Remote Lands
Luxury Bespoke Travel to Asia & Private Jet Journeys.
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Indonesia
Classic Indonesia
For first-time visitors to Indonesia, it is best to begin with the classics with a touch of adventure for good measure: Bali, Komodo, Lombok and Java. In less than two weeks, see some of the magnificent volcanoes and diverse cultures that this archipelago is known for, as well as its breathtaking marine life and serene beaches.
Day 1 – Bali
VIP arrival at Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali, Indonesia's magnificent Shangri-la. Bali has it all: lovely people, incredibly rich culture, astonishing natural beauty, and more than 20,000 temples and palaces. Check into the Como Shambhala or one of the famed Amanresorts, Amandari in Ubud or Amankila in eastern Bali.
Enjoy a traditional Balinese massage and body scrub, and relax in a bath of lavender flower petals.
Unwind with poolside cocktails and barbecue dinner in your villa prepared by your private chef and servers.
Day 2 – Bali
Take a helicopter over the large and diverse island of Bali, with its picturesque beaches, sheer cliffs, spectacular volcanoes, emerald rice terraces, steep gorges and exotic wildlife.
Land in a remote village and participate in a private family ceremony or religious ritual, such as a tooth filing (to rid the body of the weaknesses such as lust, greed, anger, drunkenness, confusion and jealousy), a wedding, or a funeral (a joyous celebration where the dead person is released into the afterlife).
Go whitewater rafting on the Telaga Waja River, which starts in east Bali below the great Mt. Agung. You will be split into two rafts and each will have one river rafting guide. You will brave class III and IV rapids and discover hidden waterfalls, swim in the pristine water and feel the might of this river. This is easily the most thrilling way to see Bali's jungles and waterscapes; you will rush past steep banks and ancient hanging trees, whilst rafting straight through cascading waterfalls of cold natural spring water. The 7.5-mile course takes you through a deeply carved valley which ends with an optional hurtle down 13-foot waterfall at Bajing Dam at the finish point.
In the evening have a traditional Balinese dinner at the palace of a prince of Bali, whose father was a Balinese King. He is a member of the Tabanan Royal Family, and he will receive you in the palace for a chat about Balinese culture, his life or whatever topic strikes your fancy. Not surprisingly, he is intensely proud of his heritage, and is passionate about traditional Balinese kite-making. The kites are enormous and made into fanciful shapes such as ships or animals. This experience begins with a sunset flight of one of his prized kites from the beach, a 20-minute drive from the palace, followed by a sumptuous Balinese feast back at the palace.
Day 3 – Bali
Go snorkeling, diving or surfing in crystal clear waters of the Java Sea.
Visit the private home of a local chef where you will learn to prepare Balinese cuisine and enjoy a delicious home-cooked lunch with a local family. Due to Indonesia's long history as a trading port and colony, its cuisine and ingredients are influenced by India, the Middle East, China and finally Europe, including the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. As such, there are few staple ingredients used across the board, except rice. Many dishes commonly served throughout Southeast Asia, such as chicken satay and beef rending, actually originated from Indonesia. Feel free to ask your chef any questions about the ingredients used and what makes Balinese cuisine different from other popular Indonesian cuisines, and enjoy making what is bound to be a delicious meal.
Make batiks with local artisans in the home of Ni Made Warthini, a Balinese woman whose extended, three-generation family lives under one roof in a gorgeous traditional Balinese home. She employs a few locals in making beautiful duvets, table runners, wall hangings and other amazing examples of batik. Although this art form is found in other parts of Asia and Africa, it is a particularly intense source of national pride in Indonesia. You will be given a white piece of cloth upon which you can draw any design. Then you will trace your design in a combination of wax and paraffin with a special tool made out of copper, and dye your fabric when the wax is dry. You may experiment with dying your fabric different colors or covering your cloth in wax and crumpling it up, which gives the cloth a somewhat marbled appearance when dyed. From start to finish, the process takes 2-3 hours.
Hike through Bali's verdant rice terraces to a secluded Buddhist temple and meet with the high priest, the most important and well-regarded "man of the cloth" in Bali, for a special blessing for good luck and long life. Bali is predominantly Hindu but has long had a connection with Buddhism and, following contact some 2,000 years ago with various Indian influences, is the last surviving Hindu-Buddhist civilization in Indonesia. Over a 500 year period between the 14th and 19th centuries, the Buddhist monasteries came to an end and eventually the various Hindu and Buddhist sects, whose beliefs were similar, merged into Bali-Hinduism.
Take a sunset horseback ride along the beach and have with a celebratory gourmet barbecue by the ocean.
Day 4 – Komodo Island
Fly to Komodo Island. You will be met at the airport and taken to the pier where you will pick up your chartered yacht.
You will sail for about 1.5 hours to Rinca Island for your first experience with the fascinating Komodo dragons. The reptiles, which grow to an average length of six to 10 feet and weigh around 150 pounds, live on only three remote islands in Indonesia: Flores, Rinca and Komodo. As the dragons are mostly unafraid of humans, they will be visible during your trek on the island, often coming right down to the beach and to other inhabited areas. Given the isolated nature of Rinca, it will not be uncommon for you to be amongst the only people here during your visit.
There are several hiking trails here that you can take to explore the island further on a 30-60 minute hike, depending on your wishes.
