Example Itinerary

Jetting Through Historic Indonesia: Borobudur to Bali

Duration
11 days / 10 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Heritage, UNESCO
Destinations
Indonesia, Bali

Uncover the fascinating history of Indonesia with this luxurious 11-day tour of some of the country's best historic sites. Travel in style and experience the ultimate in comfort and convenience by flying to destinations on a private aircraft. Feel at home on your own personal aircraft and discover remote lands, ancient relics and abandoned kingdoms, without having to deal with the hassle of long transit times, waits and delays caused by commercial air transportation. Start your adventure off by marveling at Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple complex on the globe and visiting Prambanan, a series of elaborate Hindu temples. Next, fly to Pangkalan Bun and stop at Camp Leakey, a famous orangutan research and rehabilitation center. Here, you’ll witness exotic orangutans in their natural habitat. After, experience ancient Indonesian rituals at Kete Kesu and witness the deadly Komodo dragon at Komodo National Park. Finish your travels in Bali and take a stroll through the gorgeous Water Palace or hike through the ancient Elephant Cave to see Buddhist remnants and antique statues.

Why fly by private jet?

Being transported around in your own personal aircraft is the best way to discover the hidden gems of Indonesia. Commercial flights within the country are often unreliable and it is not unusual for flights to be late or cancelled altogether. Rest assured as your personal aircraft will get you to your destinations in a comfortable and timely manner. Time is precious while you're on vacation, so don’t waste it layovers and worrying about flight delays! 

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Island-Hopping by Jet: Travel in style and experience the ultimate in comfort and convenience by flying privately. Leave complex commercial flight schedules behind and just jet there.
  • Torajaland: This highland region is home to lush rice terraces, misty mountains, and a village famous for its macabre culture. See an extravagant funeral ceremony, hanging graves, decorative burial sites, and learn about the significance of it all.
  • Spiritual Bali: Escape into the lush green rice fields of Ubud. An idyllic bike ride takes you past waterfalls, bucolic villages, and to secret temple where a water blessing awaits.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Map

Borobudur

Arrive on the island of Java, landing in Yogyakarta. Drive to the outskirts of town to marvel at Borobudur, a 9th century Buddhist complex considered to be the largest Buddhist structure in the world. A famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient temple is sure to amaze and astound travellers with its unique architectural style, historical significance and beautiful volcanic backdrop. After, check in at your hotel nearby Borobudur. 

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: Nestled into a natural amphitheatre, the resort boasts dramatic surroundings, from the Kedu Plain to the front, to the four volcanoes that make up the horizon.

History: The resort is a nod to nearby Borobudur, a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist Temple, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Service: The Amanjiwo is famous for its warm hospitality, that echoes not only the benevolence of Indonesian culture but also the passion for service ingrained into the Aman brand.

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Amanjiwo Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Map

Borobudur

Rise early this morning to see sunrise over Borobudur, a stunning Buddhist temple complex dating back to the ninth century.  A famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Borobudur will take your breath away with its elaborate décor, complex architectural design and beautiful volcanic backdrop. Return to your hotel for breakfast and to relax before venturing out in the afternoon to visit a local traditional Javanese village. Here you can enjoy an Andong ride through the village. After a long day, return to Amanjiwo to unwind. We suggest a pampering spa treatment. Try the famed Balinese massage, a deep-tissue holistic treatment that delivers wellbeing and deep relaxation.

Borobudur
Borobudur

Day 3

Map

Yogyakarta

Check out this morning and depart for nearbyYogyakarta. We recommend visiting one of Yogyakarta’s numerous bustling traditional markets for an unforgettable shopping experience. You'll also visit some of the city's highlights including Prambanan Templed, Taman Sari Water Castle, and the Kraton Sultan Palace.

Hotel Options
About

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta is situated in the heart of Yogyakarta just minutes from the popular Malioboro shopping district and 15 minutes from Yogyakarta International Airport. The hotel was originally commissioned in 1918 to be built as the private residence for a wealthy Chinese merchant.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 4

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Makassar

This morning, step into your elegant private plane and take a scenic flight Balikpapan, then an hour's drive to the Orangutan santuary. Here you can also meet the rescued Sun Bears who are also living onsite. Here, you’ll take a tour of the camp and have a chance to witness exotic orangutans in their natural habitat. In the afternoon, depart from Borneo and fly to Makassar on the island of Sulawesi.

