the ultimate indonesian adventure: 36-day itinerary from sumatra to

Ultimate Indonesian Yachts

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THE ULTIMATE INDONESIAN ADVENTURE: 36-DAY ITINERARY FROM SUMATRA TO KOMODO SUMATRA - KALIMANTAN - JAVA - BALI – LOMBOK – KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

INTRODUCING INDONESIA From Sumatra, home to Southeast Asia’s largest lake, dense jungles and the orangutan, Indonesia stretches 5000km to Papua; the largely unexplored eastern province home to the once ‘headhunting’ Asmats, peaceful Dani and breath-taking mountain ranges. Indonesia is as varied as it is unique, from the Hindu-Buddhist monuments of Borobudur to the famous Komodo Dragons, countless deserted beaches and natural wonders grace an archipelago filled with mystique and beauty. For those searching for the true exotic, who challenge themselves with experiences that are rare and magical yet appreciate service, quality and an unique insight into a destination, Indonesia presents an opportunity to fulfil the ultimate travel experience. Pairing land and sea is a natural marriage in Indonesia, and a luxurious sailing sojourn allows visitors to access parts of these islands that are usually unreachable to land travellers.

HIGHLIGHTS

! Encounter orangutans in conservation projects in Sumatra and Kalimantan

! Explore Kalimantan’s jungle on a traditional riverboat and meet the Dayak tribes

! Witness sunrise over Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world

! See the smouldering volcanoes, lush forests and mineral lakes of Java

! Wander among ancient temples and traditional villages in Bali’s untouched north

! Relax in an eco-friendly retreat in laid-back Lombok

! Set sail for Komodo National Park, the land of dragons, on a private yacht


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SUGGESTED ITINERARY SUMATRA - KALIMANTAN - JAVA - BALI – LOMBOK – KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN MEDAN (SUMATRA) Upon arrival in Medan, guests will be met by an English-speaking guide and transferred to a local hotel in Medan, where the rest of the day will be at leisure. DAY 2: MEDAN TO BUKIT LAWANG (SUMATRA) After breakfast at the hotel, guests will embark on the road trip to Bukit Lawang, a journey that should take approximately 3! to 4 hours. Bukit Lawang is located on the edge of Gunung Leuser National Park, close to Sumatra’s best-known orangutan conservation area. The scenic road journey passes through rubber, palm oil and cacao plantations and there will be the opportunity to stop and admire the photogenic panoramas. On arrival in Bukit Lawang, the rest of the day may be spent at leisure in the jungle lodge. DAY 3: BUKIT LAWANG - ORANGUTAN CENTRE & JUNGLE WALK (SUMATRA) This morning, guests will visit the nearby Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, where they can watch the orangutans as they swing to the centre’s feeding platforms. Here, these rare creatures are looked after and prepared for release back into their natural habitat. After time observing these fascinating creatures, guests may enjoy a gentle walk deeper into the surrounding jungle, looking for Ucok or Mina, two of the park’s most famous orangutan inhabitants. In the forest, guests will have the opportunity to see several other species of indigenous flora and fauna, including the Thomas Leaf monkey, long-tailed macaque or some of the one hundred bird species found in the park including sunbirds and honey-eaters. The walk will take approximately 3 hours, before guests return to their eco lodge. DAY 4: BUKIT LAWANG TO TANGKAHAN (SUMATRA) This morning guests will be picked up at around 11am for the drive to Tangkahan, passing through plantations and dense jungle. On the way, they will stop at the oil-palm, rubber and cacao plantations, and local schools. The drive takes around 2 hours. It’s partially off-road and passes several interesting places where stunning panoramas can be witnessed. Arriving in Tangkahan, guests will cross the Batang River by local raft or by new bridge to their jungle lodge, where they may spend the remainder of the day at leisure or take a walk along the bank of the Buluh River to see thousands of butterflies and enjoy a swim.



