Indonesia Highlights with Komodo

Welcome to Indonesia! After your arrival in Bali, your driver and personal assistant will welcome you at Ngurah Rai Airport and send you to the hotel. After settling down, you could take a good rest to adjust to the time difference. If you like, you can hang out at night to experience the nightlife of Bali.

➤ Ride-hailing in Indonesia
It’s easy to take a ride in tourist cities of Indonesia. Hail one at a taxi station or book through mobile apps - Grab, Gojek or Blue Bird. Blue Bird offers more affordable service, but it might not be available in some cities. Besides taxi and motorcycle taxi booking service, Grab and Gojek offer food delivery.

➤ Tips on Packing
It’s hot and humid on Bali, Java and Komodo Islands, so breathable summer clothes and comfortable walking shoes are suitable. Take a warm coat with you in case it’s cold when you watch the sunrise in Borobudur. In addition, mosquito repellent can protect you from mosquito bites which may spread the dengue virus.

➤ Recommended Activities for Early Arrivals
Nusa Dua is a peaceful resort in Bali, featuring clean white sandy beaches and glassy water. You could unwind on the hotel’s private beach or discover exquisite restaurants and shops along the coast. If you want to try Balinese food, don’t miss the skewered and grilled meat, known as satay. Satay is usually made of chicken, beef, pork, or tofu. The meat is marinated in a special spiced and salty sauce before being grilled, with a unique combination of flavors. Kekeb Restaurant (Lot Bc Jl. Itdc Nusa Dua 80361) is a recommendation for you to have an Indonesian dinner on the beach. Enjoy the first night of your tour in the atmosphere of live music. The restaurant’s average cost is about USD 12.

Accommodation: Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, Bali (5 stars) or similar

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up at the hotel and accompany you to Melasti Beach, which is remarkable for the calm sea and excellent scenery of the Indian Ocean. Next to the beach are the winding coastal road and towering cliffs. You could enjoy sunbathing and swimming in the ocean. Many locals come here to take wedding pictures by the sea. Send your warm wishes if you meet new couples. We’ll then proceed to Padang-Padang Beach. Follow the guide to go down some steps from the cliff to reach this hidden beach, which is also one of the most popular surfing spots in Bali. The scattered rock makes the beach distinctive and beautiful.

The following attraction will be Uluwatu Temple, which stands on a 70-meter (230 ft.) cliff, overlooking the pounding waves and the white sandy beach. A monk instigated and raised money to construct the temple around a thousand years ago. At sunset, you’ll watch a traditional Balinese dance - Kecak fire dance on the amphitheater of the temple. Against the backdrop of the romantic orange-red sky and sea, the ancient stories of the epic Ramayana are performed. After the tour, you’ll be transferred back to the hotel.
➤ Tip: Uluwatu Temple is home to hundreds of naughty macaque monkeys which are regarded as deities by the locals, but they can be really annoying to grab things from visitors to get food. So it’s highly advisable to keep your belongings in bags, especially your hat, sunglasses, and phone.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, Bali (5 stars) or similar

Today will be free for you. Get some relaxation at the spa center or outdoor swimming pools in the hotel, go for a stroll at the soft beach, or take part in some exciting activities like sea walking or fly boarding. Savor authentic Balinese food and discover some local markets. Also, you can pay a visit to Museum Pasifika, which has the largest collection of Asia-Pacific artworks in Asia. Appreciate over 600 artworks by 200 artists from 25 different countries.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, Bali (5 stars) or similar

Today, your driver will transfer you to Bali Airport for your onward 1.5-hour flight to Yogyakarta. Upon landing, your private local guide will pick you up from the airport and take you to visit Borobudur Temple, which is one of the most significant relics in Java and even in Indonesia. The name Borobudur is literally “Buddhist monastery on the hill”. It has a history of over 800 years, and is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site for being the largest Buddhist monument in the world. The structure comprises 9 tiers and is over 40 meters (130 ft.) high. There are 6 square terraces that are linked by steps leading your way to the top. Each of them is intricately carved with reliefs that depict the story of Buddha’s and people’s lives, as well as animals and plants. There are 504 Buddha statues in total at Borobudur, solemn and majestic. When the tour is over, you’ll be sent to the hotel we carefully selected for you.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Plataran Heritage Borobudur Hotel (5 stars) or similar

