Classic West Java

Selamat Datang! Welcome to Jakarta.

Upon arrival, meet your local guide and driver at the arrival gate and transfer to the hotel. The balance of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, proceed with your guide to explore the bustling city of Jakarta. We will make photo stops at the Presidential Palace and Istiqlal Mosque- the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and continue to the neo-gothic Jakarta Cathedral and then to the National Monument. It is known locally as ‘Monas,’ and this 433 ft tall tower was built to commemorate Indonesia's independence in 1945.

Now, we stroll through ‘Kota’- the walled part of former Dutch Batavia that still retains Dutch colonial architecture. 

After lunch in a local restaurant in Old Batavia, we take local transport and then walk on foot along the hidden lanes. Here we will have an opportunity to meet the friendly locals and learn about their lifestyle. We continue to Chinatown, locally known as Glodok, and visit the first Chinese temple in Indonesia. 

In the afternoon, travel to the town of Bogor (38 miles, two or three hours). Check into the hotel, and the balance of the day is at leisure.

After breakfast, check out from the hotel and set off for an excursion through Bogor and on to Bandung.

In less than 30 minutes, we stop to visit Bogor’s botanical gardens that preserve more than 15,000 species of trees and plants and over 5,000 species of orchids. The gardens also provide habitat to various bird species and bats. We stroll through the garden, learning about the plants and enjoying the beautiful landscapes. The garden is also the viewpoint for Bogor’s Presidential Palace, noted for its distinctive architecture. It was built in 1744 as a retreat for the Dutch governors, and the palace was later used for the British administration. The palace is not open to the public, but you can still view it from outside. 

We drive along the Puncak Pass- a mountainous road that leads past one of the first colonial tea plantations, several scenic rice fields, and typical Javanese villages. There will be plenty of opportunities for a photo stop or short walk through the tea plantation.

We will have a quick lunch stop in a local restaurant and then continue on our scenic journey to Bandung. We travel a total of 84 miles and spend about five hours on the road. 

Upon arrival, check into your hotel and take rest for the balance of the day. Or you can take a relaxed stroll through the city- known as the Paris of Java. Bandung is a dynamic; modern city yet retains many grandiose Art Deco buildings and historic houses, resulting in an intriguing mix of old and new.

After breakfast in Bandung, proceed to Tangkuban Perahu (16 miles, 1-hour, 15 minutes), a smoldering 6,560 ft wide volcano. We will hike around the main crater, Kawah Ratu.

Nearby, we may stop at the Ciater Hot Springs, also referred to as Sari Ater. The area has natural hot water spring pools with therapeutic waters where you can take a dip if you wish to. A trip to a nearby tea-factory will give an insight into the tea plantation, harvesting, and processing of the legendary leaves.

Alternatively, we can visit Kawah Putih (30 miles, 1 hour 45 minutes) and enjoy spectacular landscapes. We visit Mount Patuha and see two volcanic craters 1,968 ft apart. One is dry, but the other has a greenish-white crater lake, earning it the name ‘Kawah Putih’ or ‘white crater.’ You will also have a chance to visit a nearby strawberry farm where you can buy fresh fruits grown in the volcanic soils with cool highland air. 

We will have a lunch stop on the way back. Should time allow, we can stop for a visit at Saung Angklung Udjo Workshop, a venue aimed at preserving the rich Java culture. Enjoy the traditional bamboo instrument performance by the students. 

Overnight in Bandung. 

After breakfast, transfer to the airport or the train station for your travel to the next destination.