DAY 5: TANGKAHAN – ELEPHANT CAMP - MEDAN (SUMATRA) After breakfast, a guide will take guests to visit the elephant camp, where they can watch the mahouts bathe Sumatran elephants. After that, guests may join a ride for around 1 hour to explore the Leuser National Park. At the end of the ride, guests can enjoy tubing - floating down the Buluh River on rubber rings. The last visit of today is village where guests will have a chance to meet the locals and learn about their culture. After lunch, guests will return to Medan and overnight once more at a local hotel. DAY 6: MEDAN TO PALANGKARAYA (KALIMANTAN) After breakfast, guests will depart for the airport to catch a flight to Palangkaraya (via Jakarta). Upon arrival at Palangkaraya, the capital of Central Kalimantan, guests will be met by the local guide and transferred to their comfortable cabin onboard the Rahai i Pangun river cruise boat. The Rahai’I Pangun is 22 x 6 metre traditional Kalimantan river boat known as a bis air, which was converted into the beautiful, rustic boat she is today. The design and spesifications were implemented by teams of Indonesian master boat designer and engineers, using local craftsmen.

Guests will pass stilted villages and traditional floating houses as the boat departs Palangkaraya and cruises along the Kahayan River, the largest river in Central Kalimantan. In the late afternoon when the climate is at its most temperate, guests can hop onto a small canoe and look for wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, hornbills and Brahmini kites on the shores of the Black Water lakes. Return to the boat for a peaceful dinner amid an idyllic jungle setting.

DAY 7: KALAWEIT ISLAND - BAPALLAS ISLAND - LAKE TAHAI (KALIMANTAN) Guests will enjoy a leisurely breakfast with wonderful views on the upper deck as the boat continues slowly upstream along the Rungan River. This afternoon, guests will transfer to motorised canoes and travel to the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation (BOSF) pre-release island of Bapallas. Here, they will have the opportunity to observe orangutans and learn about the pre-release program, which was established in 1991 and is dedicated to the conservation of the Bornean orangutan and its habitat. Returning to the boat, lunch will be served as the boat passes Kaja pre-release island en route to the riverside village of Kanarakan. Upon arrival, village elders from the Ngaju Dayak tribe will perform a welcoming ceremony and invite guests to drink locally spiced coffee or herbal tea. This is followed by the opportunity to walk through the village with a local host and learn how the community lives and works in such a remote location. Later, guests will return to the boat and continue downstream towards picturesque Lake Tahai, where the boat will moor for the night.



DAY 8: LAKE TAHAI - SEI GOHONG - MUARA RUNGAN (KALIMANTAN) Early this morning, there is the option to take a bird-spotting excursion by canoe on Lake Tahai before the boat sets sail for the village of Sei Gohong. Upon arrival at the village, guests will meet with the village healer and take a short walk into the forest to learn about the local plants and how they are used in traditional medicines for the Ngajus Dayak tribes people that live here. Cruising back downstream, the boat will pass the islands of Bapallas and Hampapak (where there is the opportunity to catch sight of more orangutans), en route to Muara Rungan where the boat will moor for the final night. DAY 9: MUARA RUNGAN - PALANGKARAYA – JOGJAKARTA (JAVA) Guests will enjoy breakfast as the boat heads back to Palangkaraya. Upon arrival at the harbour, guests will be transferred to the airport in order to connect with their onward flight to Jogjakarta (via Jakarta). Upon arrival in Jogjakarta, guests will be met and escorted to the exquisite Amanjiwo retreat, located in a natural amphitheatre in the Menoreh Hills. These luxurious villas (some with private plunge pools and some with views to Borobudur Temple) are the perfect place to relax for a few days in some of Indonesia’s most beautiful surrounds. Here, guests can spend time hiking, cycling through local villages, volcano trekking or visiting the nearby Borobudur Temple. DAY 10: DIENG PLATEAU (JAVA) This morning, guests will visit the Dieng Plateu. Situated at an altitude of almost 2,100 metres, the spectacular Dieng Plateau is home to some of the oldest Hindu temples in Java. Meaning “Abode of the Gods,” it is believed that around 400 temples originally stood on this volcanic caldera, but today only 8 remain. Dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, the temples were abandoned but rediscovered in 1856. In addition to the temples, the area is one of great scenic beauty surrounded by volcanic craters, sulphur springs, hot muddy geysers and mineral lakes. The drive to the Dieng Plateau itself is a spectacular one, taking guests through the tea and tobacco plantations of the Sindoro-Sumbing valley. DAY 11: BOROBUDUR SUNRISE & CANDIREJO VILLAGE - KETEP PASS (JAVA) Guests will have an early start this morning, departing the hotel at 4.15am to arrive at Borobudur Archaeological Park in time to witness dawn breaking over the temple complex, the biggest Buddhist temple in the world. Afterwards, guests will head to Candirejo, a peaceful village surrounded by plantations and lush scenery where they can learn about harvesting and other local activities. Getting to the village is part of the fun, traversing the countryside by bicycle or horse cart to and from the village.



