Smiles & Volcanoes

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Yogyakarta

  Welcome at Yogyakarta airport and transfer to your hotel. Free time. Overnight at the hotel. Meals: –

• day 2

  Yogyakarta – Slopes of Mt Merapi – Yogyakarta

  We leave Yogyakarta in the morning from your hotel to reach the southern slopes of Mount Merapi, where we begin a 2 to 3 hour walk. This walk allows us to get as close as possible to Mount Merapi and to witness the devastating effects of the October-November 2010 eruption. The region was indeed severely affected by the eruption and still bears the scars. From a viewpoint located at 1200 m altitude, we admire an idyllic and grandiose panorama in front of Merapi, yet marked by the devastating effects of the eruption, resulting from a series of catastrophic factors. We then approach the Gendol river, where the pyroclastic flows rushed during the eruption, racing down the slopes of Merapi at nearly 200 km/h before reaching the surrounding villages. Even now, small fumaroles still occasionally escape from the riverbed, reminding us of the recent events. At the end of our walk, we have a picnic on the mountainside and then head to the fascinating Merapi museum, where we learn a lot about volcanology in general and about the region in particular, notably through an interesting documentary. Return to Yogyakarta in the middle of the afternoon. Overnight at the same hotel. 2 hours transfer – 3 hours walking Elevation gain: 300 m / Elevation loss: 300 m Meals: Breakfast, Lunch (picnic)

• day 3

  Yogyakarta – City tour – Prambanan Temple – Yogyakarta

  In the early morning, we visit Yogyakarta and especially the surroundings of the Sultan's Palace (Kraton), built in 1756. Our walk leads us to Taman Sari (known during the Dutch colonial era as the "Water Palace"), to the bird market, as well as to the puppet and batik workshops. In the afternoon, we go to visit the Prambanan temple complex, and more specifically Loro Jonggrang, a sumptuous 47-meter-high temple dedicated to the goddess Siva. It is considered the most elegant and stunning Hindu temple on the island of Java. Return to Yogyakarta at the end of the afternoon, where we spend the rest of our time strolling along Malioboro Avenue, the main shopping street of Yogya. Overnight at the same hotel. 1 hour transfer Meals: Breakfast The royal family The rulers of the province of Yogyakarta have always been very involved in politics and sensitive to the independence of their people. This sultanate actively supported local independence movements and intensified this policy during the conflicts preceding independence. To help the very young Indonesian republic, the Sultan of Yogya sacrificed part of his personal fortune and secretly sheltered the government during the 6 months of unrest in 1949. This active support earned him the title of special province. Unlike most royal families in Java and elsewhere, the current sultan of Yogya (Hamengkubuwono X) continues to reign actively, concerned with improving public services and common well-being.

• day 4

  Yogyakarta – Borobudur Temple – Sukuh

  Morning transfer to the Suroloyo peak (2h), located in the Menoreh hill range overlooking the Borobudur valley. At sunrise, we have the opportunity to observe, in the distance and in clear weather, the Buddhist sanctuary surrounded by four volcanoes: Sumbing and Sundoro to the west, and Merbabu and Merapi to the east. We then begin a lovely downhill hike, through high-altitude plantations and traditional villages (2h30), heading towards this gigantic temple, which we visit at the end of our walk. Transfer then to Sukuh, on the slopes of Mt Lawu overlooking Surakarta. Overnight at the hotel. 4 hours of transfer – 2 hours 30 minutes of walking – Negative elevation = 700m Meal: Breakfast Buddhism & Hinduism in Java Buddhism had only a limited impact on the island of Java compared to Hinduism. It turns out that the local peoples even integrated the rites of one into the other by developing a unique cult dedicated to a deity known as Siva-Buddha. No hostility existed between these two religions, unlike their Indian counterpart, for the simple reason that the caste system according to Brahmanic Hinduism did not exist there or was practiced lightly. A significant spirit of tolerance developed on the island, and interreligious marriages were fully accepted. Thus, a Javanese Hindu king built a Buddhist temple in respect of his wife's religion.

