Discover the Magnificent Borobudur and Prambanan, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Central Java

Jan 4, 2025

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Discover the Magnificent Borobudur and Prambanan, UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Central Java

Central Java, a region rich in cultural heritage, is home to two of Indonesia’s most extraordinary UNESCO World Heritage Sites—Borobudur and Prambanan. These ancient monuments, built centuries ago, stand as testaments to the grandeur of Java’s past civilisations. Borobudur, one of the largest Buddhist temples in the world, was constructed in the 8th and 9th centuries during the reign of the Syailendra Dynasty. Prambanan, a stunning Hindu temple complex, was built a century later under the Sanjaya Dynasty.

Both temples are masterpieces of architecture and art, reflecting the deep religious and philosophical beliefs at the time. Borobudur’s intricately carved reliefs tell stories of the Buddha’s life and teachings, while Prambanan’s towering spires and delicate carvings honour the Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. These iconic sites offer a unique glimpse into Indonesia’s rich cultural and religious history.

The Siam Society, under the leadership of Professor Dr Chedha Tingsanchali, Professor of Archaeology, Silpakorn University, will organise a trip to explore these magnificent monuments and some others in the area, where history, art, and spirituality converge. The trip will take place from Sunday, 1 June to Thursday, 5 June 2025.

When

Sunday, 1 to Thursday, 5 June 2025

Leader

with Professor Dr Chedha Tingsanchali

Professor of Archaeology, Silpakorn University

Booking

See information below

Or contact Khun Thun

studytrips@thesiamsociety.org

 

The tentative programme will be as follows:

Day 1: Sunday, 1 June 2025: Bangkok – Jakarta – Solo (Surakarta)
05:30 Meet at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport and check in at the Thai Airways check-in counter.
08:00 Depart Bangkok for Jakarta by Thai Airways flight TG 433
11:35 Arrive at Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, clear immigration, collect luggage and transfer to Terminal 2 for the flight to Solo (Surakarta).
16:25 Depart Jakarta for Solo by Batik Air flight ID8368
17:40 Arrive at Solo Adi Soemarmo Airport and transfer to the hotel
Evening: Dinner and overnight at Alila Hotel, Solo
Day 2: Monday, 2 June 2025: Solo (Surakarta)
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Visit Candi Sukuh, a unique 15th-century temple perched 900 metres above the Solo plain, offering stunning views of Gunung Lawu. Its distinctive truncated stone pyramid sets it apart from other Javanese temples, while the crude, wayang-style carvings hint at a revival of pre-Hindu animism from 1,500 years earlier, adding to its mystery.
– Afterwards, we will visit Candi Cheto, a lesser-known but captivating temple located 1,200 metres above sea level on the slopes of Gunung Lawu. Smaller than Candi Sukuh, Candi Cheto is celebrated for its well-preserved stone structure and serene atmosphere. Its design and carvings also trace back to the Majapahit era.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Visit Mangkunegaran Palace, a historical royal palace with traditional Javanese architecture, blending classical European influences with local design. Built in the 18th century, it served as the seat of the Mangkunegaran princely family and remains an important cultural centre. Explore its beautifully preserved rooms, housing an impressive collection of Javanese artefacts, traditional batik textiles, and royal heirlooms.
– Visit Pasar Barang Antik (Antique Market), a market filled with antiques, vintage items, and local handicrafts.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant
Overnight at Alila Hotel, Solo
 
Day 3: Tuesday, 3 June 2025: Solo (Surakarta) – Yogyakarta
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Check out of the hotel and proceed to visit Candi Prambanan, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest Hindu temple complex in Indonesia. Candi Prambanan is dedicated to the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva), and is renowned for its stunning stone carvings and towering spires. The intricate reliefs on the temple walls depict scenes from Hindu mythology.
– Visit Candi Sewu, a large Buddhist temple complex that includes nearly 250 small shrines surrounding a central temple. The layout of the temple symbolises a lotus blossom, and its impressive stone carvings showcase Buddhist teachings and the region’s spiritual heritage.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Visit 3 Candi: Candi Plaosan, a serene Buddhist temple complex known for its twin temples. Its delicate carvings and peaceful setting make it a unique site that reflects the harmony of both religions in ancient Java.

Candi Kalasan, built in the 8th century, is a Buddhist temple famous for its intricate carvings and the remnants of stucco coating that once adorned its structure.

