Java & South Sulawesi

Today you will fly from Amsterdam, Brussels, or Düsseldorf to Jakarta. We recommend airlines such as Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Saudia, Singapore Airlines, and KLM/Garuda. On www.momondo.com, you can easily compare flight times and prices across different airlines. If you would like us to check this for you, just let us know!

Upon arrival at Jakarta Airport, a private car will be waiting to take you to Hotel Mercure Batavia. The journey takes approximately 1 hour, passing through the bustling streets of Jakarta.

Mercure Batavia Jakarta is a stylish hotel set in a beautifully restored Dutch colonial building. Located in the heart of Jakarta’s historic Old Town, Kota Tua, it is an ideal base for exploring the city’s rich heritage. The hotel offers comfortable rooms, a swimming pool, a spa, a fitness center, and a restaurant serving both local and international cuisine.

At 09:00, a private car will pick you up to explore Jakarta’s iconic landmarks and hidden gems. Together with a guide, you will visit Old Town Batavia, explore the historic Sunda Kelapa Harbor, see the National Monument, stroll through the bustling streets of Chinatown, step inside the majestic Istiqlal Mosque, and discover the artistry of Indonesian puppetry at a traditional Wayang studio. Along the way, your guide will share inspiring stories. After the tour the driver will take you back to the hotel.

At 09:00, a private car will pick you up and take you to Gambir train station. The drive takes approximately 20 minutes.

You will depart from Gambir train station in Jakarta at 10:20, travel through scenic landscapes and rice fields, and arrive at Semarang Tawang train station at 15:25.

Upon arrival at Semarang train station, a private car will take you to Jepara. The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Jepara Marina Beach is a beachfront hotel with comfortable rooms. If you arrive in time for sunset, you can relax by the pool and watch the sun go down into the ocean. The hotel also has a restaurant serving delicious Indonesian and international dishes.

At 07:45, a private car will take you to Jepara harbour. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes.

At 09:00, you will depart by fast boat to Karimunjawa. The journey takes approximately 2.5 hours.

Upon arrival at Karimunjawa harbour, a private car will be waiting to take you to Hotel The Happinezz Hills. The journey takes approximately 5 minutes.

Travel with Happinezz Hills is part of Hotel The Happinezz Hills. During your holiday in Indonesia, we would be delighted to welcome you to our own hotel. The Happinezz Hills Karimunjawa is a charming hillside hotel with ocean and sunset views. Surrounded by nature, it offers comfortable rooms, a swimming pool, and a peaceful atmosphere. Our restaurant serves both Indonesian and Western dishes. Your Karimunjawa holiday will begin with a delicious Tumpeng, a traditional Indonesian rice dish. Tumpeng is a cone-shaped tower of yellow rice, beautifully arranged with a variety of side dishes such as vegetables, eggs, chicken, and tempe.

At 14:00, you will hop on your scooter and, together with a guide, visit Bobby Beach. It is known for its long stretch of soft white sand and iconic swings. You can also climb into the small treehouse and take beautiful photos of the view. Afterwards, you will continue to Bukit Love viewpoint, where you can enjoy panoramic views and the sunset over Karimunjawa town and the surrounding islands. After the tour, you will return to the hotel, where dinner will be served.

At 08:45, you will ride a scooter for about 5 minutes to the Karimunjawa harbour for a full-day snorkeling and island-hopping tour. The boat will take you to two beautiful islands. On the islands, you can take a walk to explore, swim in the crystal-clear waters, or relax on the beaches. For lunch, enjoy a delicious fish barbecue on one of the islands. With your guide, you will also explore the underwater world of Karimunjawa at two snorkeling spots, seeing colorful coral reefs and a variety of marine life. If you’re lucky, you might even spot Nemo or sea turtles! After returning to the harbour, you will ride back by scooter to the hotel, where dinner will be served.

