INDONESIA GATEWAY

Product Listing

Types of packages :

SUMATERA

North Sumatera : Medan

Begin with the main gateway to North Sumatra, at its capital Medan. The city hosts some fine historical sights such as the Grand Mosque (Masjid Raya), designed by an Italian architect in the rococo style. Nearby is the similarly European-influenced Istana Maimoon, which still houses the sultan’s descendants.

North Sumatra is also home to the fascinating Batak people, who were once feared for their cannibalistic culture. The unique Toba Bataks call Lake Toba, the largest lake in Southeast Asia, home. Situated on the crater of an extinct volcano, Lake or Danau Toba has the distinction of having an island as big as Singapore called Pulau Samosir.

You can also acquaint yourself with other unique Batak cultures on trips to their traditional villages in Brastagi, Tomok and Ambarita, where you will hear stories and enactments of ancient cannibalistic rites. After that, cool your heels at the breathtaking Sipisopiso Waterfalls and enjoy wonderful vistas of lush forests.

Medan Lake Toba
4 days / 3 nights Medan Lake Toba

Medan Berastagi
4 days / 3 nights Medan Berastagi

West Sumatera : Padang

The Minangkabau people, with its unique matrilineal culture, is the predominant ethnic group in West Sumatra. A recurring and characteristic motif that makes the Minangkabau recognizable is the water buffalo – the roof of its traditional houses and even its headgear resemble the buffalo horn. Indeed, one of the legends recount how the Minangkabau got its name : when the Minangkabau faced the threat of an attack from a Javanese king, they proposed a bull fight instead of going to battle.

The Javanese sent a mighty bull but the Minangkabau sent a little calf, which they had starved and put metal spikes on its horn. When the starving little calf met the bull, it mistook the bull for its mother and rushed to suckle the bull’s belly. The sharp metal spikes tore the bull’s underbelly and it died. The ecstatic Minangkabau shouted victory, saying “Minangkabau!”, meaning “The buffalo wins !”

One the best places to sample this fascinating culture is to begin at Padang, the capital of West Sumatra, which literally means ‘field’. It is a charming and pleasant city and serves the gateway to other interesting sites in this part of Sumatra. this is also a place to sample the delightful cuisine known as Nasi Padang, the spicy and delicious Minangkabau cuisine that has found its way all over Indonesia and Malaysia.

On the way to Bukit tinggi (literally meaning “high hill”), you will see some beautiful scenery of terrace rice fields and tropical rainforests. At Lembah Anai, the splendour of nature comes alive and best known for its waterfalls and giant rafflesia flowers. There is a trip to see the Ngarai Sianok, famed for its deep canyon. For a spot of World War II history, you will visit Lubang Jepun, a network of tunnels that runs to the canyon.
There are also picturesque, serene lakes to be visited – Danau Singkarak and Lake Maninjau, which are both situated on extinct volcano craters.

For a shot of culture and history, you will be taken to the breathtaking Istana Pagaruyung, a replica of the magnificent ancient Minangkabau palace. This palace is the such a wonderful example of Minangkabau architecture that it has been immortalized on the 100Rp coin.

Padang Ranah Minang
3 days / 2 nights
4 days / 3 nights
5 days / 4 nights

Eastern Sumatera : Pekan Baru

It may be a new town (the literal meaning of Pekanbaru) but it has pockets of historical and cultural sights that are waiting to be explored. This city, which rose to prominence thanks to its offshore oil wealth, is the capital of the Riau province.

Historically, Riau was one of the major centres for trade in Southeast Asia. Its strategic position at the southern end of the Malaccan Strait attracted Indian and Chinese traders who sought after valuables spices grown in the Indonesian archipelago. Riau entered its golden age between the 16th and 18th centuries as the one the centres of Malay civilization between the 16th and 18th centuries.

The discovery of oil before World War II put Riau back on the trading map, this time for major oil companies. Pekanbaru today is considered Indonesia’s oil capital and has grown into a pleasant city with a number of interesting sights for travelllers.

Our package brings you the best of Pekanbaru and old Riau, where you will be transported back into the grand days of old Malay culture. You will visit the dazzling Istana Siak and the great mosque of Pekan baru as well as an ancient temple, Candi Muara Takus. Besides the wonderful sights, this package also features authentic Indonesia cuisine and gives you the opportunity to buy beautiful local handicrafts from its colourful traditional markets.

Pekan Baru Tours – Riau(Fullboard)
3 days / 2 nights
4 days / 3 nights

Pekan Baru Shopping
2 days / 1 night
3 days / 2 nights

Batam

Batam is part of Riau island province with population of about 600 000 people.
It is home to Malay-Indonesia origin and minority Chinese ethnic group.

The island is located approximately 20km south of Singapore and the journey takes 1 hour by ferry.
Batam developed in the 1960s when the Indonesian government made it a special development zone, later part of the Sijori Growth Triangle, enjoying free trade zone status. Nagoya, is one of the larger towns, caters for tourist needs.

In the last 40 years, jungle disappeared and Batam turned into a strong industrial centre, with population increasing from a few thousands in the early 1960s to 800,000 today. Among the local Chinese populace, Teochew (dialect) Mandarin and English are the primary lingua francas.

It is a popular weekend retreat among Singaporean travelers, for its golf courses, beaches, seafood and duty free shopping, mostly electrical appliances and the latest mobile phones.
Jembatan Barelang and Masjid raya is some of the places of interest in Batam.

