INDONESIA & VIETNAM

From 08 to 24 May, 2024

* Yogyakarta, together with its twin city Solo, is the cradle of civilization on Java. This city was the seat of power that produced the magnificent temples of Borobudur and Prambanan in the 8th and 9th centuries and the new powerful Mataram kingdom of the 16th and 17th century. Yogyakarta was known with the slogan of “Jogja The Never ending Asia” for its endless appeals. This city is one of the foremost cultural centers of Indonesia. From strolling through the living museum of the Sultan’s Palace (or the Keraton), to hanging out at the famous Alun Alun, to watching silversmiths produce amazing jewelry at Kotagede and maybe try a splurge shopping up at Malioboro road.

* Located on the island of Java, the magnificent Borobudur temple is the world's biggest Buddhist monument you must visit at least once in your lifetime. The area is surrounded by beautiful scenery of Central Java’s nature that you can only find there. The temple sits majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills. Built between AD 780 and 840 during the reign of Syailendra dynasty, the temple's design in Gupta architecture reflects India's influence on the region. However, there are enough indigenous scenes and elements incorporated to make Borobudur uniquely Indonesian. The architecture and stonework of this temple have no equal. It was built without using any cement or mortar. The structure is like a set of massive interlocking Lego blocks held together without any glue.

* Also known as the Land of the Gods, Bali appeals through its sheer natural beauty of looming volcanoes and lush terraced rice fields that exude peace and serenity. It is also famous for surfers’ paradise! Bali enchants with its dramatic dances and colorful ceremonies, its arts, and crafts, to its luxurious beach resorts and exciting nightlife. And everywhere, you will find intricately carved temples. Ceremonial processions often take up the entire road so if you're caught behind a procession, enjoy the colorful experience. As Bali is located 8 degrees south of the equator, you will find the climate to be the typical tropical, warm and humid all year round with two main distinctive seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. Some of the areas around Bali's central mountains (volcanoes) have several peaks over 3,000 meters above sea levels. Up there the temperatures are considerably cooler, and there is more rainfall than in the coastal areas.

* With a long history of development over a thousand years, Hanoi city in Vietnam has always been the center of the nation's culture, economics, and politics, possessing various complex architecture, unique traditional values, and diverse cuisines. Dubbed the city of a thousand years of civilization, it has been chosen as the capital of most of the feudal dynasties in Vietnam before. This capital is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world in general and Vietnam in particular. Dive into Hanoi's pulsating city streets, and you'll capture the essence of Vietnamese life. The country's capital is a burgeoning economic center that still clings strongly to traditional culture, managing to be a showcase of both old and modern Vietnam. The old quarter district is Hanoi's main tourist attraction; It hums with street vendor action and the cafés and restaurants are vibrant, contemporary scenes.

* A border province and official Frontier Area, Ha Giang lies in the remote far northern region of the country. To visit this province is to journey back in time and encounter some of Vietnam’s most rugged and grand landscapes. Ha Giang is best experienced as a road trip on two wheels, soaking up the majesty of the landscape and the atmosphere of the remote towns and minority villages. The roads of Ha Giang serve up the ultimate motorcycle adventures. The drive into Dong Van is impossibly beautiful, however Ma Pi Leng - where the road snakes past the Nho Que River — is the jewel in Ha Giang crown.

* Far too few travellers make it to Ninh Binh, a mesmerizing area known locally as “Ha Long Bay on Land” thanks to its magical riverine landscape, with sheer limestone mountains rising up from the paddies. The best way to get a sense of this UNESCO-protected site is by taking a paddleboat tour along its shimmering rivers, and climbing to the top of its fabled peaks. Today the capital of Vietnam is Hanoi, but in the 10th and 11th centuries that honour was held by Hoa Lu. This small ancient city was naturally protected from invasions by karsts and rivers. Today, it’s a good place to get a history fix. The largest complex of Buddhist temples in the country, Bai Dinh is a mix of old and new styles. Ancient temples are housed in caves you can only reach via a pretty climb of 300 steps, while the new temple area covers an area of 500 hectares. At the Tam Coc and Trang An boat docks, each sampan is guided by a boat person who rows with their feet, not their hands. You'll be expertly guided along gentle waterways, past towering karsts, and into dripping grottoes.