• day 5

  Sukuh Temple – Tawangmangu – Tumpang

  We start this morning with a visit to the Sukuh temple, the last bastion of Hinduism in central Java in the face of the spread of Islam. This temple features original iconography, such as phallic figures and large turtle-shaped tables, which would reveal the existence of initiatory, even orgiastic, rituals. Then, we begin a walk towards the village of Tawangmangu, on the slopes of the Lawu volcano. This walk is an opportunity to discover some plant species present in this region, but also to admire superb panoramas of the pine forest and the surrounding high-altitude plantations. We end our walk by crossing the Tawangmangu park. Our first steps in the park lead us to a beautiful waterfall (Grojogan Sewu) in the middle of a tropical forest inhabited by a large community of monkeys. In the afternoon, transfer to Tumpang, near Malang. Overnight in a homestay. 7 hours of transfer – 4 hours of walking Positive elevation gain: 400m / Negative elevation gain: 300m Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

• day 6

  Tumpang – Cemorolawang – Mt Bromo

  In the early morning, 4x4 vehicles take us across the Tengger region, where the famous Mt Bromo (2329 m) is located. Our route goes through the forests of the Tengger-Bromo-Semeru National Park, follows the ridges of the caldera before descending towards this vast expanse of volcanic sand, also known as the sea of sand. We then reach the village of Cemorolawang. In the afternoon, we climb the volcano. Once at the summit, we can admire its crater, resembling a smoking cauldron where ashes and sulfur bubble. It is easy to understand why the Javanese once considered this place the entrance to purgatory. Overnight at the hotel. 2 hours of transfer – 4 hours of walking Elevation gain: 300 m / Elevation loss: 200 m Meals: Breakfast

• day 7

  Cemorolawang – Mt Pananjakan – Ketapang

  At the end of the night, we set off again in Jeeps, crossing the sea of sand to reach an altitude of 2775 meters, at the summit of Mount Pananjakan. When the first rays of sunlight appear, we witness the world waking up in a lunar landscape, with a breathtaking view of Mount Bromo, its sea of sand, and the Semeru volcano, both emitting fumaroles. Afterwards, it is possible to climb back to the summit of Bromo in the morning colors, a very different atmosphere from that of yesterday afternoon. Transfer late in the morning to Ketapang, at the foot of Kawah Ijen. Overnight at the hotel. 7 hours of transfer – 2h30 of walking Elevation gain (positive & negative): 375m Meals: Breakfast

• day 8

  Ketapang – Kawah Ijen Volcano – Pemuteran/Bali

  At the end of the night, we set off again by 4x4 towards the foot of Kawah Ijen. In the early morning, we walk to the edge of Kawah Ijen (literally meaning "green crater"), where men extract sulfur at the edge of the largest acid lake in the world. Very powerful and striking images from our "discovery" tour in Indonesia. These true sulfur laborers carry nearly 100 kg of ore on their backs for about 15 km to the processing plant! We then witness the weighing and the various work contracts. At the end of the morning, transfer to Pemuteran, a small seaside resort located on the northwest coast of Bali, far from tourist concentrations. Overnight at the hotel. 4 hours of transfer – 4 hours of walking Elevation gain (positive & negative): 350 m Meals: Breakfast

• day 9

  Pemuteran – Munduk

  The morning is free to fully enjoy the beach. Possibility to rent a boat to go observe the underwater world around the island of Mejangan, where all of Bali's richest wildlife seems to have gathered. A true polychrome aquarium awaits you in these coral reefs! It is here that the rare Bali starling has found refuge. In the early afternoon, short transfer to Munduk, located in the highlands of Bali. Walk to discover the surroundings and admire the extraordinary lush nature that surrounds the village. Its surroundings indeed form a picturesque scene of coffee and clove plantations, close to forests and waterfalls. The village of Munduk is located in a region of Bali rich in history, being the cradle of Balinese culture. The former Dutch colonists liked to come here for holidays from the old colonial capital of Singaraja (on the north coast). Overnight in a homestay, in an amazing restored colonial house. 1 hour 30 minutes transfer – 3 hours walk Meals: Breakfast