DAY 12: JOGJAKARTA CITY & PRAMBANAN TOUR (JAVA) Guests will be collected from Amanjiwo this morning and taken to Jogjakarta. Here, guests may enjoy a tour of Java’s cultural core with a visit to the Sultan’s Palace, which is also known as the Kraton. The central group of buildings (where the sultan still resides) were built in 1755. As guests pass through the Palace, they’ll see the ornate reception halls as well as the large Pendopos (open-air pavilion built on columns) that was erected specifically so that the sovereign could listen to private performances of gamelan (traditional ensemble) music. After the Sultan’s Palace, guests will head to the 9th century Hindu temple compound of Prambanan. This impressive collection of temples is dedicated to the Trimurti, a concept of Hinduism where by Brahma is the Creator, Vishnu is the Preserver and Shiva is the Destroyer, which is often referred to as the ‘Great Trinity’ or ‘Hindu Triad’. Identifiable by its towering and pointed architectural design, Prambanan was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1991 and is the largest, as well the finest, Hindu temple complex in the country. DAY 13: JOGJAKARTA - SURABAYA - BROMO (JAVA) Today, guests will travel by train from Jogjakarta to Surabaya and upon arrival in Surabaya, drive for approximately 3.5 hours to Jiwa Jawa Bromo to settle in. DAY 14: SUNRISE VOLCANOES – MT. PENANJAKAN & MT. BROMO (JAVA) With its huge crater and almost mystical-like scenery in all directions, Mount Bromo and its surrounds are stunning beyond question. Sunrise is the most magical time to view the entire Bromo landscape, but this does involve a very early morning start of 3am as guests travel by private jeep to the rim of Mount Penanjakan in time for dawn. From here, guests will have the best views not only of Mount Bromo, but also Mount Batok and Mount Semeru. After witnessing a spectacular sunrise, guests will return to the jeep and make the steep descent back down to the bottom of the volcano and then cross the Laotian Pasir (Sand Sea) to the base of Mount Bromo itself. The climb of approximately 250 steps to the rim of the crater is definitely worth the effort and guests will be rewarded with yet more incredible vistas.



