Grand Circuit Through Indonesia: Sumatra, Java, Bali, Flores, Lombok & Gili Islands (24D/23N)

Arrival at Kuala Namu International Airport in Medan, meeting service with our guide and then in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle we will go to your booked hotel in the city. Today is going to be free time for you. We will do a city tour tomorrow before leaving for Tangkahan. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Medan ( basic accommodation )

As soon as you finished your breakfast, you will be able to join the Mahout (the elephant tamer) during the washing of the elephant in the river. Then you will go for a comfortable trekking, riding an elephant for an hour in the middle of the forest. In some sections you will cross the river, so it is advisable to wear sandals that can get wet. Once you reach the upper part of the river, you will go down in a kind of local rafting, made with the union of tractor tires. You can make stops at impressive waterfalls in the middle of the jungle. One of them is the fantastic Buluh waterfall where you can enjoy a nice bath in the refreshing water. After that, you can enjoy the daily life of the inhabitants of the village, share with them a while to return on foot to the Losge to spend the night.

Note: Tangkahan is closed on Friday and no elephant activity on that day.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Tangkahan

After breakfast, we leave Tangkahan and head towards Bukit Lawang (approximately 3 hours, 60 KM). We will pass through some palm plantations and jungle paths. We will stop at various places of interest such as a local school, the palm oil factory and witness the daily life of the locals. Upon arrival at Bukit Lawang, check in at the hotel and rest. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bukit Lawang 

Today after breakfast, we will start trekking to the jungle to explore the nature of Gunung Leuser National Park and have the first encounters with orangutans. 
You will have the possibility to see the place where more amount of tropical Flora and Fauna lives than anywhere else in Indonesia such as Thomas leaf monkeys, long-tailed macaques, gibbon, black gibbon and other types of flora and fauna of the tropical jungle. A wonderful experience where you will enjoy the song of large birds such as the Hornbill and apes such as the Siamang or Black Gibbons, Orangutans and Macaques. 

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Bukit Lawang 

Today is your last day in the land of Sumatra, it is time to say goodbye to this beautiful land. After breakfast, at the indicated time, transfer to Medan from where you will take the flight to Yogyakarta.

Welcome to the city of the cradle of Indonesian culture. A tourist destination for its ancient palaces, temples, batik workshops, gamelan music orchestras, court dances and wayang puppet shows. Once in Yogyakarta a come2indonesia representative will be waiting for you with a sign indicating your name, to take you to the hotel. The rest of the day will be for you to start discovering this historic city. In the seventh century, Yogyakarta was the center of the Mataram Buddhist kingdom, a prosperous kingdom based in large part on rice cultivation thanks to the region’s fertile volcanic soil. The various bas-reliefs in its temples show the daily life of that flourishing period. During this reign, the Borobudur Temple was built, which was the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Mysteriously, in the 10th century, the ancient kingdom of Mataram moved its central government. The ancient headquarters, with its palaces and magnificent temples, were abandoned and partially buried by the eruption of the Merapi volcano, and by the jungle scrub. Six hundred years later, the Mataram Sultanate was founded and established in the region, making Yogyakarta once again the island’s center of government. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Yogyakarta: Three options across different categories

You will start your day with breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated moment, we begin to explore the historic center of this beautiful city. You will visit the Keraton known as the Sultan’s Palace. The palace is a complex building of two centuries old, located in the heart of the city. You will hear the song of “freedom” from the birds in the bird market and you will visit the Water Castle that occupies the highest part at the northern end of the vast complex of Taman Sari. In addition, you will visit Malioboro street, the main street of Yogyakarta with its merchants, horse carts, bicycle taxis and street markets.

Finishing the tour in the center of the city of Yogyakarta, we will go northeast in the direction of Magelang to visit the Candi Borobudur, (Borobudur Temple) the great Stupa, the largest Buddhist monument in the world and one of the seven wonders. You will tour the temple, observing the hundreds and centuries-old Buddha statues and observing how dozens of Buddhists come to preach from all over the world. Historically it was made during the relatively brief Sailendra dynasty of Central Java between 778 and 856 BC and is under constant restoration due to the breaks caused by the tremors of the neighboring Merapi volcano during its history.