Hotel Options
About

One of the leading hotels in Makassar, the Rinra is a modern luxury hotel boasting 175 rooms and suites at a seaside location. Contemporary rooms are dressed in calming neutral colors and feature modern tech and amenities; select rooms come with balcony and sea views.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Makassar
Makassar

Day 5

Map

Makassar

After breakfast, meet your guide and drive to Ramang-Ramang village. Upon arrival, board a boat and sail along the river which is flanked by spectacular karst mountains and limestone cliff formations. In the afternoon, return to Makassar and make a quick visit to Paotere Schooner harbor before spending the rest of your day at leisure.

Day 6

Map

Toraja

After breakfast, board your personal jet and head to Tana Toraja, a highland region on the island of Sulawesi. Famous for its stunning scenery, Tana Toraja will take your breath away with its bamboo forests, misty mountains and lush rice fields. In the afternoon, trek to Kete Kesu, a traditional village famous for its fascination with death. Here, you’ll witness a sacred funeral ceremony, hanging graves and embellished burial sites.

Hotel Options
About

At Toraja Heritage Hotel, guests are in for a real treat: located 2,300 feet above sea level, looking out over one of Indonesia’s largest mountain ranges, this hotel prides itself on following the architectural style of traditional Torajan clan houses, complete with traditional furnishings and handicrafts, and a roof shaped like a ship’s prow. But the hotel - the first four-star international hotel in Toraja - also provides world-class amenities and comforts seen around the world, with two outdoor swimming pools, a bamboo bar featuring fresh juice and a “drink of the day”, and even as a flying ropes course for the adventurous type! Venturing off-site, guests can enjoy visits to nearby sites including rice fields and a traditional plait center; staying on the grounds, they can indulge in a spa treatment and order some room service to their luxurious suite.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 7

Map

Toraja

Begin the day with a visit to the local market to see locals trading their goods and animals. Here, people sell their buffalos with prices up to hundreds of millions for one buffalo. Done the traditional way, the transaction is settled with a bag of cash. The biggest market is held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Then, continue to Batutumonga where you can enjoy views of rice terraces while having lunch at a local restaurant. Then, drive further up to Lokomata, the site of a local graveyard. Walk around the traditional villages of Toraja and observe the traditional homes, rock cliffs, and rice terraces before returning to your hotel for the evening.

Hotel Options
About

At Toraja Heritage Hotel, guests are in for a real treat: located 2,300 feet above sea level, looking out over one of Indonesia’s largest mountain ranges, this hotel prides itself on following the architectural style of traditional Torajan clan houses, complete with traditional furnishings and handicrafts, and a roof shaped like a ship’s prow. But the hotel - the first four-star international hotel in Toraja - also provides world-class amenities and comforts seen around the world, with two outdoor swimming pools, a bamboo bar featuring fresh juice and a “drink of the day”, and even as a flying ropes course for the adventurous type! Venturing off-site, guests can enjoy visits to nearby sites including rice fields and a traditional plait center; staying on the grounds, they can indulge in a spa treatment and order some room service to their luxurious suite.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Toraja
Toraja

Day 8

Map

Toraja

If you are in luck, today you will attend a local funeral ceremony to witness this important traditional rite. Typically big funerals are attended by most of the villagers and there will be a dozen buffalos gathered. As the ceremony starts, the deceased will be moved to the ceremonial house and the buffalos will be sacrificed and cooked to serve the attendees. You can enjoy traditional cakes and refreshments as you observe the ceremony. Afterwards, continue to explore Toraja, including more villages and even the hanging coffins and royal burial sites.

