Choosing this Indonesia highlights package tour is to have a wise overview of the Indonesian archipelago. You start your trip with an immersion in the jungle of Sumatra and its famous orangutans, jumping in the same time in the deeper understanding of Sumatran culture. Afterwards, you set up to the Samosir Island and its Batak tribes, known also for their specificities and strong old traditions. You continue this trail having a few days’ stops in the bustling cities of Jakarta and Yogyakarta, where you will visit the UNESCO Heritage site of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in South East Asia, as well as the Hindu Complex of Prambanan Temples. Then you head to another atmosphere flying to Makassar in South Sulawesi, where you will have the opportunity to visit the Toraja, this tribe is such an experience, remaining conservative in term of traditions and believing living in remote areas. You finally end up your journey in Bali, discovering through some highlights the secrets of Balinese Hinduism.
ITINERARY
Day 01: Arrival Medan – [no meals]
On arrival at Kuala Namu, Medan International airport, meet and greets by asian explore local tour guide who will then directly take you on the Sumatra city tour visiting the palace of Sultan Deli-Maimoon, the historical grand mosque “Mesjid Raya”, built in 1906 which is the largest in town. Browse for antique at Kesawan Street in the old colonial part of the town. You will feel the Dutch colonial architectural touch in buildings like the post office and Medan City Hall. Afterward we proceed to your hotel for check in then enjoy the rest of the day free at your own leisure. Lunch and dinner at own arrangement
Accommodation at ARYADUTA MEDAN
Day 02: Medan – Bukit Lawang [B/L/-]
Early breakfast at the hotel. Early morning (latest 7 am) we start the Sumatra tour to Bukit Lawang/Bohorok for about 4 hours depending on the traffic, passing through Binjai and some small towns. En route on this day od Sumatra tour, stops at of rubber, oil palm and cacao plantations with some countryside landscape. The highlight of Sumatra tour is to visit Orang Utan in wild life , walk along the Bohorok riverbank to the crossing point and crossover the river by small canoe to the Orang Utan Station, trekking for about 2 hours in the jungle to explore the Bukit Lawang, Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the largest national parks in the world containing over 800,000 ha of virgin rain forest. Hike up close, to the slopes and dense vegetation will bring you the excitement of the jungle. If you are lucky and the weather permits, you will see some of park’s primates like Black Gibbon (Hylobate), long tailed Macaque, Thomas’s Leaf Monkey, White-handed Gibbon, and even Hornbill.
Lunch is served at the River Bank. Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at Rindu Alam Hotel
Day 03: Bukit Lawang – Samosir Island [B/L/-]
Breakfast at the hotel. Scenic drives from Bukit Lawang to Samosir Island on Lake Toba, one of the deepest and largest crater lakes in the world, stop at Dokan, a Karo village with number of traditional houses, we visit one of the houses which still being used by eight families living in together. Next visit is Sipiso piso waterfall and the long house of king Simalungun.
Arrive at Parapat, a little town at the edge of the lake Toba, we cross the lake Toba by motor boat (ferry boat for about an hour) to reach Samosir Island the homeland of Batak people. Samosir island is laid in the middle of Toba lake. Rest of day is free at leisure.
Lunch & dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at the Samosir Cottage
Day 04: Samosir Boat Excursion [B/L/-]
Breakfast at the hotel. A day excursion exploring the natural beauty and cultural aspects of Batak tribe using motor boat across the toba lake, we start with the visit to Ambarita where the remnant megalithic culture of Batak stands in front of traditional houses. Further visit to Simanindo the former King Sidauruk’s long house the stone court of justice of the former kings, here we see the folkdance performance by the villagers as well as children learning school. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
Before returning to your hotel, lastly visit Tomok with its historical old tombs of Batak King, where the ancient sarcophagus of Batak King stands strong as a memorial to the kings.
Here you may find local souvenirs such as Ulos (hand-woven clothes), hasapi (Batak Mandolin), tunggal panaluan (magic stick) ,etc.
Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at Samosir Cottage
Day 05: Samosir Island – Medan – Jakarta [B/L/-]
After check out from the hotel at Samosir Island north Sumatra, we cross over by ferry boat for about an hour back to Parapat and drive up back to Medan for about 4-5 hours while enjoy the stunning view to the marching mountains “Bukit Barisan”.
Upon arrive in Medan then proceed to the airport to catch the domestic flight to Jakarta. Arrive in Jakarta meet and welcome by our asianexplore local guide then immediately transfer to the hotel in Jakarta for check in and overnight
Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at ALILA JAKARTA (Deluxe Room)
Day 06: Jakarta city tour – Yogyakarta [B/L/-]
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for Jakarta city sightseeing tour including the visit to Sunda Kelapa harbor, an old port with many magnificent Makassar schooners (phinisi). These brightly painted sailing ships are one of the finest sights in Jakarta. Then continue with visit to Fatahillah Square, the center of old Batavia. Lastly stop visit will be made in Taman Mini, Indonesia miniature Park including Nastional Museum (Closed on Monday). Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
Then transfer to the Airport to catch flight to Yogyakarta. Arrive at Adi Soecipto, Jogyakarta airport meet and greetings by Asian explore local guide who will then directly transfer you to the hotel in Jogjakarta for check in.
Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at NOVOTEL YOGYAKARTA
Day 07: Borobudur tour [B/L/-]
Breakfast at hotel. The Borobudur tour will bring you to the most spectacular and world’s biggest Buddhist monument complex, Borobudur, built around 800 A.D. Looming out of a patchwork of bottle-green paddies and swaying palm tops, this colossal Buddhist relic is one of the continent’s marvels and the high recommended experience of Borobudur tour. After the decline of Buddhism and the shift of power to East Java, the monument was abandoned soon after its completion. For centuries the complex lay forgotten, buried under layers of volcanic ash. Climb up to the top and enjoy a wonderful view on the Menoreh Mountains. Enough time is given to stroll around the complex and to discover its beauty.
Lunch is served at local restaurant. After Borobudur tour, continue to Kota Gede which has been famed as the hub of Yogyakarta’s Silver Industry since the 1930’s. But this quite old town, which is now a suburb of Yogyakarta, was the first capital of the Mataram Kingdom, found by Panembahan Senopati in 1582. You will visit the busy silver workshops to watch the process.
Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at NOVOTEL YOGYAKARTA (Standard Room)
Day 08: Prambanan – Sultan Palace [B/L/-]
Breakfast at the hotel. Prambanan tour and Sultan palace tour will start your day for a cultural tour through the city. Our Asian Explore tour guide will bring you to the Kraton Sultan Palace during sultan palace visiting, walking over the remains of the past centuries, enabling you to understand the history of this artistic city. It was built in 1970 by Sri Sultan Hamengkubowono I., which is also a model of traditional Javanese palace architecture and it lies in the center of the municipality. Up to now, Kraton still serves as the Sultan Palace. Over 25,000 people live within the greater Kraton compound named Taman Sari, which contains its own market, shops, batik and silver cottage industries, schools and mosques. We will have a walking tour to find out the Water Castle which is designed with a new style as a combination of Javanese and Portuguese architecture. We end up this tour by the unusual underground mosque Masjid Bawah Tanah, revealing its hidden secret, away from the bustling life of the city. Then proceed to visit Sonobudoyo Museum (it is closed every Monday). Lunch is served at a local restaurant.
We continue this tour to Prambanan Village to visit the Prambanan Temples. The Hindu temple of the “slender virgin”, also known as a complex of Lorojongrang, was erected in the 9th century while Java was ruled by the Hindu Sanjayas of Old Mataram in the north. It consists of 3 major temples/shrines in the main area dedicated to respected Hindu’s God Trinity such as Candi Shiva Mahadeva, Candi Brahma & Candi Vishnu. Enough time is given to walk around and observe the beautiful carvings and the neighborhood shrines such as the Candi Palosan And The Candi Sewu. The Ramayana story is carved into the walls of the temples.
Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at NOVOTEL YOGYAKARTA (Standard Room)
Day 09: Yogyakarta – Makassar [B/-/-]
After breakfast the morning will be free at leisure until the check-out time to the airport for your next destination, transfer to the airport to catch the flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar. Arrival at Hasanuddin airport in Makassar, meet and greetings by our Asian Explore local guide then immediately transfer to the hotel in Makassar for check in.
Lunch & Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at ASTON MAKASSAR
Day 10: Makassar – Tana Toraja [B/L/D]
After breakfast at hotel, we pick you up for short Makassar City tour visit to Port Rotterdam which also the house the Lagaligo Museum, this Museum consists of two buildings, one housing Ethnology and one for the other history. On to Paotere the old harbor of Makassar, which is home to the handsome and world famous “Phinisi” or Bugis schooners.
Departure to Toraja for about 8 hours driving follows the coast to Pare Pare, where we stop for lunch, and then turns inland and up the mountains. Stop for afternoon coffee at Puncak Lakawang overlooking a spectacular panoramic landscape. Late afternoon arrival in Toraja, rest of the day is free at leisure.
Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Dinner and accommodation at TORAJA HERITAGE (Standard Room)
Day 11: Toraja and surrounding [B/L/D]
Breakfast at the hotel. We spend the whole day exploration of the Toraja Highlands tour, visiting Lemo to see the cliff displaying ancestral sculptures and the hanging graves. Toraja tour will continue to Londa, which has an ancient ceremonial burial place. Kete Kesu is a wonderful Toraja village where we see ‘Tongkonan’ houses and rice barns. It is famous for its woodcarving.
Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Dinner and accommodation at TORAJA HERITAGE (Standard Room)
Day 12: Toraja [B/L/D]
Another day of toraja tour we set out for a full day visit and the trip commence to Batutumonga enjoying superb views over Rantepao and surrounding valleys. Ideal for a walk along the rice fields and the daily Torajan live. Afterward proceed to Lokomata to visit Kana or Pana village known for his burial on a single huge round rock it is about 3 km from Batutumonga Last visit will be made at Pallawa, Sa’dan, known as the weaving center of Rantepao.
Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Dinner and accommodation at TORAJA HERITAGE (Standard Room)
Day 13: Toraja – Makasar – Denpasar [B/L/-]
The last day of Toraja tour, drive back to Makassar with lunch will be served at local restaurant in Pare – Pare. Afterwards, transfer directly to Hasanuddin Airport Makassar to catch your flight to Denpasar. Arrive at Ngurah Rai, Bali domestic terminal, meet and greets by our Asian Explore local guide who will then immediately take you to Sanur. Lunch is served at a local restaurant en-route. Dinner at own arrangement
Accommodation at SEGARA VILLAGE (Deluxe Room)
Day 14: Kintamani tour [B/L/-]
Breakfast in the hotel. We start the day of Bali tour by exploring Ubud and surrounding and Bali tour first visit at Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave. It relates that it was created by the fingernail of the legendary giant Kebo Iwa, in the 11 century when Majaphit takeover of Bali. The Bali tour continues to Gunung Kawi, one of the oldest and the largest ancient monuments on the island. There are 10 rock-out candies (shrines) stand hidden in a steep valley and dedicated to King Udayana. Just about 3 hundred meters we will reach Tirta Empul Temple, the holy spring water temple located in Tampaksiring area the water was believed as a holy water which used for healing any bad spirit, Then proceed to the cool mountain village of Kintamani for lunch while enjoying the spectacular view to the most active mount Batur with its crater lake, the biggest lake on the island.
Afterward we drive back to the hotel in the south with possibility stop on the way in Mas village, known with the handicraft village, Celuk the silversmith or Tohpati for its Batik factory.
Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at SEGARA VILLAGE (Deluxe Room)
Day 15: Besakih tour [B/L/-]
Breakfast in the hotel. Pick up from the hotel in the morning on the second day of bali tour to drive to the slope of mount Agung to visit the Besakih Temple, known as the mother temple of Bali, as it houses ancestral shrines for all Hindu Balinese and with nearly 24 big complex. It originated most probably as a terraced sanctuary in the eight century, where worship and offerings were made to the god of Gunung Agung (Mount Agung).
After visiting the temple then we proceed Bali tour to Kerta Gosa, the Hall of Justice, built in 18th century in Klungkung. It is beautifully laid out within a moat and provides an exquisite example of the Klungkung style of painting and architecture which can be seen in their ceiling murals. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
Dinner at own arrangement. Accommodation at SEGARA VILLAGE (Deluxe Room)
Day 16: Bali – Departure [B/-/-]
Breakfast in the Hotel. Morning is free at leisure until hotel check out time (note: hotel check out time policy is at 12:00 hr. Day use of the room until 18:00 hr possible to arrange with supplement-but subject to availability)
At the appropriate time we pick you up for departure transfer to the airport, for your onward flight to your next destination.
This ‘Explore Sumatra-Java-Sulawesi and Bali’ includes:
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- 15 nights in twin share accommodation at selected hotels or similar category, including breakfast
- Domestic Flight Ticket Medan – Jakarta (MES – CGK), Jakarta – Yogyakarta ( CGK – YOG) and Yogyakarta – Denpasar based on economy class
- Local English-Speaking guides
- Meals arrangement as indicate in the program (all meals arrangement based on food only, excluding beverages)
- Boat transfer to/from Samosir Island
- 01 x Samosir Boat Excursion
- All entrance fees, taxes and admission for tours as mentioned in the itinerary
- All specified transfers and tours in itinerary above by air conditioned coaches including parking fess, road taxes
- Service charges, room tax, Local tax/VAT, driver, guide expenses and baggage handling
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This ‘Explore Sumatra-Java-Sulawesi and Bali’ NOT includes:
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- High season and Peak Season surcharge
- Any compulsory applicable on the certain event
- Expenditure of personal nature such as extra drink/meals, souvenir, laundry, telephone, room service, etc
- Other meals and optional tours are not specified on the program
- Travel Insurance
- Tipping for guide/driver
- Should the Indonesian government increases the percentage of tax collected on room and/or meal rates or impose additional tax/levies, we increase the correct rate accordingly irrespective of the existing contract
- Day use of the room last day at hotel in Bali (on day 16). Should the participants on the group require to use the room until 18:00 hrs, then day use surcharge is applied and day use confirmation is subject to the room availability upon booking
- Free Visa
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