Need help planning 1 week Java itinerary
 

I am planning a 2 week vacation in Indonesia split between Bali and Java.
Here are my travel specs:
arrive DPS from CX 785 @3:00pm on Aug. 16
depart CGK on JL 726 @ 10:10pm on Sept. 1
These are award tix and doubt they can not be changed at this point. It took a lot of work to get them.
I thought maybe 6-7 nights on Bali split between 2 different locations, one of them Ubud. Then fly to Java, to Surabaya or Yogyakarta. Hire a driver/guide for the week. I've been in touch with Wiedy, the driver some of you have used. We'd fly to Jakarta on Sept. 1 to hook up with the JL flight home that night.

We like temples, villages, art and culture, cooking classes. Borobudur and Prambanam are on the must see list. We are both very fit and able to do some hiking and outdoor activities. I do not have a need to see Bromo at sunrise like it seems everyone who goes to Java does. We do not usually stay in 5 * hotels unless they are a bargain. Nice hotels with local flavor will do.

Here's 2 sample itineraries from a tour company, Exotissimo:
Day 1 arrive Yogyakarta overnight Yogya
Day 2 Yogya-Prambanan-Yogya overnight Yogya
Day 3 Yogya-Borobudur-Candirejo overnight Yogya
Day 4 Yogya-Kertosono (train)-Kediri-Mt. Kelud-Malang overnight Malang
Day 5 Malang-Mt. Bromo-Surabaya overnigt Surabaya
Day 6 Surabaya-fly to Jakarta for JL flight

or
Day 1 arrive Yogyakarta afternoon overnight Yogya
Day 2 Yogya-Prambanan-Yogya overnight Yogya
Day 3 Yogya-Borobudur-Candirejo overnight Yogya
Day 4 Yogyakarta-Borobudur-Candi Rejo-Ambarawa overnight Losari
Day 5 Losari Plantation and Gedong Songo overnight Losari
Day 6 Losari- Solo-Sukuh Temple - overnight Blitar
Day 7 Blitar - Penataran Temples - overnight Malang
Day 8 Malang-Surabaya overnight Surabaya
Day 9 Surabaya-airport to fly to Jakarta for JL evening flight

What do you think about a plan like one of these? I can tweak any itinery to our interests with the driver.

These itineraries are a good starting point, but I'd break up your travel to include more independent time, more time in each place and less ground travel. You might want to alternate your days with and without a guide so you'd have some time to explore on your own. Prambanan and the sights of Yogyakarta, for example, are easy enough to navigate without a guide. If you stay in Malang or Blitar the Tugu will take care of your excursions.

As I've mentioned on one of your other threads, I'd reconsider Bromo. It's not just a one stop in-and-out sunrise. It's a whole region of incredible natural beauty, all day long. Quite different from the areas around Yogya and Malang.

I'd also recommend staying close to Borobudur. Again, the area is naturally scenic and it's worthwhile to visit the monument during different times of day.

I haven't been to Candirejo, but I've spent a lot of time driving through the area, enroute to Borobudur from Semarang. I'm a bit skeptical of this type of officially sanctioned tourism village. I'd look into this a little further into the program before making a commitment. Same goes for Ambarawa. I wouldn't consider it a destination per se.

Losari is now called MesaStila Resort. I haven't been there myself, but it's generally well regarded, especially for its wellness programs. I'd spend a couple of nights and take advantage of the spa and the surrounding area. This is a good jumping off point for the Dieng Plateau (and presumably Candirejo). It would also work as a base for Borobudur.

So my suggestion would something like this:
Fly to Surabaya (or to Malang if the flights from Bali work)
2 days Malang/Blitar area
2 days Bromo area
Fly from Surabaya to Yogya
2 days Yogya
2 days MesaStila
Fly from Semarang to Jakarta

There itineraries strike me as the sort of thing big agencies recommend. And I guess that is just what they are.

You've already gotten some good advice from marmot. I agree that I would cut the tourism villages. There are lovely real villages to see.

Decide what the most important things are for you on this trip. You mentioned Borobudur and Prambanan, and I agree they are must-see. Do you plan on seeing the Ramayana while at Prambanan?

