Your journey begins today with your flight to Southeast Asia.

Today you arrive in Medan on the island of Sumatra. Your tour guide welcomes you with a friendly “Selamat datang”, and together you drive to Medan, the capital of North Sumatra. The city is a melting pot where Chinese, Malays and Batak live side by side and very different cultures meet. After dropping off your luggage at the hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure. Take your time to arrive and spend the evening as you like. 1 night in Medan. (Distance: approx. 45 km; driving time: approx. 1.5 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The Aryaduta is located in the centre of Medan and offers a fine view over the city. It has a pool, a fitness centre and a restaurant serving local and international cuisine. The spacious rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen TV and minibar.

You start early today and explore Medan by tuk-tuk – a great way to get close to people and experience their daily life. You pass the imposing Maimun Palace and the Great Mosque. On a walk through the market you chat with traders and may already find a souvenir or two. Then you leave the bustle of the city behind and drive by minibus to Bukit Lawang, with several stops along the way to stretch your legs. In quiet, rural Bukit Lawang a cooking class awaits: an experienced cook shows you step by step how typical everyday dishes are made from spices and regional ingredients, which you then taste yourself. Please note that the lodge in Bukit Lawang is very simple (no hot water, no air conditioning), but it is beautifully located on the banks of the Bohorok River. 1 night in Bukit Lawang. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 100 km; driving time: approx. 5 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast The ecolodge is located in the quiet village of Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra on the edge of the rainforest. The simple rooms have a fan and mosquito net (no hot water, no air conditioning); Wi-Fi is free in all areas.

Early in the morning you set off on a hike into Gunung Leuser National Park (easy, approx. 3 hrs). Uphill and downhill you walk through the jungle in search of orangutans and other wildlife of Sumatra. If you stay quiet and neither touch nor feed the animals, with a little luck you can watch the reddish-brown great apes in their natural habitat as they swing from branch to branch. Look out for gibbons, macaques, flying squirrels and hornbills – and keep your camera ready. Your guide tells you a lot about the animals and the rainforest’s flora and fauna. By a small river in the middle of the jungle you enjoy a picnic with local delicacies (wildlife sightings depend on nature). You then continue to the mountain town of Berastagi (approx. 1,300 m). Its cool climate is ideal for growing fruit and vegetables, and at the market you find exotic fruits such as durian, rambutan and salak. Batak villages with their large wooden communal houses lie nearby; the Batak are divided into six groups, each with its own language and traditions. 1 night in Berastagi. (B/P) (Distance: approx. 140 km; driving time: approx. 7 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast Sinabung Hills is located in the Karo Highlands near Berastagi, approx. 1.5 hrs from Medan, with views of the surrounding volcanoes. It has a restaurant, a café, an outdoor pool and outdoor sports facilities. The rooms have a private bathroom as well as a desk and seating area.

If you like, start the day with a sunrise hike up Sibayak volcano (optional, bookable locally). You are picked up during the night and set off with a guide while the first rays of sun rise over the mountain ranges and dense forest gives way to barren mountain landscape. At the top a wide view awaits; after the descent you relax in hot springs and return for breakfast. Together with the group you then visit Berastagi’s fruit market, taste regional fruits and chat with the traders – your guide helps with translating. Next you head to Lake Toba, the largest lake in Indonesia and the largest crater lake in the world. On the way you stop at the Sipiso-piso waterfall, which plunges about 120 m, and get your first view of the lake. A local ferry takes you to Samosir Island in about 1 hour. 2 nights on Samosir. (B) (Distance: approx. 120 km; driving time: approx. 7 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast Toledo Inn enjoys an idyllic location on Samosir Island on Lake Toba. The renovated rooms offer views of the lake or the countryside and have a private bathroom, terrace or balcony and flat-screen TV. The restaurant serves Asian and Western dishes.

After breakfast you explore Lake Toba and its hidden treasures, including the stone chairs and tables where the Siallagan kings once held their meetings. In Tomok you visit the impressive stone sarcophagi of the Sidabutar royal family. Along the way you gain insights into daily life and may see children in the schoolyard or adults doing traditional handicrafts. In the traditional village of Ambarita you watch a lively Batak dance performance. The afternoon is yours. (B)

Early in the morning you take the ferry to Parapat and drive along winding roads, with last views of Lake Toba, to Medan airport. At midday you fly via Jakarta to Yogyakarta. You are met there and drive by minibus to Magelang, arriving in the evening. 1 night in Magelang. (B) (Distance: approx. 220 km; driving time: approx. 5.5 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast Plataran Heritage Borobudur is located in quiet, rural surroundings near Borobudur temple and combines elegant architecture with Javanese tradition. It has a pool, a spa, a fitness centre and a restaurant serving Javanese cuisine made with fresh local ingredients. The tastefully furnished rooms offer views of the countryside.

