Indonesia, Malaysia and Bali Tour, 12 Days from Istanbul

We meet at 22:30 in the evening at the International Departures Terminal of Istanbul Airport and complete baggage and passport formalities. Just after midnight, at 02:45, the scheduled Turkish Airlines flight departs for Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia. The flight takes around 11 hours and 15 minutes. We land in Jakarta at 18:00 local time. After passport and baggage formalities, a private vehicle and our guide take us to the hotel. Flight details: Turkish Airlines, Istanbul 02:45, Jakarta 18:00 local time. Accommodation: Santika Premiere Slipi Hotel, 4-star or similar, Jakarta.

After breakfast we set off for Bogor, around an hour and a half away. Out in the countryside we transfer into jeeps for a short safari through rice fields, village lanes and thick green cover. We then move on to the Kebun Raya Bogor botanical garden, known for its tropical plant collections and lily ponds. Lunch is at a local restaurant serving regional dishes. We return to Jakarta in the late afternoon. Meals: Lunch included. Accommodation: Santika Premiere Slipi Hotel, 4-star or similar, Jakarta.

After breakfast we leave the hotel for Jakarta Airport. The 11:30 domestic flight runs around 1 hour 20 minutes and brings us into Yogyakarta in the afternoon. After airport formalities a private vehicle takes us to Prambanan, one of the most important Hindu temples in Indonesia. Built in the 9th century and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, the complex is known for the three main towers that rise from it. Our guide takes us through its legends and its architecture. We then continue into central Yogyakarta and check into the hotel. Flight details: Domestic flight, Jakarta 11:30, Yogyakarta, Garuda Indonesia or similar, around 1 hour 20 minutes. Accommodation: Jambuluwuk Malioboro Hotel, 4-star or similar, Yogyakarta.

After breakfast we leave the hotel early for Borobudur. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is the largest Buddhist temple in the world, built in the 9th century and known for its reliefs and meditation terraces. From the upper terraces the green plain and the volcanic peaks around it come into view. Around midday we stop at a local restaurant for a taste of Indonesian cooking. In the afternoon we continue to Mount Merapi, the emblem of the region and still an active volcano. A short jeep safari on its flanks shows the ground shaped by the lava flows. We return to Yogyakarta in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant. Meals: Lunch and dinner included. Accommodation: Jambuluwuk Malioboro Hotel, 4-star or similar, Yogyakarta.

After breakfast we head to the airport with our luggage. The AirAsia flight leaves Yogyakarta at 11:45 local time, takes around two and a half hours, and lands in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, at 15:15. After passport and baggage formalities a private vehicle transfers us to the hotel. Once checked in there is free time to rest and look around. In the evening you can walk through the centre of the city or visit the shopping centres nearby. Flight details: AirAsia, Yogyakarta 11:45, Kuala Lumpur 15:15, around 2.5 hours. Accommodation: Hotel Royal Kuala Lumpur, 4-star or similar.

After breakfast the city tour begins. The Petronas Towers come first, seen from the outside with a photo stop. We then move on to Merdeka Square, ringed by buildings from the British colonial period. On the square we look at the architecture of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and see the National Mosque, Masjid Negara, from outside. A short briefing stop follows in front of Istana Negara, the official residence of the Malaysian king. Lunch is at a local restaurant serving traditional Malaysian food. Afterwards we walk through Chinatown and the Central Market, with free time for crafts and souvenirs. We return to the hotel at the end of the day. The evening is free, and Bukit Bintang is the usual choice for it. Meals: Lunch included. Accommodation: Hotel Royal Kuala Lumpur, 4-star or similar.

After breakfast we transfer to the airport. The AirAsia flight leaves Kuala Lumpur at 10:20, runs around 3 hours 5 minutes and lands at Denpasar Airport on Bali at 13:25 local time. After passport and baggage formalities a private vehicle takes us to the hotel, which is within walking distance of Kuta Beach. Once settled in, the rest of the day is free, for the neighbourhood or for the beach. Flight details: AirAsia, Kuala Lumpur 10:20, Denpasar (DPS) 13:25, around 3 hours 5 minutes. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali, 5-star or similar.

Today we visit one of the best known buildings on Bali. Tanah Lot stands on a rock formation that rises straight out of the sea. The temple is both a religious and a cultural centre of the island. It carries the marks of Shaivite belief and was built in the 16th century at the request of the holy man Dang Hyang Nirartha. After the visit we move on to a traditional crafts workshop, where wood carving, Batik dyeing and other cultural crafts are shown in production. We return to the hotel afterwards. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali, 5-star or similar.

The whole day is free. You can swim, rest on the beach or look through the cafes and shops around the hotel. It also suits those who want to use the spa and massage services at the hotel. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali, 5-star or similar.

Our last full day on Bali, and the programme is free again. You can enjoy the sea and the hotel, or shop in the local markets. Optional excursions in the surrounding area can also be arranged. These are not part of the tour package. Accommodation: Holiday Inn Resort Baruna Bali, 5-star or similar.

Our last day on Bali. You can spend it at the hotel, in the sea, or on short walks nearby. In the evening we check out and transfer to the airport. Turkish Airlines flight TK 67 departs Denpasar for Istanbul at 21:05, direct. The night is spent in the air. Flight details: Turkish Airlines TK 67, Denpasar (DPS) 21:05, Istanbul, direct. Accommodation: Overnight on the plane.

We land at Istanbul Airport at 05:40 local time. From the countryside around Jakarta to the temples of Yogyakarta, from the flanks of Merapi to the towers of Kuala Lumpur and the coast of Bali, the 12-day route ends here.