(Visit Portugal – “Portugal: your next travel destination”)

Không có bản tiếng Việt

1. Land Itinerary:

Jakarta – Yogyakarta – Bali – Estoril – (Lisbon) – Óbidos – Nazaré – Aveiro – Porto – Amarante – Penafiel – Douro Valley – (Porto) – Vila Nova De Gaia – Coimbra – Évora – Vilamoura (Algarve) – Tavira – Cacela Velha – Olhão – Sagres – Lagos – (Vilamoura) – Lisbon

* Day 1 (Wed 08 May): Arrival JAKARTA [-/-/D]

Arrival at Jakarta International Airport. Met and greeted by your Local guide and transfer to your hotel (near Jakarta Airport) for check-in. Jakarta city orientation tour by coach (if time permits) /or/ remaining time of the day at leisure. Dinner at hotel. Stay overnight in Jakarta.

* Day 2 (Thu 09 May): FLIGHT TO YOGYAKARTA – YOGYAKARTA CITY TOUR – PRAMBANAN TEMPLE – RAMAYANA BALLET SHOW [B/L/D]

Breakfast at your hotel. Early morning flight to Yogyakarta. Upon arrival at Yogyakarta Airport, you will be greeted by your Local tour guide, then transferred to Yogyakarta’s historic center for a city tour. Visit the Keraton Royal Palace, built in the mid-18th century, which is the seat of the reigning Sultan of Yogyakarta, and a center of Javanese culture; Visit the Bangsal Kencana (Golden Pavilion) and some of the surrounding luxurious halls and courtyards; Enjoy the Javanese Classical Dance performance accompanied by the fascinating Gamelan Court Music. Visit the Taman Sari Water Castle, the once-splendid royal garden and pleasure park of the Sultanate of Yogyakarta. Transfer to Kotagede, a historic neighborhood of Yogyakarta, and visit some silver crafting houses. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch proceed to Prambanan temple; Visit this magnificent 9th-century Hindu temple compound dedicated to the God Shiva – the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia and the 2nd-largest in Southeast Asia after Angkor Wat; Admire the striking stone panels of narrative bas-reliefs telling the story of the famous Hindu epic Ramayana and Bhagavata Purana. Proceed back to Yogyakarta for a city tour. Enjoy the Ramayana Ballet performance before dinner at a local restaurant with a fantastic view of the Prambanan temple. Drive back to Yogyakarta. Stay overnight in Yogyakarta.

* Day 3 (Fri 10 May): YOGYAKARTA CITY TOUR – BOROBUDUR TEMPLE – YOGYAKARTA CITY TOUR [B/L/D]

Breakfast at your hotel. Proceed before dawn to Borobudur. Upon arrival in early morning, enjoy the sunrise on the Borobudur temple site; Explore this massive 9th-century Mahayana Buddhist temple – probably the largest in the world which is still standing at present in its full glory since its 1974-1984 restoration; Follow the pilgrimage path all the way up to the top floor, and discover its unique and elaborate architectural plan as well as its unusual yet surprisingly beautiful bulk structure, and learn about the incredible history behind its construction (assembled with thousands of volcanic and river stone blocks, the impressive temple was entirely built using human labor and took more than 75 years to complete); Admire the magnificent 504 Buddha statues and over 2,600 relief panels depicting the many Jatakas or stories of the previous life of the Buddha. Lunch at a local restaurant. Drive back to Yogyakarta. Visit a traditional Batik factory, where the diverse Batik fabric and clothing are made. Dinner at a local restaurant. Stay overnight in Yogyakarta.

* Day 4 (Sat 11 May): FLIGHT TO BALI – TIME AT LEISURE [B/-/D]

Breakfast at your hotel. Leave hotel and airport transfer for your late morning flight to Bali. Upon arrival at Bali airport in the afternoon, met and greeted by your Local tour guide then transfer to hotel for check-in. Lunch at a local restaurant. Remaining time of the day at leisure. Dinner at hotel. Stay overnight in Bali.

* Day 5 (Sun 12 May): BALINESE DANCE SCHOOL – CELUK/BATUAN/MAS/UBUD – ULUWATU TEMPLE & KECAK FIRE DANCE [B/L/D]

Breakfast at your hotel. Proceed to Ubud, a region located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of Bali. Visit a cultural village and a traditional Dance school; Learn about the two main Balinese art performances: the Classical dance and Gamelan music; Through teaching and rehearsing you will learn the symbolic meanings of Balinese art performances, rhythm and timing, basic poses, angular movements and stances, cheeky facial expressions, eye movements and hand gestures (believe it or not, after 1 hour of learning through observance, you will be able to do a basic performance of the Balinese dance, and you will leave feeling more connected with the island as a result of this experience). Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to visit Celuk, Batuan, Mas and Ubud, these villages and towns located on the uplands of the island, known as a center for traditional arts and crafts; Enjoy your opportunity to witness local gold and silver works, hand weaving, woodcarving, and painting. Proceed to the southernmost part of the island to visit Pura Uluwatu, a Hindu sea temple built at the edge of a 230-foot cliff projecting into the sea; Watch the rough waves of the Indian Ocean rushing forward and hitting the rocks beneath the cliff; In the late afternoon, proceed to enjoy the famous Kecak Fire Dance, a dramatic dance based on the Ramayana epic which is performed on an open stage on the cliff-side of the temple (25 to 50 dancers chant “cak” and throw up their arms, depicting the battle from the Ramayana where the monkeys help Prince Rama in his fight with the evil king Ravana). Dinner at a local restaurant. Drive back to your hotel. Stay overnight in Bali.