At 09:00, together with the guide, you will depart by scooter. Travel with Happinezz is one of the founders of the Kejora Karimunjawa Foundation, an educational center on the island that includes a preschool, a first-grade primary class, and English courses for both children and adults. They also organize various community projects and offer a library. You are very welcome to visit the school, and if you like, you can even join one of the activities. After this you will visit Annora Beach. You can take a short walk to a viewpoint for capturing stunning photos. Next, visit the mangrove forest and climb the watchtower for a panoramic view over the mangroves. Afterwards, enjoy a delicious lunch at Eco Casa or Bunga Jabe, both located right on the beach. Following lunch, conclude the day at Sunset Beach, a cozy spot with music, beanbags, and breathtaking views of the sun setting over the ocean. After sunset, you will drive back to the hotel, where dinner will be served.

At 08:45, a private car will pick you up and take you to Karimunjawa airport. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes.

You will fly with Susi Air flight on a 45 minutes journey from Karimunjawa to Yogyakarta. Departure is scheduled at 10:15, arriving at 11:00. The 12-seater aircraft offers a special experience, with beautiful views over the islands and the ocean, showing different shades of blue.

Upon arrival at Yogyakarta airport, a private car will be waiting to take you to Hotel Neo Malioboro. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Hotel Neo Malioboro is a modern hotel in the heart of Yogyakarta. The hotel offers comfortable and stylish rooms. There is a restaurant, spa, and swimming pool. In the evening, you can walk along the lively Jalan Malioboro to try street food or visit one of the nice shops.

At 15:00, a private car will pick you up and take you to Prambanan. Prambanan is the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. Accompanied by a guide, you will walk through the temple grounds, learn about its history and the stories behind it. The complex was built in the 9th century and is dedicated to the three main Hindu deities: Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. The central area consists of three main temples, surrounded by smaller shrines and courtyards arranged according to traditional Hindu cosmology. The temples are decorated with detailed stone reliefs depicting scenes from the Ramayana epic, as well as various gods, celestial beings, and symbolic motifs. Prambanan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 and remains an important cultural and archaeological site.

After visiting Prambanan, the driver will take you to the venue of the Ramayana Ballet. Before the ballet begins at 19:30, you can enjoy a dinner buffet. The Ramayana Ballet tells the classical love story of Prince Rama and his wife Sita. When Sita is abducted by the demon king Ravana, Rama, together with his brother Lakshmana and the monkey general Hanuman, sets out on a long and dangerous journey to rescue her. After many trials and battles, Rama defeats Ravana and reunites with Sita. The story symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, loyalty, courage, and devotion. The story is performed through traditional Javanese dance, music, and drama. With Prambanan Temple as a backdrop and under the stars, the open-air performance offers a special cultural experience. In case of bad weather, the show will be moved to the indoor stage. After the performance, the driver will take you back to your hotel.

At 07:45, a private car will take you to the starting point of the cycling tour at Hotel Grand Rosala on Jalan Prawirotaman. Step onto your bike for a cycling adventure through Yogyakarta’s villages and pedal through the peaceful countryside, far beyond the usual tourist routes. You will cycle through rice fields, where, depending on the season, you may see farmers working in the fields. Your guide will take you to a traditional tempeh and tofu factory, where you will learn about the fascinating production process. You will also stop to see how clay bricks are made by hand. At the end of the 15-kilometer route, you will park the bicycles, and a car will take you to the center of Yogyakarta, where you can continue the cultural city tour.

You will start the tour at Jalan Malioboro, Yogyakarta’s most famous shopping street, lined with batik shops, street vendors, souvenir stalls, and local food stands. It is also a great place to stop for lunch. After lunch, you will visit the Kraton, also known as the Sultan’s Palace, where your guide will share fascinating insights into the lifestyle of the Javanese sultans and their royal traditions. Continue to Taman Sari Water Castle, a former royal residence with bathing pools for the king’s family. The tour also includes a visit to a bustling silver market, as well as a stop at a batik workshop to see how these beautiful textiles are created using traditional techniques. After the tour, the driver will take you back to the hotel.