Some of the days seem not possible, like Day 6 on the second itinerary Losari- Solo-Sukuh Temple - overnight Blitar.

I'm not so sure I would plan to be driven between eastern and central Java. That is a LOT of driving.

I have a couple of hotel recommendations for you: We very much enjoyed the Phoenix in Yogya. It is a good location for exploring the city, and the hotel itself is lovely. It's an old 1920s hotel, beautifully restored. We stayed in a suite and paid $152 including breakfast (which were very good) through Weidy. We also paid the same amount for a suite at the lovely Majapahit in Surabaya. A regular room at either would be much less. Both are wonderful places to stay.

BTW, Weidy made our arrangements, but did not drive us. I'm sure he could get you a driver for eastern Java, then you could take the train and have another driver for central Java.

For my stay on Java I based myself in Yogyakarta and made trips from there by taxi to Borobadur and villages in the environs and spent a couple of nights in a village on Mt. Merapi, Kaliurang. I'm not sure why you'd need a guide except as a security blanket as the area is infinitely seeable on your own and at your leisure. But then I much prefer an unstructured visit, deciding where I want to go when the time comes.

In any case I'd certainly recommend at least a day, 2 would be better, for strolling around Yogyakarta on your own unencumbered by a guide.

I'm now looking at keeping this week in a smaller geographic area. Staying around Yogya-Solo-Magelang, central Java, will cut down on transport times. We could fly into Yogya or Solo from Denpasar and out of the other to Jakarta at the end of the week. I may also decide to stay longer on Bali and less on java as I do more research and trip planning.

After studying a map closer, Malang really is far away from the other central java cities. Since I do not want to go to Bromo, I may save that part of java for another trip.

I am planning to stay at the Phoenix in Yogya. Someone from TA recommended a classic B&B hotel in Solo, Roemahkoe Heritage Hotel. After looking at the MesaStila web site, the rates are a bit steep so I won't be staying there. But I'm too far out to begin making hotel reservations.

I'll keep reading and looking for tips and ideas from you here, people on TA, and Wiedy's suggestions. I have many more questions to come.

I do think it makes more sense with your limited time to choose just central Java. Yogya and Solo are in central Java, Malang is in eastern Java.

We chose to base ourselves in Yogya for our entire central Java stay. The drive to Borobudur is about an hour, the Dieng Plateau another hour and a half beyond that. Solo is about two hours in the other direction from Yogya.

Happy planning!

Agree, distance are greater than they seem because of the mountains.

From Magelang you're closer to Semarang airport. There are Garuda frights from Semarang to Jakarta several times a day.

Now that was a freudian slip: Flights -- not frights!

If we were to spend more than one night in Magalang, what other sites/temples/towns are there to see? I know Magelang is close to Borobudur and that's the main reason why people go there. Why else would I want to visit here?

There are no direct flights DPS-SRG on Garuda; there are 9 a day SRG-CGK, with only 2 late afternoon/evening. The cost is more than JOG-CGK.

Kathie: did you do a trip report for your central Java trip staying in Yogya the whole time?

If we were to spend more than one night in Magalang, what other sites/temples/towns are there to see? I know Magelang is close to Borobudur and that's the main reason why people go there. Why else would I want to visit here?

There are no direct flights DPS-SRG on Garuda; there are 9 a day SRG-CGK, with only 2 late afternoon/evening. The cost is more than JOG-CGK.

Kathie: did you do a trip report for your central Java trip staying in Yogya the whole time?

susiean, here is the link to my trip report form November. It covers both our time in central Java and our time in eastern Java.

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...n-to-jogja.cfm

In addition to Borobudur, you would want to visit Cani Mendut and the Dieng Plateau. You could do this while staying at Magalang, but we did it while staying in Yogya. It's an hour or so from Yogya to Borobudur, another hour and a half beyond Borobudur to the Dieng Plateau. We also didn't stay overnight in Solo, as I prefer to be able to settle in somewhere. Solo is two hours from Yogya.

Magelang is both a regency (state) and a town so the area is loosely described. Magelang, the town, doesn't offer much except the usual for a medium sized Javanese town, but the countryside is quite scenic. MesaStila isn't actually in the town, but in the countryside.

