Java by Rail

This morning after breakfast we’ll embark on a full day tour of the dynamic, vibrant and chaotic megalopolis that is Jakarta, starting at the Jakarta Cathedral Church.

You’ll also visit the Istiqlal Mosque – the largest mosque in South-East Asia, and the National Monument, MONAS, a 132 metre obelisk on Merdeka Square, built to commemorate Indonesia’s struggle for independence. We’ll then visit the historic Batavia train station, located in the old colonial Dutch town of Batavia (Kota Tua) on Fatahillah Square.  Time permitting, there’ll be a chance to also explore the historical Kali Besar Barat canal and see the Dutch Stadhuis (Jakarta Historical Museum) with its Si Jagur old Portuguese cannon.

After enjoying lunch together at Batavia Café, set in a 200-year-old colonial building, we’ll return to the hotel in the mid afternoon.  The rest of the day and evening is yours to explore on your own.   

Overnight: The Hermitage, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, Jakarta (B, L)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll hand our luggage over to travel separately, and transfer to the railway station to take your Business Class seat on Indonesia’s first high-speed train between Jakarta and Bandung, the capital of West Java. Known as WHOOSH – Waktu Hemat Operasi Optimal Sistema Hebat – it is the fastest high speed train in Southeast Asia, with a track speed that can reach 330 kilometres per hour, cutting the normal running time from three hours to just over 30 minutes. Bandung is a vibrant city nestled in a highland plateau at about 768 meters above sea level, surrounded by volcanic mountains. Known as the “Paris of Java” for its colonial-era charm, cool climate, and cultural vibrancy, it’s a major hub for education, creativity, and tourism. Founded by the Dutch in the 17th century, Bandung gained prominence during the colonial era. It hosted the 1955 Bandung Conference, a landmark meeting of Asian and African nations promoting decolonization and non-alignment.

Upon arrival at Bandung Train Station in the late morning, we’ll transfer directly to our hotel to check in and enjoy lunch together.  After lunch, we’ll embark on a walking tour of Bandung visiting Gedung Sate governor’s office, see the quirky fibreglass statues on Jeans Street, marvel at the colonial and Art Deco architecture along Braga Street, plus the Gedung Merdeka Presidential Palace, the Savoy Homann Hotel and the Grand Mosque.

We’ll close out the afternoon with a visit to the Saung Angklung Udjo workshop, a uniquely Indonesian indoor-outdoor bamboo musical instrument workshop and craft centre, devoted to preserving the rich culture of Java. We’ll see an energizing performance of Angklung (traditional bamboo instruments) and dancing by village students, before getting a chance to try the instruments ourselves!

We’ll return to our hotel for some time to freshen up before enjoying dinner at the Plataran Bandung Indonesian restaurant. 

Overnight: Aryaduta Hotel, Bandung (B, L, D)

This morning after an early breakfast, checking out and handing your big luggage over to our private courier, we’ll transfer to Bandung’s railway station to board the morning Kereta Api Argo Wilis train for the 502 kilometre journey to Yogyakarta. We’ll be travelling in ‘Exekutif’ Class Luxury Panoramic railcars with a personal catering and butler service even provided! So, all you’ll have to think about is immersing yourself in the picturesque scenery that you’ll see out of the large panoramic windows.  Lunch will be served on board. 

Yogyakarta (often called “Jogja”) is a smaller city known for its traditional arts and cultural heritage, and its ornate 18th-century royal complex, or kraton, encompassing the still-inhabited Sultan’s Palace. 

After arriving and checking in to your centrally located, 5-star boutique heritage hotel – The Phoenix Yogyakarta – you’ll enjoy a private hotel tour to learn about the different architectural styles and the history of the property. Built in 1918 as a colonial landmark, it was originally owned by Chinese entrepreneur Kwik Djoen Eng, known as “The Java Sugar King.” It served as the Japanese Imperial Army’s headquarters during WWII (renamed Hotel Yamato) and was later reopened as Hotel Merdeka in 1951, hosting notable figures like Indonesia’s first President, Sukarno. In 1996, it was designated a national historical landmark by the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture. It was transformed into the hotel we know today, blending colonial charm with Javanese and European elegance, after AccorHotels acquired it in 2009. 

After your hotel tour, the rest of the afternoon and evening is free. 

