Three Islands Highlights

Upon arrival at Yogyakarta International Airport, you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is yours to relax and settle in at your own pace. Overnight in Yogyakarta.

After breakfast, we set off early to Borobudur Temple, located about 40 kilometres west of Yogyakarta, arriving before the crowds. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, constructed over nearly a century from thousands of volcanic and river stones assembled entirely by hand. We explore the temple’s remarkable architecture and intricate carvings, which remain impressively well preserved. Returning to Yogyakarta, we visit the Sultan’s Palace, a vast complex at the heart of the old city that once functioned as a fortified city within a city. We stroll through the palace grounds before enjoying lunch at Bale Raos, the palace’s historic culinary venue. In the afternoon, we meet a local shaman in Yogyakarta who will share insights into the enduring practice of shamanism in Java, using a traditional Javanese calendar method to read your profile. The day concludes with a transfer back to the hotel, leaving you some leisure time in the evening. Breakfast and lunch are included.

After breakfast, set out early for an adventurous day on the slopes of Mount Merapi. From your hotel, travel to the village of Kinahrejo and board a classic Willys Jeep to explore the aftermath of Merapi’s past eruptions. Along the way, we visit the ‘alien stone’—a massive rock thrown from the volcano during its last eruption—and the evacuation bunker used by locals. You will also see a small museum displaying personal items salvaged from a house damaged by lava, including a motorcycle and household objects. Next, enjoy a cycling tour through the lush paddy fields and rural villages on the volcano’s slopes, ending with lunch in the village. In the afternoon, visit Prambanan, an ancient ninth-century Hindu temple complex near Yogyakarta. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features three main shrines dedicated to the Hindu trinity—Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Your guide will share the history and symbolism of the temples as you explore the grounds. Return to your hotel afterwards for some leisure time. Breakfast and lunch are included.

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer you to the airport for your flight to Makassar on the island of Sulawesi (recommended flight Lion Air JT-640 departing 10:50 and arriving 13:55; flight not included). Upon arrival in Makassar, also known as Ujung Pandang, your guide will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. En route, we visit Fort Rotterdam, the city’s most notable landmark, built in the 16th century. Next, explore Paotere Harbour in the north of Makassar, where you can see traditional Buginese phinisi sailboats. We then visit Balla Lompoa Museum, the former palace of the Gowa Kingdom, housing original artefacts from past rulers. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before checking in to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure, with dinner provided at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, we embark on a scenic nine-hour drive to Toraja. Along the way, we stop for lunch at a seafood restaurant in Parepare. Continuing the journey, we pause at Puncak Lakawan for photographs and to take in the spectacular views. We arrive in Rantepao late in the afternoon and check in to the hotel. Dinner is served at the hotel, where you can relax after the day’s travel.

After breakfast, we travel south of Toraja to visit two traditional villages and their surroundings. Our first stop is Lemo and Suaya, where cliffs are pierced with graves and adorned with tau tau—lifelike effigies of deceased nobility. These cliffs, often called the ‘death balconies’, offer a unique glimpse into local funerary customs. We then continue to Sangala village to see the distinctive burial practice of graves carved into tree trunks, traditionally reserved for infants. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before we visit Londa village in the afternoon, known for its wooden coffins suspended by ropes and poles from the cliffs. Our final visit is to Ketekesu, home to some of the finest examples of tongkonan—Toraja’s iconic boat-shaped houses with tall, thatched roofs and elaborately carved and painted facades. The wealthier homes feature wooden buffalo heads as a symbol of status, and the village also includes a traditional rice granary. We return to the hotel late afternoon for dinner and overnight in Toraja. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

After breakfast, we set off for a morning visit to villages north of Rantepao, beginning with Batutumonga. Here, you’ll enjoy a gentle trek through Toraja villages perched on the slopes of Mount Sesean, offering striking views of rice fields scattered with large black volcanic rocks. The walk continues for about two hours through the villages of Bori and Palawa, where we meet locals and observe their traditional customs and way of life. These villages feature ancient stone circles, each stone representing a noble who has passed, alongside impressive tongkonan houses. After lunch at a local restaurant, we visit Marante village in the afternoon, known for its tau tau—cliffside effigies dressed in white. We return to the hotel in the evening for dinner and overnight stay in Toraja.

After breakfast, we depart from your hotel for the nine-hour drive back to Makassar. We will stop for lunch en route to break up the journey. Upon arrival in Makassar, you will check in to your hotel, where dinner will be served. Overnight accommodation is in Makassar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.

After breakfast, transfer to Makassar airport for your flight to Bali (recommended Lion Air JT-3743 13:35 – 15:00; flight not included). On arrival, you will be met by a local guide and driven to your hotel in Ubud. En route, visit a traditional Balinese compound and the Tirta Empul temple, renowned for its sacred spring water where worshippers have gathered for over a thousand years. Explore the bathing pools and admire the classic Balinese architecture. Continue to Gunung Kawi temple, set beside the Petanu River, featuring ten rock-cut shrines carved into the cliff amid lush rice terraces. Afterwards, enjoy lunch near central Ubud before checking in at your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Dinner is served at the hotel.

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a full day at leisure in Ubud. This is a perfect opportunity to relax and explore the town at your own pace, whether that means visiting local markets, wandering through art galleries, or simply soaking up the peaceful atmosphere. Overnight in Ubud. Breakfast included.

After breakfast, we set off from Ubud to explore Bali’s mountainous region of Kintamani. The journey takes you along the stunning rice terraces of Tegalalang, among the finest on the island. You may choose to walk down through the fields and observe local farmers at work. From here, enjoy impressive views of the still-active Mount Batur volcano and the adjacent Lake Batur. We then continue east to Besakih Temple, perched on the western slopes of Mount Agung, Bali’s highest volcano at 2,567 metres. Besakih is the island’s largest and most significant temple complex. Lunch is served at a restaurant with panoramic views of rice terraces and Mount Agung in the distance. After returning to the hotel, the afternoon is yours to relax. In the evening, we transfer you to a traditional Balinese dance performance, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Ubud. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Enjoy your final breakfast at the hotel before spending some free time at your leisure. When the time comes, we will transfer you to Denpasar Airport for your onward flight home. Breakfast is included.