Walk Indonesia - Java & Bali

The trip starts today in Magelang. Located in a fertile agricultural area in Central Java, it is the closest city to the famous temples of Borobudur, which we will visit tomorrow.

Your trip Leader plans to meet everyone in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner as a group afterwards. There are no other activities planned for today. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up.

If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you will need to arrive into Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA), just under two hours' drive from our hotel. Stay: Atria Magelang (Comfortable)

In the morning we take a short drive south to enjoy a countryside walk to and around Candirejo, a typical Javanese village. The residents here have set up a sustainable tourism project that introduces visitors to Javanese village life. During the walk our guide will explain all about village life and give us the chance to take a closer look at the different activities such as harvesting and drying chili, making cassava crackers, and creating handicrafts made from bamboo and pandanus. We also plan to visit a local house and watch a traditional gamelan music performance before enjoying a delicious Javanese lunch at the village Pendopo (open-sided pavilion house).

We will spend the afternoon at the nearby Borobudur temple complex, the world's largest Buddhist monument and the largest man-made structure in the southern hemisphere. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Borobudur predates Angkor Wat by 300 years and Notre Dame by 200 years. Rediscovered in 1815, it has been excavated and returned to its original glory. The stone relief panels offer a clear glimpse into Buddhist doctrine and Javanese life 1,000 years ago.

Today's four kilometre walk will take approximately two to three hours with plenty of stops along the way. Stay: Atria Magelang (Comfortable) (B)

In the morning we drive north to the village of Kembang Kuning on a beautiful route along winding roads passing rice terraces and streams. Our walk today takes us from the village through a valley of rice fields to Selegriyo, a small Hindu Temple that is older than Borobudur and much less visited. Later we drive on to Wonosobo, a small city lying on the Dieng Plateau in central Java. Wonosobo lies between two mountains, Sindoro and Sumbing, making this area relatively cool almost the whole year.

Today's five kilometre walk will take approximately two to three hours. Stay: Kresna Hotel Wonosobo (Comfortable) (B/L)

Situated 2,000 metres above sea level, the Dieng Plateau is a wonderfully cool place to escape the hot and humid Javanese climate of lower altitudes. This morning we explore the area on foot and by bus and visit the historical and natural sites that are dotted in this beautiful hilly landscape. We visit the Dieng temple complex, a famous a relic from the time of the famous Kalingga kingdom of the 7th and 8th centuries. We walk to the crater of Kawah Sikidang where the air is filled with the pungent odor of sulphur from the crater then continue further to enjoy the views of the two-coloured lake, a spectacular sight caused by sulphur mixing with the water.

After spending the day on the Plateau we drive to Yogyakarta for the night. Situated almost exactly halfway along the length of Java, in an area considered to be the heartland of the Javanese, Yogyakarta is home to some of the island's oldest traditions and blessed with a rich, fertile volcanic soil. It is the cultural capital of Java, with a real mixture of influences, including Hindu and Buddhist temples, dating from the 8th century, Islamic palaces from the 18th century and Dutch colonial architecture that harks back to the days when the Netherlands held much of Java in its imperialistic grip.

Today's six kilometre walk will take approximately three hours. Stay: Indies Heritage (Comfortable) (B)

In the morning, we explore Yogyakarta by becak (traditional cycle rickshaw), a fun way to discover the city. Our first stop is at the Kraton Palace. This walled compound is the heart of the old part of the city and was once the palace of Yogyakarta's sultans. We will also visit the ruins of Taman Sari and the Water Palace, which was a pleasure park for the sultans. There will be an opportunity to visit some of craft markets for which the city is famous.

In the afternoon we take a guided urban walk around the Kali Code residential area of the city, following the river and passing down small alleys, we see how the local people live and learn about the day to day way of life here. Observe neighbours exchanging the latest gossip, pass little warung (small local restaurants) serving simple but tasty food, see children playing games and vendors going door to door selling their goods.