Overnight: The Phoenix Hotel – MGallery Collection, Yogyakarta (B, L)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll set out with our local guide on a full day of exploring this interesting city, including lunch at the Masama by Kamil Indonesian restaurant. The day will kick off with a neighborhood tour of the charismatic historic Kota Gede area by Becak (bike taxi).  Renowned as the cradle of Javanese culture and a hub for traditional crafts, particularly silverwork, Kota Gede was the first capital of the Mataram Sultanate, established in 1582 by Panembahan Senopati. It served as the political and cultural centre of Java until the sultanate’s capital moved to Karta in the 17th century.  More recently, it was a focal  point during Indonesia’s struggle for independence, with historical ties to figures like Sukarno. Today, it offers a blend of ancient heritage, vibrant markets, and modern-day charm. 

Your exploration of this area will include a visit to the Great Mosque of Kotagede (Mataram Great Mosque) – built in 1575, it is one of the oldest mosques in Indonesia; the Royal Cemetery (Makam Panembahan Senopati) where Mataram’s founders are buried; a local market; and a traditional Javanese “joglo” home.

We’ll continue via becak to the Taman Sari water palace and garden. Also known as Taman Sari Water Castle, this historic royal garden and palace complex was built in the mid-18th century during the reign of Sultan Hamengkubuwono I, serving as a pleasure garden, bathing complex, and defensive retreat for the Yogyakarta Sultanate. Combining Javanese, Islamic, Chinese, and European architectural influences, Taman Sari is a cultural gem reflecting the opulence and ingenuity of the Mataram Sultanate.

Next, we’ll make our way to a small home-factory where Java’s iconic Wayang Kulit leather puppets are housed. Wayang Kulit is the Indonesian ancient art of shadow puppetry, where leather puppets are manipulated behind a screen by a master storyteller, accompanied by a gamelan orchestra. You’ll learn about how they are made and enjoy a puppet show to see them in action. 

Our last stop of the day will be a visit to a Batik Gallery and Workshop where you’ll meet with local women who make these colourful textiles, before trying your hand at creating some original designs yourself under their careful tutelage.  

You’ll return to the hotel late afternoon for an evening at leisure. This evening, there will be the option to experience a spectacular Ramayana Ballet performance at Purawisata. Alternatively If you’re interested in exploring Jogya at night, you could visit the lively Jalan Malioboro street lined with restaurants, shops and local street vendors.

Overnight: The Phoenix Hotel – MGallery Collection, Yogyakarta (B, L)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll explore the Sultan’s Palace, known simply as ‘the  Kraton’, built in 1755 and designed as the political, cultural, and spiritual centre of the Yogyakarta Sultanate.  Still the official residence of the Sultan of Yogyakarta, it is a living museum of Javanese heritage, spanning a 14,000-square-metre walled complex, designed with Javanese cosmological principles to reflect harmony between the sultan, nature, and the divine.  Explore the Pagelaran Hall featuring ornate chandeliers and marble floors; elevated courtyards for coronations and cultural performances like wayang kulit; the Golden Pavilion, the sultan’s throne room, adorned with intricate woodwork and Javanese motifs; and the Museum section, displaying royal artifacts, gamelan instruments, batik, kris daggers, and palanquins, showcasing the sultanate’s history.

Moving on, we’ll explore the awe-inspiring Prambanan Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Indonesia’s largest Hindu temple complex. Built in the 9th century, this architectural masterpiece boasts towering spires, intricate stone carvings, and three main temples dedicated to Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, with the majestic 47-metre-high Shiva temple as its centrepiece. Slightly different in style to Borobudur, the other great temple of Yogyakarta and on our list for tomorrow, Prambanan is made up of several beautifully preserved stone shrines clustered together in the heart of a wide, green park.

We’ll pause for lunch at a local restaurant before moving on to the nearby village of Bugisan. Here, we’ll take a walk through the village and meet the locals to learn about how the tumpangsari farming system works, before visiting a local home for refreshing tea and some traditional snacks.  The Tumpangsari farming system is a traditional agricultural practice widely used in Java. It involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same plot of land in a specific spatial arrangement to maximize land use, enhance soil fertility, and reduce risks associated with monoculture.

The outdoor seating area, surrounded by lush gardens and rice fields, is perfect for sunset dining, offering panoramic views of Prambanan and Mount Merapi, especially enchanting during evening hours.

