INCREDIBLE INDONESIA Discover paradise on the islands of Java, Bali and Flores

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1 INCREDIBLE INDONESIA Discover paradise on the islands of Java, Bali and Flores Tour Code: Grade 2 Holiday Duration: 13 days HOLIDAY DATES 18th Feb nd Mar 2018, 11th Nov rd Nov 2018 Immerse yourself in a tropical paradise and experience the flavours of three Indonesian Islands. HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS Discovering the magnificent Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island. Being welcomed in the traditional Balinese way. Eating lunch in a rainforest restaurant. Going off road into uninhabited Bali. Exploring the Keraton Sultan Palace on Java.

2 INCREDIBLE INDONESIA Immerse yourself in a tropical paradise and experience the flavours of three Indonesian Islands. Converse with the locals, explore a temple or two, snorkel in crystal clear water, meet the monkeys and walk with dragons. From Jakarta we'll fly to Yogyakarta, known for traditional art and culture, for an afternoon's relaxation before dinner. We'll spend a day in the city visiting the Keraton Sultan Palace complex and taking a becak (rickshaw) to Tman Sari Castle. You'll take an ox cart to Bugisan Village to see some of the local artisans and also visit the Jamu, the herbal healer of the village. From Plaosan Temple, set on a hillside plateau, there are wonderful views across to Mount Merapi. After a morning visit to the Borobudur Temple, we fly to Bali before transferring to Ubud in the cool of the mountains for three days. On one morning you'll cycle off the beaten track through rural villages and rice paddies to a scenic spot for a picnic lunch. Another more adventurous day will take you into the more uninhabited regions by 4x4. You'll enjoy a Balinese lunch in a small restaurant located in a rainforest and also have a fascinating Bali Herbal walk and Jamu class as well as a visit to the Basanta Coffee Plantation. On the tropical island of Flores we have a full day visit to Komodo Island to see the Komodo Dragons. We'll have an early morning wake up call and take a boat to the island where a local ranger will take us in search of the dragons. After lunch you'll discover the underwater world courtesy of snorkels and flippers before the ranger takes us to Rinca for a walk through the forest and local savannah. Back on Flores we'll visit the Mirror Cave for a natural light display and a local market as well as the village of Melo to see a performance of the Whip Dance (Tari Cari) by the Manggarai people. We then return to Bali by air for our last night in Sanur. This evening at sunset you'll see a performance of The Ramayana Kecak Dance in front of the Uluwatu Temple. On our final morning we visit the Tanah Lot Sea Temple, the most photographed temple on Bali, and meet the local wild monkeys that roam the forest and temple of Alas Kedatony. WHATS INCLUDED Return flights from Heathrow to Jakarta returning Denpasar to Heathrow via Singapore both ways (Singapore Airlines) Airport transfers En suite accommodation in three, four and five-star hotels Half board plus seven lunches English speaking local guide Entrance fees and all local transport costs HOLIDAY GRADE This is a Grade 2 leisurely holiday which mixes active sightseeing with short countryside walks. Walks are likely to take up to 2 hours and any ascents or descents will be taken at a leisurely pace. See the Walks & Excursions section for more information. Pioneer Holidays Pioneer holidays are more adventurous itineraries, typically well off the beaten track. Whilst exploring lesserknown destinations, local conditions, facilities and transport may be basic, events may require modifications to

3 itineraries at short notice and there may be more travelling, possibly on poor roads - but the experience and stories to tell will be worth it all.