I don't know how long the drive is from Magelang to Borobudur, but I don't think it's significantly shorter than from Yogyakarta, maybe 30 minutes versus 60 minutes. Magelang is closer to the Dieng Plateau.

I wasn't recommending flying from Bali to Semarang, just from Semarang to Jakarta and only if you're already in the Magelang area. Garuda online is showing that Semarang Jakarta is marginally less expensive than Yogyakarta Jakarta (but only a bit). Flight prices are all over the place for different times of day and different airlines so it's hard to compare.

Kathie: I had read your trip report which was the inspiration for my week On Java. The first 4 days looks like the things I'd like to do. Here's another itinerary I found online that is similar to what you did, staying in Yogya, Solo, and at Borodubur. What do you think? I'd add a day or 2 doing something else or going to another town as a day trip from one of these places:

Day 1 Arrive YOGYAKARTA

Meeting service, then visit Prambanan Temple it's the biggest temple complex in Java. With 224 temples in the complex; three of them, the main temples are Brahma Temple in the north, Vishnu Temple in the south, and the biggest among the three which lies between Brahma and Vishnu temples is Shiva Temple (47 meters high). These three ancient masterpieces of Hindu architecture are locally referred to Prambanan Temple or Lorojonggrang Temple. Afterwards, proceed to Yogyakarta for check in. Evening program, seeing The Ramayana Ballet .

Day 2 YOGYAKARTA CITY TOUR
After Breakfast at Hotel then visit : Sultan Place officially named the " Kraton Ngayogyakarta Hadiningrat ", a grand and elegant example of Javanese architecture, "Tamansari" Water castle, Museum Chariot and Kota Gede. After Lunch at local Restaurant; continue to Kasongan, Bringharjo and Malioboro sight seeing as the ultimate program, and then drive to Borobudur for stay in Manohara Hotel, the closest hotel to Borobudur temple.

Day 3 BOROBUDUR SUNRISE
Enjoy the wonderfull Sunrise in Borobudur Temple early in the morning. After Breakfast at Hotel, depart to Solo. On the way, stop at Mendut Temple and Kaliurang to see the scenery of mount Merapi and if you are lucky you will see the Lava fall down from the top. Drive to Solo and stop at local restaurant for having lunch. Arrive and stay overnight in hotel.

Day 4 SOLO TOUR
After Breakfast at Hotel, then visit: Mangkunegaran Palace – Solo, Cetho Temple the erotic temple and Sukuh Temple. Lunch will be provided in local Restaurant. Back to the hotel at noon. Evening, transfer to local restaurant for having dinner.

Day 5 Transfer Out (B) to ???

If we arrive at Yogya in the afternoon then the touring would not start until day 2. I'd like to stop in a craft village or two as I am very interested in arts and crafts, especially batik making. The last day we would have the morning and half of the afternoon before we have to go to the airport for the flight to Jakarta.

Any suggestions on interesting locales in central Java accessible from Solo or Yogya?

Only you can decide if you want to change hotels that much - packing and unpacking, etc. For us, we felt we had more time by staying in one place.

The itinerary above takes you to Prambanan from the airport, before you check in to your hotel. If you are coming from Bali, you could do that. But you have to drive back out to Prambanan to see the Ramayana Ballet unless you choose to see it at a dinner theatre in Yogya (which I do not recommend). If it were me and I was arriving in time to be able to see Prambanan the first day, I'd check into the hotel, then go out in the later afternoon, say 3:00 or 3:30 to visit Prambanan, then have dinner, then go to the ballet.

Day 2, you can certainly wander the city on your own. They make it sound like a big deal - it is not.

Day 3, again, decide if you want to change hotels out to the Manohara (a very basic place). You can leave Yogya early and see sunrise at Borobudur if you prefer. I note hhis tour doesn't go to the Dieng Plateau because they use the time to move to a hotel in Solo. Go to the Dieng Plateau when you have a chance. The drive up the mountain is beautiful.