Batam package
3 days / 2 nights

Southern Sumatera : Palembang

The second largest city in south Sumatra and a booming oil town, Palembang is situated on the banks of Sungai Musi.
A major port for over 1200 years until the 13 century, it was the center of trade and spiritual center and was the former Srivijaya kingdom. Palembang is one of the most interesting cities in Sumatra.

The Musi River runs through the centre of the city splitting it in half. Both historically and culturally, the city is a must-see to be included in your travel list.

Among the places of interest, which includes a cruise along the Musi river, Jembatan Ampera,Beteng Kuto besak,Mesjid agung to name a few.
This vibrant city has much to offer, from its rich culture to the ancient kingdom of the past.

Palembang (Fullboard)
3 days / 2 nights
4 days / 3 nights

Palembang (Free & easy)
3 days / 2 nights

JAVA

Types of packages :

West Java : Jakarta

Bandung
3 days / 2 nights
4 days / 3 nights

Central of Java: Solo- Yogyakarta

A medium size city with a lively character, Solo is a city that never sleeps. From the evening throughout the whole night one can always find something to eat or buy, as vendors of all kinds as well as small food-stalls remain active and open 24 hours. Home of two royal houses with centuries of power and influence over the city, Solo today remains distinctly Central-Javanese with an elegance of its own.

It is one of the major centers of batik cloths and other Javanese fabrics, whereas souvenir hunters may find exquisite "objects d'art" and very ornate trinkets and other decorative items. Those interested in old Javanese culture and art should not miss Solo on their itinerary, as the royal palaces including relics of all sorts will be all yours to witness.

The name "Borobudur" is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit words "Vihara Buddha Uhr" the Buddhist Monastery on the hill. The Borobudur Temple was built in the eighth century by the Cailendra dynasty and is located at Magelang, 90 km southeast of Semarang, or 42 km northwest of Yogyakarta. One of the world's most famous temples, it stands majestically on a hilltop overlooking lush green fields and distant hills.

Borobudur is built of gray and a site stone. It rises to seven terraces, each smaller than the one below it. The top is the Great Stupa, standing 40 meters above the ground. The walls of the Borobudur are sculptured in bas-reliefs extending over a total length of six kilometers. It has been hailed as the largest and most complete ensemble of Buddhist relieves in the world, unsurpassed in artistic merit, each scene an individual masterpiece.

The monument has been completely restored and was officially opened by the President on 23rd February 1983. The restoration took eight years to complete, funded by the Government of Indonesia with aid from the UNESCO and donations from private citizens as well as from foreign governments.

Shopping Hints
Batik cloths and garments, hand-woven fabrics, traditional and local jewelry, leather puppets, basketry, tortoise-shell accessories, trinkets, brass-ware and other decorative items, and all kinds of antiques are local specialties.
Souvenir and art objects are available in all major towns of Central Java, mostly in the downtown areas and popular market places or shopping centers

Solo-Yogyakarta
4 days / 3 nights

Yogyakarta
4 days / 3 nights

East Java: Surabaya

Surabaya
3 days / 2 nights
4 days / 3 nights
5 days / 4 nights

BALI

The word paradise is used a lot in Bali, for a good reason. The combination of friendly, hospitable people, great SPA retreats, a magnificently visual culture infused with spirituality and spectacular beaches with great surfing and diving have made Bali Indonesia's unparalleled number one tourist attraction.

Bali is a wonderful destination with something for everyone, and though heavily traveled, it is still easy to find some peace and quiet. Every aspect of Balinese life is suffused with religion, but the most visible signs are the tiny offerings (sesajen) of flowers, glutinous rice and salt in little bamboo leaf trays, found in every Balinese house, restaurant, souvenir stall and airport check-in desk. They are set out and sprinkled with holy water no less then three times a day, before every meal.

One of the most exotic island in the world, reflects mystical images which have attracted people to come since many years ago. This tropical island has an extremely charming scenery, gigantic rice fields surrounded by coconut trees with the soaring volcanoes as the backdrop, opaque tropical rain forest, the beauty of the sea, the beaches with their golden sand and dramatic sunset over the sea, crashing surf and of course warm and friendly locals. In Bali, festivals, holidays and special celebrations occur at all time and even cremation is an attraction.

The mixture of Balinese heritage and traditions with a polish of modern facilities has created a unique nuance. The Balinese people are proud of Hindu culture, which has endured for centuries. Ritual ceremonies, festivals and preserved magnificent temples reflect the richness of culture.

Bali is usually warm, humid and tropical. The April-October dry season and November-March rainy seasons are only relative, with plenty of rainfall around the year, but the Balinese winter is cloudier and humid.

A more important consideration is the high tourist season, as Bali can get packed in July-August and again around Christmas and New Year's. Australians visit during school holidays in early April, late June and late September, while Indonesians visit during national holidays. Hotels normally impose peak season charges during this time.

There is the combination of the friendly people, the natural attractions, the great variety of things to see and do, the year-round pleasant climate, and there is Bali's special "magic", which is difficult to explain.

Lords and spirits have been an important part of Bali's daily life for hundreds of years. Gunung Agung – Bali's holy mountain – is internationally regarded as one of the eight "Chakra" points of the world. This may be more than an coincident. Watch out, the moment you feel the magic of this island, you will be addicted for the rest of your life.

Bali(Fullboard)
3 – 5 days

Bali(Free & easy)
3 – 5 days