Cruise to Kalong Island (literally means Flying Fox Island) to see thousand of fox bats flying out from their nets just after sunset. It takes nearly 20 minutes for the entire colony to mobilize, so this is quite a sight; you will watch the spectacle from your yacht. Return to the boat and have dinner onboard the yacht.
Your private chef will cook you a delicious meal of fresh vegetables, fish and fruit for you to enjoy under a spectacular display of stars.
Day 5- Komodo Island
Have breakfast on the boat.
Do a morning refresh dive if you wish.
Go diving or snorkeling with manta rays at Manta Point, home to a seasonal population of roughly 40 mantas.
Take a break and have lunch back on the yacht.
Your afternoon dive is at Castle Rock, the best dive site in Komodo with excellent visibility. You will have the opportunity to see sharks, turtles, dolphins, mantas, huge bands of fish and much more. Usually, the current flows to the east and is much stronger at the surface than in the deeper water. About 20 meters deep, there is some excellent soft coral growth and numerous fans that are home to pygmy sea horses. The top of the site's eponymous rock is approximately 3-4 meters deep and offers shelter from the current. This shallow area is a good place to look around during your safety stop.
Have dinner back on your yacht. At any point on your trip, feel free to join the chef in the large open kitchen for a chat or a cooking demonstration or a lesson.
Day 6 – Lombok
Fly from Labuan Bajo to Lombok.
Considering that only 65 kilometers (40 miles) of water separate Bali and Lombok, they have surprisingly different terrain, flora and fauna. It is believed that the strait between them was the dividing line between Asia and Australia in geologic times. Bali is lush and equatorial while Lombok is drier and more rugged. The island's inhabitants are 85% Sasak (a people, closely related to the Balinese, but mostly practicing Islam), 10-15% Balinese, and there are also small populations of Chinese, Arab, Javanese, and Sumbawanese. The earthly jewels in Lombok's crown are the centrally located volcano Mount Rinjani, which rises to 3,726 meters (12,224 feet), making it the third highest in Indonesia, and the volcano's crater lake, Lake Segara Anak. Rinjani's last major eruption was in 1901, leaving a caldera of over two miles; a trek to the top is for the fit only but it is well worth the climb. Alternatively, you can take a helicopter to the top and circle the crater.
Visit Tanjung market, a new market in the north of Lombok, where locals sell and buy various items on the island's antiquated barter system. It is near Segenter village, which holds tightly to its unique cultural heritage in many ways, including its traditional ceremonies and thatched roof homes. Crops grown in Segenter include chestnuts and cassava, and many farmers sell in Tanjung or neighboring markets within Bayan district. Try bartering in the market and visit with families in the village.
Day 7 – Lombok
In the very early morning, go fishing in the pristine waters around Lombok with native anglers from the village of Pondok Perasi. Pondok Perasi is a traditional fishing village comprised of 750 families that have subsisted on their daily catches for generations. There are over 200 species of fish to be caught here so this morning's catch should be fairly varied, depending on how far you go from the shore.
Drive to Mount Rinjani and see Sendang Gila, a massive waterfall on the northern slopes of the volcano. According to Indonesian folklore, the waters here have healing powers and this magnificent sight was unknown to man until a lion that they were hunting led them to it. The waterfall is about 31 meters (102 feet) tall. You are welcome to take a dip under the water as many of the locals do if you wish to feel the water's magic for yourself.
Have a picnic lunch in a scenic spot near the waterfall.
Return to your hotel for a spa treatment and dinner.
Day 8 – Borobudur, Java
Fly to Yogyakarta. Check into Amanjiwo, which has wonderful views of the Kedu Plain and the temples of Borobudur.
Day 9 – Borobudur, Java
Rise around 05:00 to visit Borobudur and arrive just before sunrise (just before 06:00). The park opens at 06:00 but you will arrive at 05:30, before most of the tourists and have a viewing of this architectural masterpiece.
Though it is the largest Buddhist monument in the world, the 9th-century Borobudur was nearly reclaimed by the jungle after the people of Java abandoned Buddhism in favor of Islam in the 15th century. In the 19th century it was uncovered by British and Dutch colonial leaders and restored to its former glory through a series of excavations and renovations that lasted up until 1973. Since that time it has reclaimed its place as the central Buddhist shrine in Indonesia, and is the country's most famous site and a UNESCO World Heritage-protected monument.
Return to your hotel for a rest.
In the afternoon, visit Prambanan, one of the most beautiful Hindu temple sites in the world and the largest complex of Hindu temples in Central Java. This UNESCO site was built in the 10th century and has three main temples in the primary area (known as the Loro Jonggrang complex), namely Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva temples, which all face the east and have accompanying temples facing the west as well: Nandini for Shiva, Angsa for Brahma, and Garuda for Vishnu. In addition to depicting Hindu deities, there are also bas reliefs of the Ramayana, an epic tale of Hindu teachings told through the life story of Prince Rama. This iconic, ancient story was composed around 750-800 BC and passed down through oral tradition.
Toast the end of your journey with a private dinner in a gubuk sawah, which in Javanese means "small house in the rice fields." Nestled in a galangal plantation, this rustic bale is where you will enjoy a unique village-style dinner. Romantic, relaxing and traditional, gubuk sawah offers a glimpse into rural Java, with spectacular views of Mount Merapi, weather permitting.
Day 10
Depart Java for home.