Central Java: Ancient Kingdoms

Arrive at Yogyakarta International Airport, where a local guide will be waiting for the private transfer to the hotel in the Borobudur area, with lunch served on arrival. After freshening up, set off on a short introductory tour of ancient Central Java's architecture, visiting two small temples near Borobudur: the pyramid-shaped Mendut Temple, home to three impressively carved stone statues, and Pawon Temple, a simple monument known for its precise symmetry. Return to the hotel for the rest of the day at leisure, with dinner at leisure this evening. Overnight in Borobudur.

Rise early this morning, departing the hotel between 4:30 and 5:00am for the short transfer to Dagi Hill. From the summit, watch the sunrise cast its golden glow over Borobudur, the largest Buddhist monument in the world, with a picnic breakfast served atop the hill. Continue to Borobudur itself, a UNESCO World Heritage site built in the 8th and 9th centuries under the Sailendra Dynasty, to admire its thousands of intricate carvings and learn the history behind its construction and restoration. Return to the hotel for breakfast and a morning at leisure. In the afternoon, get a taste of local life on a dokar horse cart ride through Candirejo Village, with lunch served in the village beforehand. Ride along small lanes lined with traditional houses, stopping to see village activities such as cassava cracker making and gamelan playing. The rest of the afternoon and dinner are at leisure. Overnight in Borobudur.

Depart early in the morning for Wonosobo, gateway to the volcanic Dieng Plateau. Set 2,000 metres above sea level and known to the Javanese as the 'abode of the ancient gods,' the plateau is best visited early before the fog rolls in from late morning. Visit the plateau's lake and Sikidang Crater to watch its bubbling, sulfurous volcanic activity, then continue to Arjuna, home to eight sanctuaries dating from the 7th and 8th centuries, the oldest Hindu temples in Java, set amid a wild, otherworldly landscape. Return to Wonosobo for a late lunch at a local restaurant. Continue by road to Salatiga, in Java's central highlands near Ambarawa, with the rest of the day free to relax. Overnight in Salatiga.

After breakfast, head to Gedong Songo, a complex of nine small 8th-century Hindu temples on the slopes of Mount Ungaran, among the oldest and most striking in Java. Ride a highland pony up to the mountaintop to roam among the ancient monuments, with spectacular views over the volcanoes dotting Central Java's highlands. Continue to the Losari Coffee Plantation for a set-menu lunch with panoramic views, followed by a walking tour of the plantation. Learn about the organic Robusta and Arabica coffee grown on the property, watch traditional roasting and grinding techniques at the coffee shed, then enjoy a tasting of coffee alongside jamu, a Javanese herbal drink. In the mid-afternoon, continue by road to Yogyakarta, the cultural heart of Java and cradle of traditional Javanese culture, best known locally as 'Jogja.' Check in at the hotel, with dinner at leisure this evening. Overnight in Yogyakarta.

After breakfast, explore the unique culture of Yogyakarta, beginning at Sonobudoyo Museum, home to hand-crafted weapons, wooden wayang puppets, masks and Javanese gamelan instruments. Visit the Sultan's Palace, known as the Kraton, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site built between 1756 and 1790 and still home to Java's sultan today, with the chance to see a cultural performance such as Golek Menak puppetry or classical Macapat poetry, depending on the day of visit. Continue by becak, a traditional trishaw, through Kauman Village, long the keeper of Islamic scholarship under the Javanese Sultanate, ending at the Taman Sari Water Palace, built over 200 years ago as the Sultan's private bathing pools. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit a home batik workshop for a short demonstration of Wayang Kulit, the famous Javanese leather puppet art, before continuing to Prambanan. Explore this 9th-century UNESCO-listed temple complex, its sharp, jagged towers home to three shrines dedicated to the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Return to Yogyakarta to relax and freshen up before an evening performance of traditional Ramayana dance over dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight in Yogyakarta.

Enjoy breakfast in the morning before transferring to Yogyakarta Airport for the onward flight home.