Today's seven kilometre walk will take approximately three hours at a very leisurely pace with plenty of stops along the way. Stay: Indies Heritage (Comfortable) (B)

Today we travel by train to the city of Malang; it's a great way to see a lot of the countryside and to meet the local people. We travel on the Malioboro Express in comfortable air-conditioned 'executive' class carriages. Upon arrival in Malang late afternoon, we check in at our hotel with the remainder of the day free to explore. Malang is the second largest city in East Java and is known for its mild climate. During the period of Dutch colonization, it was a popular destination for European residents. Stay: Enny's Guesthouse (Simple) (B)

We drive this morning to Tumpang, a small village south of Mount Bromo where we swap our bus for jeeps and enjoy a journey through beautiful scenery to eventually arrive at the Sand Sea, an ash-strewn landscape that surrounds Mount Bromo. After a picnic lunch we hike through the desert-like surroundings to reach the cone of volcano. Our jeeps meet us here and take us to our hotel at the outer crater-rim from where there are fantastic views of Mount Bromo and its cones.

Today's seven kilometre walk is expected to take approximately two hours. Stay: Lava View Lodges (Simple) (B/L)

We plan to get up very early this morning and walk from our hotel in around an hour to the Seruni viewpoint at 2,200 metres above sea level. It's the perfect spot from which to watch a spectacular sunrise over the lunar landscapes of Mount Bromo, Semuru and some of the other mountains. (For anyone not wishing to walk at this early hour there is an option to travel to the view point by shared jeeps). Returning to the hotel, we'll have some breakfast before departing to the city of Surubaya for the flight to Denpasar (Bali). On arrival we drive to the Balinese capital Ubud in the centre of the island.

Ubud is Bali's artistic heart and the centre of cultural events. Surrounded by a beautiful landscape it is easy to see where the artists find their inspiration. This is a great place for buying special mementos with many small shops and galleries. For those wishing to know more about Balinese art; a visit to one of the local museums will be of great benefit. Cultural events such as ceremonies, dances and temple festivals occur frequently and you are always very welcome to observe. Ubud has many good restaurants where you can sample a range of foods from Balinese-style to European dishes. Stay: Nick's Pension Hotel Bali (Comfortable) (B)

Today has been left free to explore the delights of Ubud in your own time. Ubud has a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere. You may wish to take an optional excursion to the Tanah Lot temple. Perched on a barren rock outcrop, at high tide it is completely surrounded by the ocean and is a popular place to watch the sunset. Stay: Nick's Pension Hotel Bali (Comfortable) (B)

Today we travel to Bali's little-known Muntigunung area, trekking up in the spectacular hills of North-east Bali. Here we can enjoy the tranquility of this remote area and stunning views of the deep blue Lake Batur, Mount Agung and the Indian Ocean. High up in the mountain villages of Muntigunung the people have much less privileged lives than most Balinese. Part of the costs of our hike goes to support the building of water depots that help the villages to sustain agriculture and become more self-sufficient. Weaving and hammock making as well as cultivating caju nuts are also undertaken here.

Today's seven kilometre walk is expected to take approximately three hours. Stay: Nick's Pension Hotel Bali (Comfortable) (B/L)

This morning we enjoy a \ herb walk\ , discovering the wild organic herbs that grow along the edges of the sawahs which provide ingredients for food and medicine. Turmeric root, coconut palms, taro plants and banana trees, lemon grass and citronella, soursop, jackfruit, pineapple and breadfruit grow side by side. Our guide will show us how to pick, and crush the roots to extract the strong fragrances. We stop to taste edible leaves, to suck the nectar out of the red flowers of the \ closed hibiscus\ tree and to drink fresh young coconut juice.

After the walk we drive to Munduk, a typical Balinese village, with a temple, busy morning market and Balinese houses, surrounded by rice-terraces and clove-plantations as far as the eye can see.

Today's four kilometre walk is expected to take approximately two to three hours. Stay: Puri Lumbung (Comfortable) (B)

Today's walk starts at Lake Buyan then passes through Dasong, an area of vegetable and strawberry plantations then through Hutan Dasong tropical rain forest. The trail continues to a small canal which leads to Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan. Along the route we plan to visit the local temples of Dalem Tamblingan and Gubug. After the walk we drive to Sanur, a small relaxed town with a long beach promenade and plenty of lovely places to eat.

Today's seven kilometre walk is expected to take approximately three to four hours. Stay: Puri Sading (Comfortable) (B/L)

Sanur is a relaxed beach resort with shallow waters and plenty of cafes and eateries and places to buy souvenirs from your trip. Stay: Puri Sading (Comfortable) (B)

The trip ends today after breakfast at our hotel in Sanur Beach.

There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart at any time. If your flight is departing later in the day luggage storage facilities are available at our hotel. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to depart from Denpasar Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), which is around 40 minutes' drive from our hotel. (B)