Tour date: 30 August – 11 September 2025
Explore the fertile volcanic scenery and UNESCO-listed archaeological sites and temples of Indonesia’s most culturally rich island, Java, and contrast with the flora and fauna of the paradisical Komodo archipelago. The last remaining habitat of the largest lizards on earth, the islands of Komodo National Park are a refuge for these ferocious but critically endangered creatures, as well as a staggering array of wildlife above and below the water, from the white-bellied sea-eagle and lesser frigatebird to whale sharks, ocean sunfish and manta rays.
Tour highlights
- Watch sunrise over the Buddhist temple of Borobudur, visit UNESCO-listed Prambanan and delight in the treasures of the city of Yogyakarta
- Learn about Java’s most famous export with a visit to a coffee plantation, and enjoy the restored Dutch Colonial architecture at Semerang
- Admire Java’s staggering volcanic landscapes with a sunrise jeep tour top the rim of Mount Bromo, with 360-degree views of the crater and Mt Batok and Semaru beyond
- Search for dragons, eagles and rays on the pristine islands of the Komodo National Park, exploring the islands in the archipelago by boat
Itinerary at a glance
Day 0: Those taking our recommended flights will depart Heathrow this morning for Singapore | Continue to Yogyakarta
Day 1: Tour starts in Yogyakarta today | Meet the group and trip scholar over a drink and dinner at the hotel
Day 2: Enjoy a guided tour of Yogyakarta | Visit the Kraton (Sultan’s Palace) | Afternoon at Prambanan
Day 3: Excursion to Borobudur | Visit to the village of Candirejo | Travel to Central Java to stay at a Coffee Plantation resort
Day 4: Discover Gedong Songo (9th century Hindu Temple) | Afternoon coffee plantation tour | Time at leisure
Day 5: Travel to Ambarawa Railway Museum | Enjoy a 30 min train ride with picturesque views | Visit Colonial Semerang
Day 6: Executive Train from Semerang to Surabaya (East Java) | Continue by road to scenic Mt Bromo highlands
Day 7: Sunrise 4×4 Jeep tour to Mt Penanjakan with views over Mt Bromo | Visit Mr Bromo Crater | Afternoon at leisure
Day 8: Fly Surabaya to Labuan Bajo, Flores | Transfer to our hotel on the coast | Dinner as a group
Day 9: Boat excursion to Padar Island | Komodo Island walk to spot Komodo Dragons | Afternoon to swim at Pink Beach
Day 10: Boat excursion to Pulau Kelor for an easy hike | Snorkel or swim at Manjarite Island | Kalong ‘Bat’ Island sunset
Day 11: Land excursion on Flores to Melo Village | Caci dance of Manggarai people | Afternoon at leisure/farewell dinner
Day 12: Tour ends in Labuan Bajo | Group transfer to the airport for those taking recommended flight to Bali + onward connections
Day 0: 30 August 2025 For those taking Temple World's recommended flights from London
Day 1: 31 August 2025 Tour starts in Yogyakarta, Java
Day 2: 1 September 2025 Yogyakarta & Prambanan
Day 3: 2 September 2025 Borobudur Temple and Candirejo Village / transfer to Magelang
Day 4: 3 September 2025 Gedong Songo Temple / Afternoon coffee plantation tour
Day 5: 4 September 2025 Ambarawa Train / Semarang City Tour
Day 6: 5 September 2025 Train journey to Surabaya / Overnight Bromo
Day 7: 6 September 2025 Mt Bromo Sunrise and crater
Day 8: 7 September 2025 Flight to Labuan Bajo
Day 9: 8 September 2025 Komodo National Park – Padar Island and Komodo Island
Day 10: 9 September 2025 Komodo National Park – Kelor, Majarite and Kalong Islands
Day 11: 10 September 2025 Melo Village
Day 12: Tour ends in Labuan Bajo - Extensions
Dates and Prices
Prices are in UK£, per person, based on double occupancy
| Room Type | Price | Single Supplement | Optional train London-Dijon | Availability |
| Standard | £4,475 | £750 | £950- £1250 return | Good availability |
Inclusions
Share of double/twin ensuite hotel rooms, full board (except on the arrival day when only dinner is included, on Day 8 when lunch is not included, and on the departure day when the tour ends after breakfast), group road transfers on arrival into Yogyakarta and on departure from Labuan Bajo to coordinate with our recommended flights, all excursions mentioned with local guides including entrance fees, expert leader.
Exclusions
Air travel to/from Indonesia (optional Singapore airline flights available from London for between £950-£1250 per person return) drinks, transfers if arriving/departing on different flights, travel insurance, tips to guides, drivers and porters, items of a personal nature.
