VIA Tours

The VIA Indonesia 40th Anniversary Tour

A cultural tour of Indonesia, designed for friends of the organization that has been sending Americans to volunteer in Indonesia since 1968.

Who should go?

You! Especially, if any of the following apply:

- You know and love Indonesia.
- You wish you knew and loved Indonesia.
- You have been looking for an excuse to go to Indonesia for the first time ever, the first time in years, or the first time with your family.
- You are looking for a travel adventure.
- You want to re-connect with Dwight and other VIA folks.
- You are always excited to learn about new cultures.
- You want to see how community institutions are helping in Indonesia these days.
- You want to find a creative way to support VIA financially.

In short, this 2-week tour is open to any friend of VIA, including (but not limited to) former VIA Indonesia volunteers! Bring your friends! Children are welcome, although traveling with the very young can be especially difficult in Indonesia.

What will we do?

-Visit three of Indonesia's most important (and beautiful) islands - Sumatra, Java and Bali
-Meet current VIA Indonesia volunteers and former volunteers living in Indonesia who can give you unique insight into today's Indonesia
-Get to know current partner institutions and visit or help with service projects
-Join Dwight Clark for a special celebration and premier of the VIA Indonesia 40th Anniversary Documentary at a special event in Bali
-Visit ancient religious temples and attend cultural performances
-Go on outdoor adventures, with opportunities for activities such as beach visits or hikes by volcanoes

When will the tour run?

The tour will depart from San Francisco on July 12th 2008 and will return again on July 27th. Tour participants may gather at the VIA office on July 12th for pre-departure activities.

How much does it cost?

-The tour fee is $2430 per person, not including the flight's fuel surcharge and tax to be finalized at time of booking (currently $372.20, for a total of $2802.20). Of this, $800 constitutes a tax-deductible donation to VIA.

Is there a discount if I bring family?

-Each paying adult may bring one family member 18 or younger at a reduced rate that does not include the donation.

What does the tour fee include?

-Pre-departure gathering and mini-training at office in San Francisco
-Round-trip economy flight from San Francisco to Indonesia on Singapore Airlines (Airline of the Year, 2007)
-The services of a full-time VIA Tour Director (a VIA Indonesia volunteer or staff member to be selected) from start to finish
-Shared accommodation in budget-to-mid-range hotels, with a possible overnight trip by bus or train. (This is not a luxury tour!)
-Inter-city and inter-island travel (vans, buses, planes)
-All airport taxes
-Selected entrance and guide fees
-Emergency Medical and Evacuation insurance
-Built-in tax-deductible donation to help sustain the VIA Indonesia program
-And more!

What is not included in the price?

Costs not included in the tour price are:
-All costs to get or make up-to-date your passport
-Transport to and from San Francisco International airport
-All expenses in San Francisco
-Visa on arrival (easily available for $25 in Jakarta’s airport)
-Most meals and drink. Costs for simple meals are often $1-$2 per person but can increase significantly at nicer restaurants; beverages range from next-to-nothing (hot tea or coffee) to $.50-$1.50 for soda or beer.
-Most intra-city transportation
-All costs incurred by you during free time activities

How many people will be on the tour?

The tour will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. We need a minimum of 10 paying adults to run the tour and are capping the total number of travelers at 16. If we have substantially more than 16 sign up, we will consider running a second tour.

What is the payment schedule?

March 6 Update: There is still limited space on the tour and we have extended the deadline to apply until the end of March.

An initial deposit of $500 is due by March 31, 2008. This is refundable ONLY if the tour does not run, or if the tour has filled up prior to receiving your payment.

The balance is due by May 1, 2008.

Do you know the itinerary?

Here’s a likely itinerary, subject to change. Flexibility has always been a necessary part of life in Indonesia.

Pre-departure – Mini-training and meet-up at San Francisco Office.

Days 1 & 2 – Fly from San Francisco to the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Singapore Airlines; take a brief tour of Jakarta, see the new VIA house, and meet staff and VIA alumni living in the area. Get started on your Indonesian culinary experience!

Day 3 – Fly to Padang and transfer to the hill town of Bukittinggi in the beautiful Minang highlands; stroll in the afternoon to visit the famous outdoor market before the evening sets in.

Days 4 & 5 – Take a guided hike through the beautiful West Sumatran hills, stopping in a village that specializes in silver crafting before moving on to beautiful Danau Maninjau.

Days 6 & 7 – Transfer to Solok / Koto Baru, where VIA has been sending volunteers for over 15 years. A VIA volunteer, her co-teachers and administrators at Universitas Mahaputra Muhammad Yamin (UMMY) will host you and present an opportunity to work with the community – perhaps a good chance to help the next generation of West Sumatrans understand America better.

Day 8 – Fly to Yogyakarta, arguably Indonesia’s cultural capital, a city with a wealth of history and opportunities for fun; meet a few VIA former and current volunteers living in Yogya and take a tour of the town, including a visit to the kraton (the sultan’s palace) and attending a traditional shadow puppet performance.

Day 9 – Continue visits with VIA alumni and current partner institutions in Yogya to learn about contemporary issues in Indonesia; participate in a service project with a local health or educational institution.

Day 10 – Visit the world-famous ancient Hindhu/Buddhist monuments at Borobodur and Prambanan; enjoy a free afternoon and evening to shop, snack, or stroll.

Day 11 – A free day. You may choose to visit the historic city of Solo, head up to the cool green resort town of Kaliurang on the slopes of Mount Merapi, explore the nightlife with new friends, or simply relax and read.

Day 12 – Fly to the unparalleled island of Bali and transfer to the artistic town of Ubud; meet with VIA alumni and friends, option to hire bikes to visit nearby rice fields or just casually get settled in to the island known for its unique religion, culture and aesthetic beauty.

Day 13 – Take a day trip to visit the famous Taman Sari, the Elephant Caves, or perhaps the town of Mas, where world-famous mask-carvers run workshops. In the evening, attend a Balinese dance performance. Optionally, head to the beach.

Day 14 – Travel to Denpasar and meet the 2008 VIA Bali Service-Learning program volunteers and the community members with whom they work; in the evening, join Dwight Clark for a celebratory dinner to discuss VIA, Indonesia, and view the VIA Indonesia 40th anniversary documentary.

Day 15 – Fly home.

What are the next steps?

If you're interested in the tour, contact Nathan Camp right away: indonesia@viaprograms.org. Also, start recruiting friends and family to join! Remember, the sooner you sign up, the better your chances of getting a spot.