Dinner tonight is at the renowned Abhayagiri Restaurant located at Sumberwatu Heritage Resort.  Renowned for its Javanese-inspired design, the restaurant features a grand joglo-style pavilion with classic batik tiles and elegant wooden moldings, it offers a dining experience with breathtaking views of Prambanan Temple, Sojiwan Temple, and Mount Merapi.  We’ll arrive in time for sunset drinks before a delicious Indonesian set dinner.  If the weather permits, you’ll also be treated to a spectacular open-air Ramayana Ballet performance.  

Overnight: The Phoenix Hotel – MGallery Collection, Yogyakarta (B, L, D

This morning after breakfast and check out, we’ll board our private coach and drive to the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, Borobudur – a 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple and the world’s largest Buddhist temple. Built around 750–850 CE during the Sailendra dynasty, it was abandoned and buried under volcanic ash in the 14th century, but was rediscovered in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles and restored in the 20th century with UNESCO’s help.  

Borobudur is not only a major pilgrimage site its architecture and design is of equal renown – a massive stepped pyramid with nine stacked platforms constructed from 2 million volcanic stones, housing over 500 Buddhas, spanning 123 metres per side and rising 35 metres, set against the backdrop of Mount Merapi and lush rice fields. The structure symbolises the Buddhist path to enlightenment, guiding pilgrims through a spiritual journey from desire to enlightenment as they ascend the terraces.

After exploring the wonder of Borobudur, we’ll enjoy lunch together at the stylish Van Bloemen 1881 restaurant, a culinary oasis specialising in Dutch and Indonesian cuisine, located in the heart of a nearby local village.

After lunch, we’ll set off on a drive north to our magnificent luxury 5-star “plantation-style” resort, set in the middle of a working coffee plantation in Losari, and incorporating unparalleled collection of remarkable antiques and enchanting buildings including Central Java icons such as a colonial railway station and historic joglo-villas.  

On the way, we’ll stop and visit the Candi Mendut temple, a smaller but significant counterpart to the Borobudur, and part of a sacred Buddhist triad with Borobudur and Pawon temples, aligned along a roughly straight line. Slightly pre-dating Borobudur, Mendut is renowned for its exquisite stone reliefs and large Buddha statues. 

Upon arrival at our resort hotel, we’ll check in and enjoy an evening at leisure – you can simply relax with a snack or indulge in dinner at the resort’s signature restaurant, Java Red.

Overnight: MesaStila Resort and Spa, Magelang (B, L)

This morning after breakfast, we’ll drive to the town of Ambarawa, a significant railway hub during Dutch colonial times, with the Willem I Station, built in 1873, serving military and export goods transport to Semarang’s port. During WWII, the town hosted Japanese internment camps, holding up to 15,000 European prisoners, primarily women and children, and the 19th-century Fort Willem I, a former Dutch military complex, was used as a prison camp.

In 1976 Ambarawa’s railway station was re-purposed as Southeast Asia’s largest railway museum, housing 21 steam locomotives, including the 1891 Hartmann Chemnitz and a rare operational steam train (B25 0-4-2T).

On arrival, we’ll tour this historic Railway Museum and enjoy a special chartered heritage steam train journey from Ambarawa to Tuntang and back, travelling along beautiful Lake Rawa Pening. 

After lunch together in a local restaurant, we’ll travel back to our hotel and enjoy a guided walking tour of the MesaStila coffee plantation. Here, we’ll learn about the organic and delicious Robusta coffee grown on the property and have an up-close look at the traditional techniques of roasting and grinding the beans before enjoying a coffee tasting session. For those who aren’t coffee drinkers, you may like to try jamu, a traditional Javanese herbal drink. 

Dinner is at leisure this evening. 

Overnight: MesaStila Resort and Spa, Magelang (B, L)

This morning is a lazy one to give you a chance to soak up our resort location for a bit longer and enjoy a leisurely breakfast and checkout before a late morning departure by private coach to the historic royal capital in East Java – Solo city, officially known as Surakarta. Upon arrival, we’ll go directly to our hotel, check in and enjoy lunch together.  

After lunch, we’ll transfer to the railway station for a very special afternoon – a Surakarta city tour in a privately chartered steam train! The Steam Loco Jaladara, built in Germany in 1896 and shipped to Indonesia that same year by the Dutch East Indies Government as a means of short-distance transport, will trundle us through the heart of the city.  From your seat in restored Victorian-style wood carriages, you’ll get a first-hand look at life in Solo in this truly unique way to see a city. 