Day 4, Solo tour, then to Sukuh Temple (which is the erotic temple, not Cetho) and Cetho. The best Batik is in Solo, so make a stop for batik shopping.

Day 5, they transfer you back to a hotel in Yogya. You can use that day for shopping in Yogya. There are not craft villages (that I've seen) in Java like there are in Bali.

I assume you have the LP - look at all of the places they talk about in Central Java and see which of them appeal to you.

I have looked at the LP book before from the library, which is from 2010. I see that a new version will be out this summer in June and I will purchase it then. In the meantime I will keep referring to the library book. Side note: the Indonesia thorn tree forums on LP seem to have disappeared. What's with that?

I don't mind changing hotels 2-3 times over the course of a week. I like to stay in one place for 2 nights minimum before moving on. I don't mind basic accommodations like the Manohara if the location overrules the average hotel.

I definitely want to see the Ramayana ballet (I take ballet classes myself) so going out to Prambanan in the afternoon, having dinner there, staying for the ballet and then back to either Solo or Yogya might make sense.

I have asked Wiedy for his recommendation for a 1 week itinerary in this area and am awaiting his suggestion.

Thorn Tree downsized considerably because of abuse issues. Hopefully Indonesia will be back when TT has implemented better monitoring and filtering programs. I'd also suggest Periplus's guide to Java.

I like Manohara, even though it is bare bones. It is right on the grounds of Borobudur, a two minute stroll to the base. From Manohara you're half way to the Dieng Plateau.

The area around Borobudur, Magelang, Dieng is more focused on nature and low key culture. Lots of little villages, lots of scenic views, lots of mountain hikes.

Yogya and Solo are both sprawling cities -- lowrise but highly populated. You don't really need a guide, but a car and driver who knows the area is helpful as it's difficult to navigate.

There are many, many batik workshops in Yogya, Solo and to the north in Cirebon. Each area has its own design style, motifs and traditions.

The text of the 2010 LP book is regard o attractions in central Java is basically identical to the original LP Indonesia book published many years ago. So read that whole section in the library book and you will know what is available to you.

Here is Wiedy's latest proposal for a short 4 day central Java tour beginning and ending in Yogyakarta:

DAY 1 ARRIVAL FROM DENPASAR BALI, GARUDA AIRLINE
· Arrive at the airport
· Pick up service
· Morning city tour Yogyakarta
· Sultan Palace, Water Castle, Traditional Batik and Silver home
industry
· Lunch time will be in Yogyakarta
· Drive one hour to Borobudur
· Hotel check in
· Afternoon visit the temple with tour guide
· Overnight at Manohara Hotel

DAY 2 BOROBUDUR - FULL DAY DIENG PLATEAU
· The temple is 200 meter walk from your room
· Morning visit the temple at own
· 08.30 Hotel check out, full day tour to Dieng Plateau
· Drive through villages, nice views, mountain, volcano, agriculture.
· Also see local people, farming, sulphur spring, color lake, ancient
temples
· Lunch time will be at Wonosobo regency
· Drive back to Magelang for overnight
· Overnight at Berg View

DAY 3 MAGELANG - SOLO
· We drive to Solo Via Selo (between Merapi and MErbabu volcanoes)
· Visit Sukuh and Cetho temple
· Drive to Solo and enjoy the ancient Solo city
· Overnight at ROEMAHKU Solo.

DAY 4 MORNING SOLO CITY TOUR
· Visit Mangkunegaran Palace, Museum, Flea Market and Batik village
· Lunch time is in Solo city
· Afternoon, drive back to Yogyakarta and visit Prambanan
· Visit the temple is 2 - 3 hour
· There are many hidden temples there
· Proceed for Ramayana Ballet performance (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
or will see the schedule
· Overnight at Phoenix Heritage Yogyakarta

DAY 5 FREE AND EASY
· Free and easy
· Airport transfer for flight to Jakarta afternoon.

This is 100% must visit in the heart of Java.

