You will be collected from the airport/hotel in Semarang and head inland to Gedong Songo temple. Built during the 8th and 9th centuries when the Medang Kingdom controlled Central Java, Gedong Songo is one of the oldest Hindu structures on the island. Sir Stanford Raffles discovered the temple complex in 1804

The Dieng and Gedong Songo temples are among the earliest phases of Hindu temples built on Java island. They predate Borobudur and Prambanan and show considerable influence from Indian Hindu temple architecture.

Gedong Songo I is the oldest, with a square plan – an architecture predominant in Hindu and Buddhist-Hindu sites of central Java. However, the Gedong Songo II through V temples are unusual and among the notable exceptions. They have a square sanctum, but the plinth base has been extended for a porch, which gives it a rectangular shape. 

The architects of the later groups of Gedong Songo temples explored a design beyond those found in the Dieng group and others such as Sewu, Srikandi, Puntadewa, Sambisari, and Ngawen, where a porch was added by building a more extensive base.

Today we will trek along a relatively easy circuit of around 2km through the countryside on the slopes of Mount Ungaran as we discover the nine temples of Gedong Songo. The nine temples are split between five sites, two on the east side of the hill, two on the north and one to the west.

After our time at Gedong Songo, we depart for Losari. You will be staying at MesaStila, a luxury resort & spa that incorporates an unparalleled collection of remarkable antiques and beautiful buildings, including Central Java icons such as a Colonial railway station and historic Joglo-villas.

Check out from the hotel this morning for the journey to Solo. Upon arrival, we continue to the western slope of Mount Lawu, where we will embark on a two-hour trek between two of the most famous temples in Java. 

Starting on the western slope of the border between Central & East Java, we visit the Cetho temple, a fifteenth-century Javanese Hindu shrine built in the 15th century during the last period of the Majapahit Kingdom. The temple closely resembles a Balinese temple in appearance, though it combines Shivaism and fertility worship elements. Temple guardians mark the entrance, and there's a unique platform with a turtle head and a large lingam on the upper terrace. 

The temple is believed to initially consist of fourteen tiers, of which only nine remain today, rising spectacularly with narrow gateways and processional steps.

The village located below the temple is one of the last remaining Hindu communities in Java, and the temple is visited by Hindus who come to worship from Bali.

Your guide will introduce you to the temple and its history before departing on our trek along the mountain trail, with beautiful views of green hills and the river which runs alongside the mountain slope.  

We then arrive at Sukuh Temple, whose founder thought that the slope of Mount Lawu was a sacred place for worshipping the ancestors and nature spirits and for observance of the fertility cults, which in turn led to the temple being known as the 'Erotic Temple' of Java. 

The temple stretches from the east to the west, with the main gate in the west. Sukuh Temple is decorated with wayang stone carvings of Hindu origin.

The temple is distinctive compared with other ancient temples in Central Java, such as Borobudur and Prambanan, and its uniqueness lies in the landscaping, statuettes, and relief. 

The temples occupy an 11,000m2 area and consist of three terraces, each connected with an ascending alley. The most influential part is the last terrace, at the very back of the compound. This very sacred area once erected a homogenous phallic statue. The statue is now displayed at the National Museum, Jakarta.

A simple lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Afterwards, we drive back to Solo for check-in at the hotel.

Dinner is to your arrangement. 

After breakfast, we depart from the hotel to explore the city of Yogyakarta. 

The first stop on this morning's tour is Gedung Agung (The Great Building) and Fort Vredeburg. Gedung Agung is one of 6 presidential palaces in Indonesia, and For Vredeburg was a former Dutch colonial fortress. Your guide will explain the details of these two sites' colourful pasts.

We then take a short walk to the Kraton (Sultan's Palace), built in 1970 by Sri Sultan Hamengkubowono I. The palace is modelled on a traditional Javanese palace and still serves as the Sultan's Palace today.

After exploring the palace we continue to walk to Taman Sari Water Castle, stopping along the way at a local market where we can try some tasty snacks. 

Built in the mid-18th century, the Taman Sari had multiple functions: a resting area, a workshop, a meditation area, a defence area, and a hiding place.

