Welcome to the land of volcanoes – Java island. This photography tour is devoted to the highlights of the central Java – from mighty Bromo volcano to tall and beautiful Merapi volcano. A lot of waterfalls, ancient temples and even practising the seascape photography and use of filters in-fileds – this tour has the most concentration of spectacular Indonesia landscape. We will explore Central Java for entire week with the following itinerary, and you will be able to get similar and better images than from my recent scouting trip:
Day 1, March 17
Arrival to Java, Surabaya airport on any flight before 7 p.m. Our driver will pick you up and transfer to our hotel in Trawas (1.5 h transfer). In the evening we have welcome dinner together. It is just a meeting day so you can relax after your flight to Java.
Day 2
As our first night hotel will be located at Trawas, south from Surabaya – we will be able to shoot our first Java sunrise in this pristine area at rice fields! After the breakfast at hotel we depart to Tumpak Sewu waterfall. The road will take 3-4 hours, we stop for lunch at Malang. In the afternoon we can visit other waterfalls nearby leaving Tumpak Sewu for the next morning as the light is better in the morning there. We stay in the nice cottages with a pool area to relax.
Day 3
Tumpak Sewu – it is a true “Niagara” of Java island. Spectacular waterfall leading deep into the canyon. Here you have an option to fly a drone to get the shot like on the cover or also go down to the valley of the waterfalls to shoot cascades. Hiking down is pretty challenging with steep steps and bamboo fencing. But if you feel it is too hard for you – stay on the upper platform, shoot waterfall with a tripod or fly drone.
After our morning walk we return back to hotel for breakfast, repack, have shower and depart to Bromo! We drive to Bromo volcano, the true highlight of entire trip. First sight of Bromo will be from our hotel located just on the rim overlooking Bromo volcanic caldera.
At 2,392 meters high, Mount Bromo is not amongst the tallest of Indonesia’s mountains but its stunning beauty lies in its incredible setting. Located some 4 hours drive from Surabaya, the capital city of East Java, Mount Bromo is part of the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park that covers a huge area of 800 sq km.
Standing majestically inside the huge caldera of the once ancient Mount Tengger, Mount Bromo is surrounded by a vast stretching sea of volcanic sand that radiated a certain mystical beauty. Mount Bromo and the Tengger area is also the home of the Tengger sub-ethnic group who still preserve their age-old traditions and way of life. Here, you can observe the unique indigenous culture and traditions of the ‘Tenggerese’ including their rituals and ceremonies.
Day 4
The ultimate attraction and the reason why photographers travel from far and wide to Mount Bromo is its spectacular sunrise. From a vantage point the sun rises magnificently and hot majestic Mount Bromo with first rays, while the surrounding mountain ranges create an almost surreal atmosphere. It takes about a little over an hour to drive to this vantage point. No hiking involved – we drive to the most spectacular viewpoint. The sun rises at about 5.30am
After sunrise we will photograph horses with local riders in the dust rays at the Sea of Sands. In the afternoon we will have post processing workshops, instructions on night photography. We go rest early because we will wake up in the night to photograph stars at Mount Bromo!
Day 5
We will wake up in the night to practise night photography over Bromo – milky way above temples and maybe star trails perfectly fit just behind Bromo! Following this activity and night photography learning we will see amazing sunrise over Bromo.
After the breakfast and rest at hotel we will head to the Surabaya airport to fly to Yogyakarta on recommended flight – as one group on same flight, all transfers by private bus included. At sunset we visit Prambanan ancient temple or a beautiful distant viewpoints overlooking temple.
Day 6
Today we devote to visits of wonderful places around Merapi volcano. There are plently of spectacular waterfalls. Merapi is erupting from time to time, but it is quite rare to catch! There are many nice waterfalls and viewpoints, and also we visit famous colorful village Nepal van Java!
Day 7, 23 March
We’ll photograph Borobudur temple from the distance using telephoto lens.
Located on the island of Java, the magnificent Borobudur temple is the world’s biggest Buddhist monument. We do not visit the temple as currently it is closed for sunrise visit! But we will get wonderful photos from the distance.
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. It is no wonder that Borobudur is listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
After sunrise at the viewpoint to the temple we go back to hotel to check out. Transfer to Yogyakarta is included. Here we say goodbye to each other. Please plan your flight out of Yogyakarta airport 3 p.m. or later as it is 2 h drive by private transfer (incl in the tour package).
Pricing:
Total price: 4750 USD per person twin share
Single supplement: 750 USD
Maximum Number of Participants: 10
Difficulty: easy
Tour includes:
- Accommodation double/twin rooms sharing (singles available upon request with single supplement),
- all meals (three per day) and non-alchohol drinks,
- all ground transportation during the tour
- Bromo special tours on a fancy Landcruiser cars
- photography tuition,
- entrance fees and all local taxes, except entrance to Borobudur temple.
Not included in the price:
– Airfare to Java
– Local air ticket Surabaya to Yogyakarta
– Visas (if applicable)
– Single supplement
– Entrance to Borobudur temple
What to bring
Gear:
– DSLR camera with tripod and remote shutter release
– A wide angle lens. For example, Nikkor 14-24 or Canon 17-40. Best lens for use in wide-angle scenes or architecture photography
– A middle-zoom lens such as a 24-70 mm
– A telephoto zoom lens, such as a 70-200 mm. Be sure to have additional tripod mount to this lens.
– Set of filters for seascape photography: ND 3, 6, 10 stop and CPL filters
Tour leaders
Daniel Kordan
Landscape and travel photographer based in Bali, Indonesia. Partner with Iceland photo tours, instagram @Danielkordan with 1.8 Million followers, Nikon and Gitzo ambassador.
Agung Odi
Travel and Landscape photographer, local guide from Bali.