DAY 15: BROMO TO IJEN (JAVA) After breakfast, guests will depart from Bromo to Ijen, approximately 6 hours drive away. Upon arrival at Ijen Resort, the rest of the day will be at leisure. DAY 16: IJEN TREKKING (JAVA) The Ijen Plateau is a dramatic region of volcanic activity and after an early breakfast, guests will transfer to a 4WD vehicle for the exciting journey to Ijen Crater. The scenery is incredibly diverse as guests proceed past rural villages and plantations and drive through tropical rainforest, all in a relatively short space of time. As they pass through Bondowoso and then Wonosari, the road begins to deteriorate and then ends altogether at the village of Jampit. From the Park Ranger’s post here at Jampit it is a 90-minute hike on foot to the actual Crater Lake. The views from the top are extraordinary and the lake itself is a wonderful aqua blue colour. Evidence of volcanic activity is everywhere and it is interesting to observe the local miners as they descend into the crater and re-emerge sometime later with baskets full of yellow crystalline sulphur deposits, sometime transporting up to 80kg at a time. DAY 17: IJEN - PEMUTERAN (BALI) This morning, guests will depart Ijen Resort for the port of Banyuwangi. From here it is a short ferry ride (approximately 45 minutes) across the Bali Strait to Gilimanuk on the island of Bali. Guests will continue along the north coast of the island to reach their destination, The Menjangan. DAY 18: DAY AT LEISURE (BALI) Gusts may enjoy a day at leisure at the hotel. The Menjangan is a peaceful retreat located in the heart of an unspoiled national park on the stunning northwest coast of Bali. With 382 hectares within the boundaries of the Bali Barat National Park, it offers guests the chance to get close to nature and relax in exquisite surroundings. Here, guests can relax, bird watch, explore the jungle on foot or on a bike, kayak or go horse riding.



DAY 19: SNORKELING DAY AT MENJANGAN ISLAND (BALI) This morning, guests will depart for a day out snorkelling at Menjangan Island. The journey begins from a small jetty at Labuhan Lalang national park, where guests board a local motorised boat and cruise to the famous Menjangan Island to snorkel over the coral reefs, before enjoying lunch. DAY 20: PEMUTERAN - UBUD (BALI) Departing from Pemuteran, guests will be driven down to Ubud, stopping along the way to see some of Bali’s wonderful sights. Enroute, guests will pass the stunning caldera lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan, which is known as the “twin lake”. Heading further south, the iconic Ulun Danu Temple is the next stop. This important Hindu Shivaite water temple is located on a small jut of land within the calm waters of Lake Beratan. If the water level is high (normally only during the rainy season) it gives the illusion that this 17th century temple is ‘floating’ on the lake. The next stop on today’s tour is the market at Candi Kuning. Bali is famous for fresh fruits and exotic spices and there are plenty of seasonal varieties to discover at the market, together with stalls selling flowers used for ceremonies and offerings. Guests will continue to Ubud and arrive at their hotel, Komaneka Bisma. DAY 21: TRADITIONAL BALI & NATURAL WONDERS (BALI) There will be plenty of photo opportunities as guests pass scenic vistas and interesting villages en route to today’s destination, Subak Guliang, a traditional farming village and compound in the centre of the island. The local houses in the village compounds are architecturally unique when compared with other regions of Indonesia. Based on the Asta Kosala Kosali tradition of house building, the method is not dissimilar to the ancient art of Feng Shui and, on arrival, guests will be warmly welcomed and served a local breakfast in one of these typically Balinese homes. The next visit is Pura Kehan, an 11th century temple complex near the town of Bangli that is considered to be one of the most beautiful on the island. Steps lead to the Kori Agung (stone capped gateway) and a courtyard guarded by a mythical dragon. Legend has it that inside the dragon there is a magic stone that glowed red when the location of the temple was finally decided hundreds of years ago. Guests will move on to Kintamani for views of Mount Batur, an active volcano which sits alongside Lake Batur. On the way back to the hotel, guests will stop at Mas Village to see the process of silver making.