4 Proposed Itinerary Whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the outlined itinerary and advertised programme, local conditions can change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. This may mean that routes and timings need to be amended or the order of days may change, sometimes at short notice. Key to Meals: B - Breakfast, L - Lunch, D - Dinner. In flight meals, if appropriate, will be advised in your final travel documents Day: 1 - In Flight (In-Flight) We take an overnight flight to Jakarta, Java via Singapore Day: 2 - Yogyakarta (D) Upon arrival at Jakarta airport we take an internal flight to Yogyakarta and transfer by road to the hotel. You will then have free time to rest and relax before dinner. Day: 3 - Yogyakarta (B,L,D) After breakfast we take a sightseeing tour of Yogyakarta. We'll visit the Keraton Sultan Palace, take a Becak ride to reach Taman Sari and tour Bugisan Village by Ox Cart. We'll see several traditional artisan activities in the village such as the making of a traditional Javanese snack called emping ( a crisp like snack made from local nuts). Next stop will be at the house of the Jamu. Jamu is used in daily life by the Javanese and you will often see the Jamu lady wandering around the streets with colourful bottles of herbal medicines that treat a variety of ailments. The host will show you how to make beras kencur jamu and of course offer you a glass! You'll also visit the gamelan studio where traditional Indonesian instruments are explained and you have the opportunity to try and play some yourself with the ladies from the village that gather here regularly to practice. A local snack will be served in the house of one of the villagers before we continue to the Plaosan and Prambanan Temples. This evening a traditional Indonesian dinner will be served in a local restaurant where you can watch the sun set over Mount Merapi. Day: 4 - Ubud (B,L,D) We have a morning excursion to Borobudur Temple before we travel by road to the airport for the flight to Bali. On arrival in Bali you will be greeted in the traditional Balinese way by locals with flower garlands. We then transfer by road to Ubud and our hotel for dinner. Day: 5 - Ubud (B,L,D) After breakfast we have a morning cycle ride through rural villages. We drive from the hotel to the small village of Luwus where you begin your cycle route with a guide. You'll cycle along quiet countryside roads and pathways only accessible by bicycle. Pass through rural villages and rice paddies, and chance upon farmers at work in the fields and women going about their daily chores. There are plenty of stops along the way for photos and for a well earned drink of fresh coconut. The ride ends in a beautiful location where you can enjoy the views over the lush rice fields while tucking into a picnic lunch. We return to Ubud where you have free time for personal exploration before dinner. Note: Cycling level is undemanding and is mostly downhill. One section is uphill and is approximately 100m long. Day: 6 - Ubud (B,L,D) Today we venture off the beaten track by 4 x 4 and experience rural Bali away from the tourist crowds. Navigating narrow roads and tracks you'll pass through rural Balinese villages where farmers can be seen working in the rice fields. We drive along rough muddy tracks through the lush fields surrounding Mount Batukaru, Bali's second highest mountain. Stops will be made at a rural farmhouse to see the traditional way of life, a hot mineral spring, gardens where tropical spices and herbs are grown and at a natural stone quarry where the villagers have been mining the dry river bed for generations. At midday you'll enjoy a Balinese lunch in a restaurant located in the middle of a tranquil rain forest. We end the day with a cup of locally grown mountain coffee (laced with a shot of cognac if you prefer!) before returning to the hotel in time for dinner.