Cost per person is:
- Single traveler USD 650
- Sharing Twin USD 491

Cost include:
- Private AC car
- Driver, Fuel, Parking and entrance fee
- English speaking tour guide in Borobudur and Prambanan temples, Sultan
Palace.
- Breakfast at hotel
- Ramayana Ballet performance
- Tax and service charge

Comments, please. Is anything major to see missing? If I take the afternoon flight from DPS-JOG then 1 more day is added. Any other sites I should try to see while there? Is there more in Solo to make it worth staying there 2 nights? Does the cost seem reasonable? I may just make my own hotel reservations if I can get them cheaper and pay for the car and guide service on a daily basis when it is needed. I can get another car to drive us to the airport on the last day, just pay the going rate.

It's a packed schedule, but it does cover all of the main sites. The price is reasonable. We found Weidy could save us a significant amount on hotels, and his charge for the car and driver was quite reasonable. Do let him get you the Ramayana tickets, as he'll get you the best seats.

Looks good -- comprehensive and a good value. You might want to consolidate your stays in Yogya so that you only have to check in and out once. Also, although Yogya and Solo are two different cities and two different sultanates they are very similar in atmosphere. Unless you want to try a different hotel, you could easily cover Solo from Yogya.

You think $982 for 4 days is a good value and reasonable? I looked up the individual hotel prices and if I booked them on my own it comes to $335. Phoenix is $113, Manohara $77 inc. Borobudur entrance, Berg View is $57, and Roemahkoe is $86. Those are published rates before any discounts I might get from using Agoda or Asiarooms.

The going rate for a driver is $63 a day x 4 equals $252. So actual costs are about $587 plus a few admissions. What is all the extra money going for? $245 a day seems expensive for Indonesia.

I got these prices quoted from viavia.com for a car:
"You can also rent a car from us with the driver and fuel included.
It costs Rp 515.000/ 10 hours in town and Rp 615.000/ day out town."

I know you all like Wiedy and use his services but I'm going to have to think about touring with him. If I decide not to use his company I hope you all won't stop giving advice.

Marmot, I may just stay in Yogya every night except for 1 night at Manohara to be close to Borobudur.

Heavens! While I like Weidy, I don't think he walks on water - that's Stan who thinks that. I don't believe marmot has ever used his services, and the only other person here on Fodors I know that has used his services is Stan. I'll be glad to continue to give you my opinions, no matter what you decide to do.

In our experience, Weidy's prices are complete - there are no other charges. Indeed, he took us out to dinner with his family, his treat. Do the hotel prices you quote include breakfast, tax and service?

Also, you will have driving days (or at least one day) that will be more than 10 hours - our day to Borobudur and the Dieng Plateau was about 15 hours. You also haven't figured in other admission fees (usually $5-$10 each) - to Dieng, to Solo, to Prambanaan, to the kratons in both Yogya and Solo, to Candi Sukuh, nor the guides at Borobudur, Prambanan, the Solo kraton. Also, you will have the Ramayana ballet tickets (can't remember the price, but certainly more than $10 each), and that day will include two trips back and forth to Prambanan. I doubt that the generic quote you go from viavia would include that much driving (and I doubt that it includes a gratuity for the driver). Also note that some of the drives Weidy describes for you are off the beaten track and would not be included in a standard car and driver rate - see day 3 for instance.

You might well be able to do it on your own for less. But you will have a fair number of extra costs you haven't figured in.

The difference in the cost for one person and two is $332. The costs for the hotel and car would be the same whether 1 or 2 people are in it. So that would mean there will be $332 worth of admissions, ballet tickets, etc. to account for the price difference. Surely admission fees in Indonesia are not that expensive?

I will run this by the people on TA who live in Java and see what they say about the price. maybe I am being unrealistic in my expectations.

You are traveling alone? Then that does reduce admission costs, adding in my head from memory, I'd say for one, we are talking nearly $100 in admission fees. Add in guides at three places and the extra driving (airport transfers as well as a couple of long days) and decide whether it is worth it to you. Note that marmot lives in Bali after many years of living in Jakarta, so I trust her judgment.

susiean, if you are looking for the cheapest way to see the highlights of central Java, this isn't it. I had the idea from your previous posts that you wanted seamless trip - all of the logistics taken care of. If that is what you are looking for - this is it.

