The archipelago of Indonesia is composed of over 17,000 islands and is home to the world’s largest population of Muslims. This nature and heritage tour blends history and diverse landscapes with vibrant faith and culture.
Our journey begins in the capital Jakarta, a city layered with centuries of complex history. We explore Old Batavia, where Dutch colonial buildings surround Fatahillah Square, and visit the National Museum to gain an overview of the region’s vast cultural diversity. A walk through the old port of Sunda Kelapa reveals the city’s role as a historic trading hub long before the Europeans arrived.
We then travel east along Java’s northern coast to Semarang, a crossroad of cultures that has been shaped by Javanese, Chinese and European influences for more than 500 years. Highlights include the Sam Poo Kong Temple, whose history is linked to the Chinese Muslim admiral Zheng He. From Semarang we trace the blessed path of the Wali Songo, the nine spiritual revivers who were instrumental in the spread of Islam across Java.
In Demak we stop at the Great Mosque, one of Indonesia’s oldest and most powerful symbols of early Javanese Islam, built with traditional wooden architecture. Then in Kudus we explore the unique Menara Kudus Masjid whose brick minaret is reminiscent of a Hindu-Buddhist temple. The historic port town of Tuban offers an insight into Java’s role as a maritime and spiritual crossroads, and is the resting place of Sunan Bonang. This part of the tour reveals how Islam took root in Java through trade, cultural exchange and wisdom. It reflects the Wali Songo’s sensitive approach to da‘wah that fused cerebral preaching and spiritual warmth with economic upliftment and the integration of Islamic values into local traditions.
Once we reach Surabaya we visit the Heroes Monument, the historic Arab Quarter and more recent Chinatown, all reflecting Surabaya’s longstanding role as a commercial and religious melting pot. Indonesia’s second largest city also played a critical role in leading the nation’s movement for independence.
Next we travel inland to Trowulan to experience the legacy of the Majapahit Empire, one of Southeast Asia’s great kingdoms. Here we explore ancient gateways, temple ruins, mosques and archaeological museums that reveal a sophisticated civilisation whose influence once extended across much of the region. Later we continue into the highlands of East Java to the awe-inspiring Bromo National Park. One of the highlights is to watch the dramatic sunrise over Mount Bromo, with its smoking crater rising serenely from a vast volcanic sea of sand.
Towards the end of the trip there is typically a choice between flying east to Lombok, popularly known as an island of 1000 mosques, or northwest to Aceh, one of the earliest centres of Islam in South East Asia.
In Lombok we have an opportunity to visit traditional villages, mosques and pristine beaches, with Gunung Rinjani looming in the background. In Aceh we can visit the magnificent Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, quiet beaches and a sanctuary for orangutans. We also learn more about the incredible resilience of the Acehnese people following the devastating tsunami of December 2004. Both Lombok and Aceh offer a relaxed conclusion to the tour, blending Islamic heritage and natural beauty with strong local traditions and coastal life.
This tour traces Indonesia’s unique story – from ancient Hindu-Buddhist empires and the arrival of Islam, through colonial subjugation and independence, to living traditions shaped by geography and faith. Whether ending in Lombok’s calmness or Aceh’s spiritual depth, this journey offers a profound understanding of Indonesia’s fascinating cultural mosaic.