At 07:30, a private car will pick you up and take you to Borobudur. Borobudur is the largest Buddhist temple in the world and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was built in the 9th century during the Sailendra dynasty. The massive stone structure consists of nine stacked platforms, topped by a central dome, and is decorated with more than 2,600 relief panels and 72 stupas containing Buddha statues. The reliefs illustrate Buddhist teachings and scenes from daily life in ancient Java. Borobudur is designed as a symbolic representation of the Buddhist path toward enlightenment, where visitors gradually ascend from the lower levels to the upper terraces. Your temple visit is scheduled at 09:30. You will be assigned to a small group and accompanied by an official Borobudur guide. During the tour, the guide will explain the history of Borobudur, the meaning of the relief carvings, Buddhist philosophy, and the symbolic layout of the monument. You must remain with your group at all times, and independent exploration of the temple is not permitted. After the tour the driver will bring you back to the hotel.

At 05:45, a private car will pick you up and take you to Lempuyangan train station. The journey takes approximately 15 minutes.

You will depart from Yogyakarta at 07:00, travel through scenic landscapes and rice fields, and arrive in Probolinggo at 15:35.

Upon arrival, a private car will pick you up and will take you to Cemoro Lawang. The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

ARTOTEL Cabin Bromo is a unique mountain cabin-style hotel located in the heart of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. You’ll find it surrounded by volcanic landscapes and hills. The hotel offers modern, minimalist cabins with comfortable amenities, and a restaurant with panoramic views.

At 03:00, a jeep will take you to the sunrise viewpoint. If the weather is good, you will be treated to a spectacular sunrise over the majestic volcanic landscape. After sunrise, the jeep will drive down to the Sea of Sand. Climb onto the jeep and take some beautiful photos with Mount Bromo in the background. Afterwards, the jeep will take you to the foot of the volcano. From there you can walk to the crater of the volcano. It is a challenging walk with about 250 steps at the end, but the breathtaking view of the crater makes it well worth the effort. For an extra fee, you can also go part of the way by horse and only walk the final 250 steps. After exploring the crater, you will continue the journey to the Teletubbies Hills. This area is famous because it closely resembles the landscape from the popular children’s TV show Teletubbies, with wide-open views of green hills and a peaceful contrast to the surrounding volcanic sea of sand. Around 10:00, the jeep will take you back to the hotel for a well-deserved breakfast.

At 11.00, a private car will take you to Surabaya. The journey takes approximately 3 hours.

Premier Place Surabaya is conveniently located near Surabaya Airport. The rooms are modern and comfortably furnished. The hotel offers an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, and a fitness center.

At 08:00, a private car will pick you up and take you to Surabaya airport. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes.

You will fly with Lion Air on a 1 hour and 30 minute journey from Surabaya to Makassar. Departure is scheduled at 10:25, arriving at 12:55. Please note that there is a 1-hour time difference.

Upon arrival at Makassar airport, a private car will be waiting for you to take you to Ecolodge Rammang-Rammang. The journey by car takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. Once you arrive at the river, you'll take a short 2-minute boat ride across to the hotel.

Rammang Rammang Ecolodge is beautifully surrounded by nature, with views of limestone hills and small boats passing by. The rooms are simple but offer a unique experience in traditional wooden bungalows. You can relax on your terrace and listen to the sounds of nature. The ecolodge has a restaurant that serves tasty food. Depending on when you arrive, you can take a short walk by yourself to a nearby viewpoint. There, you can see many bats flying out of a cave around sunset as they go hunting at night.

At 08:00, a guide will meet you at the ecolodge, and you will start a full day of exploring on foot. Today’s walk is about 10 kilometers long. You will walk through beautiful rice fields and pass traditional stilt houses. The children playing in the street will greet you with cheerful smiles. Your first stop is a prehistoric cave. Inside, you can see old handprints on the walls, made by some of the first people who lived in this area. Many of the handprints are missing one finger, which people believe is part of a mourning tradition. Next, you will go to a nearby cave with stalactites and stalagmites. You can climb inside and look at the amazing white and brown shapes. After this, you can go back to the ecolodge for lunch. In the afternoon, your guide will take you by private boat to Stone Park. There, you will walk between strange rock shapes and narrow paths that look like small temples. Then, you will continue by boat to Kampung Berua. You will walk through the village and see how local people live. At the end of the afternoon, your guide will take you back to Ecolodge by boat.