After breakfast you ride through the village of Candirejo by horse cart and learn first-hand about the villagers’ traditions. You see vegetables being harvested, pastries being made and vanilla or chilli being dried, and may hear gamelan music. Around midday you stop with your group at a house in the village. Then it is on to Borobudur. The 9th-century temple in Central Java is the largest Buddhist monument in the world and was restored between 1975 and 1982 with UNESCO support. On its square and circular terraces you admire countless reliefs and around 500 Buddha statues; your guide tells you about the origins and significance of the site. In the evening you reach Yogyakarta. 2 nights in Yogyakarta. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 45 km; driving time: approx. 1.5 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Gallery Prawirotaman Hotel is located in Yogyakarta’s Prawirotaman arts and culture district and combines modern facilities with Dutch colonial architecture. Its 94 rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen TV and minibar.

In the morning you stroll through Kotagede, the former capital of the Mataram kingdom. The architecture of the royal cemetery and the Great Mosque – the oldest mosque in Yogyakarta – shows how Islamic and Hindu-Javanese influences merged. Kotagede is also known as the silver town: you watch silversmiths at work and then browse the traditional market. At the Sonobudoyo Museum you learn about Javanese culture and history through works of art and sculptures. In the afternoon you get creative yourself: in a batik workshop you learn how the traditional fabrics are made and design your own small cloth as a souvenir. In the evening a food tour takes you to various stalls – your guide knows where to find the best delicacies. (B)

In the morning you explore Yogyakarta by cycle rickshaw, one of the region’s most traditional means of transport – sit back and watch the colourful bustle. Past Alun-Alun Kidul, the southern square behind the Sultan’s Palace, you ride to the Taman Sari water castle, where the sultan’s family once spent their leisure time, and on to the Sultan’s Palace (Kraton). On the way to Solo you visit Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia, and your guide tells you about its history and significance. To round off the day, a museum shows you the history of batik art. In the evening you reach Solo. 1 night in Solo. (B) (Distance: approx. 75 km; driving time: approx. 2 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast Swiss-Belhotel Solo is centrally located on Jalan Ahmad Yani; the Sheikh Zayed Mosque is approx. 5 minutes by car, the Kasunanan Palace and Triwindu antiques market approx. 10 minutes. It has a rooftop infinity pool with panoramic views, a fitness area, a spa and a restaurant serving Indonesian, Asian and international cuisine. The rooms have a private bathroom, air conditioning, free Wi-Fi, work area, minibar and TV.

Today you get to know another means of transport: from Solo station you take the train to Jombang in about 3 hours – time to chat with your fellow travellers or simply enjoy the view from the window. In Jombang you switch to a car. On the way you stop at Trowulan, the former capital of the Majapahit empire, one of the largest empires in Indonesian history. Temples, royal bathing pools and 14th-century brick ruins give you an insight into this era. In the evening you reach your accommodation near Bromo – an ideal base for the early start the next morning. 1 night at Bromo. (B) (Distance: approx. 80 km; driving time: approx. 4 hrs)

1 night · Double room · With breakfast Jambuluwuk Bromo Resort is located in the highlands of East Java near Bromo, surrounded by impressive nature. It has an indoor pool, a garden, a roof terrace, a restaurant serving regional and international cuisine and a bar. The 34 m² rooms have air conditioning, TV, free Wi-Fi, safe, coffee and tea making facilities and a bathroom with shower and hairdryer.