5 Day: 7 - Ubud (B,D) After breakfast we'll take a Bali Herbal Walk and Jamu Class. In addition to discovering herbs that grow along the edges of the terraces, you learn about methods the farmers use to cultivate rice. We'll stop to taste edible leaves, suck the nectar out of the red flowers of the closed hibiscus tree, and drink fresh, young coconut juice. We also visit Basanta Coffee Plantation to see the traditional coffee roasting process as well as the Tegallalang Rice Fields to enjoy magnificent views. Day: 8 - Labuan Bajo (B,L,D) We transfer to the airport for the flight to Flores. Upon arrival at Labuan Bajo we transfer by road to the hotel. We have lunch in a local restaurant after which you have free time before dinner. Day: 9 - Labuan Bajo (B,L,D) A very early start today for a major highlight of the holiday! After a quick breakfast we depart on the 6am speedboat to Komodo Island. Here you will find the Komodo Dragons, the largest living lizards on earth. The dragons can reach up to 3 metres in length with weight of up to 90 kilos. The boat to the island glides over blue tropical waters and past hundreds of small islands and will take approximately 2 hours. On arrival we'll walk with a local ranger in search of the Komodo dragons as well as seeing wild buffalo, deer, pigs and various species of tropical birds. We'll have lunch on the beach where you can discover the splendid underwater world of these rich waters (snorkels and fins are provided). We then continue to Rinca with the ranger for a 1 hour walk through the forest and savannah. From the highest point on this walk you will see the beautiful panorama of the surrounding islands. We then return to the harbour to catch the boat back to Labuan Bajo. Day: 10 - Labuan Bajo (B,L,D) After breakfast we have an excursion to the Mirror Cave. Batu Cermin cave is set within an impressive prominent rock formation near Labuan Bajo. We'll also stop at a local market as well as the village of Melo to see the performance of the Whip Dance (Tari Caci) by the Manggarai people of West Flores. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant during the day. We then return to Labuan Bajo in time for dinner. Day: 11 - Sanur (B,D) We have breakfast at the hotel and then free time until the transfer to the aiport for the flight to Bali. On arrival in Bali, we'll enjoy a pleasant short ride along the hills of Bali's southern peninsula en route to the hotel. This area, known as Bukit, offers a landscape and topography unequalled by any other regions of the island. In the corner of this peninsula, perched on a sheer cliff, is the highly venerated Uluwatu temple. We'll experience a performance of The Ramayana epic-based Kecak Dance with the majestic temple and sunset as its background and have a seafood dinner served on Jimbaran Beach. Day: 12 - Overnight flight (B) We have a morning visit to Tanah Lot Sea Temple without the crowds and meet the monkey inhabitants of Alas Kedaton. Usually visited during sunset, you'll visit Tanah Lot in the morning to enjoy this ancient temple in peace. It's possibly the most famous and most photographed spot in Bali. The temple sits majestically on a large offshore rock which has been shaped over the years by the crashing waves of the surrounding sea. After photographing the temple exterior and the unusual rock formations, we drive to Taman Ayun temple, a royal temple from the Mengwi Empire. This multi layered temple is set in a beautiful park and surrounded by ponds. A short drive from here will bring you to Alas Kedaton, a small forest where mischievous monkeys roam freely through the temple and forest. You'll then have free time in the afternoon before transfering to Denpasar airport for the overnight flight to UK via Singapore. Day: 13 - N/a (In-Flight) We arrive back in the UK. Optional Excursions A range of local excursions and activities may be available to book in your destination through a local operator. We have no involvement in such activities or excursions which are not run, supervised or controlled in any way by us. Your contract will be with the local activity supplier and we accept no responsibility for their actions or omissions. Leaders Evening Briefing Each evening, your tour leader will discuss with you the programme for the following day. If you do not wish to join the organised group programme, please let the leader know. Personal Expenditure You will need to consider drinks, any meals not included in the holiday price, possible non-included entrance fees, any optional excursions you may choose to participate in locally as well as any souvenirs or additional services such as laundry when budgeting for your holiday.

6 Small Groups Coming from all walks of life your fellow travelling companions will share your desire to discover great things and have a wonderful holiday. Enjoy their infectious enthusiasm, cameraderie and great dinner conversation. These small-group guided holidays usually have a group size of people. Tour Leaders Your tour leader makes the world of difference to your holiday and ours are as passionate about discovering the world on foot as you are. They're resourceful, organised and widely travelled. They will handle all the local administration and other needs that might arise to ensure that you don't have to worry about planning your days and you can enjoy your holiday. Although leading group holidays, they won't forget that every group is made up of individuals. Each tour leader has their own individual style, talents and professional backgrounds and all are trained, qualified, experienced and dedicated to making your holiday as enjoyable, interesting and inspiring as possible. On most holidays of 7 nights and over, the tour leader will have one day's break a week, enabling you to have a 'free' day too!

