Venturing Java by Train
10 days / 9 nights | Jakarta to Bromo, Java | Private tour by rail and road
Cross Java the way the locals do, by train. Start with old Batavia and modern Jakarta, ride the rails to royal Yogyakarta for a Sultan’s rijsttafel feast, Prambanan and a silversmithing workshop, watch the sun rise over Borobudur, then continue by train through colonial Semarang to Surabaya and finish at the otherworldly Bromo volcano. Five-star and historic hotels throughout.
This is an example itinerary. We can tailor the hotels, pace and inclusions to suit you.
From NZ$7,290 per person twin share, low season.
Domestic flights are not included in the tour price. The tour starts in Jakarta and ends at Surabaya airport, and we quote your flights separately (including an add-on to Bali if you like).
Highlights
- Two scenic train journeys: Jakarta to Yogyakarta, and Semarang to Surabaya
- Royal Javanese rijsttafel dinner at a former royal residence
- Sultan’s Palace, Taman Sari Water Palace and Prambanan
- Make your own silver jewellery with a Kotagede silversmith
- Sunrise over Borobudur and a rice-terrace hike to Selogriyo Temple
- Stay at the historic Hotel Majapahit in Surabaya
- Bromo sunrise by jeep, with a picnic breakfast in the caldera
Day by Day
Selamat datang! You’re met at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is free.
Meals: None today
Walk through Old Batavia, the Dutch colonial heart of the city: the old Chicken Market drawbridge, Kali Besar and the red-fronted Toko Merah around Fatahillah Square. Lunch is at Café Batavia, a classic restaurant dating from around 1805.
Then ride the MRT to Blok M and explore M Bloc Space, a creative hub with shops, cafés and live music, for a taste of the “real” modern Jakarta.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Take the Argo Dwipangga express train from Gambir station to Yogyakarta (about six hours). Your guide meets you on arrival.
In the evening, enjoy a royal Javanese rijsttafel at the Kedaton Ambarrukmo heritage site, the 1857 residence of Sultan Hamengku Buwono VII, starting with the traditional Jodhang procession of the Sultan’s favourite dishes.
No guide travels with you on the train. Bring a warm layer, as the air conditioning can be chilly.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Visit the Kraton, the Sultan’s Palace and still his home, where you may catch a puppet show or classical poetry, then walk to the Taman Sari Water Palace, the old royal bathing pools. After lunch at Abhayagiri restaurant with its valley views, explore Prambanan, the magnificent 9th-century UNESCO-listed Hindu temple complex.
The palace, Prambanan and Borobudur are closed on Mondays.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Wander through Kotagede, the old capital of the Mataram kingdom: the historic Legi Market, Yogyakarta’s first mosque (1587) and lanes of old houses. Then join a master silversmith for a 1 to 2-hour workshop and make your own ring, earrings or pendant to take home.
Lunch is in a heritage merchant’s house, before you continue to your resort near Borobudur.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Leave at 4.30 am to watch the sun rise over Borobudur and the surrounding volcanoes, then explore the vast Buddhist monument with your guide, followed by a light breakfast with temple views.
In the afternoon, hike for about two hours through terraced rice fields on the slopes of Mount Sumbing to the small Selogriyo Temple, one of the prettiest walks in Java.
Meals: Breakfast
Drive to Semarang and stroll through Kota Lama, the 17th-century Dutch colonial quarter, including the 260-year-old Blenduk Church. Then board the Argo Bromo Anggrek train to Surabaya (about three hours), this time with your guide, watching the volcanic landscapes of Central and East Java roll by.
Meals: Breakfast
Explore the historic Hotel Majapahit and surrounding area, then transfer to the Bromo highlands and check in to Plataran Bromo. The afternoon is free to relax.
Meals: Breakfast
An early 3.30 am start by jeep to a secluded viewpoint for sunrise over Bromo, Batok and the towering Semeru volcano, one of the most famous views in Indonesia. Drive down into the misty caldera for a picnic breakfast, then walk across the Sea of Sand and climb the steps to the rim of Bromo’s active crater.
Back at the hotel, unwind with a 60-minute massage.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to Surabaya airport for your onward flight, or extend your holiday in Bali.
Meals: Breakfast
Domestic flight not included.
Where You Stay
- Jakarta (2 nights): St. Regis Jakarta, 5-star, Deluxe Room
- Yogyakarta (2 nights): Garrya Bianti Yogyakarta, 5-star, Sunset View Villa
- Borobudur (2 nights): Villa Borobudur Resort, 5-star, Borobudur Suite
- Surabaya (1 night): Hotel Majapahit, 5-star, Majapahit Legendary Suite
- Bromo (2 nights): Plataran Bromo, 4-star+, Suite
What’s Included
- 9 nights’ accommodation, twin or double share, with daily breakfast
- Meals as listed: 9 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner (the royal rijsttafel)
- Train journeys Jakarta to Yogyakarta and Semarang to Surabaya
- Upgraded private air-conditioned vehicles for touring and transfers, and Bromo jeep
- English-speaking local guide
- Silversmithing workshop and 60-minute massage
- Airport assistance, luxury welcome package and entrance fees as listed
Not included: domestic and international flights, visas, travel insurance, meals not listed, camera or video fees, early check-in or late check-out, tips, and personal expenses.
Good to Know
- From NZ$7,290 per person twin share, low season. Prices change with travel dates, hotel choice and exchange rates, so ask us for a current quote.
- Domestic flights are not included in the tour price. The tour starts in Jakarta and ends at Surabaya airport, and we quote your flights separately (including an add-on to Bali if you like).
- We need your full name and passport details to book the train tickets.
- Some early starts: 4.30 am for Borobudur and 3.30 am for Bromo.
- The Sultan’s Palace, Borobudur and Prambanan are closed on Mondays, so start days are planned around this.
- Idul Fitri falls on 9 to 10 March 2027. Travel across Java is extremely busy around the holiday, so we advise against overland touring between 2 and 17 March 2027.
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