Kathie, I'm looking for a combination of economical with some free days of do-it-yourself and some prearranged tours. I have planned many trips to Asia before where we made all of our own arrangements, all on our own without any tours other than what we booked locally on the ground. In 2010 we went to Cambodia and Laos. I had a driver and guide for 4 days in Siem Reap prearraged. We booked local things to do, day trips and tours, once we got to Luang Prababng and Phnom Penh. The year we went to Vietnam for 2 weeks in 2006 we had a 2 week trip completely planned and paid for that came with a guide who traveled with us from Hanoi to Saigon. It was unbelievably inexpensive even with 2 domestic flights included.

For the prior week on Bali I will do a combination of winging it once we get there and a driver lined up for some of the days. Once I figure out how long we want to spend on Java, I can work on the Bali part. Hopefully marmot will chime in when I am asking about trip planning for Bali.

No, I am not alone but traveling with my husband. I only used Wiedy's cost for a single versus couple price to try and understand about the cost difference. If admissions for the places on his tour are about $100 more, then the tour for 2 people should be $750, or $375 each. That would be a reasonable price. I will email him and ask for a cost breakdown and explanation.

susie, I've never met Weidy and I've never used a guide in Java. A car with a driver, yes. A guide, no.

What is really essential to me is a reliable driver who knows where he's going and doesn't make unscheduled stops or ask for unexpected expenses. The distances are greater and the driving conditions are worse than you might imagine.

You just can't anticipate everything that can go wrong in Java and it's comforting to have a driver that you can communicate with who can can explain the options. I speak Indonesian and have lived in the country for nearly 20 years, and even then, I'm often bewildered by events.

[I once had a minor road accident with an Amanjiwo driver in the mountains around Magelang. He said we'd have to wait 3 hours for a relief car. In the end, my client -- who was a senior vice president of a Fortune 500 company! -- repaired the damage and we were on our way.]

My comments were based on USD650, not USD982. I'm sure if you take the "a la carte" approach you can do better, but then you have to make all the arrangements yourself. As has been noted on this board many times, it's not so easy to get straight answers in Indonesia, especially from afar.

Hotel rates, like airfares, are all over the place, so no doubt you can get better offers. Most likely Weidy would get good rates too. Remember to add 21% tax (or "plus plus" as they say here) and to check that breakfast is included. It's quite common for Indonesian hotels to charge more for double occupancy.

I'm doubtful that you can get a reliable car and driver for USD63 for 10 hours these days, especially once you get off the Yogya-Borobudur beaten track. I'd say the "going rate" is more like IDR80,000 to 100,000 an hour, not including the guide. Maybe more for the amount of driving you're doing.

The drive through the mountain passes that Weidy describes is extraordinarily beautiful, but most drivers prefer the faster and easier route. Gasoline is quite high, and if you go through a service or a hotel there will be a value added tax too.

marmot: I appreciate your input coming from someone who actually lives in Indonesia. I know that travel in SE Asia can be frustrating as things don't always go according to plan. I keep hearing about how domestic flights are almost never on time and I'm factoring that into the equation.

I did get a quote from a Yogya company called ViaVia Travel, recommended in the LP book, to do this same tour for the following cost:

"For this tour, we will charge you Rp. 3.690.000 for the car.
Do you need a guide for this trip? It will be Rp 4.940.000 in total.
It includes the car, driver, fuel and parking fees.
It excludes entrances, hotels and meals."

So in dollars, adding in booking the hotels myself I'm at $848 before admissions with a driver and guide. I will ask Wiedy if he can do any better with the price. Wiedy's tour does not have a guide with us the whole time, only a driver. And I don't know if the driver speaks English or not. So except at Borodbudur and Prambanan, we won't know what we are looking at or get an explanation.

Maybe if he takes out the airport pick up and drop off, and we eliminate one night's lodging away from Yogyakarta I can get the cost lower. I may see these same sights as day trips from Yogya, returning there each night to the same hotel. I have plenty of time to plan this all out. Who knows-I may even change my mind about where to go on Java. Until I actually buy the plane tickets from Bali to Java I'm not locked into any set plan.

Via Via Travel's website is very cool. Lots of good ideas for things to do and see in the area.

