INDONESIA

Borobudur at Sunrise

Borobudur in Java, Indonesia is one of the greatest Buddhist monuments in the world, and was built in the 8th and 9th centuries AD during the reign of the Syailendra Dynasty.

Evidence suggests that the temple was abandoned following the 14th-century decline of the Hindu kingdoms in Java and the Javanese conversion to Islam. It was discoverd in 1814 by Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles.

Our half day ‘Borobudur Sunrise Cycling’ tour takes you to a viewpoint to watch the sunrise over this exquisite temple, before exploring nearby villages by bicycle:

Borobudur Sunrise Cycling

Set your alarms for an early start – it’s worth it, we promise! Before daylight, we’ll make our way to a hill located about four kilometres from Borobudur Temple and wait for the sunrise. The colossal Buddhist monument of Borobudur was built by hand from thousands of volcanic and river stone blocks during the 8th and 9th centuries. Some 432 serene-faced Buddha images stare out over the surrounding rice fields and distant mountains.  As the morning mists disperse, the sun’s first rays will light up row upon row of Buddha statues and tier upon tier of latticed stupas.

From our viewpoint away from the temple, we will have beautiful views of the temple itself, the surrounding plains, the twin volcanic mountains of Merbabu and Merapi, and the Menoreh Hills. 

Then, let’s hop on our bikes to explore local villages. We’ll even pop into a local house and get to see some traditional activities such as tofu-making, batik painting and pottery. We’ll visit rice fields, get to stretch our legs with a short trek, and have the opportunity to sample local snacks.