DAY 22 & 23: UBUD’S RIDGES, VILLAGES & VALLEYS (BALI) Today, guests will head out on a walk that passes through the river valley of Tukad Wos, offering fine views of the stratovolcanic mountain Gunung Agung and glimpses of small village communities and rice fields along the way. Prior to commencing the trek, guests will learn about the very beautiful Gunung Lebah (small hill) Temple. The subak temple (dedicated to the regulation of the water used in the rice paddies) was constructed in the 8th century and developed the settlement that would later be Ubud. From the temple, follow the path north, walking up onto the ridge between the two rivers, the Cerik and the Wos. Guests will continue along the Campuhan ridge, arguably one of the best trekking routes around Ubud. This area has been considered a holy place for centuries, and enjoy the peaceful scenery between tall green grasses. The trek visits one of the Balinese compounds situated in the area, where guests can learn about traditional house building and chat to the inhabitants, assisted by the guide. Guests will continue walking through rural farms until reaching a local resort situated on the edge of the Wos River, the end point for today’s trek. Here, guests can dine on a sumptuous set menu lunch on the resort’s open-air terrace, overlooking the river. DAY 24: BALI TO TANJUNG RINGGIT (LOMBOK) After breakfast, guests will depart Ubud for the airport to catch their flight to Lombok. Upon arrival at Lombok International Airport, guests will be met and transferred to Tanjung Ringgit on the island’s southeast peninsula. The final 10 kilometres of the journey to JEEVA Beloam beach camp is on rough, unmade roads and takes approximately 30 minutes. DAY 25 & 26: TANJUNG RINGGIT (LOMBOK) At JEEVA Beloam, guests are free to choose their daily activities, or simply relax on Lombok’s finest beaches. The Tanjung Ringgit area is beautiful and untouched. Guests can enjoy sunrise hikes to spectacular viewpoints to watch the sun burn off the clouds surrounding Lombok’s Gunung Rinjani, the second highest volcano in Indonesia. From here, guests may see whales feeding in the rich waters off Teluk Temeak. If guests are keen to spend some time by the sea, excursions to nearby Pink Beach for snorkelling or swimming are available. Kayaking is a popular pastime and the more active may choose a mountain bike adventure to nearby villages.



DAY 27 & 28: SENGIGGI (LOMBOK) This morning, guests will be driven from Tanjung Ringgit to Sengiggi, on the other side of Lombok, to check into JEEVA Klui. This is JEEVA’s flagship property and offers a barefoot luxury experience, located near the Wallace Line; the natural demarcation line between Asia and Australia first recorded by the famed British naturalist Alfred Wallace. Wallace was the first to discover many of the area’s most notable natural species, as well as the division of flora and fauna that occurs between Asia and Australia. Here guests can enjoy kayaking, biking, hiking to waterfalls, or visiting local villages. DAY 28: LOMBOK TO LABUAN BAJO (KOMODO NATIONAL PARK) This morning guests will depart the hotel in Lombok and head to the airport for a flight to Labuan Bajo (via Denpasar, Bali), the gateway to Komodo National Park. Upon arrival, the yacht’s crew will collect guests from the airport and take them to the harbour to board their private yacht. Once guests have settled in and met the crew, the yacht will set sail for Komodo National Park. Lunch will be served on board, after which guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a snorkel and relax for the afternoon. DAY 29: PADAR (KOMODO NATIONAL PARK) After breakfast, the yacht will head to Padar Island to anchor in a bay surrounded by stunning beaches. Padar is the third largest island in the Komodo National Park and it is famous for its long stretches of deserted white beaches. The yacht will spend the night on anchor in a secluded cove, and it is here that the crew will set up a beach barbeque on a soft white sandy beach. Stargaze, relax on plush white cushions and indulge in the freshest grilled seafood on offer. As evening approaches, Padar is the perfect viewpoint for an incredible sunset over the Komodo Islands. DAY 30: SOUTH WEST KOMODO (KOMODO NATIONAL PARK) Today, guests will visit the well-known ‘Manta Point’, located in the south west of Komodo. This is home to the famous Manta cleaning station, and guests will have the opportunity to swim surrounded by Manta rays. Known as the most active area in all of Komodo because of its topography, three rocks in this bay are covered in vibrant soft and hard coral gardens and home to large numbers of fish. After lunch onboard, guests will head to another snorkelling spot, where turtles seem to be everywhere. Here, guests can also see giant trevally, great and black-tail barracuda, and of course Manta rays may make the occasional guest appearance. After an afternoon spent beach combing and snorkelling, or perhaps relaxing with a massage, the day ends with another spectacular sunset in a quiet bay.