After visiting Borobudur, we will continue the journey to Mendut and Pawon temple. After this experience we will go northeast towards Candi Prambanan, the temple of the Hindus and classified as a World Heritage Site by Unesco since 1991. This temple was completed around the year 856 to commemorate the victory of the descendant Sanjaya of Siva, Rikai Pikatan on the last ruler Sailendra of Central Java. Take your time to enjoy each carving on the rocks and feel the spirituality emanating from each of the stones placed in this set of more than 200 Hindu temples that are dedicated to the Trimurti, the expression of God as the Creator, the Preserver and the destroyer. After this day that you will never forget, we will take you to your hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Yogyakarta: Three options across different categories

Pack your suitcase, the time has come to say goodbye to this beautiful city. Today, we are going to leave Yogyakarta and start our adventure towards Java volcanoes. At the indicated time, around 6:00 am, we will pick you up at your hotel for transfer to the train station to start a long journey to Jombang / Surabaya (around 8 hours). Upon arrival, you will be transferred to the slopes of the Bromo volcano. Check-in at your hotel for a well-deserved rest after so many hours traveling. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel at Bromo: Three options across different categories

Very early, your guide and a jeep driver will be waiting for you at the hotel to witness one of the most spectacular sunrises in Indonesia.  Even if you have to get up early, it will be worth it. You will climb to a high point first in complete darkness and, little by little, the first rays of sun give way to a huge and indescribable caldera that makes up the entire view of the Bromo and Semeru Natural Park. With Bromo, a volcano with large fumaroles and behind it, the Semeru Volcano with explosions every 20 minutes exactly, it will make you have one of the most rewarding experiences ever. After enjoying the sunset, you will go to the slopes of the volcano by jeep where you can get closer to the Bromo volcano and after climbing some steps you can reach the very edge of its crater and see the impressive activity it has. We return to the hotel to freshen up and enjoy your breakfast. 
At the agreed time, we will leave for our next destination, the Ijen volcano. This section lasts about 7-8 hours by car where we will make a stop to eat. Take advantage of this journey to rest. Arriving in Ijen, we will leave you at your hotel, check in and well-deserved rest.  

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel at Ijen: Three options across different categories

The day has finally come to visit one of the most attractive volcanoes in Indonesia! One of the last surviving open pit sulfur mines on the planet.

For this climb you can choose between two schedules. Either leave very early to see the blue lava (leave the hotel around 1.30am) or leave more leisurely only for sunrise (around 4am). Depending on how tired you are from the trip from Bromo to Ijen, you can decide the day before with your guide. Once we pick you up at your hotel, you will head towards the village of Licin to reach the slope of the volcano and begin the slope up to the crater of the volcano. During this trek, your guide will give you double filter masks to protect you from the natural chemicals of sulfur.

Once up, at an altitude of 2883 meters and when dawn begins, an incredible contrast of colors will open before your eyes. A setting of yellow earth and a large turquoise blue lake inside the crater that contrast with a suspended white clouds that the volcano continually expels. 
In turn, among so much beauty you will see the locals work in what is said to be one of the hardest jobs in the world. These miners go down to the crater of the volcano to load 80 to 100 kilos of sulfur on their shoulders to later sell it.

After this amazing experience on the edge of the Ijen volcano crater, we begin the descent with an incredible panoramic view of the mountains that make up the national park. 
We will take you to your hotel to freshen up and have breakfast and we will start the road to Bali for about 5 hours. To do this, we will first go to the port of Banyuwangui where we will take the ferry to cross to Bali. It is a journey of only 30 minutes where you must remember to add an hour to your watch, as we change time slots. Welcome to the island of the Gods. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ubud: Three options across different categories

Our wonderful tour starts today at the Kehen Temple. It is an ancient Hindu temple complex with unique architectural features. The central hall and stairs that extend from the ground to the courtyard of the temple are mythical figures of sandstone animals and Balinese folk statues. The temple walls are also adorned with Chinese porcelain plates, which are a tribute to the historical relations between the local kingdom of Bali and China.

Afterwards, we continue to Penglipuran, a village that managed to preserve its 75-hectare bamboo forest located in the northern part of the village. The members of this village have a strong commitment to the “ayahan desa” system, a philosophy committed to respecting the land on which the village sits. After Panglipuran Village, we continue our march to reach Kintamani where you will enjoy the beautiful view of Danau Batur along with Gunung Batur in the background. Danau Batur is the largest lake in Bali that works as an irrigation source for all the farmers around it and the use for the entire Balinese society in general. Since the year 1800, Mount Batur has erupted about 24 times and is still active till now. Mount Batur, 1,717 meters high, is considered as the female element, along with the male element of Mount Agung. You will return to the hotel to rest.  