After exploring the water castle, we return to the hotel where you have the afternoon at leisure before meeting up with your guide in the evening for a culinary tour of the city.

Exploring the city by public transport, this evening's food tour will give you a great insight into the city's vibrant food scene and demonstrate to you why Yogyakarta is known as one of the world's best street food destinations. 

Experience the city's distinct atmosphere as it comes to life at night, with locals playing games on the streets and socialising over a drink with their friends and family. 

You will experience Yogyakarta from a local's perspective and enjoy some tasty dishes, including Nasi Campur and Bakmie. 

Today you will learn the art of Balinese cooking with one of the island's most renowned chefs.  

During their time at one of Bali's leading hotels, the chef fell in love with the unique freshness and vitality of the produce available on their doorstep and how the Balinese work with it to create a unique tapestry of flavours. 

With this love, our renowned chef opened her own restaurant with the mission to make Bali's cuisine accessible to more people with a unique and memorable culinary experience.

Nestled in the foothills of Mount Agung, Bali's most sacred mountain, in the small town of Gelumpang, the restaurant is surrounded by rice fields, and there is not a building to be seen.

The morning starts with a visit to Amlapura market. Here you will assist the chef in gathering the produce for your menu. 

Sample some produce and absorb some real Balinese action in the hustle and bustle of the market. Return to the restaurant and learn how to prepare traditional flower offerings, "canang", before starting your private cooking class with one of Bali's most influential chefs.

During your cooking class, the chef will explain to you the different methods, flavours, and cooking styles that make Balinese food unique and share with you their passion for Bali's food and flavours. Afterwards, you will be able to enjoy your food while taking in the beautiful surroundings.

It is time to say farewell to the chef and her team and return to your residence, where you have the rest of the day at leisure. 

After a busy eight days of touring, it’s time for some rest and relaxation to recharge the batteries with a morning at leisure and an afternoon visit to the escape nomad campsite. The Royal High Tea experience will present you with a handpicked bouquet of flavours and aromas, set amidst towering palms, wild birdsong, and their impressive signature tented villas.

You will first be led down to the riverfront, where you will enjoy a flower foot bath followed by a full body massage by an experienced Balinese therapist in the tent for 1 hour.

Feeling refreshed from your massage, you will be led to one of the impressive dining tents for a high tea experience of tea and hors d’oeuvres fit for a king and queen. 

Later in the afternoon, you will enjoy a Balinese dance performance before departing from the tented camp back to your hotel. 

The remainder of your day and evening is at your leisure. Our Travel Expert will be on hand to provide entertainment and dining recommendations. 

Today we set sail aboard the Aristocat catamaran to Penida Island. An untouched island off Bali's south-eastern corner. This slice of paradise is a quiet spot drawing in adventurers seeking a slower island pace of life to embrace its turquoise waters and white sandy beaches.

Reaching Crystal Bay, we drop anchor, and you can enjoy some time snorkelling, relaxing on the beach, or take a 'rustic village' tour to see where the locals reside. By arriving at Crystal bay from the water, you can enjoy this beautiful palm-lined beach without traversing the hundreds of steps down that you would have to do so if accessing from Nusa Penida island itself. 

Snorkelling here, you can see an abundance of colourful coral and marine life. You can also see turtles quite regularly. However, be careful as the current can be very strong here and everywhere else in Nusa Penida.

Afterwards, we sail to a private beach club on Lembongan Island, where you can enjoy all facilities on offer, including a delicious BBQ lunch served at a beachfront bamboo restaurant. 

Then after some rest, enjoy an array of water sports activities such as a ride in a semi-submersible coral viewer, a guided snorkelling tour; a banana boat ride; or a volleyball game on the beach, all included in the cruise package. 

Those with a taste for underwater and above water pursuits can partake in scuba diving or parasailing, followed by a massage on the beach (surcharge applies). Alternatively, you can spend the afternoon taking it easy on the sand. 

We will return to Benoa Harbour in the afternoon and transfer back to your hotel.

Spend the evening at leisure in Sanur. You may want to take an evening to walk down Sanur Boardwalk, a paved walkway spanning the length of the beach lined with several tasty eateries.