7 Travel Details Flights with Singapore Airlines from London Heathrow to Jakarta (Soekarno-Hatta) and return from Denpasar (Ngurah Rai) to London Heathrow via Singapore both ways. Personal Details Check When confirming your booking, we provide you with a Personal Details Check form. This is to ensure that we have an accurate record of the information you have provided us such as your passport details (if relevant), date of birth and any other important detail necessary for us to properly manage your holiday arrangements. When you receive this, please check the details, complete any missing or pertinent information and return it to us as soon as possible. Passports and Visas Passports should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of departure from Indonesia. A visa is not required for British citizens travelling to Indonesia for stays of up to 30 days. Other nationalities will need to check with their local Indonesian Embassy for details on entry requirements. General Passport & Visa Advice It is a good idea to carry photocopies of the personal details pages of your passport. Should you lose your passport, this may assist with the issue of replacement documents and your return to your home country. Passport and visa requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements. Travelling with under 18s. Please note that some countries require evidence of parental consent when travelling with those under the age of 18. Please check if there are any applicable requirements with the relevant embassy or consular office well in advance of your holiday. Accommodation Your Accommodation Details A list of your hotels, together with their contact details will be sent to you with your airline tickets, shortly before departure.

8 Footwear Good quality walking shoes or trail shoes with a thick, moulded rubbler sole with a good tread and a low heel are likely to be all that is required for these holidays. If you're a frequent walker and comfortable in good quality hiking sandals, these may be be adequate for some walks. Walking sandals should have an instep, a good sole and ideally some toe protection. As a matter of personal choice, you might prefer to wear a pair of lightweight walking boots if you prefer. We recommend that you either wear your walking boots or shoes or pack them and some waterproofs in your hand luggage as in the unlikely event that your hold luggage is delayed, you will still be able to participate in the holiday programme. Kit List Outdoor activities are always more enjoyable if you are prepared. The following list is a basic guideline that will enhance your experience. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. A basic kit list is likely to include: - Waterproof jacket (Goretex or similar) and trousers - Lightweight, quick drying trousers - Several polo shirts, T-shirts or specialist walking shirts - Fleece jacket - Comfortable walking socks - Warm hat and gloves (if appropriate) - Sun hat, sunglasses, lip salve and high SPF sun block - Swimwear (if appropriate) - Day sack (25 litre capacity) to comfortably carry the kit you'll take out on your days activity - Strong polythene bags to keep the contents of your daypack dry - Water bottle(s) - at least 1 litre capacity - Basic first aid kit (plasters, blister treatment, antiseptic etc) - Insect repellent - Waterproof bag or container and knife for your lunch - Walking/trekking poles (if applicable) Water-to-Go An alternative to bottled water from single-use sealed water bottles is filtered water from a refillable bottle containing its own water filter such as a Water-to-go bottle available from Just fill up from any water source and save the environment from disposable plastic bottles. We have negotiated an exclusive 15% discount with our partners Water-to-Go for you as a thank you for helping the environment. Please go to their website at and enter the code RWH17 when ordering. In addition, Water-to-Go will match the discount with a donation to our charity, Heart & Sole, which will allow us to continue to make a difference in the countries you visit on our holidays. Trekking Poles Many of our clients find walking poles hugely beneficial when walking. They can both reduce stress on the knees and aid confidence. If you use them please make sure that you have the rubber tips covering the sharp metal points. There is increasing evidence that the bare metal tips are damaging footpaths both in the UK and abroad.

9 Travel Document Checklist Documents and Information to take with you: - Your passport (make sure it's valid and it's yours) - Your travel tickets or e-ticket itinerary - Any visa or electronic travel authorisation (if required) - Holiday money - Credit or debit cards (and separate details of who to call if lost) - Car parking ticket and car park directions (if prebooked) - Coach or rail travel tickets (if prebooked) - Your holiday Booking Confirmation document - Your travel insurance details - Alternative form of identification (such as a driving licence) - Photocopy of the personal details pages of your passport - A valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if relevant - Details of any medical condition or allergy your holiday leader should know about Maps, Guidebooks & Advice Maps and guidebooks relating to your holiday may be obtained before departure from: The Map Shop ( Weather and Climate Visit the following websites for an idea of the climate in your destination: Weather2 BBC Weather