I would also recommend getting a copy of Golden Tales of the Buddhas for a shortcourse on Borobudur.

"...So except at Borodbudur and Prambanan, we won't know what we are looking at or get an explanation."

Susiesan, I think you may be putting more emphasis than is necessary on having an explanation of everything that you may see. I found the area very easy going, the people lovely and enjoyed myself immensely and it never occurred to me that I might need a guide to tell me why I was enjoying it. My point is not to say that a guide is useless but just to suggest that, if cost is a factor, I who have almost never had a private guide have not felt at all deprived and certainly not in Java.

I'm not one who wants a guide with me all the time. I know it is a matter of personal preference. We did not have a guide, just a driver except at Borobudur and Prambanan and at the kraton at Solo. Our driver spoke passable English, though he apologized at times for not being able to give complex explanations. The only other place we went that you might want a guide is Candi Sukuh. I'd been there 20 years ago, and we chose not to have a guide for this small temple. If you have read your guidebook, the only other place I can think of where you might want a guide is the kraton in Yogya.

Note that viavia excludes all admission fees which will be about $100 of each of you. When you check hotel prices to compare, make sure the price you get includes tax and service. Did you ask viavia for the same route Weidy described or did you just list destinations? Sine you are comparison shopping, make sure you are comparing apples with apples... oh, and do ask if their driver speaks English.

When I asked viavia for their cost I copied the exact itinerary from Wiedy to them. I asked them to price the exact same route. When I checked hotel prices, I did include the tax and service, and made sure breakfast was included.

A friend on flyertalk made this suggestion:

<DAY 1: Arrive Yogya (Adisuscipto-Solo Airport), car pickup directly to Borobudur and drop at Manohara Hotel. Evening in Borobudur village. If you get into Yogya earlier...say around 13:00, you'd have time to get on the monument in the late afternoon also for a different view/feeling.

DAY 2: Borobudur for sunrise. Breakfast, then car pickup for nearby Mendut Temple (won't take long) and Kaliurang village for Merapi viewing. Back to Yogya for check-in to hotel, lunch. Afternoon sightseeing which frankly, you can do on your own. What's of interest is fairly concentrated and can be seen on foot, or with a becak (like a cyclo/autorickshaw/etc) ride.

DAY 3: Prambanan, just get a taxi from hotel. This only takes about 3 hours even done leisurely. More sightseeing and shopping (Yogya is one of the better places for Indonesian handicrafts but watch out for the schlocky fake "old" batiks), evening Ramayana ballet. Doable on your own.

DAY 4: Early rise and breakfast, car to Solo either with guide in tow, or get a guide for the day meet you there. I think you'll find that anything of interest in Solo will fit in that day. If you examine the Solo part of the itinerary you provided, you'll see there's not that much "meat" there.

In summary, my inclination would be to do my own hotel arrangements directly, do meals and entry fees on my own in real-time, and contract only for the private car with driver services for JOG-Borobudur, Borobudur-Yogya via Merapi, and Yogya-Solo-Yogya as a daytrip. If you want an English-speaking guide for the major sites (Borobudur, Prambanan, Sultan's Palace), it's really better/cheaper just to get one of the official ones at each location.>

I can add Candi Suku and Cetho to the Solo day trip I'm sure.

We do like wandering around on our own in cities so wouldn't need a guide all the time. We could stay in Yogya a few more nights and do some of ViaVia Travels courses or activities.

Goood. It sounds like you are collecting the information oyu will need to make a decision that fits your style of travel.

I heard back from Wiedy with a revised tour and price breakdown.
Assuming we arrive at JOG in the afternoon, here's the plan now:
DAY 1 ARRIVAL FROM DENPASAR BALI, GARUDA AIRLINE
• Arrive at the airport
• Pick up service
• Drive one hour to Borobudur
• Hotel check in
• Overnight at Manohara Hotel

DAY 2 BOROBUDUR - FULL DAY DIENG PLATEAU
• The temple is 200 meter walk from your room
• Morning visit the temple with tour guide
• 08.30 Hotel check out, full day tour to Dieng Plateau
• Drive through villages, nice views, mountain, volcano, agriculture.
• Also see local people, farming, sulphur spring, color lake, ancient temples
• Lunch time will be at Wonosobo regency
• Drive back to Magelang for overnight
• Overnight at Berg View

DAY 3 MAGELANG - SOLO
• We drive to Solo Via Selo (between Merapi and MErbabu volcanoes)
• Visit Sukuh and Cetho temple
• Drive to Solo and enjoy the ancient Solo city
• Overnight at ROEMAHKU Solo.

