Local experience for ‘early birds’

You arrive at Jakarta airport our driver is waiting for you at the arrival gate holding a paging sign. When he has welcomed you we depart to your hotel. Rest of the day is free for leisure.

With a local guide you drive to the old harbour Sunda Kelapa. At Sunda Kelapa you start a Jakarta city tour. Together you first visit Sunda Kelapa, have a look inside one of the traditional Penisi and see the day labours carry (un)loading boats. Then walk from Sunda Kelapa past the old ‘wachttoren’ to Pasar Ikan. Stroll Pasar Ikan (just a short walk) and then walk past VOC Galangan (have perhaps a coffee break) pass the Batavia Hotel (Pasar Hoenderbridge) and via Kali Besar to Fatahillah square. The guide tells the story of the buildings you pass. At Fatahillah the guide will leave you and on your own you can visit some of the museums in the area (entrance not included). The car is close by and waiting at Fatahillah. You can end this visit with a drink at Batavia Cafe. Then via the highway to Malabar.

(Departure 08.00) A local guide is waiting you up and you walk through the cemetery of Bosscha to the Malabar tea factory. During the walk you can meet tea workers, farmers and local school children. Ussually they are in for a chat or a picture. It’s a close encounter with locals. Here you get a tour of the factory about the processing of tea. After tasting the tea you walk through the beautiful landscape of the Preanger to the warm water sources, where you can relax with natural hot water. The guide will arrange the lunch box for you. After lunch you drive to Garut. If you prefer a hotel, you can stayed 2 nights in Garut!

(Departure varies per accommodation and experience) Papandayan can be visited in two ways. 1. At a sunrise, the departure is 4.30 am from the family (3AM if you opt for the hotel). 2. A later departure (8 AM) is just as beautiful you only miss that sunrise. Your car will take you to the car park from your overnight stay. From here it is a walk of about 30min. the Papandayan. A visit to Papandayan shows a volcano in 'full glory' with all colors, smells and devastations and all this very close. It is a vast area where you can freely walk around. Back in the parking lot, the car will take you to the guide's house for a nice lunch. After lunch you decide in consultation with the driver what you want. Another walk to a real traditional Indonesian kampong through beautiful extensive rice fields, mostly built in terraces (approximately 2 hours). Or to the hotel in Garut for relaxation.

In the morning we drive you to the train station for your train to Yogyakarta. It is a 1,5 hour drive from Garut. In Yogyakarta different transport picks you up and drives you to the hotel. Your luggage will arrive later on the same day.

(Departure 08.30) In the morning you discover the crater of Yogyakarta. The Kraton is a walled district in the city within which the palace of Sultan Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwono X (present Sultan) lies. The Sultan's family still lives in the palace and part of the Sultan's palace is open for viewing. Together with a local guide you walk through the palace and get explanations about the history and current added value of the Sultan for Yogyakarta. in the palace also has regular (often on Sundays) traditional dance and gamelan performances or lessons to be attended by visitors. After visiting the palace you visit Taman Sari (' Scented garden ') The former bathhouse of the Sultan. The water castle like Taman Sari is also called, you realize that Yogyakarta should have been a very large and powerful Sultanate ever. The car then bring you to Prambanan temple. After visiting the temple drive back to your hotel in Yogyakarta to spend the rest of the day free.

Early departure for a visit to the world's largest Buddhist monument; Borobudur. Discovered by Sir Raffles (founder of Singapore) in 1814 under a thick layer of volcanic ash and vevolgens restored to the present Borobudur. After this you will find the car in the parking area and drive you to Candi Rejo village for bike tour. You'll meet your local guide and start your bike ride in this beautifully landscaped area. You cycle (by road) through small villages so that you experience the everyday life closer. After the cycling you drive to the restaurant for lunch and than back to Yogyakarta. Free to spend the rest of the day. At the end of the day the driver will take your luggage again. Tomorrow you travel in the train with only a nachttas and hand luggage. Travel papers, money and medication are not left in your luggage.

A travel day. To get from Central to East Java is quite a distance and we will use this day to pass the miles. A car drives you to the train station of Yogyakarta where you get on the train to the East of Java. You get off at Malang, the car is waiting with your luggage, we drive you straight to the hotel. If desired we can still have a short Malang city tour.

Today we visit Bromo this can be done at sun rise then departure is 00.00 AM or at a later time. You of course miss the sun rise but it will be less growded at Bromo.

At the discussed time we depart from the hotel. When on the sunrise tour we first drive to the viewpoint of Mount Pananjakan to await the sunrise from the viewpoint or at a closeby cafe enjoying a coffee. Once the sun has risen we drive you by jeep to visit the black Sea of Sand and Mt Bromo. After parking near Mt. Bromo (this is where you start if without sun rise), it is a 45 minutes walk to his crater rim. Once you reach the rim of the caldera, you can explore the area a bit or rest and enjoy the view. Back at the car we have one more amazing stop in this area; the contrasting green savannah then we continue to Bondowoso. Keep inmind it will be another short night!

Please be aware sulfer is a hazard good and people with astma should be cautious.

At midnight the car will drive you to the parking area of Ijen (Paltuding). The starting point of your stunning and truly breathtaking midnight (soft) hike to the top of this volcano. Your local guide will be one of the sulpher miners from Ijen. He does not speak much English but he knows the roads blind folded. Before you are rewarded with the beauty of Ijens Crater lake and Blue Fire you do need to climb the steep hill of Ijen. Once at the top from far you see the blue 'flames' coming from the mountain. You can walk down to the mining area (do be careful it is still very dark and the path is not paved). You can walk al the way down to the sulpher mine and see blue fire very close, see the miners and stand next to the lake. As soon as first light breaks Blue Fire is no longer seen but you get to enjoy the amazing crater lake landscape. Back in the car we drive you to Bali, Pemuteran for a well deserved rest.