Sumatra, Java & Bali

Day 1: UK/Medan
You’ll depart on your scheduled flight to Medan via Kuala Lumpur today.

Day 2: Berastagi
You will arrive in the Sumatran city of Medan this morning and transfer to your hotel in the former hill station of Berastagi, where you’ll stay for one night. Standing at one of Asia’s major crossroads Sumatra has an ancient and illustrious past. This volcanic island is home to a treasure trove of scenic gems which you’ll discover over the next couple of days. The balance of the day is at leisure to relax and enjoy the surroundings of your hotel and the splendid views of the smoking volcanic Mt Sinabung.

Day 3: Samosir Island
You’ll travel by road to Samosir Island this morning. En route a stop will be made at the Sipisopiso waterfall. After lunch at a local restaurant board a boat for the cruise across Lake Toba to your hotel located on Samosir Island where you’ll stay for two nights. Why not relax by the shores of the lake or take a dip in the warm, volcanic waters.

Day 4: Samosir Island
At 3,000ft above sea level, Lake Toba, the largest and deepest lake in South East Asia fills a vast crater that was created by the world’s largest volcanic explosion. An included excursion will reveal traditional villages nestled in the highlands around the lake and you’ll visit Tomok, Ambarita and Simanindo. See the classic houses of the Batak people, high roofs and carved beams are the typical style here, and learn a little more about daily life. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.

Day 5: Jakarta
You’ll return by road to Medan today. En route drive through cocoa, palm oil and rubber plantations. Lunch has been arranged at a local restaurant before your flight to the neighbouring island of Java and the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. You will stay overnight here.

Day 6: Bandung
Java, Indonesia’s principal island, is rich in culture and tradition. Lush, green rolling countryside, sparkling lakes and towering mountains form a backdrop to a rich culture and long tradition. A morning drive will take you to the famous botanical gardens at Bogor, a former Dutch hill station. Founded in the early 19th century the gardens are home to 15,000 species of trees and plants. Rolling lawns, lily ponds and lush woodland dot the landscape and the elegant white summer palace, former residence of the Governor General of the Dutch East Indies serves as a reminder of a colonial past. Leave Bogor and continue by road to the Puncak Pass. As you steadily climb admire the breathtaking views across a jade blanket of tea plantations. After an included lunch continue to the vibrant highland city of Bandung, known locally as the city of flowers. You will stay here for two nights.

Day 7: Bandung
An included excursion takes you to the ‘upturned boat’ volcano – Tangkuban Perahu. As you approach the rim by narrow road you will see and smell the sulphurous hot springs and hot geysers that jet up from the crater. You’ll descend down the mountain and make a stop at the Ciater spa resort. This is the perfect chance to bathe in the restorative waters that are heated by the volcano.

Return to Bandung later this afternoon.

Day 8: Yogyakarta
An exciting journey by rail awaits you today as you board the train bound for Yogyakarta. This full day journey will take you through some of the most magnificent landscape of Java, packed lunch will be served on board. Watch from the window as the contrasting scenery unfolds. Green rice fields, lush coconut groves, tapioca and rubber plantations, and fragrant clove trees line the route. You’ll stay in Yogyakarta for two nights.

Day 9: Yogyakarta
Your day begins with an included excursion to the magnificent Borobudur Temple, the largest Buddhist monument in the world, where many Buddha statues stare out over the plains and intricate galleries which lead up to the central stupa.

Little is known of the early history of this vast pyramidal structure. It fell into disuse and remained buried for centuries under layers of volcanic ash and jungle growth until it was restored by the Dutch in the last century.

After an included lunch you’ll continue on to Yogyakarta, one of Asia’s treasures and the heart and soul of the island. This ancient region is where the great Javanese empires were based, and evidence of their power can still be seen in the impressive buildings that remain here today.

You will visit all the highlights on a full-day sightseeing tour. Yogyakarta is rightly known as the art capital of Indonesia, and handicraft shops dot the city. Batik, silverware, leather puppets and wood carvings are all on sale.

Day 10: Malang
You’ll leave Yogyakarta this morning and journey by train then coach as you head to Malang, where you stay for two nights. Lunch is included en route.

This is a long day but you will be rewarded with some wonderful sights along the way.

Day 11: Malang
The heart of the volcanic structure of Java reveals itself on the east of the island. Here the fertile rice terraces give way to lava sands that culminate in the grandeur of Mount Bromo. This fabled sight is best viewed at dawn as the sun rises over the smoking volcano. We have arranged a special excursion for those who wish to make a visit which although strenuous, is immensely rewarding. You’ll depart in the early hours for the pre-dawn ascent (weather permitting) and quite a bit of walking is involved. This will be followed by a ride on sturdy mountain ponies over the ‘sea of sand’. Lunch is included at a local restaurant and the rest of the day will be free for you to relax at your hotel.

Day 12: Bali
This morning you’ll fly to Denpasar. The beautiful island of Bali will hold you spellbound, glorious beaches, rice-terraced mountains and a vivid Hindu culture await. Local village life forms the basis and cohesion of Balinese society and traditions and rituals, especially exotic and hypnotic dances are still adhered to with ceremonious detail. Your beachside hotel is located in Sanur and you’ll stay here for two nights.

Day 13: Bali
Free to relax on the beach or maybe explore the unique delights of the island on an optional excursion. Discover charming Ubud and the highlands of Kintamani or visit a local village to see displays of Barong and Legong dances. In the evening join us for dinner at the Sundara Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel, located in Jimbaran Bay.

Day 14: Bali/UK
The morning is at leisure prior to an afternoon transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Day 15: UK
Arrival in the UK.

Please note
This holiday is a journey of discovery, visiting areas which are relatively new to tourism. You will be required to do some walking, potentially on uneven ground. Some days will involve long driving hours but you will be rewarded with amazing sights and experiences. We therefore advise that you be in relatively good physical health to ensure you enjoy this tour to the full.

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

4-star Grand Mutiara Hotel in Berastagi
Tabo Cottages on Samosir Island
4-star Aston Marina Hotel in Jakarta
4 star Savoy Homan Hotel in Bandung
4-star Phoenix Hotel in Yogyakarta
4-star Tugu Hotel in Malang
3-star Sanur Beach Hotel in Sanur
All guest rooms have en suite facilities and air-conditioning.

Facilities at all hotels include bar, restaurant and swimming pool.

Please note: Accommodation may be simple in style but the delights of these locations more than compensate for this.

All hotels will be confirmed in your final documentation.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Sipisopiso Waterfall
Lake Toba and Batak villages (full day)
Bogor Botanical Gardens (half day)
Tangkuban Perahu Volcano and Ciater spa (three-quarter day)
Borobudur and Yogyakarta Temple (full day)
Mount Bromo at dawn (half day)

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights, overseas transfers & other transportation
12 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, plus 9 lunches and 2 dinners
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”