• day 10

  Munduk – Tamblingan and Buyan volcanic lakes – Ulun Danau Temple – Bedugul

  Our walk of the day takes us to the volcanic lakes Tamblingan and Buyan. These two lakes were, in the past, a single body of water until the enormous landslide of 1818, which definitively separated them. This magnificent hike is a pretext to discover the local agricultural and cultural life, as we walk along and through the beautiful tropical forests of the island. We then transfer to the peaceful waters of Lake Bratan, the source of life for all the rivers, rice fields, virgin forests, and streams located downstream. In the afternoon, we visit the superb Hindu-Buddhist temple of Ulun Danau. We then soak up the atmosphere of the picturesque Bedugul market, before settling into our hotel. 1 hour transfer – 5 hours walking Elevation gain: 500m / Elevation loss: 100m Meals: Breakfast – Pura Ulun Danau Bratan This place is enchanting, with its immense "banian" at the entrance and its gardens. One of the temples is set apart on a small island, and its 11-tiered roof is elegantly reflected in the waters of Lake Bratan. This temple is dedicated to the deity of this place, the goddess of the lake, worshipped for her fertility, spreading her power of life to all the surrounding lands. A phallic symbol accompanied by a spring represents the reproductive powers of the god of fertility: Siwa.

• day 11

  Bedugul – Botanical Gardens – Toyabungkah/Mt Batur

  This morning, we visit the magnificent Bedugul botanical gardens which, at 1300 m altitude, reveal to us an astonishing diversity of orchids. Then, we take the road to the caldera of Mount Batur volcano (1725 m), through a region renowned for its coffee plantations. From Penelokan, we enjoy an exceptional view of the caldera, which measures 14 km in length. This impressive size testifies to the tumultuous past of the volcano and to a size that, in the past, must have exceeded that of the current Agung. At our feet, we discover the cone of Mount Batur in the middle of a huge caldera, half of which is occupied by the largest lake in Bali and the other half covered with plantations and lava fields, remnants of the eruptions of 1917 and 1926. We then descend into the caldera to get closer to the lava flows. Short transfer to Toyabungkah, located at the foot of the volcano. Overnight in a homestay. 1 hour transfer – 2 hours 30 minutes walk – Negative elevation: 300 m Meals: Breakfast

• day 12

  Toyabungkah – Mount Batur – Toyabungkah – Kehen Temple – Ubud

  At the end of the night, we begin the ascent of Mount Batur. A little before sunrise, we first walk towards the summit of the oldest crater, then start our descent by going around the adjacent craters and taking a break near (but at a safe distance from) the most recent and most active crater. In the afternoon, transfer to the Kehen temple, located in the vicinity of Bangli and considered one of the most aesthetic in Bali. We finally reach Ubud, the cultural capital of the Island of the Gods. Overnight at the hotel. 2 hours of transfer – 5 hours of walking Elevation gain (positive & negative): 600m Meals: Breakfast Ubud, capital of the Arts A prince of the kingdom of Gianyar (Cokorda Gede Sukawati) had the ingenious idea of inviting artists from all over Bali to settle in Ubud and freely practice their arts, even offering asylum to those rejected from their original kingdom. Many artists from all disciplines settled in Ubud, which slowly became the main cultural center of Bali. The palaces and temples are today richly decorated with the works of craftsmen who came to seek refuge in Ubud or artists who developed their art for the benefit of the local nobility.

• day 13

  Ubud – Tampaksiring – Sanur

  This morning, we begin a walk through beautiful rice fields towards Tampaksiring. A family of Balinese artists welcomes us into their traditional home and offers us a meal, equally typical. Return to Ubud in the afternoon and free visit of the village. Transfer at the end of the afternoon to the beaches of Sanur (south of Bali). Overnight at the hotel. 1 hour 30 minutes of transfer – 5 hours of walking Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• day 14

  Sanur – Airport…

  The day is free until the transfer to the airport. 40 minutes transfer Meals: Breakfast