DAY 31: PINK BEACH (KOMODO NATIONAL PARK) After breakfast, guests will head ashore to the beautiful Pink Beach, which gets its name and colour from crushed red coral blended with sugar-soft white sand. This pristine beach is perfect for a dive or snorkel in the many shades of turquoise waters, with the underwater scenery as beautiful and full of life as the one above it. Today guests will also have the opportunity to go trekking in search of the legendary Komodo dragon. Guided by knowledgeable park rangers, the walk winds along promising paths where the native wildlife is in abundance. On the lookout for exotic birdlife and flying lizards in their natural habitat, this trek usually takes about 2 hours or until the famous and fascinating dragon is located. Back onboard the yacht for a well-deserved lunch, guests will then set sail to Toro Longkoi, where there are plenty of beautiful bays to moor for the night. With the afternoon at leisure for snorkelling, the evening brings with it a stunning sunset over the Komodo Hills. DAY 32: GILI LAWA DARAT (KOMODO NATIONAL PARK) On the northwest edge of Komodo are the Gili Lawa islands. These two islands are home to some of Komodo's most famous underwater sites including Castle and Crystal Rock, Shotgun, The Passage and Lighthouse, boasting a myriad of schooling fish and critters alike. The islands also offer stretches of private beaches for relaxing on between dives, and a 45-minute trek to the top of Gili Lawa Darat will rewards guests with one of the most stunning views of the northern side of the islands - making for a spectacular sundowner spot for the final evening in Komodo National Park. DAY 33: SANGEANG ISLAND This morning, guests will awake in one of the beautiful bays of Sangeang Island, which is an active volcano and towers an imposing 1900 metres above sea level. The eruption in 1815 resulted in a tsunami, which created a mysterious crater lake in the centre of Satonda. After a leisurely breakfast, guests can walk the black sandy beaches, snorkel among coral gardens, or head ashore to Wera Village to see how locals build their traditional "phinisi" boats with techniques that haven’t changed for generations. The waters here are crystal clear and very close to the famed Champagne Reef, where curtains of warm gas bubbles emerge from vents in the sea-bed, creating a natural Jacuzzi. This evening, the yacht will sail towards Moyo Island, and guests may enjoy another Indonesian sunset over the smouldering volcano out on deck.



DAY 34: MOYO ISLAND Moyo Island is a pristine national park edged with flourishing tropical reefs, with a lush jungle interior home to macaques, wild cattle, wild pigs, barking deer and all manner of bird species. Sir Alfred Wallace discovered Moyo in 1800, noticing that the flora and fauna of the islands to the west have more in common to the Asiatic species, while the islands to the east appear to be influenced more by species found in Australia. Here, guests can visit a village and meet the local fisherman and basket weavers, before a 30-minute hike to a stunning waterfall. Back onboard the yacht, guests can enjoy the sunset spectacle of local fruit bats as they leave their colony for the evening. DAY 35: GILI ISLANDS This morning, the yacht will arrive at the scenic island of Gili Air. Here, guests can sunbathe on the beautiful beach and enjoy a swim in the crystal blue water, snorkelling with baby green turtles. The yacht will cruise in a circle of 8, around all 3 Gili islands of Trawangan, Meno and Air, where guests can explore the islands, each one with its own individual character and charm. Guests can watch a final spectacular sunset over Mount Agung, while the chef prepares an exquisite dinner and the yacht begins the overnight sail to Bali. DAY 36: BALI This morning, after a decadent breakfast, the yacht’s crew will transfer guests to Bali harbour. From here, we can arrange additional accommodation, or transfer guests to the airport for their flight home.

Please note that all itineraries are subject to change, depending on weather conditions, progressing harbour clearances, changes to domestic flights and other deciding factors. Please contact Ultimate Indonesian Yachts to

discuss your requirements. [email protected]

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the ultimate indonesian adventure: 36-day itinerary from sumatra to