Optional Singapore Airlines flights
Temple World can book flights from anywhere in the world to coordinate with this tour, but we have contract rates on flights from the UK only which allow us to hold these without an additional deposit, until the balance is due for your tour. To connect with these, a domestic flight with Batik Air from Labuan Bajo to Denpasar will be required as a separate ticket – please note that this is instant purchase so will need to be paid for at the time of booking. Our recommended flights are as follows:
30 Aug 2025 SQ0305 Heathrow to Singapore dep 09:25 arr 05:30 next day
31 Aug 2025 SQ8660 Singapore to Yogyakarta dep 08:25 arr 09:45
11 Sep 2025 ID6330 Labuan Bajo to Denpasar dep 13:35 arr 14:55
11 Sep 2025 SQ0947 Denpasar to Singapore dep 21:45 arr 00:20
12 Sep 2025 SQ0306 Singapore to Heathrow dep 01:10 arr 07:45
Estimated prices for the Singapore Airlines flights are around £1150-£1250, plus around £100 for the Batik Air ticket. An optional excursion in Bali with lunch will be offered for those taking this flight combination, please ask for details and costs.
Booking your own travel
Those who prefer to arrange your own transport to/from Indonesia are most welcome to. Clients who would like to use airmiles/points to book their flights will need to book directly with the airline/s, as agents are unfortunately unable to apply points or miles to purchase or upgrade flights on behalf of card holders. The start point for the tour is Yogyakarta and the tour ends in Labuan Bajo, but we can also arrange a short domestic flight at around £100 to Denpasar, Bali for those who prefer to fly from there, or who opt to extend their stay in Bali after the main tour.
If making your own way to Yogyakarta we will meet as a group for the first time at 17:00 (5pm) on 31 August. If arriving in the morning, please note that check-in at the hotel is not normally until 3pm, unless you have requested and paid for an early check-in/ Guests are welcome to store baggage at the hotel and use the common facilities while you wait for check-in to become available, if you would like to explore. Showers and changing rooms are available at the hotel spa. We will meet for an early group dinner at around 5pm as people will be tired from travel and may be experiencing jet-lag.
On the last day (11 September) there is no sightseeing, so we will leave the hotel at around 11:00 and a coach transfer will be provided to Labuan Bajo Airport to co-ordinate with the departure time of our recommended flight from Labuan Bajo to Denpasar, for all those who are on the 13:35 flight.
You might be able to book your international flights home from Labuan Bajo with connections through either Jakarta or Denpasar on one ticket (this is preferable as the airline will then guarantee the connections), but if not, you can book your flight home from either Jakarta or Denpasar, and we can arrange the domestic flight from Labuan Bajo to coordinate with it (please ask us for a price and timings). VERY IMPORTANT – If we are booking your flight from Labuan Bajo using a local airline to Denpasar or Jakarta, we strongly recommend you allow AT LEAST a 4 hour transit before the departure of your international flights leaving Indonesia, as your baggage can’t be checked all the way through, and neither airline will take responsibility for a missed connection in the event of a delayed arrival.
- Kindly do not book any flights from Denpasar departing earlier than 14:10 on 11 September 2025
- Kindly not book any fligths from Jakarta departing earlier than 19:25 on 11 September 2025
Check out at our Labuan Bajo hotel is not until mid-day for those who are staying on in the area or departing later.
Very Important! Clients should not make any binding or non-refundable travel arrangements until their place has been confirmed on the tour and Temple World has confirmed that the tour departure has reached minimum numbers.
Immunisations
See your GP or travel health professional at least 8 weeks before travel for advice tailored to your personal requirements. Most travellers to Indonesia are recommended to vaccinate against Hepatitis A, Tetanus and Typhoid. It’s also recommended that you are up to date with routine vaccination courses and boosters as recommended in the UK. These vaccinations include for example measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-polio vaccine and seasonal flu/Covid vaccinations if applicable. Malaria mosquitoes are present in parts of Indonesia but the risk in Java, Flores, the Komodo Islands and Bali is not high enough to warrant antimalarial tablets for most travellers.
Entry Regulations
You must have at least 6 months’ validity remaining on your passport to enter Indonesia. Most visitors to Indonesia need a visa. You can get a 30 day Visa on Arrival at most of the main airports or ports, at a cost of 500,000 Rupiah (about £25) payable by cash or card. You can alternatively apply for an evisa (B1) online between 8 days and 90 days of travel for stays up to 30 days, at the same cost.