Today, we’ll first go to the Royal Palace of Yogyakarta, which belongs to the Sultan family of Yogyakarta. The palace was completed in 1756 and still serves as the residence of the royal family. Admire the intricate carvings and lavishly-decorated architecture, and explore the museum inside where you can experience the cultural and artistic life of Javanese. Next, we’ll move forward to Taman Sari Palace near the royal palace, which used to be the royal garden of the Sultan King. Stroll around the old pools, water gardens and pavilions with sophisticated drainage system. Take some photos by the impressive gateway and the well-preserved bathing pools.

Then, let’s head to Prambanan Archaeological Park for the world-famous temples. Built in the 9th century, Prambanan is the largest and most beautiful Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. The buildings feature prominent spires and typical Hindu religious bas-reliefs and used to be composed of 240 temples. Unfortunately, Prambanan collapsed and was almost destroyed during earthquakes and volcanic eruption. Only a few have been restored, and you could still see the ruins of some small temples. In addition, marvel at Sewu temple complex - the second largest Buddhist Temple complex in Java, and Kalasan Temple - the oldest Buddhist temple in Central Java.

In the late afternoon, we’ll return to downtown Yogyakarta and explore Beringharjo Market and Malioboro Street. Beringharjo is one of the oldest traditional markets in Yogyakarta, where you could find a wide array of clothes, souvenirs, street food, precious herbs, and antiques. Observe and experience the local daily life, and indulge yourself in the lively atmosphere when it’s getting dark and the market is lit by street lights. Malioboro Street is the best place to appreciate batik with various patterns and designs. Along the street are colorful boutiques and shops. Fabrics, clothes, and handicrafts made of batik are all available here. If luckily, you may encounter a free band performance on the street. Sample some street food or snacks to wipe out your hunger and fatigue. Finally, we’ll escort you back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Sofia Boutique Residence, Yogyakarta (4 stars) or similar

This morning, your guide will take you to Jomblang and Grubug Caves for an exploration. Jomblang Cave, one of the largest natural caves in Indonesia, is connected with Grubug Cave by a 300-meter (328-yard) tunnel. Get to the cave mouth though a thrilling 60-meter (200 ft.) rope down, take an adventure in the dark, damp caves and be amazed by the beautiful rock formations inside. Stand in a spray of sun light pouring into the cave from the ceiling. This is the well-known “Light from the Heaven” and you could take some epic silhouette photographs. After finishing the visit, your guide will transfer you to Yogyakarta Airport for the onward 1.5-hour flight to Bali. After arrival, the local driver will pick you up and send you to the hotel in Ubud.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Puri Sebali Resort, Ubud (4 stars) or similar

If you are an early riser, you won’t want to miss a morning trek on our own along Campuhan Ridge Walk, which is one of the must-do activities in Ubud, passing through lush valleys, rice fields, and Wos River while enjoying fresh air and impressive rural scenery.

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up and accompany you to the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, which houses 3 historic temples and hundreds of Bali macaques. These cute monkeys have long tails and funny “hairstyles”. They are used to visitors and the staff who feed them. Green moss covers the stone pathway and statues like a carpet, giving the sanctuary a captivating and mysterious charm. However, please note that these monkeys are sometimes too dynamic and are likely to snatch food or something from your hands, so it’s better to be careful especially if you want to interact with them. Next, we’ll go to appreciate Tegalalang Rice Terraces, which is set against a majestic volcano with breathtaking natural beauty, unsophisticated village houses, and fine cafés and restaurants. Wander among the verdant paddy fields and coconut trees. You could also pay for an experience of the nearby jungle swings and other photo spots.