Day 9

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Ubud

Begin the day by flying to Bali and driving to the spiritual heartlands of Ubud. After checking in to your hotel, take a cooking class in the afternoon. Visit the home of a local husband and wife to participate in preparing and cooking a range of Balinese dishes, using local ingredients and spices, over a traditional wood fired oven. Proceed to the backyard to see the organic garden where they grows vegetables, spices and other food crops. Your host learned his gardening skill from his grandfather, and he will lead you to pick up those vegetable and spices for your cooking lesson which will be conducted by his wife. They will explain local philosophies about food sharing unique insights into the culture of the Balinese as you pound, grind and chop ingredients. You will finish your cooking course with a delicious meal served in a home setting inside the Balinese compound.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: One of Ubud’s finest views of the strikingly green Ayung River Gorge and terraced rice fields

Tradition: A magical property laid out in the style of a Balinese village

Service: Attentive service from a very friendly, well-trained staff

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Amandari Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

No Walls, No Doors: A bold concept meant to bring guests closer to nature, there are no walls or doors anywhere within the resort, including the villas.

Spacious Luxury Villas: With only 16 total villas, each one has been given its own private space of 165 sqm that encompasses the bedroom, deck, and personal pool. With the show that is Mother Nature surrounding the villa unobstructed, there is nary a reason to leave.

Location: Within the wilds of a jungle that is quintessentially Bali without the tourists yet still within reach of Ubud town’s sites and restaurants, the Buahan is truly an Escape that boasts incredible vistas of lush jungle scenes, terraced rice fields, and the island’s seven mountain peaks on the horizon.

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Buahan, A Banyan Tree Escape Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Surroundings: Savor your favorite drink in the open-air bar over looking the floating lily pond and verdant Ayung River Valley below.

Décor: A combination of tasteful Balinese décor, a neutral paint palate and original sculpture and artwork.

Food: A choice of local specialties and western favorites, fine wines, exotic cocktails and a kids menu.

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Four Seasons Sayan Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

History: Set in Bali’s cultural heartland, Mandapa is named for the ancient temples that surround it and draws on a long history of tradition and heritage.

Location:Nestled in the hills of central Bali, Mandapa enjoys the beautiful surroundings of Ubud.

Service: From the gong signalling guests’ arrival to every whim during their stay, staff attend to the tiniest details, and each room’s personal butler is on hand day and night.

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Mandapa, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Access to Experience: The island of Bali abounds in history, both in terms of the Dutch colonial past and the more traditional, native culture. Awe-inspiring temples, rituals and ceremonies, exhilarating waterfalls, rice terraces and lush walking trails are among just a few attractions guests may experience and explore.

Weekly Activity Schedule: The selection of classes and activities available at the Capella Ubud, Bali, is second-to-none. On a single given day, for example, guests might find themselves with a tough decision between Aqua Pilates, Meditation and Purification, and a Farming Class. Other, more immersive, options range from a 24-hour tented wellness retreat to a “tropical island castaway” experience in which guests are heli-dropped on an exclusive private beach for a lazy day complete with a picnic lunch and wine.

A Unique Approach to Lodging: Most of the tented retreats are perched on the valley slopes and accessible via a suspension bridge constructed with painstaking care for the surrounding forested environment. Large outdoor decks further add to the one-of-a-kind ambience and provide the perfect setting for a candlelit dinner or al-fresco breakfast.

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The Capella Ubud Preferred Hotel

Day 10

Map

Ubud

Begin the day with an exhilarting bike ride around Batur Volcano. Drive to Penelokan Village where you will be fitted for your bike and enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in the incredible views. Then begin biking thorugh the mandarin plantation where you are free to stop and join farmers to try some fruits. Then, take a short trek through the rice fields, forested valley, and alon ghte river leading to Sebatu Village. Here you can admire the local homes. Visit the Gunung Kawi Temple and see its compounds and holyl water spring altars. Continue biking down to Pejeng Aji village, known for having artisans and master woodcarvers. Finally, enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before returning to your hotel to rest for the day. If you wish, step out on your own to explore Ubud village.

Ubud
Ubud

Day 11

Map

Departure

Finish your amazing adventure off with one final free morning in Ubud. Feel free to take a sunrise walk along Campuhan ridge or relax with a Balinese massage at your hotel. In the afternoon, head to Ngurah Rai International Airport and check in for your flight home or to your next exciting travel destination.

Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.

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