14 Days Java And Bali Discovery Tour

SOLO

Breakfast at hotel.  Visit Mangkunegaran palace. Mangkunegaran is a small hereditary Duchy located within the region of Surakarta in Central Java-Indonesia. It was established in 1757 by Raden Mas Said, when He submitted his army to Pakubuwono III in February, and swore allegiance to the rulers of Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and the Dutch East Indies Company, and was given an appanage of 4000 households. Then visit Triwindhu Market. Triwindu is a market selling artworks and antiques including ancient batik tools, assorted wooden masks, bronze and stone statues, wayang shadow puppets, kris daggers, paintings, antique lamps, ceramics, coins, vintage posters, interior ornaments and more.The market was built in 1939, when Indonesia was still occupied by the Dutch, to commemorate 24 years of the reign of Mangkunegara VII, king of Solo, Kasunanan and Danar Hadi Batik Museum. Lunch will be served at Local Restaurant. Evening attend the Wayang Orang show at Taman Hiburan Sriwedari ( Jalan. Slamet Riyadi : open daily Tuesdays – Saturdays from 20.00 – 23.00 ). Return to hotel. (B,L)

SUKUH – CHETO TEMPLE

Breakfast at Hotel. Our guide will meet you and depart to visit Candi (temple) Sukuh. Candi Sukuh is located on the western slope of Mount Lawu (elevation 910 metres (2,990 ft)) on the border between Central and East Java provinces. Sukuh temple has distinctive thematic reliefs from other candi where life before birth and sexual education are its main theme. Its main monument is a simple pyramid structure with reliefs and statues in front of it, including three tortoises with flattened shells and a male figure grasping his penis. A giant 1.82 m (6 ft) high of lingga (phallus) with four balls, representing penile incisions, was one of the statues that has been relocated to the National Museum of Indonesia. Then continue to visit Candi Cetho. Candi Ceto is a fifteenth-century Javanese-Hindu temple that is located on the western slope of Mount Lawu (elev. 1495 m above sea level) on the border between Central and East Java provinces.

Cetho is one of several temples built on the northwest slopes of Mount Lawu in the fifteenth century. By this time, Javanese religion and art had diverged from Indian precepts that had been so influential on temples styles during the 8-10th century. This area was the last significant area of temple building in Java before the island's courts were converted to Islam in the 16th century. The temples' distinctiveness and the lack of records of Javanese ceremonies and beliefs of the era make it difficult for historians to interpret the significance of these antiquities.(1.5-2 hr drive from Solo to temples each way, depending on vehicle and traffic).

Lunch will be served at local restaurant. Then drive to Jumoyo Waterfall. Return to Hotel. (B,L)

SOLO – BOROBUDUR – PLATARAN BOROBUDUR

Breakfast at hotel. Meet your guide this morning and drive to Borobudur via two mountains, the Merapi and Merbabu Mountains. Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist monument and the largest man-made structure in the southern hemisphere. It predates Angkor Wat by 300 years and Notre Dame by 200 years. "Discovered" in 1815, it has been excavated and returned to its original glory. The stone relief panels offer a clear glimpse into Buddhist doctrine and Javanese life 1,000 years ago. You'll have plenty of time to amble around and through this fabulous monument. Continue drive to hotel in Borobudur. (B)

DIENG PLATEU

Breakfast at Hotel. Pick up at hotel, and then visit Dieng Plateu. Dieng Plateau is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a caldera complex on the Dieng Volcanic Complex near Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia.Referred to as "Dieng" by Indonesians, it sits at 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level, far from major population centres. The name "Dieng" comes from Di Hyang which means "Abode of the Gods".

The Plateau is the location eight small Hindu temples from the Kalingga Kingdom. It is unclear when they were built, estimated to range from mid 7th century to end of 8th century AD; they are the oldest known standing stone structures in Java. They are originally thought to have numbered 400 but only eight remain. The temples are now believed to have been named after the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata. Michell claims Dieng's misty location almost 2,093 m above sea level, its poisonous effusions and sulphur-coloured lakes make it a particularly auspicious place for religious tribute. The temples are small shrines built as monuments to the god-ancestors and dedicated to Shiva.The Hindu shrines are miniature cosmic mountains based on plans in Indian religious texts, although Schoppert suggest the design motifs have little connection to India.

