JAVAA Pre-tour of GRAND the 53rd AGA in Bali TOUR 11-18 October 2020 Yogyakarta - Borobudur- Prambanan - Bromo - Ijen - Kalibaru - Bayuwangi - West Bali National Park Cultural Historical Adventure Landcapes Beach and Sun TheJava heart of the nation of Indonesia, Java is a complex island of great antiquity: this, after all, is where ancient Java Man stood upright and walked abroad. As such the island, home today to 140 million people and the most popu- lated island on earth, is defined primarily by people. Human ingenuity has left the island sprinkled with ancient treasures, such as the temples of Borobudur and Pram- banan. It has also shaped a culture that resonates in modern life, as expressed through the artistic traditions of Yogyakarta and Solo, and contributes to the modern dynamism of the Indonesian capital, Jakarta. Java’s megacities may be crowded and gridlocked but they have a restless energy that is magnetic. People have shaped the natural landscape too, giving it an urban texture that runs in slithers through the pea-green paddy fields. Add in nature’s splendours – smoking volcanoes, rainforest and polished white beaches – and Java becomes irresistible. The Grand Java Tour begins in Yogyakarta in Central Java to witness the great temples of Prambanan and Boro- budur; from Yogyarkarta, journey to the iconic landscape of Bromo in East Java, with an astounding view of volca- noes; walk in giant underground caverns and see the “Blue Lava” of Ijen. The trip will be capped off with a stay at the West Bali National Park where there is excellent snorkelling and you will have time to relax before being driven to the Melia Hotel in Nusa Dua in Bali. “The spectacular temples of Pram- banan, set in the plains of Central Java, are the best surviving examples of Java’s extended period of Hindu culture. With nearby Borobudur, they are one of the top highlights of South- east Asia.” The Grand Java Tour Programme 11 Oct (Day 1) Arrival in Yogyakarta Arrive in Yogyakarta at your own leisure and check into the Phoenix Hotel. 12 Oct (Day 2) Yogyakarta Tour (B, L, D) After breakfast, First, visit Sultan Palace Keraton, a reflection of Javanese Cosmos or the Palace of Yogyakarta. It is a must-see site in Yogyakarta, and it is also an elegant complex of pavilions. After proceed to Taman Sari Palace, the site of a former royal garden of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. The next stop is one of the world’s largest Hindu temples and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Prambanan Temple. A place where tourists can expe- The Taman Sari Palace rience how the Javanese culture lives. Overnight at the Phoenix Hotel. The spectacular temples ofPrambanan , set in the plains of Cen- tral Java, are the best surviving examples of Java’s extended pe- riod of Hindu culture. With nearby Borobudur, they are one of the top highlights of Southeast Asia. All the temples in the Pram- banan area were built between the 8th and 10th centuries AD, when Java was ruled by the Buddhist Sailendras in the south and the Hindu Sanjayas of Old Mataram in the north. The two dynasties were united by the marriage of Hindu Rakai Pi- katan and the Buddhist Sailendra princess, Pramodhavardhani. This may explain why a number of temples, including those of the Prambanan temple complex and the smaller Plaosan group, Prambanan Temple reveal both Shivaite and Buddhist elements in architecture and sculpture. But Prambanan is a Hindu site first and foremost, and the wealth of sculptural detail on the great Shiva temple here is the nation’s most outstanding example of Hindu art. As the only Indonesian royal city still ruled by a monarchy, Yogyakarta is regarded as an important centre for classical Javanese fine arts and culture such as ballet, batik textiles, drama, literature, music, poetry, silversmithing, visual arts, and wayang puppetry. Yogyakarta is the capital of the Yog- yakarta Sultanate and served as the Indonesian capital from 1946 to 1948 during the Indonesian National Revolution The Phoenix Hotel 13 Oct (Day 3) Yogyakarta - Borobudur & the Dieng Plateau (B,L,D) Head out early in the morning to watch the sunrise at the famous Borobudur Temple. After our tour at Borobodur, we will visit the beautiful Dieng Plateau. The scenic volcanic landscape, the sulfur springs and the colored lakes make this place a real natural wonder. Then visit of Sikidang Crater where you are surrounded by steaming vents and bubbling mud ponds. With a facemask on, you can walk around the crater. From Sikidang Crater, drive to Arjuna Temple Complex, which con- sists of 5 temples and amongst some of the the oldest temples in Java. Transfer to Hotel for dinner after tour. Overnight at the Phoenix Hotel. A world heritage site, Borobudur is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the world. Built in the 9th century during the reign of the Syailendra dynasty, the temple’s design in Gupta architecture reflects India’s influence on the region, yet there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian. It is located near Yogyakarta in central Java. The world’s largest Buddhist temple, it was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 meters square. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO’s help in the 1970s. The Dieng Plateau is a marshy plateau that forms the floor of a volcanic caldera complex and consists of two or more strato volcanoes and more than 20 small craters and cones of Pleistocene-to-Holocene age near Wonosobo, Central Java, Indonesia. Referred to as “Dieng” by Indonesians, it sits at 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea level, far from major population centres. The name “Dieng” comes from Di Hyang which means “Abode of the Gods”. The Plateau is the location of theArjuna Hindu temple complex which consists of eight small Hindu temples from the Kalingga Kingdom. The Sikidang crater is an active crater surrounded by beautiful scenery. Clockwise: Borobudur Temple The Dieng Plateau Arjuna Temple Complex Sikidang Crater https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/world-heritage/borobudur-temple/ Oct 14 (Day 4) Yogyakarta to Surabaya (B,L,D) 16 Oct (Day 6) Ijen (B,L,D) In the morning, relax in the hotel and after an early lunch, In the very early morning, we shall commence our hike we will head over to the airport and take a flight from Yog- up to Mount Ijen. The hike will take approximately 1.5 yakarta to Surabaya. After landing in Surabaya, we will take a to 2.5 hours depending on physical fitness. The fabled 2 hour journey to the hotel accomodation at Bromo Terrace Ijen Plateau is a vast volcanic region dominated by the Hotel (and Jawa Jiwa Hotel in case of overflow from Bromo three cones of Ijen (2368m), Merapi (2800m) and Raung terrace Hotel). Dinner will be at Prabolinggo before checking (3332m). Virtually everyone comes purely for Ijen – to into hotel. hike up to its spectacular sulphur crater lake, featured in many National Geographic photo contests, and to expe- rience the unworldly sight of its ‘blue fire’ phenomenon. 15 Oct (Day 5) Bromo Sunrise & Kalibaru (B,L,D) Walk past Indonesian sulphur miners as they walk down the slopes with their heavy quarry. After we descend An early morning again as we start our Bromo Sunrise tour. from Ijen, we shall have breakfast at the hotel and The magnificent Mt Bromo will not disappoint with its spec- get some much needed rest before departing for tacular views and dramatic landscapes. After watching the fa- Menjagan in the West Bali National Park via ferry mous sunrise over the iconic view of Indonesia, we will have from Java and check into the Mimpi Resort Men- breakfast at the hotel and check out. jagan. On the way to Bayuwangi, we shall visit a coffee plan- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destina- tation in Kalibaru. The picturesque road from Jember tions/asia/indonesia/pictures-kawah-ijen-volcano-east- to Banyuwangi winds around the foothills of Gunung java/ Raung, through rainforest, and up to the small hill town of Kalibaru (428m). Java coffee beans are world famous and synonymous with coffee. The trip between Bromo and Bayuwangi take approximately 6 hours. After arrival in Bayuwangi, check into the Santika Bayuwangi Hotel to get some needed rest after dinner. Sulphur miners walking down to Ijen Volcano Iconic view of Mount Bromo Mount Bromo is the most iconic volcano in Indonesia and is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java, Indonesia. At 2,329 meters (7,641 ft) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but is the most well known. The massif area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in East Java, Indonesia. The volcano belongs to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. The name of Bromo is derived from the Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu creator god. The phenomenon of Blue Fire at Ijen Mount Ijen (aka Ijen volcano) is a quiet but active volcano. It is set amidst a stunning landscape of volcanic cones. The beautiful turquoise coloured sulphur lake that resides at the heart of Ijen volcano is the largest acidic lake in the world and the result of a volcanic crater.