10 Currency The currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah. Indonesia is still very much a cash-based society and credit cards are still not accepted in many places. There are ATM machines at main airports and in tourist areas. Most ATM machines are connected to the Maestro/Cirrus network. Please be aware that ATM machines in tourist areas often run out of money, particularly at busy times of the year. You can also change sterling or euro at money changing kiosks at the airport but the rates of exchange vary considerably. Health Indonesia: No compulsory vaccinations are required. Hepatitis A, diphtheria, typhoid and tetanus vaccinations are recommended and you may wish to consider protection against cholera, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis and rabies. Yellow fever vaccination certificate required for travellers over 9 months of age arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Malaria is a risk throughout the year but there is low to no risk in the Jakarta municipality, the main cities, urban areas and the main tourist resorts, including Bali and Java. Please check with your doctor if you have any concerns. Dengue fever and Zika virus exist in Indonesia; please take normal precautions against mosquito bites. Seek pre-travel Zika virus advice from your health care provider 6-8 weeks in advance of travel, particularly important if you are pregnant or planning pregnancy. There is a risk of schistosomiasis, a parasitic infection (also known as bilharzia) that is transmitted to humans through contact with fresh water. Please seek advice from your doctor or travel clinic. There have been some cases of There have been some cases of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) in poultry in Indonesia. Health requirements can change at any time. It is your own responsibility to ensure that you inform yourself from a professionally qualified source on, and comply with, such requirements at least 6 to 8 weeks before departure. Advice on vaccinations is available from your GP. Further Travel Health Advice For further advice please visit: - The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) travel health website at - The NHS 'Fit for travel' website at - The Foreign Office Office Travel Advice Website at - Or a local travel health clinic. You might wish to take a small bottle of antibacterial hand gel with you for times when you're unable to wash your hands.

11 Personal Safety The UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office provides up to date information on security and local laws for travellers, together with current passport and visa information, at Please take a few minutes to look at the current advice on your planned destination. Please be aware of what's going on around you, take sensible precautions with your credit cards and passport and avoid displays of wealth such as wearing expensive jewellery or watches. Do not carry more cash on you than you will need for each day, and we recommend that a money belt is used. Cultural Awareness Responsible Travel We're committed to ethical tourism in all our destinations. Our holidays are designed for you to discover the essence of the country you are visiting. Travelling in small groups not only gives you an up close and personal experience of your destination, but minimises your impact on the immediate environment. We feel that the most important starting point to protect the environment is to be out in it. For more details visit our website. Heart & Sole We appreciate that we are in a fortunate position to be able to use our profits to help make a difference to people's lives. Heart & Sole is a venture managed by our office staff, whose aim is to reach the heart of the communities in the countries we visit. Through Heart & Sole, we hope to make more of a long term, direct impact to these communities, particularly in less developed countries where even a small amount goes a long way. See our website for more information and details of some of the projects we support. Communication Mobile Phones Please do provide us with a mobile phone contact number. We will only use this to contact you with important information relating to your holiday arrangements. Please do keep your mobile phones switched on and readily available when travelling to the airport or if delayed in transit so that we can contact you with any last minute information relating to your travel arrangements. As a matter of courtesy, please switch off your mobile phone during walks, or endeavour to minimise its use. Please also try to minimise the use of mobile devices during group meals. Feedback We welcome all comments about our holidays and value ideas for the future. If you have provided us with an address we will invite you to complete an online questionnaire or to add feedback to our page on independent review site 'Feefo'. Important Information Please note that this Holiday Information sheet may be periodically updated and reissued. In most cases the revisions will be minor and the overall nature of the holiday will remain unchanged. Should we make a major change to your holiday arrangements between you booking your holiday and your date of travel we will notify you to specifically draw your attention to any significant change. You may wish to review the latest version of this Holiday Information Sheet online prior to travel. Please note that any advertised offers, benefits or initiatives may be discontinued at any time. Contact Us Ramblers Walking Holidays - Tel: UK +44 (0) info@ramblersholidays.co.uk - Web: Our office is open and our Sales & Reservations team available to speak to you from:

12 - 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday am to Midday on Saturdays am to 3pm on Saturdays in January & February only Please quote your Booking Reference number and Tour Code whenever contacting us. We wish you an enjoyable holiday!