Indonesia

Arrive on the island of Java and transfer to the airport hotel where we gather with fellow travelers for a welcome reception and dinner.

After breakfast, return to the airport for our flight to Yogyakarta. Stop for lunch at a local restaurant before checking in to our boutique hotel. The afternoon is at leisure to stroll the grounds, take a dip in the pool, or book a spa treatment. Tonight, we enjoy dinner and a music and dance performance depicting the epic Hindu story of King Rama.

Visit a traditional Kauman Village symbolizing Javanese philosophy and Islamic ideology. Then, explore the historic neighborhood of Kotagede by bike or on a traditional becak, a three-wheeled vehicle similar to a rickshaw, regrouping afterward for a tour of the market and to learn about Indonesian spices and local produce. Lunch is at a traditional Javanese house, where we try our hand at Indonesian cooking techniques during a cooking class. Conclude the day with demonstration of Gamelan, the traditional Indonesian percussion music that has been inscribed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Embark on a walking tour this morning to see Kraton, the Sultan's Palace, a vast walled complex housing pavilions, markets, shops, schools, and mosques for over 25,000 residents. Continue to Taman Sari, a former pleasure park of palaces, pools and waterways dating back more than 200 years, and the Batik Ori School to meet with students and learn about this unique dyeing technique. After lunch, explore Prambanan, a ninth-century Hindu temple complex with over 240 temples, and the hilltop ruins of Ratu Boko. Later this afternoon, transfer to Borobudur and check in to our hotel.

Wake before dawn to catch the sunrise over the seventh-century Borobudur temple complex. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest Buddhist structure in the world and one of Southeast Asia’s greatest archaeological sites. After a quick stop for breakfast, spend the rest of the day touring the vast complex, famous for its precise geometric proportions, elaborately carved bas relief sculptures, and more than 500 statues of Buddha.

After a leisurely morning, return to the airport for our short flight to Bali. Upon arrival in Denpasar, transfer north to Ubud and check in to our contemporary resort set among lush, terraced gardens overlooking rice paddies.

With peaceful Ubud as a base of operations, spend three full days exploring the wonders of Bali. Today, visit Pura Taman Saraswati, known as the Ubud Water Palace, famous for its lovely lotus pond. Then, delve deep into Balinese cultural traditions at Museum Puri Lukisan and browse the colorful and complex masterpieces on display at the Indonesian Textile Gallery. After lunch, learn about rice cultivation and the cooperative water management system known as subak as we walk through a scenic rice paddy.

Learn about traditional Indonesian recipes, ingredients, and cooking techniques today during a hands-on cooking class at Café Wayan. After sitting down to enjoy our Balinese dishes, head to a nearby coffee plantation for a tour and tasting experience. Go behind the scenes for a peek at coffee production, from bean to cup, and see why Ubud is known for its rich coffee culture.

Today, embark on an exploration of East Bali. Take a scenic drive to Besakih Temple, the largest and holiest Hindu temple in Bali. Known as the Mother Temple and located on the slopes of Mount Agung, the temple complex offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes. Enjoy a traditional Balinese lunch in a nearby countryside restaurant before an afternoon visit to Tenganan Village, known for its traditional weaving and dedicated to preserving its ancient customs. On the way back to Ubud, stop at Pura Goa Lawah, or Bat Cave Temple, a complex built around the entrance to a cave housing thousands of nectar bats. Later this afternoon, check in to our luxury beachfront resort in scenic Sanur, just outside Denpasar.

Early this morning, depart on a charter flight to Wakatobi Island in southwest Sulawesi. Spend the next three days exploring Wakatobi National Park, a UNESCO Marine Biosphere Reserve celebrated for its stunning coral gardens and extraordinary biodiversity. Upon arrival, transfer to the resort and settle into our private bungalows.

This diverse underwater landscape is home to nearly 400 coral species and 600 fish species. From shallow reefs to steep walls, atolls, and seamounts, there are abundant snorkeling opportunities for all skill levels. The nearby shallow shelf hosts seagrass gardens and small coral formations teeming with marine life, including giant clams, anemones, juvenile triggerfish, blue-ring octopuses, and frogfish, all within easy reach from the shore. House Reef, just 80 yards from our resort, boasts rich marine diversity and captivating underwater vistas. Amidst vibrant corals, find giant trevallies, houndfish, humphead wrasse, pyramid butterflyfish, sergeant majors, and red-toothed triggerfish. In addition to snorkeling, visit Lamanggau Village and spend a morning browsing local produce and wares at Tomia Timur Market.

Bid Wakatobi farewell and return to Bali on a charter flight. Spend some time at leisure this afternoon before departing for Uluwatu Temple to see a sunset performance of kecak. Celebrate the end of our journey with this mesmerizing dance, performed atop a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean.

After breakfast, depart for the airport for flights returning home.