Our excursion will include stops at Loji Gandrung (the Mayor’s official residence), the Danarhadi Batik Museum, and the Kauman Batik Village before pulling into Sangkrah Train Station, also a protected cultural heritage site and the end of our journey. 

We’ll return to the hotel for some time to relax and freshen up before transferring to Pracima Tuin Mangkunegaran Palace Surakarta for an exclusive dinner experience.

Overnight: Alila Hotel Solo, Surakata (B, L, D)

It’s an early start this morning. After checking out and handing our big luggage over for separate transport, we’ll collect our specially prepared breakfast boxes and make our way to the Solo train station to board the morning Sancaka ‘Exekutif’ Class train to Surabaya.

Upon arrival in Surabaya, we’ll enjoy lunch at the excellent Arumanis Restaurant before rejoining our private coach for the scenic two hour drive to Malang. 

Upon arrival in Malang in the afternoon, we’ll go directly to our hotel, the Hotel Tugu, located in the heart of the old town, looking out to the main monument of Indonesia’s struggle for independence.  Like so many of the special hotels on this tour, Hotel Tugu Malang is a luxurious 5-star boutique hotel housed in a colonial-era mansion, and is a living museum celebrating Java’s rich history through an extensive collection of Indonesian, Chinese, and Dutch antiques and private artworks.  The founder of the Tugu Hotels Group, Anhar Setjadibrata, a medical student-turned-lawyer and now the owner of the biggest collection of fine Indonesian art and cultural antiquities in Indonesia, designed the range of beautiful boutique museum hotels to house his antiques and to share with the world the romantic stories and legends of ancient kingdoms of Indonesia. 

After check-in, we’ll enjoy a private tour of this magnificent property, after which your time is at leisure. We’ll meet again for dinner at the SaigonSan Restaurant and at the hotel. 

Overnight: Hotel Tugu Malang (B, L, D)

This morning after breakfast we’ll embark on a tour of this delightful city, nestled in a highland valley surrounded by volcanic mountains like Mount Bromo and Mount Semeru. In the pre-colonial era, Malang was part of the ancient Singhasari and Majapahit kingdoms (13th–16th centuries). Later, under Dutch rule, it became a colonial hub due to its fertile highlands, supporting sugar, coffee, and tobacco plantations. The city retains much of its colonial architecture and our tour will take us past numerous significant colonial buildings including the Balai Kota, an immense Dutch administrative building, Alun-Alun Tugu Malang Park, and Jalan Besar Ijen millionaires’ row, a boulevard lined with elegant whitewashed mansions from the Dutch era.

We’ll stop for a visit at Jodipan, often called the Rainbow Village, due to its houses painted in bright hues (yellow, pink, blue, red), many adorned with murals ranging from 3D tigers to minions, and its colorful stairways, rainbow umbrellas, and recycled art (e.g., paint bucket decorations), all creating a most festive vibe.  Jodipan symbolises community-driven renewal – before 2016, the village was one of Indonesia’s most rundown slums, facing demolition due to poverty, crime, and unsanitary conditions, with waste dumped into the Brantas River. In 2016, eight students from Muhammadiyah University of Malang, inspired by Rio de Janeiro’s Favela Painting and Italy’s Cinque Terre, partnered with a local paint company (PT Indana), artists, residents, and Indonesian Air Force troops to paint the village in vibrant colors. The project revitalised Jodipan, and saved the community from relocation, improved living standards, and boosted the local economy through visitor fees and the explosion of small businesses to support the growing number of tourists.  You’ll be mesmerised by all the lively colours that paint the entire landscape like a kaleidoscope. 

Afterwards, we’ll explore the city’s largest public market, the vibrant Pasar Besar before returning to our hotel for a lunch sampling of imperial Indonesian cuisine in the Melati boutique restaurant. 

The rest of the afternoon and evening is at leisure to explore more of Malang at your own pace or stay in and soak up your magnificent hotel.

