8-day, 7-night New Year tour through Java: Borobudur, Prambanan, Yogyakarta's palaces and sunrise at Mount Bromo, with a Thai history lecturer.
Trip highlights
- Celebrate New Year with "Indonesia: The Lost Roots" and discover the Buddhist-Hindu roots shared with Thailand across the archipelago
- Buddhist-Hindu culture has never faded from this land and is closely tied to our own
- Prambanan, the temple complex that predates Angkor Wat
- Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world
- The Sultan's Palace and the city plan of Yogyakarta, laid out according to Hindu cosmology
- Mount Bromo (from "Brahma"), the sacred volcano of the last Hindu community of Java
- Departure 26 Dec 2025 – 2 Jan 2026, private group (no joining)
Highlight places
Led by historiansEvery trip travels with an expert history lecturer who brings each site to life in plain language.
Off the beaten pathCentral Asia, the Middle East, the Himalayas — places most tour companies never go.
Private groups, no rushingRight-sized groups and unhurried time at the places that matter most.
Beyond ordinary travelEvery tour is designed by writers and professional travellers to create experiences that reflect who you are — for travellers who want more than an ordinary holiday.
About this tour
This 8-day, 7-night New Year tour, "Indonesia: The Lost Roots", explores the Buddhist and Hindu heritage of Java, from 26 December 2025 to 2 January 2026. It is run as a private group and does not join other groups.
The route centres on Yogyakarta, with the Sultan's Palace, Taman Sari, Borobudur, Mendut, Prambanan, Sewu and Ijo temples, then continues by intercity train to Surabaya and on to Mount Bromo for a sunrise jeep trip and a horse ride to the crater rim.
The tour is accompanied by a Thai lecturer and tour leader together with an experienced local guide, and the program aims to explain the history behind each site in an easy-to-follow way. Hotels are 4-star or similar, and the price includes flights, intercity train tickets, entrance fees and the horse ride.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur – Yogyakarta
Meet at 07:00 at Don Mueang Airport (DMK), 3rd floor international terminal, in front of the AirAsia check-in counters.
- 09:35 fly Bangkok (DMK) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) on AK881, arriving 12:40, with a layover of about 2 hours 45 minutes.
- 15:25 fly on to Yogyakarta (YIA) on AK348, arriving 17:05, then transfer to the hotel.
Flights and times may change at the airline's discretion.
Day 2Sultan's Palace – Taman Sari – Vredeburg Fort – Ramayana Ballet
The first full day in Yogyakarta.
- Sultan's Palace of Yogyakarta, built in 1790 in a mix of Javanese and Western styles, with nine gates linked to Hindu belief.
- Taman Sari, the "Water Castle", built 1758–1765 and part of the "Cosmological Axis of Yogyakarta" World Heritage listing (2023).
- Vredeburg Fort Museum, a Dutch fort of 1760 now the museum of the struggle for independence.
- The Javanese open-air Ramayana performance at Ramayana Ballet Prambanan, in Special Class seating.
Day 3Borobudur – Mendut – Malioboro – Prambanan – Sewu
A day of Yogyakarta's World Heritage sites.
- Borobudur, built around the 8th–9th century by the Sailendra dynasty, a World Heritage Site since 1991, reflecting the three realms with 72 perforated stupas.
- Candi Mendut, a Mahayana Buddhist temple with a large stone Buddha.
- Malioboro Street, the city's liveliest pedestrian shopping street.
- Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple in Southeast Asia, over 1,100 years old, with a 47 m central tower; World Heritage Site since 1991.
- Candi Sewu, an old temple near Prambanan.
Day 4Candi Ijo – Yogyakarta
In the afternoon, visit Candi Ijo, a group of Hindu temples on a 410 m hill, built around the 16th–17th century. Ruins and scattered stones at the foot of the hill suggest there were once more temples than survive today.
Day 5Yogyakarta – Surabaya by train – Hong Tiek Hian Temple
At 10:30 transfer to the station for the intercity train from Yogyakarta to Surabaya Gubeng (train no. 82, about 4 hours), arriving 15:30.
- Visit Hong Tiek Hian, one of Indonesia's oldest Chinese temples, in central Surabaya, known for its twin-dragon bridge and its altars to Kwan Im and the Buddha.
Day 6Surabaya – Al-Akbar Mosque – Trowulan – Bromo
- Al-Akbar National Mosque, the second-largest mosque in Indonesia, opened in 2000, with a 27 m dome and a 99 m minaret with a lift to a viewing platform.
- In the afternoon, Museum Majapahit Trowulan, with artefacts from the Majapahit, Singhasari, Kediri and Kahuripan kingdoms.
- Drive about 3 hours to the Mount Bromo area.
Day 7Bromo sunrise – horse ride – Sea of Sand – Surabaya
Wake up at 02:00 and leave at 02:30 by 4WD jeep (about 1 hour) to watch sunrise over Mount Bromo (about 2,400 m), a sacred mountain to the Tenggerese whose name comes from "Brahma".
- Ride a horse to the crater (fee included) then climb about 250 steps to the rim.
- Stop at Lautan Pasir, the "Sea of Sand", more than 10 sq km of volcanic ash, a protected area since 1919.
- Drive back to Surabaya, about 3 hours.
Day 8Surabaya – Kuala Lumpur – Bangkok
Drive about 3 hours to Juanda International Airport (SUB).
- 10:00 fly MH870 to Kuala Lumpur, arriving 13:40, with a layover of about 2 hours 40 minutes.
- 16:20 fly on to Bangkok, arriving at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) at 17:40.
Included
- Round-trip international economy flights with baggage allowance per airline standard (checked and carry-on)
- Intercity train tickets
- Transport and sightseeing with an experienced driver
- Accommodation as listed, twin-share (tell us in advance if you need a triple; some hotels have no 3-bed rooms)
- Entrance fees and meals as stated in the program
- Experienced local guide, plus a Thai lecturer and tour leader
- Bottled drinking water during the trip
- Horse ride
- Travel accident insurance of 1,000,000 baht per person (subject to the policy terms)
Not included
- Business Class on Malaysia Airlines and Premium Flex/Premium Flatbed on AirAsia
- Single-room supplement (if staying alone)
- Personal expenses such as passport fees, phone, internet, laundry, minibar, food and drinks outside the program, excess baggage, seat reservations, medical costs for pre-existing conditions, portable oxygen cans
- Tips for the tour leader, local guide and driver (recommended 70 USD per person)
- 7% VAT, 3% withholding tax and other taxes required by law
- Fuel surcharges and airport taxes if the airline raises them
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Indonesia New Year Tour: Borobudur, Prambanan and Bromo
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