DAY 4 MORNING SOLO CITY TOUR
• Visit Mangkunegaran Palace, Museum, Flea Market and Batik village
• Lunch time is in Solo city
• Afternoon, drive back to Yogyakarta and visit Prambanan
• Visit the temple is 2 - 3 hour
• There are many hidden temples there
• Proceed for Ramayana Ballet performance (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday) or will see the schedule
• Overnight at Phoenix Heritage Yogyakarta

DAY 5 CITY TOUR
• City tour Yogyakarta
• Sultan Palace, Water Castle, Traditional Batik and Silver home industry

If I pull out the hotels and pay for those separately, and eliminate the sunrise tour at Borobudur, I get a price of $432 for 2 which includes the admissions and ballet tickets. he will personally be our guide at Borbudur and Yogya area, he says. The driver will speak English for those days.

He has put a tax/service charge of 10% on everything I pay him for. Is this customary for Indonesia? Is this his profit? I know there is 20% tax on hotel rooms.

I would then stay 2 nights more in Yogya giving us a day and half of free time to do what we want.I have to be sure to get some shopping in and a massage or 2. So I have a combo tour and do-it-yourself time in central java.

Wiedy says I may get a better deal at the hotels by booking online and paying separately, so he's okay with that. I can look at other hotels as the months go by, maybe some place else may pique my interest and become the hot new place to stay. I do have Starwood points that I can use to stay for free at the Sheraton Mustika in Yogya.

As per your question about tax and service. The total of tax (11%) and service (10%) for hotels is 21%. By adding service to his services, it means you do not need to tip - that is figured into the price. So your driver, guides, etc get something from that service charge.

Is there a reason you are taking out the sunrise tour at Borobudur? The only reason I can think of to stay at the Manohara is if you want to visit Borobudur at sunrise. Getting into Borobudur before it officially opens is expensive, but your stay at the Manohara includes the price of admission.

I think your itinerary covers the places you would want to see in central Java.

A 10% value added tax is added to all goods and services. Small companies sometimes "forget" about this tax, but any company with a proper accounting process adds it on. Hotels are plus/plus, i.e., 10%VAT + 11% hotel tax.

The thing to watch with on-line bookings is what the cancellation and/or change charges are.

The sunrise tour at Manohara is extra charge:

<Package Price :
Foreigner Visitor : IDR 380.000 per person
Domestic Visitor : IDR 250.000 per person
In house guest (who staying at Manohara): IDR 230.000 per person>

If it happens to be a cloudy day, you don't get the sunrise. From what I've been reading in people's trip reports, going in at 6:00am with the included admission would be almost the same thing. It looks like the day tours from Yogya don't show up that early. Again, I might change my mind about this when we get there.

Thanks for clearing up about taxes and service charges as relates to tipping. I was aware of that for hotel bookings, looking at the final cost with taxes.

We stayed in Yogya and arrived at Borobudur at 6 am, just before the visitors' center opened. So you can certainly do it from Yogya if you want. But you are right that tour groups don't show up that early.

You'd be surprised how many people -- especially Indonesians -- can show up at Borobudur for the 6:00 a.m. opening. The whole country is up and about at 4:30 for prayers.

What I like about the predawn experience is that you approach the monument in complete darkness, just a few flashlight spots. You climb the ancient stairs, find a seat on the ancient stones among the watchful buddhas. Then, slowly, the day lightens and the sky and mountains come into view. Sometimes you get a spectacular sunrise, sometimes just a glow, but either way it's a moving experience.

In any event, I always recommend starting at the base and circumnavigating clockwise around every layer. This is how pilgrims were meant to absorb the teachings of Borobudur.