Our next stop is Mount Batur in Kintamani, the second largest volcano in Bali which is very active and last erupted in 2000. It frequently spews volcanic ash and thus brings rich soil and plenty of rainfall here. Overlook Lake Batur, which is a vast crater lake surrounded by villages and hills. Next, we’ll proceed to Gunung Kawi Temple, a cluster of Hindu temples built in the 9-11th centuries. It was long forgotten in the mountains until it was discovered in 1920. A series of steps will lead your way to the 10 cave temples tucked under cliffs and lush trees. Admire the carvings and inscriptions that record the history and stories of the temple. After all the sightseeing, we’ll return to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Puri Sebali Resort, Ubud (4 stars) or similar

You will be escorted to Bali airport for your 1.5-hour flight to Labuan Bajo on Flores Island. Upon landing, your local driver will pick you up at the airport and send you to the hotel. The rest time of the day will be free for you to prepare for the following Komodo tour packages.

➤ Recommendations for the Night
You could spend some leisurely time at Labuan Bajo Port around sunset, and have a taste of some local seafood at the nearby fish market - TPI Kampung Ujung. After dinner, you may chill out at Paradise BAR, drink a cocktail, and enjoy the sea view in the relaxing music ambience.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Puri Sari Beach Hotel, Labuan Bajo (3 stars) or similar

Are you ready to see Komodo dragons up close? Today we’ll start our Komodo tours! Let’s take a private boat to Rinca Island. On the way, have a stop at Kelor Island and enjoy snorkeling in the crystal clear water to discover the enchanting coral reefs and sea life. Rinca Island, one of the largest islands in Komodo National Park, is covered by dense mangrove forests and expansive tropical grassland. More importantly, it is one of the only natural habitats of wild Komodo dragons. Though as the world’s biggest lizard, it was not discovered and named until the early 20th century. This kind of predator can grow as long as 3 meters (10 ft.), with terrifying black skin and sharp claws and teeth. Then we’ll continue to sail to Padar Island to take a short hiking. From the peak of the island, you could get an incomparable panorama of the surrounding 4 bays, and overlook the striking pink beach. Before the end of the day, we’ll go to Kalong Island which is named after the flying foxes that inhabit here. At around sunset every day, hundreds of thousands of bats fly from the mangrove forests in search of food against the backdrop of the orange and purple sky, which captivates lots of tourists to capture the awe-inspiring scene.

★ Komodo Liveaboard: Stay Overnight on a Local Wooden Boat

Before nightfall, we’ll have dinner on the Phinisi boat which is a traditional Indonesian wooden boat. People live in coastal regions of Indonesia have used Phinisi for fishing or transporting goods for centuries. You’ll stay overnight on the well-equipped boat with meals, snacks, drinks and snorkeling gears. Enjoy the cool breeze on the deck and fall asleep in the sound of the waves.

➤ Today’s and tomorrow’s itinerary may be changed according to the local weather condition.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Monalisa or Latansa Boat (AC Cabin Local Boat)

Today’s first stop is Komodo Island, where you can observe Komodo dragons more closely. The island houses palm forests and grassland, with a large number of Komodo dragons inhabiting. Although fierce as they look, most of the dragons often drowsily lie in the shade of a tree or stay on the rock to enjoy the sunshine during the day. Keep a safe distance and your guide will help you if you want to take photos with Komodo dragons. Next, we are going to the Pink Beach. As its name suggests, the beach is distinctive for the unique color formed by one of Indonesia’s national treasures - red coral. The debris of the coral is pushed onto the beach, crushed and mixed with the white sand by the water, which is really an artwork of the nature. On the way back, we’ll go to Kanawa Island for snorkeling. This uninhabited island is home to coral reefs bursting with algae and fish. Dive into the magical underwater world, discover manta rays, sunfish, and whale sharks, and be dazzled by colorful starfish and sea urchins.

Then you’ll be escorted to the harbor of Labuan Bajo, where your driver will send you to the airport for your 1.5-hour flight to Bali. Upon arrival, we will transfer you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: The Colony Hotel, Seminyak (4 stars) or similar

This will be the last day of your Indonesia Komodo tours. According to your flight time, your driver will transfer you to the airport and see you off. Bon voyage!

➤ If you want to chill out on the beaches and enjoy the sea view of Bali before you leave, just contact us to add more days for the beachside hotel booking. Or if you want to extend your tour to explore Nusa Penida Island or Lombok Island, we are glad to customize an itinerary for you.

Meals: Breakfast