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ubud: Three options across different categories

Today you will begin to mark your footprints in this “home” of the gods. You will visit the places in the come2indonesia fantastic route. The first site will be the Taman Ayun Temple (it was founded in the 17th century), located in Mengwi Town, which until 1891 was the seat of a powerful man dating back to the Gelgel Dynasty, which is surrounded by a moat that looks like a shrine landscape, which explains the term taman, or garden. The temple is a penyawangan or place to worship other sacred sites.

From Taman Ayun, the compass heads towards Jatiluwih, where you will undoubtedly admire and enjoy a beautiful view of rice terraces that encompass the entire landscape of South Bali. Jatiluwih’s name is made up of two words, Jati which means really and Luwih which means beautiful, good and special. Without a doubt, this place has not only a beautiful name, but that beauty is really reflected in its landscape.

From Jatiluwih, we will go to Bedugul where you will visit the Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, the famous temple that stands on a small promontory located on the shore of Lake Beratan and it possesses the beautiful landscape with the lake and the mountain as a backdrop. It is without a doubt, one of the most photogenic temples in Indonesia. This temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, goddess of waters. You will close the visit on this fantastic route and end the day watching the sunset in the most famous and photographed temple in Bali, the Pura Tanah Lot. Ripped from the earth on a stone pedestal sculpted by the incoming tides, the lone black towers of the Tanah Lot and the plumes of foliage spilling over the precipices recall the delicacy of Chinese painting. The Pura Tanah Lot or the Earth Temple in the Middle of the Sea was built in the 16th century. Then you will return to the hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel in Ubud: Three options across different categories

Today you will quietly enjoy your breakfast at the hotel and the rest of the day will be for you. You can take advantage of the day for whatever you want, you can have a massage service, enjoy a spa, walk and go shopping or simply relax and enjoy the hotel facilities.

You are in Ubud, here you can walk through the local market, visit the hundreds of craft design workshops, sculptures, paintings in the shops that are on each side of the street. It is a perfect day to learn more about the daily activities of the locals, find a cafe with views of the jungle or run into a mischievous monkey on Monkey Forest street. At night there are performances of Balinese Dances, you can contact the hotel reception and request information to attend any of them.

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel in Ubud: Three options across different categories

Today you leave Bali and go towards Maumere, the cultural capital of the Island of Flores, in this part of the trip, you will cross the island of Flores, from East to West, by the famous and only road that crosses the island, known among locals as Transflores. At the Wai Oti airport, our native guide from Flores will be waiting for you, together with him and a driver, you will go by private car to Moni. It will be about four hours of travel, but you will be able to make a few stops on the way to Moni, to make the journey more bearable. 

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel in Maumere

Today you will get up early (again!) to see the sunrise at the top of Kelimutu. The Kelimutu is a large volcano, which you access by car, until the last 20 minutes, which will be practically a walk in the countryside. Upon reaching the top, you can see 3 craters, which have become three lakes of different colors. One black, one yellow and another a little purple, but the magnificent thing is that they change color, especially at dawn! Bring a coat, because sometimes it gets a bit cold while we wait for the sunrise. After admiring this natural wonder, we head to Bajawa.

In the vicinity of our hotel in Moni, you will be able to walk around the villages, where you can see how most of the women make Sarongs with looms, in a totally traditional way. We can also pass by a waterfall in the surroundings of the town. On the way to Bajawa we will stop at the political capital of Flores, an immense bay opens to the Indian Ocean, the city of Ende, where we will have lunch, visit the Market, etc. On the outskirts of Ende, we will make a stop to see a cove, called the beach of the blue stones (although the stones are green?) where you will see dozens of workers, collecting stones and classifying them, to later be exported, due to the beauty they represent for gardens in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Bajawa 

Today in the morning you will be able to have your well-deserved breakfast, and then, we will go to Bena, one of the traditional towns, best known in Flores, belonging to the Ngadas tribes. Tribes that despite being Christianized, still maintain their animistic beliefs. There you can see the way of life of the inhabitants of Bajawa. In the village complex all the houses have their doors open in the direction of the Ngadhu and Bhaga (Man and Woman) temples. There are altars that they use both to bless the village and for the harvest, as they represent their ancestors. We will also take the opportunity to stop at the foot of the magnificent Inerie volcano and take photos of its continuous fumaroles. After having lunch on the way, our new long drive begins, around another 4-5 hours until we reach Ruteng. But we will stop in a traditional town, called Aimere, where you will see and (for those who want to try) how they distill the liqueur from Palma, called Arak. If we reach Ruteng soon, you can visit the cave where Hom o Florensis was discovered.

