women’s adventure

Welcome to the island of Java! If you’re arriving today, I’ll have someone meet you at the airport and bring you to our home for the next three days. There you can unpack, relax, meet your fellow travelers, and enjoy a swim if you’d like. We’ll go for a walk around town, try some local delicacies for dinner. and learn more about this beautiful country.

In the evening, we’ll join a giant party in the plaza, where we can pedal Bling Bling cars, sample street foods, and more!

A guided tour of the sumptuous Sultan’s Palace is the perfect way to delve into the history of the region as well as local traditions and philosophy. The breathtaking buildings and in-depth museum collections at this palace will astound you, and our guide can answer all your questions about local life.

We’ll explore other areas of the city as well,  learning more about the process of creating batik, Javanese shadow puppets, and other local arts. We’ll meet artists and have a chance to browse lots of handcrafted goods. We might even get a chance to try the famous Kopi Luwak coffee.

Yogyakarta is home to two of the most fascinating temples in Asia. We’ll see the sunrise at Borobudur, a the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It was built in the 8th and 9th centuries, but Borodur stillattracts Buddhist pilgrims from all over the world. You’ll have the chance to climb all over the temple and, if you wish, meditate alongside Buddhist monks. Later in the day, we’ll visit Prambanan, a spectacular 9th century Hindu temple complex, featuring temples to Vishnu, Brahma, and Shiva. Both temples are massive and dream-like; this will be a day you’ll never forget.

Optional: If anyone is interested, I’ll see if there’s time to catch a performance of the Ramayana Ballet. This Indian dance performance of a famous Hindu story is staged nightly at an open-air theater against the dramatic backdrop of the Prambanan Temple. (ticket not included, but should be less than $25)

We’ll fly from Yogyakarta to Bali (flight included), where we’ll settle into our rooms in Ubud. We’ll have time to unpack and relax. Then we’ll stroll around town and check out the vibe — Bali is completely different from Java, because this island is Hindu (Java is Muslim). We’ll have dinner in a local restaurant.

Optional: If anyone wants to see a dance performance, I can take you to a fabulous show after dinner. Ticket is not included, but should be under $20

On this action-packed day, we’ll visit the Water Temple, rice terraces, artist market, and the Monkey Forest, where monkeys and other wildlife climb over ancient ruins. We’ll have an English-speaking guide all day who can answer our questions and help us understand this complex and beautiful culture.

The women of Bali create beautiful floral offerings that are an important part of the spiritual life on Bali. We’ll learn about this sweet tradition and create offerings of our own, and if we’re lucky we might even get to participate in some purification rituals. You’ll also have your choice of a dance or woodcarving class to get more intimate with local arts.

We’ll have lots of free time on this day for exploring the city — by now you’ll know your way around and feel very comfortable on your own or in small groups. Shop local art boutiques, take a cooking class, enjoy some coconut ice cream, or settle into a cafe and catch up on sharing photos. Your choice!

Optional spa visit

Optional: We’ll have time on this day for a spa visit — and you will be ready for one after your active morning! If anyone is interested, I’ll hook you up with my favorite spa, where massage prices start at $11.

On this day, you can choose either a volcano hike OR a snorkeling trip!

Mt. Batur Volcano Hike

If you choose this option, you’ll be picked up in the wee hours and driven to the trailhead to climb the Mt. Batur Volcano. The climb begins before dawn (bring a headlamp!) so you can enjoy the sunrise from the peak. The climb is about 2 hours of fast, fairly strenuous uphill hiking. At the top, you’ll need scramble over some rocks to reach the summit. There, your guide will cook an egg for you over the active volcano while you watch the sunrise.

Snorkeling in the Blue Lagoon

If you choose this option, you’ll be picked up at 8am and you’ll travel about 90 minutes to your first snorkeling location. Your guide will provide all your equipment and a quick lesson on snorkeling, and they’ll take you to two different reefs by boat. Your guide will bring you back to the hotel in the afternoon.

Pool Restaurant

For our last evening in Bali, I’ll take you to my favorite restaurant. Bring your swimsuit, because you’ll be dining in a poolside cabana!

Those who are going on the Borneo Orangutan extension will have a free day and an extra night in Bali (this is Day One of the extension for you). Maybe you’d like to take a bike tour, sign up for another class, visit the spa, take a yoga class, or just relax at home. It’s entirely up to you!

After our free day in Bali, we’ll head to the remote island of Borneo. We’ll fly to Surabaya where we’ll need to change planes to get to the island (not many carriers make this flight!). At the airport, we’ll be met by a car or van and taken to the riverboat that will be our home for the next three days.

We’ll spend our days lounging at the front of the boat, watching the river slip by. We’ll eat delicious meals on the deck of the boat, and sleep in the open air on mattresses under mosquito nets. You’ll need malaria prevention and mosquito repellent for this trip; this is a true jungle adventure!

This trip is a strange combination of rugged and luxurious. You will be pushed out of your comfort zone, but in the most delicious ways. My previous groups joked that they felt like jungle princesses on the boat!

When we visit the orangutans in the forest, they’re being fed on a platform. You’ll be just 10-15 feet from them while they eat, and the only thing between you and them is a piece of string. It is a spectacular experience. On the last trip, we also saw wild boars, flying foxes, and a baby crocodile!

The price includes an extra day and night in Bali, your flight from Bali to Borneo and back (or pay the difference and I’ll arrange your flight back to Yogyakarta or wherever you need to go!), lodging on the riverboat, all meals, and the guide.

Price: $1200 Includes lodging, activities, all meals in Borneo. Also includes round-trip transportation to/from Bali (or pay the difference and I’ll have you flown to Yogyakarta or wherever you want to go). Excludes gratuities, lunch and dinner in Bali.

Hi, I’m Lauren Haas, the founder of Indie Travel Guru.

In May of 2013 I sold everything I owned and started traveling the world with all my possessions in a backpack. It’s been an incredible journey, and in 2017 I started to share the world with small groups of women who want to see it the way I do.

I love to walk, hike, take local transportation, get involved in local life, and learn about cultures from the inside out, through arts, food, music, dance, and culture. Come join me for an unforgettable adventure!

Ami Amore bio coming soon!