Fitness Guideline
We have graded the fitness level required for participation in this tour as Moderate. This is a relaxed itinerary, though for those who wish to be more active there are opportunities to walk and/or hike and swim/snorkel. There are no strenuous hikes, but we will be on foot for many of our excursions through cities, towns, villages and temples, so it’s important that everyone is able to keep up with the group and that participants feel comfortable walking through towns/sites and standing to listen to talks for up to an hour at a time. We will be travelling around the Komodo Islands by boat so you must be able to get in and out of a sea-going vessel and descend steps/a gangplank to shore. Those who are relatively fit will however get more out of this tour, as there are scenic optional walks in the Komodo Islands, opportunities to swim and snorkel in beautiful bays, and the walk down to the crater of Mount Bromo in Java involves around 250 steps (although this activity can be skipped if not suitable). The flights from the UK to Indonesia and back are not direct so we recommend that all guests factor in fatigue from long-haul travel and jet-lag when planning their travel, and for anyone who is less fit we recommend either arriving a day or two early into Yogyakarta, or booking a stopover in Singapore on the way out to acclimatise to the new time zone and recuperate after the long flight from the UK. Please ask us for advice on the day to day fitness options and challenges if at all unsure.
Trip Scholar
Dr Tara Alberts
Tara Alberts is Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History, University of York. Her research explores encounters and exchanges between Europe and Asia between c.1500 and c.1700, and Southeast Asia as a site of contact, intercultural exchange and conflict. She teaches on the rise of the Malay sultanates and the increase of international trade, the growth of port-cities, war and diplomacy, and how the fallout of the seizure of Melaka by the Portuguese created subsequent tensions with rival sultanates on Java. She is also interested in European colonialism within Asia and the spread of Christianity by the Portuguese and later the Dutch, and the ways in which Christianity became indigenised in different places. Dr Alberts undertook her undergraduate degree, Masters and PhD at the University of Cambridge followed by a Research Fellowship at Jesus College, Cambridge.
Lectures during our tours
All our tours are accompanied by an academic ‘trip scholar’ as well as local guides. The local guide or guides provide the day-to-day guiding on our tours, whilst the trip lecturer will give regular lectures on his/her specialist subject throughout to provide an academic overview. Lectures/talks usually last 30-40 minutes including questions and answers (if applicable). These are generally held in the evenings before dinner and attendance is optional. We don’t usually specify before travel which days the lectures will be given (for operational reasons) but guests can expect them roughly every other day as a minimum, with some lecturers giving some kind of talk or presentation more frequently.
Singapore Stopover
We recommend a two or three-night stopover in Singapore before or after your tour, and if taking our recommended Singapore Airlines flights, we can arrange for the date of departure or return to be amended in order to accommodate this addition to your itinerary.
Price: From £620/£765 pp based on Naumi Hotel, £700/£879 pp based on Parkroyal on Pickering, £1380/£1905 based on Raffles Hotel.
Includes: 2/3 nights of hotel accommodation (based on two people sharing a twin/double), private airport transfer on arrival and departure, Half Day ‘Past to Present’ privately guided excursion, breakfast daily. Please ask us for a quote – alternative hotels and many more excursion options are available.
Extensions in Indonesia
We would be delighted to quote for hotels, transfers and guided excursions in any region of Indonesia to complement the main tour should you wish to explore further on a private basis, such as to Indonesian Borneo to see Orang Utans, to unexplored Sumba, or further afield.
We are offering a set 4 night/5 day Bali small group extension accompanied by a local guide for all those who wish to extend their stay on this beautiful island, which has its own distinct culture, traditions and religion, being the only predominantly Hindu part of the Indonesian archipelago.
4 night Bali extension with private guide
Day 1: 11 September Arrive in Bali
Fly from Labuan Bajo to Denpasar Airport in Bali this morning. On arrival you will be greeted by our local guide and transferred 90 minutes inland to the town of Ubud. Located in the island’s center, Ubud is the island’s artistic and cultural capital, and is surrounded on all sides by scenic rice terraces.
Check in to our base for the next four days, a boutique hotel on the edge of the town, a quiet haven within a tropical oasis setting and rooms furnished with arts and crafts made by skilled local artisans. The afternoon is at leisure to enjoy the surroundings or perhaps take an initial walk into town.
Overnight: Adiwana Unagi Suites, Ubud Meals: B
Day 2: 12 September Ubud, Tegalalang Rice Terraces, Balinese dance
After breakfast in the morning, meet with our guide and head into Ubud to discover its highlights. Start with a visit to the Peliatan Palace for a look at its traditional Balinese architecture, and stop at the ARMA Museum, which provides excellent insight into Balinese art and culture. Continue to Ubud’s sacred Monkey Forest, a lush and tropical public reserve in the middle of town, known for its large troops of bold long-tailed Macaques and cooling shade. Afterwards enjoy some free time at Ubud Market where you can shop or simply observe as local vendors sell everything from food and clothes to souvenirs and art – a great place to get a feel for local life in the area. Lunch is served in Indus Restaurant, which we love for its beautiful views over Tjampuhan Valley.