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Ruteng

After breakfast, we head uphill to Golo Curu, an esplanade at the top of the city, where you will reach the city of Ruteng from a bird’s eye view. You will see the fortified city naturally thanks to the adjacent volcanoes. On the way to Labuan Bajo, we will stop at Golo Cara, to see the gigantic rice paddies, the only ones in the world shaped like a spider web, a marvel to behold. Upon arrival in Labuan Bajo, you will enjoy the sunset, in the port, with views of the dozens of islands that dot the Komodo Sea. 

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel in Labuan Bajo

After breakfast, we continue to Labuan Bajo airport to take the flight to Lombok. Welcome to Lombok, the “Indonesian Island of a Thousand Mosques”. Upon arrival at Lombok airport, you get transferred to the hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast 

Accommodation: Hotel in Kuta Lombok: Three options across different categories

Today you will discover the beauty of the new generation of Gilis islands and almost unknown by mass tourism. 

We will sail from the port of Batu Kijuk, in traditional motorized outriggers to islands where you will enjoy their pristine beaches and incredible snorkeling. On the way to the port, we will visit the traditional village of Banyumulek.

Then we arrive at the port to sail to Gili Sudak, where a delicious lunch awaits us on the shore of the beach surrounded by turquoise waters. Gili Sudak is famous for having various types of coral reefs that can be clearly seen with your snorkel gear. If you request it, we can also go to Gili Nanggu and Gili Kedis, a very small and uninhabited island where you can relax. Then you will return to the hotel. 

Meals: Breakfast – Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Kuta Lombok: Three options across different categories

After the well-deserved breakfast at the hotel, you will have the transfer at the indicated time to the port from where the boat will be taken to cross over to Gili island. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel. Rest of the day free. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel at Gili Air: Three options across different categories

In these days, time and space will be yours. We advise you to take walks around the island or rent a bicycle or snorkel equipment and discover the wonderful seabed of these islands. Search well because these islands are home to many species of turtles, it is wonderful to be able to swim next to them. Always remember that the sea is their space and we must respect it. You can also have a massage and go to dinner on a terrace on the beach with live music and taste the local Indonesian cuisine. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel at Gili Air: Three options across different categories

Today is your last day on these dream islands. Depending on the departure time of your ship, you will have to go to the port to check in at the pier. This transfer from the hotel to the port is not included, so if you come with suitcases and do not want to walk with them, it is best to take a Cidomo (horse-drawn cart) that you can hire through the hotel, and they are always passing for the island. They are like the taxis of the Gilis Islands. Upon arrival at the Port of Padangbai, transfer to the Seminyak area. 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Seminyak: Three options across different categories

Breakfast at the hotel and free day that you can take advantage of to continue with visits or personal activities, according to preferences, such as having a relaxing massage service, spa, enjoying the sun and the beach, shopping or simply resting and enjoying the facilities offered by the hotel.

Seminyak and Legian are north of the tourist Kuta, this is a place full of all kinds of restaurants, where you can taste all kinds of foods, with the typical Indonesian cuisine, Italian, Indian, Greek cuisine even some with Spanish food. The streets of Legian and Seminyak are in the continuation of each other and go parallel to the beach, which extends for several kilometers and where hundreds of people take advantage to enjoy with family, relax in the hammocks or even for some, start in the practice of surfing. Do not hesitate to choose one of the bars or restaurants next to the beach to taste some aperitif, refreshment or dinner while enjoying the view of the sunset over the Indian Ocean. Every day with a different color, and without a doubt, this is a beautiful image for the cover of the photo album!

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Seminyak: Three options across different categories

Today is the last day of your trip in Indonesia. After having breakfast at the hotel and depending on the time of your flight, we will pick you up to take you to the Denpasar airport to take the plane that will take you back home. We wish you a good trip and thank you for marking your footprints in this land with Come2indonesia. Sampai jumpa! 

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: –