At 08:00, you will cross the river by boat again. A private car will be waiting to take you to Rantepao, in the Tana Toraja region. The drive takes about 10 hours and shows you many beautiful landscapes. You will stop to enjoy the view of Erotic Mountain, named because its shape looks like a woman in an erotic pose. As you get closer to Tana Toraja, you will start to see the traditional Toraja houses.

Misiliana Hotel is located in the center of Tana Toraja. You will sleep in a traditional Sulawesi-style Tongkonan house. You can relax on your terrace and enjoy views of the garden, the mountains, and the swimming pool. The hotel area also has a restaurant, a bar, a bakery, a small grocery shop, and a souvenir store.

The most special experience in Tana Toraja is joining a ceremony, especially in a village in the northern mountains. Because ceremonies don’t happen every day, your guide will check the day before to see if one is taking place. Sometimes, there may be no ceremony at all, so it cannot be guaranteed. Below is an example of a two-day plan, but your guide may change it to create the best program for you. Activities from both days can be swapped, combined, removed, or new ones added.

If you are lucky enough to attend a ceremony, at 09:00 a private car will pick you up and take you to a local animal market. Buffaloes and pigs are sold here and later used in the rituals. You can also buy a gift for the family, such as a carton of cigarettes, which is seen as a kind gesture in Toraja tradition. Toraja people wear black to ceremonies, so it is best to wear a black shirt with sleeves and long black trousers. Other dark colors are okay too, but light clothes or bright patterns should be avoided. The ceremony can be intense. Many animals are sacrificed in front of you. The sounds can be loud, and the smells may be strong. You can decide for yourself whether you want to see everything up close or prefer to watch from a distance. Your guide will explain the meaning and traditions during the event.

The person who passed away is placed in the top part of a traditional house. Often, the person passed away months before, and the family keeps the body at home while saving money for the expensive funeral. During the ceremony, children are dressed in beautiful clothes and play music. When you are ready to leave, the day continues with a walk through the nearby area and villages, or you can explore further by car. At the end of the day, your driver will take you back to your hotel.

At 09:00, a private car will pick you up to explore Tana Toraja. You will learn more about the different types of graves and the traditional houses in Tana Toraja. You will visit Lemo, where family graves are carved into steep rock walls. Inside these rock chambers, several generations from the same family are buried. The graves are usually closed with wooden doors and watched over by Tau Tau, wooden statues that represent the person who has passed away. You will also visit Kambira, where babies who died before ever eating solid food and were only breastfed are buried inside trees. The people of Tana Toraja believe that placing the baby in the tree helps the child’s spirit grow together with the tree, as if the tree becomes a new mother, giving life and protection. During the tour you will visit megalithic stone graves, where people are buried under or inside large stones. The height of the grave in the rock wall or the size of the stone shows how rich or important the family is. Making these graves is very hard and need help from the whole community. You will also explore a mysterious burial cave, where old coffins and human bones can still be seen. This gives you a deeper look into Toraja’s spiritual beliefs. You will also visit the traditional houses of Sulawesi where you will learn about their special design and decorations, and you will even get the chance to step inside one of the houses to see it up close.

At 08:00, a private car will pick you up and take you to Sengkang. The journey takes about 6 hours. You will go down through the mountains and pass the Erotic Mountain again. Near the end of the drive, you will start to see Lake Tempe.

BBC Hotel Sengkang is a small hotel in the center with comfortable rooms and a small breakfast buffet. The location is ideal, as the departure point for the sunset boat tour is less than a minute’s walk from the hotel.

At 16:00, you will step into a long-tail boat for a scenic tour of about 30–45 minutes to the floating houses. The first part takes you along the river, where you can see locals washing their clothes, taking a bath, and children playing in the water. The boat then continues onto the lake, where fishermen pass by with their freshly caught fish. In the distance, you’ll already spot the floating houses. Upon arrival, you step onto one of these houses and are welcomed by the fishermen. Take a walk around the boat-house to see their living and fishing activities. You will be offered a cup of coffee or tea, along with delicious pisang goreng. After capturing some beautiful photos, you head back onto the boat and enjoy the sunset that makes the lake look very beautiful. The boat will bring you back to the hotel.

At 08:00 a private car will pick you up and take you to Bira. The journey takes approximately 7 hours.