"Tjandi Adjoeno on the Dijeng plateau" photo by Isidore van Kinsbergen In 2011, in a review published by Romain,[4] the temple is now believed to be related to Dravida and Pallava style temples of South India. The theory that poisonous effusions make it auspicious is now disputed as volcanic activity in this area from 7th to 9th century is yet to established, and records suggest the temple was abandoned after volcanic eruptions became common in central Java. Tour including visit the oldest temple complex Arjuna, the crater Si Kidang and the color lake and tea plantation at Tambi. Then drive back to Plataran Borobudur for overnight. (B)

PLATARAN BOROBUDUR –JOGJAKARTA - CITY TOUR – PRAMBANAN

Breakfast at hotel. Our guide will meet you and transfer to visit Keraton Jogyakarta.  Keraton Jogjakarta is the official palace of Kesultanan Jogjakarta is now located in the city of Jogyakarta. This palace is now also one of the attractions in the city of Jogyakarta. Most of the palace complex is a museum that holds various collections belonging to the empire, including a variety of gifts from the kings of Europe, a replica of the palace heritage, and gamelan. In terms of the building, this palace is one example of the best of Javanese palace architecture, has luxury halls and courts and pavilion and the ruin of Water Castle of Taman Sari. Taman Sari also known as Taman Sari Water Castle is a site of a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. It is located about 2 km south within the grounds of the Kraton, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Built in mid 18th century, the Taman Sari had multiple functions, such as a resting area, a workshop, a meditation area, a defense area, and a hiding place.

Taman Sari consisted of four distinct areas: a large artificial lake with islands and pavilions located in the west, a bathing complex in the centre, a complex of pavilions and pools in the south, and a smaller lake in the east. Today only the central bathing complex is well preserved, while the other areas have been largely occupied by the Kampung Taman settlement. Lunch will be served at local restaurant. Then visit the most beautiful Hindu temple complex of Prambanan. Then drive to Jogjakarta. Upon arrival at Jogjakarta direct transfer to The Phoenix for accommodation. (B,L)

JOGJAKARTA – BALI – UBUD

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to Bali. On arrival at Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport of Denpasar, which located in southern Bali, 13 km south of Denpasar and also the Indonesia's third-busiest international airport, our guide will meet and greet you. Our guide will also offer you a cool towel and a bottle of mineral water ,then transfer by private AC coach to your hotel in Ubud. Then drive to Pita Maha Hotel for accommodation. (B)

UBUD TOUR

Our guide will meet you at hotel to have a full day island excursion. Leave your hotel and drive to Batubulan village to attend Barong and Keris traditional dance performance. Then visit the art and handicraft villages of Celuk to see the local people making jeweleries of gold and silver. Though gold and silver are not found in Bali but it is imported from other islands in Indonesia such as Java, Sulawesi and Papua. Then on to Mas village to witness how the local people are sculpting nature woods to turn into any kind of form of statues like human, animals, demons, flowers, fruits etc. Then proceed to Ubud to see the local Balinese people painting. The painting style is passed down from older generation down to young generation without any formal lesson in school. Their painting typical style called as Ubud Style and Young Style. Then continue visit Wenara Wana - a small forest nearby inhabited by a group of playful monkeys; Pengosekan, a village well known for its handicrafts (It has become more popular, since Queen Elizabeth II and Prince of Great Britain visited this village a couple of years ago). Lunch at local restaurant. Then go up to pass Tegalalang area where you can see beautiful rice field of Bali made famous by its special design call "terasering" or rice terraces. You can take lots of pictures of the rice terrace as it has become one of Ubud icon.Then return to hotel. (B,L)

KINTAMANI VOLACANO & LAKE TOUR

Breakfast at hotel. Then transfer to Taro a village which is located 6 Km in the north of Pujung, has magnificent rice terrace. Taro villagers’ main activity is agriculture. It shows from many plantations such as Orange, Aloe Vera, etc. In this village you also will see thousands of Sanggah/house shrine along the way. Sanggah is a holy place to venerate God for a family. Every Hindu in Bali has Sanggah in northheast corner of their house. The word Sanggah is from Sanggar which means holy place. Continue to Gunung Raung Temple in Taro Kaje Village.

