8 Days/ 7 Nights
8 Days/ 7 Nights
Day 1: Arrival Yogyakarta – Transfer to Borobudur
Arrive at Yogyakarta Airport. Receive a warm welcome from your tour guide at the main gate. He will assist you to transfer to Borobudur. It takes about 2 hours to drive to Amanjiwo. Check-in and your time is free at leisure.
Amanjiwo overlooks the Unesco World Heritage Site of Borobudur, one of Buddhism’s most sacred Mahayana temples. Perfectly placed for exploring the region’s historic, artistic and cultural highlights, or for simply relaxing in blissful surroundings, the Ed Tuttle-designed resort lies at the foot of the Menoreh Hills, cascading gracefully from a lofty rotunda down the hillside to a magnificent swimming pool.
Accommodation: Amanjiwo
Day 2: Morning Free – Afternoon Borobudur Sunset Tour
This morning is free at leisure to enjoy your resort. In the afternoon take a short ride to Borobudur Temple and enjoy the sunset. Enjoy charming images of the temple interior with dimming turquoise light shining from the west. You will have a more convenient visit at this time with fewer visitors and low sunlight. Without a doubt, this is the best time of the day to explore this massive Buddhist Temple, the largest in the world and discover its magic. It was the Sailendra dynasty that embraced Mahayana Buddhism in the early 9th century and the temple took almost 100 years to be completed. Based on an ancient text it was supposedly inaugurated in 824. Borobudur is a massive pyramid that rises up from the green plains like the neighboring volcanoes. From its 150,000-square-foot base, you have to climb six tiers to the top. The top-level is dotted with 72 small, latticework stupas, each with a statue of Buddha inside, visible through the gate. Your knowledgeable tour guide will explain the whole story about Buddhism told from the reliefs on each floor.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Amanjiwo
Day 3: Downhill Cycling to Suryadi Private House – Prambanan Temple
In the morning, drive one hour and thirty minutes to the Cangkringan Village from the hotel. Start cycling along the mystic slopes of Mount Merapi, descending through local villages, gardens, and stone mining areas as you descend from the peak down to the village. You will meet local Javanese and possibly encounter a village festival or Javanese cultural ceremony. End your journey at the Suryadi workshop. Suryadi is a Javanese philanthropist who dedicates his time to the preservation of Javanese culture, teaching kids to play gamelan, puppet carving, and performing arts. Visit him at his Javanese “Joglo” (traditional house), learn more about Javanese culture and daily life. You also see his antique keris sword collection and the puppet theater in this area. Authentic lunch will be served at his own restaurant, Kali Opak. After lunch, you will explore Prambanan Temple. This is one of the most beautiful Hindu temple sites in the world and the largest complex of Hindu temples in Central Java. This UNESCO site was built in the 10th century and has three main temples in the primary area (known as the Loro Jonggrang Complex) and named Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples. They all face the east and their accompanying temples face the west as well: Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. In addition to depicting Hindu deities, there are also bas reliefs of the Ramayana, an epic tale of Hindu teachings told through the life story of Prince Rama. This ancient story was composed around 750-800 BC and passed down through oral tradition.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Amanjiwo
Day 4: Yogyakarta – Sorong Harbour
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your flight to Sorong. You will receive a warm welcome upon arrival in Sorong. Board Aqua Blu and sail to Mioskon Island.
Meal: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Aqua Blu
Day 5: Misokon & Mayalilibit Bay
Awake to the beauty of Misokon Island, first Raja Ampat dive sites and snorkel spots abundant with fish and coral, welcoming you to the heart of the coral triangle. In the afternoon adventure awaits, tender into the heart of the jungle cross deck into local canoes which will ferry you up-river to Kali Biru “Blue River”. Jump into the crystal-clear mountain water and swim downstream under the canopy of the jungle.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Aqua Blu
Day 6: Wofoh
Two small islands surrounded by rich coral reefs provide the perfect setting for watersports such as diving and snorkeling, enjoy sites such as “Edi’s Black Forest” and :Red Patch Wall. Or simply relax on the white sand with Aqua Blu beach club providing refreshments and games throughout the afternoon.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Aqua Blu
Day 7: Dayang
Dayang island is known for plenty of marine life, especially manta rays. Snorkeling is excellent at Wai along the bordering reef systems. For adventurous divers, explore the sunken wreckage of a WW2 P47D fighter plane and the beautiful reefs and sea-mounts of Tapok.
Meal: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Aqua Blu
Day 8: Sorong Harbour
Enjoy a sumptuous breakfast onboard in Sorong Harbor. Transfer to the airport for your next destination.
Meal: Breakfast
Disembarkation time: 6:30am
Day 1: Arrive Denpasar – Ubud
Upon arrival at the airport, our airport representative will meet you as you disembark from the aircraft. He will be holding a sign with your name on it. He will take you to the main gate to meet your tour guide while waiting for immigration services to be processed. He will then assist you to retrieve your luggage. Afterward, meet your guide at the exit gate and he will then transfer you to your hotel in the Ubud area. It is about an hour and a half drive. Check-in and the rest of the day is free at your leisure.
Accommodations: Mandapa A Ritz-Carlton Reserve / Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan
Day 2: Rice Field Walks and Dewa’ House Cooking
In the morning, take a 30-minute drive to meet Mr. Ida Bagus Dharma for the start of your walk. The walk will take about 2hours. You will walk on paths through the rice fields down to the river valley, cross a small river on a bamboo bridge, and ascend to the village of Keliki. Enjoy the beautiful view of rice fields with coconut groves in the background and breathe the fresh air. Along the way, your guide will explain the way Balinese cultivate rice as well as the Subak irrigation system. You also learn about traditional medication produced from herbs and plants. The walk will end at Dewa’s house. You will be invited to participate in preparing and cooking authentic Balinese dishes using vegetables, fresh ingredients and spices freshly picked from his garden and cooked over a traditional wood-fired oven. You will have a chance to learn the step by step preparation of Balinese dishes so you can practice them when you return home.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3: Batur Volcano & Ubud Village Cycling
Meet your guide and drive to Penelokan Village in Batur Volcano Rim (1,717m elevation). Visit the Wayans family and try their traditional Balinese-style cakes with coffee or tea while enjoying the stunning view of Mount Batur. Then start cycling through the mandarin orange plantation at Pisang Village where you can pick fresh oranges and chat with the local farmer. Continue cycling through rice fields, the rain forest valley and along an irrigation river to Sebatu Village. This village is home to woodcarvers as well as sculpture artists. Take a short stop at Gunung Kawi Temple in Sebatu for its beautiful landscape and huge compound and holy spring water altars. A small blessing ritual can be arranged here. Continue cycling to Pejeng Aji Village for the best of Garuda Wisnu woodcarving and then to Bentuyung Village, mentioned in the book, Eat Pray and Love.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5: Departure
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.
Meals: Breakfast
