known as Prainatang located on a hill amid the Savannah of Sumba. Take a walk uphill to enjoy a fantastic view with sunset background. On the way back to the hotel taste local dishes.

Today we drive up to Londa lima Beach, a turquoise and glassy bay with its magical beach for a short stop to drive to the next beautiful beach – Kambera. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach. On the way back, make a short stop at Prailiu, the center of Ikat weaving, for a walk alongside to see traditional houses.

In the morning drive to West Sumba through the main road, visit the morning market of Waingapu to comprehend the life of locals on their products on sale. Then continue driving to Wairinding hill. There is a spot where the view into these hills is amazing. You will be looking at green and endless hills. It takes about 5 hours to reach Waikabubak make lunch stop at Anakalang, a set fertile valley carpeted with rice fields which make fantastic photographic views from above. After lunch break, we drive you directly to Alamayah Villa.

Transfer to Tambolaka Airport for your flight to Maumere via Denpasar. Arrive to Maumere, transfer to hotel check in and the rest of the day at leisure.

In the morning drive one hour to explore Sikka Weaving Village. Arrive in the village, you will be invited to the villager’s house where their traditional textiles have been made. The women’s knowledge and skill of traditional hand weaving (tenun ikat) are still positively intoxicating. You will have a chance to learn how to make unique traditional textiles. You can purchase beautiful and valuable local textiles here.

Watublapi is a traditional village in the mountains and can be reached after a half-hour drive from Maumere. On the way, we will pass small rural settlements, overlooking mountain slopes and valleys and terraces with agricultural land. In Watublapi we will take part in a traditional welcome ceremony and traditional gong dances before joining the demonstration of the Ikat weaving process. The Ikat or thread coloring is an old Indonesian technique, and its patterns are determined by traditions and are handed down from generation to generation.

After breakfast, drive to Maumere Airport for your flight to Denpasar departure.