In the afternoon, continue by road a short distance out of town towards Tegalalang for views of some of the most beautiful rice terrace landscapes in Bali. Disembarking, enjoy a 1 hour easy-going walk down the rice terraces with the guide, learning about the unique subak irrigation system used here. Rice fields are a signature of Bali and these quiet verdant paths lined by palm trees provide great photographic opportunities. Enjoy a coffee break at this beautiful location away from the crowds before heading back towards the hotel, stopping on the way at a spot known for its thousands of herons roosting in the late afternoon every day.
After some time to freshen up, swim or take a rest, in the evening, our guide will collect the group once again for an evening traditional dance performance followed by a local Balinese dinner.
Overnight: Adiwana Unagi Suites, Ubud Meals: B / L / D
Day 3: 13 September Mt Batur
After breakfast, depart Ubud for an excursion to Mt Batur. Drive along small, scenic roads offering beautiful views of the rice fields and the daily life of the Balinese farmers. Stop at the unique temple of Gunung Kawi. Set amidst lush rice terraces, these 11th century temples feature 10 rock-cut candi (shrines) carved into the cliff face. They stand seven metres tall and combine ancient Hindu and Buddhist temple attributes. There are numerous stairs leading down to the temple, so good walking shoes are recommended.
Continue to the nearby village of Tampaksiring to explore Tirta Empul, a temple famous for its sacred spring water. All Balinese bathe here at least once a year for a ritual cleaning in these holy waters dedicated to Vishnu. Continue by road North to Kintamani, a volcanic region with breathtaking views of Mt Batur. Adjacent to the volcano is the large crescent-shaped Batur Lake. The entire area is surrounded by the high walls of the crater rim.
After lunch at a restaurant which looks out at the caldera of the Batur volcano, head back towards Ubud, taking a different route so we can stop for a stroll around Penglipuran, a traditional countryside village known for its unique building style and architecture and Kehen Temple, often called ‘Mini Besakih’.
On arrival back at the hotel, the rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure. Ubud has some of the finest restaurants in Bali, from simple warungs (Indonesian cafes serving local dishes) to fine dining. We’d be happy to make some recommendations, and your hotel will be pleased to arrange transport to/from your dinner choice.
Overnight: Adiwana Unagi Suites, Ubud Meals: B, L
Day 4: 14 September Taman Ayun, Jatiluwih & Tanah Lot
Today, after breakfast, our guide will collect you to start your day’s explorations with a visit to the royal Taman Ayun Temple in Mengwi, known for its beautiful ponds, multi-tiered roof structures and traditional Balinese architecture.
Next, continue north by road to stunnnig Lake Bratan for a visit to Ulun Danu Temple. The temple is set in the lake’s calm waters on several small islands giving the impression that it is ‘floating’. It’s widely considered to be one of the most photogenic temples in Bali. Afterwards, stop in at the local market which is famous for its extensive collection of exotic tropical fruits, vegetables and species, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit the UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih Rice Terraces which have been created on a slope near the holy mountain of Batukaru and are one of the best examples of subak-style rice farming. Enjoy a one-hour leisurely walk through the rice fields for an up-close look at the verdant scenery and panoramic views, then continue by road down to the coast to the incredible sea temple of Tanah Lot – one of Bali’s most famous temples. Set dramatically on a small island just off from the beach, watch as the sun sets behind the horizon in one of Bali’s most iconic places to watch sunset.
Return to Ubud for an evening at leisure.
Overnight: Adiwana Unagi Suites, Ubud Meals: B, L
Day 5: 15 September East Bali and transfer to Airport
Your last day in Bali will not be wasted! Ensure you book an evening flight to depart, so you can join the guide for some last sightseeing in a different corner of the island before you go.
After breakfast, check out and meet your guide and driver with your baggage ready to be collected. It will be stored in the vehicle and looked after by our driver while you sightsee. Leaving Ubud, travel east by road, to visit Kertagosa. This ancient justice court retains the most detailed ceiling paintings in Bali depicting punishments that were given to criminals in the old days. Continue to visit Besakih, known as the ‘Mother Temple’ of Bali. Located on the western slopes of Mt Agung, Bali’s highest volcano (2,567m), Besakih is the largest and most religiously important temple on the island. Lastly, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant overlooking rice fields as far the eye can see. Late in the afternoon, you’ll be transferred to the Denpasar airport, or you can optionally choose to add on some time at a beach resort in South Bali if you’re not ready to go home yet! Our team can quote our favourite options with recommendations to suit every budget and style.
Price: Around £800 – £900 per person based on a minimum of 2 participants.
Includes: Flight from Labuan Bajo to Denpasar, hotel accommodation in twin/double rooms at Adiwana Unagi Suites Ubud, breakfast daily, lunches and dinners where shown, all excursions as described with private guide and driver for our group. Drinks, meals not mentioned, items of a personal nature, and gratuities to drivers/guide/porters etc not included.