Arrive in Bayung Gede Village where the baby’s placentas are hanging on  the trees’ brances. My agent passed small alley that only fit for small car, but there is bigger road for big coaches such as Isuzu Elf minibus. The unique of this grave is the baby’s placentas are not buried but it is hung. The placentas are put inside of the coconut shell then hang in the Bungkak trees. Eventhough the placentas are only be hung, visitors will not smell the placenta or the blood scent. The scent of the coconut shell covers the fishy smell. Every placentas of the villager have to be put and hang in this place. For villager who already went outside Bali, they also have to hang their baby’s placenta there. It symbols for every villager who leave the village, they will always return to the village. The second uniqueness of this village is the similarity of several houses which arranged like in Penglipuran Village. In fact, Penglipuran’s villagers were from Bayung Gede. When the (Guerrilla) war at 1900, the armies from Bayung Gede were sent to Penglipuran. Since the distance from Bayung Gede and Penglipuran is far, they built a village with custom, building style and daily life like in Bayung Gede. There is a small building beside the placenta grave (isolate place). That building is for couple who married their own cousin or for mother who gives birth a male-female twin. The mother will stay in this building if She delivers her daughter first and the son is second. But, if She delivers the male baby first and female in second, She can stay in her own home.

After visit the hanging placenta, visitor will continue drive to Kintamani and have lunch in local restaurant while enjoy  the Batur Volcano and the lake while having lunch. After lunch, drive down to Tampak Siring, made a stop in Cantik Agro plantation. This Agro plantation is the right place to see many kind of organic plants such as cocoa, lemongrass, snake fruit, coffee and etc. See the process of making coffee from the beans, dry process, the beans are roasted, until it becomes coffee powder. Tourist can try several drinks such as Ginseng coffee, Lemongrass tea and Ginger tea. Drive back to hotel. (B,L)

BESAKIH TEMPLE TOUR

This morning our guide will meet your clients for a full day excursion to rugged and mountainous eastern Bali. Drive up via Bangli regency for visit Besakih the mother temple. Besakih Temple is the biggest Hindu temple in Bali which the local people call Pura Besakih. It owns beautiful view from the top of temple area where we can see the wide nature panorama until to the ocean so that way this temple is many visited by tourists from all over the world. Besakih Temple is located in Besakih countryside, Rendang sub district, Karangasem regency, east part of the island. It is located in southwest side bevel of mount Agung, the biggest mounts in Bali. It is because pursuant to Agung Mount confidence is holiest and highest mount in Bali Island.From Besakih drive down to Klungkung with stop at local restaurant in Rendang village for having lunch.

After enjoy your meals, continue drive down to visit Goa Lawah (the Bat Cave). From Goa Lawah continue drive  to Kerta Gosa (Hall of Justice), featuring a series of 267 painted panels telling the five tales of the Tantri, a Javano-Balinese version of the Pancatantra. Also visit Taman Gili, built around 1686. Drive back to the hotel. (L)

MENGWI, KEDATON NATURE AND SEA TEMPLE TOUR - SANUR

Our guide will meet you and transfer to Mengwi to view the beautiful Taman Ayun Royal Temple. Taman Ayun is a Royal Temple of Mengwi Empire and it is located in Mengwi Village, Mengwi sub district, Badung regency and about 18 Km north side of Denpasar town. It is strategically located beside of major roadway between Denpasar to Singaraja. It is set on the land which is surrounded by the big fish pond and look like a drift on the water. It owns the beautiful temple building with multistoried roof and Balinese Architecture. The wide beautiful landscape garden in front courtyard to welcome all visitors who come and visit this temple. It is a beautiful places to visiton your vacation in Bali.