Candi Sari is a Buddhist monastery known for its stunning stone reliefs that depict Buddhist teachings and daily life.
Evening: Watch the traditional Javanese dance drama, Ramayana Ballet, which brings the Ramayana epic to life through music, movement, and storytelling. The dance is set against the stunning backdrop of Prambanan Temple.
Dinner and overnight at Melia Purosani, Yogyakarta
Day 4: Wednesday, 4 June 2025: Yogyakarta
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Visit Candi Mendut. This small 8th-century Buddhist temple is one of the earliest Buddhist structures in the area. Candi Mendut features a massive Buddha statue seated in the lotus position, along with intricate reliefs of the Jataka stories, and the previous lives of the Buddha.
– Visit Candi Pawon, which is situated between Candi Mendut and Borobudur. The temple is believed to have been used for the procession of offerings, and it played a crucial role in the ritual practices leading up to Borobudur.
Noon: Lunch at a local restaurant
Afternoon: Visit Borobudur Temple, one of the world’s greatest Buddhist monuments which was built in the 8th and 9th centuries during the Syailendra Dynasty. The structure features a pyramidal base with five square terraces, three circular platforms, and a monumental stupa at the top, reflecting Buddhist cosmology. Its 2,520 metres² of intricate reliefs depict Buddhist teachings. Used as a Buddhist site until the 10th-15th centuries, Borobudur was later abandoned, rediscovered and restored in the 19th century. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant
Overnight at Melia Purosani, Yogyakarta
Day 5: Thursday, 5 June 2025: Yogyakarta – Kuala Lumpur – Bangkok
– Breakfast at the hotel
Morning: Check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport
11:45 Depart Yogyakarta for Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia flight AK347
15:20 Arrive at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and transfer for a flight to Bangkok
18:30 Depart Kuala Lumpur for Bangkok by flight Air Asia flight AK888
19:50 Arrive at Don Mueang International Airport

The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary.

Booking:

Contribution of THB 55,500 (THB 59,500 for non-member). Single room surcharge of THB 7,000. A deposit of THB 30,000 and a photocopy of the identification page on your passport must accompany the booking. Your reservation will be confirmed as soon as the deposit has been made. Payment in full will be required 45 days before the start of the trip (i.e. by Thursday, 17 April 2025). There is a 4% surcharge for credit/debit card payment to cover bank charges. Please pay by cash or cheque payable to “The Siam Society”. Transfer can also be made to The Siam Society travel account at TMBThanachart Bank (ttb), saving account no. 053-2-18000-7 or by scanning the QR code below. Once payment has been made, please e-mail the deposit or transfer docket to us.

We kindly ask that you confirm your reservation by Thursday, 17 April 2025

Inclusions:

  • Domestic air ticket Jakarta – Solo (Surakarta)
  • The contribution includes accommodation (sharing basis), meals as mentioned in the programme, sightseeing cars, entrance fees, gratuities and other costs incurred to make this trip possible.
  • Basic travel insurance which will only cover participants travelling from and back to Thailand.

Exclusions:

  • International tickets as mentioned in the programme (Bangkok – Jakarta and Yogyakarta – Bangkok)
  • Visa fees (if any), personal expenses, personal food and beverage consumptions, etc.

Please note that the flight itinerary between Bangkok – Jakarta and Yogyakarta – Bangkok as mentioned in the programme only serves as a suggestion. Trip participants can travel with their preferred airline of choice throughout the above sequence of the itinerary.

Tourist Visa Policy

Passport holders from ASEAN countries and Japan have visa-free entry into Indonesia.

US, Canadian, British, Swiss, all European Union member states, New Zealand, and Australian nationals are required to have a visa to enter Indonesia. However, visitors can apply for an eVisa via an online application, which is the most convenient option and can be completed from your home.

For more information, please follow this link: https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/

Cancellation charges:

60 days before the start of the trip (before Tuesday, 1 April): Deposit forfeited
59 – 46 days before the start of the trip (Wednesday, 2 April to Wednesday, 16 May): 50% of the tour cost
Less than 45 days or cancellation without notice (Thursday, 17 April onwards): No refund

*The cancellation charges will also depend on the date we pay the deposit to our travel agent. If we have to pay the deposit to the travel agent before the 45-day period prior to the start of the trip, our officer will send an email to inform every participant before we make the payment as only a partial amount of the deposit can be refunded after that point.

Covid-19 policy

Due to a lower number of worldwide infections, many countries have relaxed their travel restrictions and quarantine requirements regarding Covid-19. The Siam Society would like to remind you of the following measures that we have put in place:

– In the event that trip participants are tested positive during the trip, the group will continue to follow the planned itinerary. To ensure the health and safety of all trip participants, those who tested positive shall adhere to appropriate self-isolation measures as directed by the trip leader.

Those tested positive with severe symptoms shall be treated in accordance with the health measures stipulated by the local government. Medical costs shall be at the expense of the trip participant(s).

For further information and bookings, please contact Khun Thun at 02-661-6470-3 ext 205, or studytrips@thesiamsociety.org The Society’s office is open from 09:00 to 17:00, Tuesday to Saturday.

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