An early start today: while it is still night you drive by jeep to a viewpoint and watch the first rays of sun bathe the volcanic landscape in warm light. Then you cross the sea of sand (Pasir Berbisik) and climb a strenuous path with steep steps up to the rim of Bromo’s crater. Lunar crater landscapes and views of the surrounding volcanic cones make the climb unforgettable. Please note: the climb depends on volcanic activity and religious ceremonies and may be cancelled at short notice; in that case you enjoy the view from a viewpoint. Afterwards you return for breakfast. You then drive to Kalibaru in the east of Java, at the foot of Mount Raung. The green region with its pleasantly cool climate is known for coffee and cocoa plantations. The evening is at your leisure. 1 night in Kalibaru. (B) (Distance: approx. 210 km; driving time: approx. 5.5 hrs)

Today you dive into the world of coffee growing: on a guided tour of a cocoa, coffee and pepper plantation in Kalibaru you learn about cultivation and processing – and try the freshly brewed coffee at a small tasting. You then drive to Ketapang harbour and take the public ferry to Gilimanuk on Bali in about 45 minutes. Passing West Bali National Park, you reach the Pemuteran area in the northwest of the island. 2 nights near Pemuteran. (B) (Distance: approx. 110 km; driving time: approx. 3.5 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast Mimpi Resort Menjangan is located in Banyuwedang in the quiet northwest of Bali near West Bali National Park, in extensive gardens close to the coast. It combines Balinese architecture with a natural atmosphere and offers a pool, natural hot springs and a restaurant serving Indonesian and international cuisine. The traditional-style rooms with natural materials, high ceilings and semi-open bathrooms have air conditioning, free Wi-Fi and a private entrance.

After so many days inland, today you enjoy the coast. In the morning you drive into West Bali National Park and board a small boat to Menjangan Island. While snorkelling you glide along colourful coral reefs teeming with tropical fish. A picnic rounds off the trip. The afternoon is yours: relax on the beach or at your accommodation and let the impressions of the last two weeks sink in. (B/P)

Today you head back inland. At Lake Tamblingan you hike a short way through the rainforest and then get into a canoe – the paddling is done for you, so you can glide across the lake and enjoy the surroundings from the water. A cool drink on the lakeshore rounds off the experience. Next you visit Ulun Danu temple on the shore of Lake Bratan. Surrounded by mountains, its multi-tiered pagoda roofs seem to float on the water; the gardens invite you to linger. After lunch at a local restaurant you reach the Jatiluwih rice terraces (UNESCO World Heritage) with views of the slopes of Batukaru volcano. On a short walk through the fields your guide explains the traditional subak irrigation system. In the evening you arrive in Ubud. 2 nights in Ubud. (B/L) (Distance: approx. 130 km; driving time: approx. 3 hrs)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast ARMA Museum & Resort is set in lush tropical gardens in Ubud and houses the renowned Agung Rai Museum of Art with Balinese art. It has a pool, a spa and restaurants serving local and international cuisine. The cosy rooms have modern amenities.

After breakfast you visit Gunung Kawi, Bali’s “Valley of the Kings”: ten shrines carved into the rock on the edge of a river valley, surrounded by rice fields and jungle. At Tirta Empul temple the Balinese use the holy springs for ritual purification; pavilions, shrines and courtyards show the traditional Balinese architectural style. From the Kintamani viewpoint you look out over the active Batur volcano and Lake Batur. Back in Ubud you visit the Monkey Forest. Watching the nimble animals is great fun – but beware: sunglasses on your head or bananas in your hand tend to disappear into the treetops. Finally you see the Royal Palace from outside, still home to the royal family today, and dive into the colourful bustle of the market opposite. (B)

The morning is yours. Then you drive to Pura Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung in eastern Bali – the largest and most important temple complex of Balinese Hinduism. Your guide explains why it is so significant for the Balinese; the views and the spiritual tranquillity are impressive. In the late afternoon you head towards the coast. On the way you stop with your group for dinner at a local home and watch a Balinese dance performance – a lovely opportunity to chat with your hosts. Then you continue to Benoa. 2 nights in Benoa. (B/D)

2 nights · Double room · With breakfast The Novotel Bali Benoa lies right on the beach at Tanjung Benoa near Nusa Dua, surrounded by extensive gardens – ideal for relaxing beach days.

No programme is planned today: put your feet up, enjoy the beach and let the impressions of the trip sink in. Alternatively, visit Tanah Lot temple, majestically perched on a rock on the coast (optional, bookable locally), or go on a food tour to street food stalls and warungs serving traditional dishes (optional, bookable locally). (B)

Depending on your flight time, you have one more chance to go to the beach. You are taken to Denpasar airport in good time and say goodbye to Indonesia with a “Sampai jumpa lagi”. If you like, you can extend your stay in Bali by a few days. (B) (Distance: approx. 15 km; driving time: approx. 45 min)

After an eventful journey you land back home today.