Java Overland: Yogyakarta to Surabaya

Your morning begins with an introduction to Yogyakarta. The first stop is the Sultan's Palace — the historical and cultural heart of the city, which still serves as the working residence of the ruling dynasty. You'll walk through the palace grounds, take in classic Javanese architecture and learn about the story of the sultanate and the traditions of Central Java.

After a lunch break, you'll head to the Prambanan temple complex — the largest Hindu temple ensemble in Indonesia. Its towering stone spires are dedicated to the principal deities of the Hindu pantheon, while the walls are covered with intricate reliefs depicting scenes from ancient epics. There will be time to explore the grounds and the main shrines.

In the afternoon you'll travel on to Wonosobo. The drive takes roughly three hours. On arrival — hotel check-in and free time.

Overnight in Wonosobo.

The day starts very early — at around 03:00 you'll set off for the Dieng Plateau and Sikunir Hill. From the parking area it's about a 1.5 km walk up to the viewpoint, timed to arrive before sunrise. From here, sweeping panoramas of the mountains and volcanic scenery of Central Java gradually emerge in the first light of morning.

After sunrise, your exploration of the Dieng Plateau continues at Sikidang Crater. This is an active geothermal zone with drifting clouds of sulphurous steam, hot ground and bubbling mud pools — a chance to see the island's volcanic activity right at the surface.

Next comes the ancient Arjuna temple complex — a cluster of small Hindu shrines set among the highland landscapes of Dieng. Afterwards you'll visit the viewpoint over Color Lake, famous for its unusual water tones that shift with the light and natural conditions.

Around 09:30 you'll head back to the hotel with time to rest after the early start. At approximately 13:00 you'll depart for the Borobudur area. On arrival — hotel check-in and free time.

Overnight in the Borobudur area.

At around 03:00 you'll head to Borobudur to greet the new day beside one of Indonesia's most celebrated temple complexes. The early hour reveals Borobudur in a truly special atmosphere, as the surrounding hills and volcanoes slowly appear in the first rays of sunlight. After sunrise, you'll explore the temple complex itself.

A short coffee break follows the visit, after which you'll return to the hotel to rest.

Closer to midday, the journey continues to the village of Kaliurang at the foot of Mount Merapi. Here you'll take a lava tour across terrain shaped by past eruptions of one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. The route introduces you to dramatic volcanic landscapes and the visible traces of Merapi's destructive power.

After lunch you'll visit the archaeological site of Ratu Boko. Its ruins sit on elevated ground with wide views over the surrounding countryside and Prambanan. You'll have time to wander among the ancient stone structures and watch the sunset.

After 17:30 — return to the hotel and a free evening.

In the morning you'll travel to the Gunung Kidul region, home to Jomblang Cave. On arrival, the team will prepare the necessary gear and help you get equipped for the descent.

Jomblang is a vertical cave, so entry is only possible with specialised equipment and a support team. Once at the bottom, you'll follow an underground trail of about 300 metres through striking rock formations. Deep inside lies the cave's most famous spot, where sunlight pours through an opening high above and forms a spectacular pillar of light.

After returning to the surface, changing clothes and a lunch break, you'll continue to Pindul Cave. This offers a completely different way to experience the underground world — tubing. Floating on inflatable tubes, you'll drift along an underground river through the cave, taking in the stone vaults and natural formations along the way.

Once the programme ends — return to the hotel and a free evening.

The first half of the day is free. You can rest at the hotel after several busy days, take a stroll or spend the morning however you like.

At around 12:00 you'll be transferred to Yogyakarta railway station. From there you'll travel to Surabaya aboard the Argo Wilis Panoramic train. Its large panoramic windows let you watch Java unfold as you go: towns, rural villages, rice terraces and mountain scenery pass by one after another.

The train is scheduled to reach Surabaya at approximately 17:25. From here you'll continue to the Bromo–Tengger–Semeru National Park area, a drive of about three hours.

On arrival — hotel check-in and rest before the following day's early start.

Overnight in the Bromo area.

At around 03:00 you'll set off toward one of Java's most iconic volcanic landscapes. A 4WD jeep takes you up to the viewpoint to catch sunrise over Bromo. Little by little, the volcanic peaks and the vast caldera emerge from the darkness, forming one of East Java's best-known panoramas.

After sunrise, the jeep ride continues across the Bromo area. You'll head to the savannah — a green valley cradled by volcanic peaks that contrasts sharply with the stark scenery of the caldera. There's time here to walk around, take photos and discover another natural face of the national park.

At about 08:00 you'll return to the hotel for breakfast and a chance to rest after the early start.

Around 10:30 you'll depart for the Tumpak Sewu waterfall area. The drive takes several hours. On arrival — hotel check-in and free time.

Overnight in the Tumpak Sewu area.

Early in the morning you'll head to Tumpak Sewu waterfall. You'll first see it from the viewpoint, which reveals a panorama of an enormous semicircular wall where dozens of streams cascade simultaneously into a lush, jungle-covered gorge.

After admiring it from above, the route continues with a descent to the base of the falls. The walk down takes about 30 minutes over challenging terrain, so a decent level of fitness and careful footing are required. From below you'll see Tumpak Sewu from an entirely different angle and fully appreciate the scale of one of East Java's most impressive waterfalls.

After climbing back up, you'll return to the hotel with time to rest and get ready for departure.

At around 11:00 the transfer to Surabaya begins, with estimated arrival at approximately 15:00.