Indonesia Experience

  Indonesia

• All Other Areas: 
Yogyakarta,  Semarang

Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks
Dates: First Monday of every month.

Description: Upon arrival in Indonesia you will have an orientation week that, amongst many things, will introduce you to Indonesia culture and provide you with detailed information about the programme and the projects you will be taking part in.

All accommodation is included for the duration of the programme and types of accommodation will vary at different stages throughout the programme from homestays, guesthouses or hotel accommodation. During your orientation week your accommodation will be at the volunteer centre in Semarang Town. You will be staying in shared bedrooms and will have three meals a day provided.

For Option A - Volunteering, your accommodation will be with an Indonesian host family. Your host family will provide you with accommodation, meals and guidance during your stay. This type of accommodation gives you a great insight into the customs of an Indonesian family and will be an experience that allows you to learn about and understand the Indonesian culture.

For Option B - Adventure option, your accommodation will vary from home stay, guesthouse, or hotel accommodation, on a twin share basis with another participant.

Highlights: Week 1 - Orientation Week
Based in Ungaran, your orientation week is all about getting to know Indonesia and meeting your fellow travellers. During this week you will be taking part in the following activities:

    * Basic Indonesian language lessons
    * Visit to Ungaran town and a traditional market place
    * City tour at Semarang including visiting the local market and downtown area
    * Local sightseeing to Ungaran Mountain and the ancient group temple of Gedong Songo (Nine Hindu Temples)
    * Visit to an Indonesian home - meet the local people, taste the food and learn about Indonesian traditions
    * Cooking lessons
    * Understanding social dos and don'ts
    * Detailed information about the volunteer projects or adventure week

Week 2 and 3 - Volunteer Placement or Adventure Week
Choose between taking part in a rewarding volunteer placement or a week of adventure activities!

Option A - Volunteering at a social project in Semarang, Magelang or Purwokerto.

Your focus for this option may include:

    * Teaching at schools
    * Working at local orphanages
    * Rehabilitation and follow up projects for earthquake victims
    * Assisting in the renovation and construction of small-scale infrastructure with local communities.

Mornings will be spent working on your volunteer option. After lunch you will be free to create activities to get the students or local people involved with. During some afternoons and evenings there may be the chance for you to learn how to play traditional musical instruments and learn traditional local dance.

Please note: We will try to place you onto your first choice of project, however we cannot guarantee placements due to availability and the needs of the projects at the time you are there.

Option B - Traditional Indonesian Culture and Adventure Week

    * This will be an action packed couple of weeks, which will include:
    * Exploring the local traditional culture as well as the beauty of the natural Indonesian landscape
    * A choice of trekking/mountain climbing or white water rafting on the Progo River
    * Spend time at the ancient royal city of Yogyakarta where you will visit the Royal Palace and Tamansari Royal Garden
    * Trip to the Borobudur Temple, which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indonesia. This is a Buddhist temple related to Mahayana tradition and is the largest Buddhist monument on earth. It is located in Magelang regency, 40km north west of Yogyakarta and was built between 750 and 850 CE by the Javanese rulers of the Syailendra
    * Visit the Prambanan Temple. This temple cannot be missed, as it is only 100 metres off the main road! Sanjaya Dynasty built the 47 metre high Hindu temple in the 9th century. Consisting of three courtyards, the main temple is located in the inner courtyard and surrounded by several small temples called "Perwara" temples.

Please note: Rafting can only take place if a minimum of four people choose it and the river conditions are right for rafting.

Week 4 - Beach Week at Karimunjawa Island
Week four gives you the chance to relax after your challenging volunteer work or adventure activities. Karimunjawa national park consists of 27 islands which lie 90km northwest of Jepara in the Java sea. Only five of the islands are inhabited and you will find that the serenity and spectacular sights of the Karimunjawa are a massive contrast to the mainland.

This is the perfect opportunity for you to relax on the beach, swim in the sea, or take part in some of your favourite water sports. Your return boat ticket from Semarang to Karimunjawa Island is included in the cost of the programme.

Additional 4 Weeks
The Indonesia Experience is a four-week programme but you do have the option to extend for a further four-week period. If you choose to stay for an additional four weeks, this time will be spent at a placement on one of the community-based projects. Your schedule and focus whilst volunteering will depend on the time of year and the project needs. Your hard work and support will have a hugely positive impact on these worthwhile projects and you can even extend your project for further periods of four weeks if you wish.

Please note: Itineraries and activities are subject to change

Cost in US$: GBP 749 - GBP 1,299

    * Airport pickup on arrival at Semarang City
    * One night's accommodation in a standard hotel
    * A comprehensive Orientation week
    * All accommodation and meals throughout the programme
    * Activities as stated in the programme schedule
    * A co-ordinator who will assist you during the programme
    * 24-hour support number and contact for emergencies
    * All programme related transportation in country
    * A certificate at the end of the programme to prove your participation.

What's Not Included

    * Personal travel insurance for the duration of your trip, which should include cover for repatriation
    * All flights
    * Any excursions over and above your planned itinerary
    * All items of a personal nature
    * Soft drinks and snacks

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Real Gap Experience's Mission Statement: We are ambitious for our company, our partners and the communities in which we work. We take our responsibilities seriously - understanding that the development of our business impacts directly on our partners, the communities that we visit and work with and that ultimately, our success is their success too.