Temples and Trekking from East Java to Bali - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Bali

Welcome to Indonesia! You'll arrive at the Bali airport to meet your transfer to Sanur for dinner and an evening to relax.

Day 2: Denpasar to Yogyakarta

Go back to the airport already for a flight to Yogyakarta. Once you land, you'll head to the colorful central market of Beringharjo, followed by Keraton to see the Sultan's Palace and Taman Sari water palace.

Stop for lunch, then continue northwest to Borobudur, one of Southeast Asia's most famous Buddhist temples. The UNESCO World Heritage Site dates back to the eighth century. Return to Yogyakarta in the evening to settle in to your hotel.

Day 3: Prambanan Temple & Gunung Purba

Start your day with a visit to Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. Then take a drive to the Gunung Purba area for a trek through some less-traveled rice paddies and up to the peak of Gunung Purba, an ancient inactive volcano. Take in the views of the large geological fixtures, forests, and panoramic views from the top before you descend to drive back to Yogyakarta.

Day 4: Yogyakarta to Solo

Set off to the east toward Mount Lawu. As you make your way along the winding road, you'll pass tea plantations on your way to the Sukuh and Cetho temples. Known as the "erotic temples," the architecture of these mountainside Hindu temples is markedly different from other Javanese temples.

Stop at the tea plantation in Karang Anyar on the drive after the temples as you continue on to Solo.

Day 5: Solo to Cemorolawang

Hop on the train to Mojokerto for a roughly four-hour journey. Your driver will meet you at the station to head to Cemorolawang, a village on the Tennger caldera of the Bromo volcano. If you arrive early enough, walk down to explore the caldera, or just settle in for dinner overlooking the view.

Day 6: Cemorolawang to Banyuwangi

Board your Jeep before the sunrise to make your way up to the Penanjakan viewpoint. On way, you'll take in the rising sun over the scenery of Mount Batok, Bromo, and Semeru towering behind them. If you didn't visit yesterday, now is the time to head down into the Bromo caldera to see the volcano up close. Keep going with a short hike up to the crater rim, where you'll be able to feel the rumbling of the volcano beneath your feet and see smoke emerging from the crater.

Return to your hotel to refresh, then get back on the road for a 5-6-hour drive to Banyuwangi on the eastern side of Java.

Day 7: Kaliklatak Plantations Tour

Take a guided tour of the plantations of Kaliklatak, watching the residents harvest rubber, coffee, or cloves depending on the season and see how the harvest gets processed. Enjoy a coffee tasting with a view across to Bali, then make your way back down the path for lunch in a colonial house on the plantation.

After lunch, you'll head back to your hotel to spend the afternoon lounging.

Day 8: Banyuwangi to Pemuteran

You'll be up bright and early for another sunrise walk today, starting with a roughly 90-minute drive to Paltuding. Start your 2-hour trek as the sun comes up, heading to the top of the Kawah Ijen volcano and passing the porters carrying down their sulfur baskets on the way as you climb. Once you reach the top, you'll take in the view of the surrounding countryside and the acid lake on the volcano.

Return to your hotel for lunch before you catch a ferry over to Bali. Once there, you'll drive to Pemuteran for the night.

Day 9: Menjangan Island

Head out to Labuan Lalang jetty, where you'll board a small boat to the marine part of Bali Barat National Park. You'll sail out to Menjangan Island, where you'll swim over coral reefs and tropical fish in two separate snorkeling sessions. Enjoy a boxed lunch and stroll over to see the island's resident deer before you return to Pemuteran and have a free afternoon.

Day 10: Pemuteran to Munduk

Take a two-hour drive to Munduk for your next stop. You'll trek from villages to waterfalls before lunch, then have the afternoon to explore Munduk on your own or opt for a Balinese cooking class.

Day 11: Munduk to Ubud

Continue on your course to Beratan Lake, where you'll visit the Ulun Danu temple. Keep going to the Jatiluwih rice terraces for a trek to the Besi Kalung temple. Then hop back in your vehicle to continue to Ubud, the cultural capital of Bali.

Day 12: Ubud to Kintamani

Head northeast toward Tampaksiring, where you'll explore the Gunung Kawi mausoleum and Tirta Empul temple. Continue to Kintamani for lunch to enjoy the scenery surrounding the Batur volcano and neighboring lake. Once you've looked enough, you'll trek through it, from Kintamani to the ancient lava fields, before you return for a homestay by the lake.

Day 13: Kintamani to Sanur

Start your last full day with one more sunrise trek up to the summit of Mount Batur. Get to the top in time to watch the sun come up while you enjoy a hot drink and take in the panoramic views of the lake and Mount Agung. Wash off the trail dust at the bottom with a dip in the hot springs, then head to Sanur. The rest of the afternoon is up to you to enjoy Sanur's beach and shopping at your leisure.

Day 14: Depart Sanur

Time to wave goodbye to Bali with a transfer to the airport to bring you home or on to your next adventure.

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