Then visit holy monkey forest at Kedaton. Alas Kedaton is located in Kukuh countryside, Marga Sub district, Tabanan Regency. The journey go to this place can be done easily by using motor vehicle follow the major roadway from Denpasar to Tabanan. On the way go to this tourist place, we will see the beautiful nature view where in front of us will meet the carpet of rice field and irrigation voice at the side of road to bear the impression/peaceful atmosphere. Alas Kedaton Temple have three yard that are external yard, middle and center yard. In the center and middle yard are encircled by wall and the outside yard is representing a open yard. The interesting point of this temple is the inside yard representing holy yard, its situation lower than the middle yard. This thing is different compare with the general temples in Bali that are more goes to inside the temple, the more higher the place will be. Beside of that another interesting point of this temple owns four entrances. Temple Festival at Alas Kedaton Temple Places to see in Bali, Alas Kedaton Places to visit the temple ceremony in alas Kedaton temple is carried out every 210 days a year. It is on Anggarakasih Medangsia (Balinese Hindu Calendar) or on every Tuesday where on that time the society do the worship or pray to request the safety and prosperity. The unique in this ceremony is do not use the fire and do not hence Penjor and also finished before the sunset or before the night is come.

In growth of handling of this tourist destination, Alas Kedaton has several become a training location about tourism nature, environmental handling and agro tourism. Alas Kedaton is many visited by the tourist from local and foreign countries which are generally a lot of paying a visit on August, December until January, while the local tourist generally pay a visit on holiday season and feast day of Ramadan (Moslem holiday) and this place is good to be visited in the day time. In front of Alas Kedaton temple there are quite a lot small shops selling the handicraft as souvenir, for example clothes, pants and other handicrafts. Others, there are some shops booth selling food and beverage, toilet and park area which is wide enough.

Then, on to Tanah Lot temple built on a small, offshore island of barren-rock. Tanah Lot is located in coastal side of Beraban countryside, Kediri sub district and Tabanan Regency. It is situated in 30 Km in west side of Denpasar town and about 11 Km in south side of Tabanan town. The temple is built on the rock with 3 acre size and reachable in a few minute by walk, because it is just 20 meters from the coastal lip. This temple is very famous among tourist destinations in Bali with spectacular view of sunset. At some nooks of coral reef around Tanah Lot Temple.

Meaning of The word of Tanah Lot is consisted of two words that are Tanah word interpreted as a reef looking like gili or isle. Lot or Lod word has meaning the sea. So Tanah Lot is meaning the small island floating on the sea. The location is now called as Tanah Lot has been used at a Megalithic period as a place that looked into holy, proven from the existence of menhir. Pursuant to environmental condition, hence the structure of Tanah Lot Temple is built at irregular reef plain of its angle which is only consisted of one plain yard as Jeroan. Tanah Lot Temple differences with other temples on the island of Bali, Tanah Lot does not have a few pages because it is built on a plain of coral that irregular corner of his home. Inside the actual temple compound itself there are tiered shrines that follow the fundamental elements of Balinese design where the number of levels constructed are symbolic to the complexities of the faith. There are other formations within the area that indicate that the site is not only of great religious importance, but also maintains archaeological value. Temple nestled in the ocean has a ritual or ceremony which takes place every 6 months or 210 days. At that time all the Hindus from different areas in Bali will come to worship in peace and harmony to invoke. Then continue transfer to Sanur.(B)

ULUWATU TOUR

Breakfast at hotel. This morning, meet your guide and transfer to Uluwatu. Uluwatu Temple located on the very steep valley on the west of Pecatu Village, in the district of Kuta, Badung Regency, about 30 km from Denpasar. It can be reached by any cars, the road are paved but rather steep.

Uluwatu Temple perches at the south-western tip of peninsula, where sheer cliffs drop precipitously into the clear blue sea. Uluwatu Temple hangs right over the edge! You enter it through an unusual arched gateway flanked by statues of Ganesha. Inside, the walls of coral bricks are covered with intricate carving of Bali’s mythological menageries. But the real attractions the in the location – for a good angle, especially at sunset, walk around the cliff to the left (south) of the temple.

Watch out for the local monkeys, which for some reason like to snatch spectacles and sunglasses, as well as handbags, hats and anything else they can get. Uluwatu Temple is one of the several important temples to the spirits of the sea to be found along the southern coast of Bali. Way back in the 11th century the Javanese priest Empu Kuturan first establish a temple here. Uluwatu Temple was added to by Nirartha, another Javanese priest who is known for seafront temples, like Tanah Lot, Rambut siwi and Pura sakenan. Nirartha retreated to Uluwatu for his final days, when he attained moksa, freedom from earthly desires. Return to hotel.(B)

BALI

Breakfast at hotel. Free at Leisure. (B)

BALI – OUT

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to airport for flight to next destination. (B)