Day 1: Arrival Medan
Arrive at Kuala Namu, Medan International airport in the morning (the arrival should not be later than 10.30 A.M), meet and greet our local guide who will then directly take you on the 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. Afterwards, we proceed to your hotel for check in and then enjoy the rest of the day free at your own leisure. Lunch and dinner at own arrangement.
Day 2: Medan – Bukit Lawang – Medan
Arrive at Bukit Lawang and immediately join the hike to Gunung Leuser National Park. Hike up close, to the slopes and dense vegetation which 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, even Hornbills and the Orang Utans.
Return following a steep trail through the forest down to the station of the river bunk crossing by a cable and pulley driven dugout canoe. After reaching the other side of the river, proceed to walk up passing stalls and lodges on a rocky path back to the car park for your drive back to Medan. Total trek is about 3 hours
Day 3: Medan – Brastagi – Parapat – Samosir Island
Scenic drives to Lake Toba, one of the deepest and largest crater lakes in the world, stop at Dokan, a Karo village with number of traditional houses, where we visit one of the houses which still being used by eight families living in together. Next visit is the 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 by motor boat (ferry boat for about an hour) to reach Samosir Island, the homeland of the Batak people. Rest of day is free at leisure. Dinner at own arrangement
Day 4: Samosir – Lake Toba Boat excursion
A day excursion exploring the natural beauty and cultural aspects of the Batak tribe, we start with visiting Ambarita, where the remnant megalithic culture of Batak stands in front of traditional houses. Further, we visit Simanindo, the former King Sidauruk’s long house and the stone court of justice of the former Kings. Here we see the folkdance performance by the villagers as well as children learning. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
Before returning to your hotel, we pay a visit to Tomok with its historical old tombs of the 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
Day 5: Samosir – Medan – Jakarta by flight
After check out from the hotel, we cross over by ferry boat for about an hour and return to Parapat and drive up back to Medan for about 4-5 hours while enjoying the stunning view of the marching mountains of the “Bukit Barisan”.
Upon arrival in Medan, we proceed to the airport to catch the domestic flight to Jakarta by GA. 191 departing at 17:00. (Flight ticket is excluded but available separately). Arrival in Jakarta, meet and welcome our guide and then immediately transfer to the hotel in Jakarta for check in and overnight. Dinner at own arrangement
Day 6: Jakarta City Tour – Yogyakarta by flight
After breakfast at the hotel, we depart for some sightseeing in Jakarta city, including the visit to the 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, we continue with a visit to the Fatahillah Square, the centre of old Batavia. Lastly, we stop and visit the Taman Mini, Indonesia miniature Park, including the National Museum (closed on Mondays). Lunch will be served at a local restaurant.
Arrive at New Yogyakarta International Airport or at Adi Soecipto, Yogyakarta airport and meet and greet our local guide who will then directly transfer you to the hotel in Yogyakarta for check in. Dinner at own arrangement
Day 7: Borobudur Tour & Kota Gede
We 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.
Afterwards, we 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.
Day 8: Sultan Palace – Prambanan
You will start your day for a cultural tour through the city. Our guide will bring you to the Kraton Sultan Palace. We will have a walking tour to find the Water Castle which is designed with a new style as a combination of Javanese and Portuguese architecture. We wrap up this tour by the unusual underground mosque Masjid Bawah Tanah, revealing its hidden secret, away from the bustling life of the city.
We drive you to the 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 and Candi Vishnu.
Day 9: Yogyakarta – Makassar by Flight
After breakfast, the morning will be free at leisure until the check-out time to the airport for your next destination. Arrival at Hasanuddin airport in Makassar, meet and greet our local guide and then immediately transfer to the hotel in Makassar for check in. Lunch & Dinner at own arrangement.
Day 10: Makassar – Toraja
After breakfast at the hotel, we pick you up for short Makassar City tour and visit Port Rotterdam which also houses 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.
Day 11: Toraja
We spend the whole day exploring the Toraja Highlands, visiting Lemo to see the cliff displaying ancestral sculptures and the hanging graves. Then, we 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.
Day 12: Toraja
Today we set out for a full day visit and a trip commence to Batutumonga, enjoying superb views over Rantepao and the surrounding valleys. Ideal for a walk along the rice fields and the daily Torajan live.
Afterwards, we 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 and the last visit will be made at Pallawa, Sa’dan, known as the weaving center of Rantepao. Lunch is served at a local restaurant.
Day 13: Toraja – Makassar – Bali by flight – Sanur
Drive back to Makassar with lunch will be served at local restaurant in Pare Pare. Afterwards, we transfer directly to Hasanuddin Airport Makassar to catch GA. 621; flight departures to Denpasar at 19:35. (Flight ticket is excluded but available separately)
Arrival at Ngurah Rai, Bali domestic terminal meet and greet our local guide who will then immediately take you to Sanur.
Day 14: Full Day Ubud – Kintamani Tour
We start the day in Bali exploring Ubud and its surroundings, with our first visit to the Goa Gajah, the Elephant Cave. It is said that it was created by the fingernail of the legendary giant Kebo Iwa, in the 11 century when Majapahit takeover of Bali.
Then we continue 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 300 meters we will reach the Tirta Empul Temple the holy spring water temple located in the Tampaksiring area, where the water is believed as holy water which is used for healing any bad spirit.
Then, we 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.
Afterwards, we drive back to the hotel in the South with possibilities to stop along the way in Mas village, known with the handicraft village, Celuk the silversmith or Tohpati for its Batik factory.
Day 15: Full Day Besakih – Klungkung
Pick up from the hotel in the morning and then we 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 its nearly 24 big complex. It originated most probably as a terraced sanctuary in the eight century, where worship and offerings were made to the Gods of Gunung Agung (Mount Agung).
After visiting the temple, we then proceed to Kerta Gosa, the Hall of Justice, built in the 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.
Day 16: Sanur – Departure
Morning is free at leisure until hotel check out time.