BaraCoco Bungalows is a small and charming accommodation surrounded by tropical nature. From the bungalow, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the sea, and via the steep stairs, you can walk straight down to the beach. The bungalows are built with natural materials and offer a relaxed, authentic Indonesian atmosphere. BaraCoco Bungalows also features a restaurant serving delicious dishes.

At 09:00, a private boat will pick you up directly at the hotel, and from there, it will take you across to the island. Liukang Loe Island lies just off the coast near Bira. On the way, the boat makes its first stop at the coral reef located just in front of the island. Put on your snorkel gear and jump into the water to explore the underwater world. After snorkeling, the boat continues to Liukang Loe Island, where you will be welcomed at Ramli Guesthouse. The rest of the morning you can enjoy the island, relax on the beach, take a walk along the long white sandy shore, or visit the small village to experience local island life. Sadly, there is quite a lot of plastic waste on the island, but the beautiful scenery and clear turquoise water still make it well worth a visit. You can also go snorkeling again from the beach. For lunch, Ramli Guesthouse serves freshly grilled fish. Once you’ve had enough time to enjoy the island, the captain will take you back to the hotel.

At 08:00, a private car will pick you up and take you back to Makassar. The journey takes about 6 hours. Along the way, you will stop at Bissapu Waterfall. You’ll reach the beautiful waterfall after a short 5-minute walk, and afterwards the car will continue to Makassar. Before checking in at your hotel, you will visit the impressive 99 Domes Mosque, one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The mosque’s 99 domes symbolize the 99 names of Allah. You can admire its unique architecture and colors from the outside before the driver takes you to the hotel.

Swiss-Bell Makassar is a modern hotel in the center of Makassar. You can easily walk to Losari Beach and Fort Rotterdam in just a few minutes. The hotel has a pool with a view of the ocean and a rooftop bar where you can enjoy the sunset. The restaurant serves a variety of Indonesian and Western dishes.

You can have dinner at the hotel, but for a more local experience, walk to Losari Boulevard. In the evening, the street turns into an outdoor restaurant with many food stalls, plastic chairs and tables filled with locals enjoying seafood and local specialties. Recommended dishes are Ikan Bakar (freshly caught fish grilled with local spices), Coto Makassar (a traditional beef soup with spices), and for dessert, Pisang Epe (grilled banana with palm sugar syrup).

At 09:00 you can walk in just five minutes to Fort Rotterdam, a well-preserved Dutch colonial fortress that dates back to the 17th century. After you have purchased the entrance tickets, you can ask whether a local guide (at an additional cost) is available to give you a tour, or you can explore the fort on your own. The fort was originally built by the Gowa Kingdom and later rebuilt by the Dutch. Inside, you can explore the old stone buildings, wide courtyards, and small museum that tells the story of Makassar’s history and its role in the spice trade. You can visit the La Galigo Museum, which displays traditional Bugis and Makassarese artifacts such as ancient manuscripts, traditional clothing, old maps, and maritime equipment. Some rooms show how people lived during colonial times, with furniture and decorations from that era. Standing on the fort's ramparts, you can enjoy a nice view over the harbor and the sea. A famous local artist, Pak Arifin, makes small clay paintings within minutes. A unique handmade souvenir to take home.

At 12:30, a private car will pick you up and take you to Makassar airport. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes.

You will fly with Citlink on a 2 hour and 20 minute journey from Makassar to Jakarta. Departure is scheduled at 15:20, arriving at 16:40. Please note that there is a 1-hour time difference.

Upon arrival at Jakarta airport, a private car will be waiting to take you to FM7 Resort Hotel. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes.

FM7 Resort Hotel Jakarta offers modern rooms, along with a swimming pool and a fitness center. The hotel is conveniently located near the airport, making it easy to rest and relax after a long flight. You can enjoy dinner at the restaurant, which serves a variety of Asian and international dishes. After dinner, head to the hotel’s rooftop lounge, Montezuma, to enjoy drinks and a beautiful view of Jakarta.

Depending on your flight departure time, a private car will take you to the airport. The journey takes approximately 10 minutes.

Your Indonesia vacation has come to an end. We hope you will look back on a carefree and wonderful journey, enriched with new experiences.