East of Java: Java, Bali, Flores and Komodo

Itinerary at a glance

• 5 October (Thurs) London: Depart UK (if taking UK flight package)
• 6 October (Fri) Singapore / Yogyakarta: Arrive Yogyakarta and transfer to the Phoenix Hotel and at leisure. Welcome dinner
• 7 October (Sat) Yogyakarta  Take a rickshaw to the Royal Palace. Visit the puppet maker and water palace. Explore the cyber village adjacent to the palace and the underground mosque. Visit the batik workshops and  the Temples of Prambanan
• 8 October (Sun) Yogyakarta   Early start to visit the temples of Borobodur. Drive to Canderejo village and explore by horse and carriage or bicycle. Visit farms, workshops and the cultural centre and learn of village life. Visit a Javanese shaman. Return to hotel and at leisure. In the evening visit South Square to witness a local tradition and dinner 
• 9 October (Mon) Yogyakarta / Surabaya: Take the train (Executive Class) across Java to Surabaya and transfer to the hotel. At leisure or optional visit to the antique shops
• 10 October (Tues) Surabaya / Bromo: Take part in a tour of old Surabaya including the Dutch, Chinese and Arab quarters, a clove cigarette factory, markets and walk through a traditional kampung and continue to the old wharves with the teak schooners. Drive to Mount Bromo and check into your hotel
• 11 October (Wed) Bromo / Kalibaru: Very early start to drive up to the edge of the crater of Mount Bromo volcano. Cross the sea of sand and walk up Bromo’s crater edge. Return to the hotel for breakfast. Drive to east Java and Kalibaru. Arrive at the Margo Utomo Resort amongst spice plantations
• 12 October (Thurs) Kalibaru: Explore the tea, coffee, spice cocoa and rubber plantations. Afternoon at leisure at the resort
• 13 October (Fri) Kalibaru / North Bali: Drive to the port and take the short ferry ride to Bali (1 hour). Continue to the seaside town of Lovina and the Lovina Hotel. At leisure to snorkel, dive, relax at the resort or explore the small town
• 14 October (Sat) North Bali / Sidemen village: Drive via Singaraja and explore the colonial centre. Stop at Penelokan for views of the vast Gunung Batur Volcano. Arrive in Sidemen and check into Subak Tabola 
• 15 October (Sun) Sidemen: Explore the local village, local weaver and the community centre. Lunch in the village and afternoon at leisure. Options for cookery class and massages. Afternoon tea
• 16 October (Mon) Sidemen village: Visit Ubud, including the Monkey Forest, and the Agung Rai Museum of Art
• 17 October (Tues) Sidemen / Flores: Drive to Denpasar and fly to Flores. Visit the village of Mero to witness the ‘caci,’ a ritual whip fight and dance. Transfer to the Bintang Flores Hotel 
• 18 October (Wed) Komodo National Park: Very early morning departure by boat. Cruise to Komodo Island and explore the island to spot dragons. Walk to Sulphurea and Frigate Hills for wonderful views. Snorkel at Pink Beach and continue to Kalong island to see thousands of bats in flight
• 19 October (Thurs) Flores / Bali:  At leisure in the morning. Transfer to the airport to fly to Bali and transfer to Sanur and the Puri Santrian Hotel
• 17 June Bali: Transfer to airport for return flight or take extensions in Bali to Sulawesi or Borneo