Overnight: Hotel Tugu Malang (B, L)

This morning after breakfast and saying goodbye to our hotel, we’ll drive the scenic route to Mount Bromo in the Bromo-Tengger National Park. An active volcano, Mount Bromo is one of Indonesia’s most iconic natural landmarks – at 2,329 metres, it’s not Java’s tallest peak, but is renowned for its otherworldly landscape, dramatic sunrise views, and cultural significance to the Tenggerese people, who believe a brave prince once sacrificed his life for his family and at the mouth of the crater. One of five volcanoes sitting within the massive Tengger Caldera, a 10-km-wide crater formed by a supervolcano eruption thousands of years ago, Bromo is the most famous, surrounded by the Sea of Sand—a vast, ash-covered plain resembling a lunar landscape.

Upon arrival in Bromo, we’ll go directly to our hotel, check-in and enjoy lunch.  After lunch, we’ll depart in 4WDs to safely get up close with the magnificent Mount Bromo volcano, from the viewing platform at Mount Penanjakan – you’ll soon understand how this eerie landscape has spurned countless legends and myths. 

We’ll return to your hotel in the late afternoon for an evening at leisure.

Overnight: Jiwa Jawa Resort, Bromo (B, L)

After breakfast and check out, we’ll continue our journey down the hill through the spectacular East Javanese countryside to Probolinggo to catch a train to Banyuwangi.

As the train rolls eastward, we travel through rice paddies dense tropical plantations of cocoa, coffee, sugarcane and small villages nestled against the backdrop of volcanic peaks. Along the way, we skirt the foothills of Mount Raung, one of the island’s most active volcanoes, whose looming presence has shaped both the ecology and mythology of the region. The changing scenery offers a striking cross-section of Java’s agricultural heartland and volcanic terrain, a reminder of how fertile and powerful this island truly is.

In the early afternoon you’ll arrive in Banyuwangi, located at the easternmost tip of Java, we’ll check in to our beachside resort for some free time to unwind before we gather for dinner.

Overnight: Dialoog Banyuwangi, Banyuwangi (B,L,D)

After breakfast at the hotel, set out on a morning safari drive through Baluran National Park. Often referred to as the “Little Africa of Java”, the park spans savannah plains, coastal forests, mangroves, and volcanic backdrops, providing a haven for wildlife such as Javan banteng, wild deer, macaques, and colourful birdlife. As you explore, take in panoramic views of Mount Baluran rising above the plains, an extinct volcano that lends the park its dramatic character.

Return to the hotel in time for lunch at leisure and enjoy a free afternoon to unwind.  Perhaps enjoy a swim, a walk along the shore, or simply time to take in the tranquil coastal atmosphere. This evening, gather for dinner at the hotel.

Overnight: Dialoog Banyuwangi, Banyuwangi (B, L, D)

After breakfast and check out this morning our private coach will transfer us to Ketapang Harbour to continue our journey into another piece of Indonesian paradise by ferry – across the Bali Strait to Sanur for our last days together. 

Upon disembarking, we’ll continue by road, pausing for lunch in a village restaurant. After lunch, it’s on to Sanur with a stop on the way at the Beratan Lake in Bedugul to visit the magnificent Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, a stunning water temple and one of Bali’s most iconic and photographed temples, revered for its serene beauty and spiritual significance.  Built in 1633 by I Gusti Agung Putu, the King of Mengwi, the temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, lakes, and rivers, and  honours the sacred relationship between water, agriculture, and spirituality. 

Nestled along Bali’s southeastern coastline, Sanur is a laid-back seaside town shaded by swaying palms and dotted with shrines, blending old-world charm with modern comforts. Traditional fishing boats line the beach, locals make their daily offerings with quiet devotion and the scent of incense mingles with ocean breezes.

We’ll go directly to our resort hotel, check in and have some time to freshen up before enjoying dinner together at the hotel.

Overnight: Tandjung Sari Hotel, Sanur (B, L, D) 

Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace. Sleep in, have a lazy breakfast, wander along the beachside promenade of Sanur, swim in the calm waters, browse the local shops, indulge in a traditional massage, or simply relax beneath the shade of a palm tree at the hotel, as you soak up Sanur’s coastal charm.

This evening, we will gather together for a spectacular farewell dinner. 

Overnight: Tandjung Sari Hotel, Sanur (B, D) 

Enjoy breakfast at the resort and a morning at leisure before transferring to Denpasar Airport for your departure flight. We’re happy to arrange for you to extend your stay in Sanur or elsewhere in Bali. Call us on 1300 800 977 to discuss the many options.

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