* Day 6 (Mon 13 May): CANDI KUNING MARKET - ULUNDANU TEMPLE – JATILUWIH RICE TERRACES – TANAH LOT TEMPLE [B/-/D]

Breakfast at your hotel. Proceed to Bedugul, a mountain lake resort area; En route stop by at a Candi Kuning, a local market where fresh fruits, vegetables, spices, and exotic flowers are sold, creating a picturesque maze of wonderful colors. Visit Pura Ulundanu, a major temple complex devoted to the worship of the Hindu god Shiva in Bali, built on the shores of Lake Bratan; Enjoy the view of the lake surrounded by mountains. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch, drive down to Kuta and your next sightseeing will be the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, a unique and mesmerizing lush green landscape that any traveler or photographer should have on their bucket list; Explore on foot a nice paved walking path that winds its way through the rice fields, and enjoy the view of endless waves of green stretching out in all directions. Our last stop is Pura Tanah Lot, a Hindu temple that sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tides, where you can enjoy a spectacular sunset scenery. Dinner at a local restaurant. Drive back to your hotel. Stay overnight in Bali.

* Day 7 (Tue 14 May): BATUBULAN COUNTRYSIDE – TIRTA EMPUL TEMPLE – PENGLIPURAN VILLAGE – KINTAMANI & MT. BATUR – CAFÉ LOTUS DINNER WITH ART PERFORMANCE [B/L/D]

Breakfast at your hotel. Proceed to Batubulan, an artistic countryside and village, also known as a venue for a variety of Balinese performing arts; Attend the spectacular Barong and Keris Dance accompanied by the traditional Balinese music. Continue to drive up to Kintamani, an area on the western edge of the caldera wall of Mount Batur. En route visit Pura Tirta Empul, a Hindu water temple famous for its holy spring water, where Balinese pilgrims go to for ritual purification. Afterwards reach Kintamani to enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the still active volcano Mount Batur, and Lake Batur. Lunch at a local restaurant. Drive to Bangle region to visit Penglipuran, a Balinese village that became famous thanks to its society who still preserve their traditional culture in their daily lives; Admire the houses’ traditional architecture that still follows the concept of “Tri Hita Karana”, a Balinese philosophy about keeping the balance in the relations between God, humans and their environment. Transfer to Ubud for your dinner-show with Balinese dance performance at Lotus Café, a local restaurant. Drive back to your hotel. Stay overnight in Bali.

* Day 8 (Wed 15 May): GOA LAWAH TEMPLE – TIRTA GANGGA TEMPLE - BESAKIH TEMPLE [B/L/D]

Breakfast at your hotel. Drive to Klungkung in the Eastern part of Bali to visit Pura Goa Lawah or “Bat Cave Temple”, one among the six holiest places of worship in Bali, built in the 11th century by one of the early priests who introduced Hinduism to the island; Visit the 3 main areas of the temple compound: the outer, middle and inner main sanctums; Also visit the several smaller shrines nested into a large cave where hordes of nectar bats rest. Lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch proceed to Pura Tirta Gangga, a royal palace converted to a stunning Hindu water temple (this temple was named after the holy river Ganges in India); Enjoy the temple’s pools, a great place to cool off on hot days, and the fish feeding; Also, from the temple ground enjoy the impressive views of the eastern highlands and Mount Agung, Bali’s highest mountain. Visit Pura Besakih, the “Mother Temple” of Bali – the holiest of all Balinese Hindu temples – and its complex of 23 sub-temples built on 6 levels and on parallel ridges, terraced up the slopes of Mount Agung. Drive to Jimbaran, a coastal resort site near a fishing village, to enjoy a BBQ seafood Farewell dinner at a local restaurant by the beach. Drive back to your hotel. Stay overnight in Bali.

* Day 9 (Thu 16 May): BALI Departure to HANOI [B/-/D]

Breakfast at your hotel. Time at leisure before airport transfer for your late morning flight to Hanoi (Vietnam).

Arrival Hanoi in the afternoon.

* Day 10 (Fri 17 May): HANOI – NINH BÌNH – TRÀNG AN [B/L/D]