Borobudur by bus or bus/train combo

Is the extra $$$ for gong to Borobudur with the cruise line, worth it to incorporate the partial trip on the cog wheel train, and rest by bus?

Any opinions or reviews would be appreciated.

As an extra to the question above--does anyone have experience of any of the various private tour operators offering trips to Borobudur for cruise ship passengers?

Reports I have read indicate the general problem of late returns to the ship.

I have found a few tour companies advertising such tours but should we choose to take a private tour rather than a ship one I would like some reassurance that any company I might use is reliable. Any help to enable us to make our decision would be appreciated.

This is Borobudur from Semarang?

The general consensus is that this is one trip you should do as a ship's excursion because of the distance & the potential for delay. Ships' buses are escorted by police, who carve a path through the traffic for them.

We didn't go to B'budur, instead we negotiated a cheap van at the pier & stayed fairly local - train museum, coffee plantation, Semarang shopping centre & had an interesting & enjoyable day. But a couple of times we were passed by ship's buses & their escorts with sirens wailing.

Unless you can find a tour operator with several personal recommendations such as on CC, it's best to bite your lip, open your wallet, & book ship's tour if you want to go to B'budur

JB :).

This is Borobudur from Semarang?

 

The general consensus is that this is one trip you should do as a ship's excursion because of the distance & the potential for delay. Ships' buses are escorted by police, who carve a path through the traffic for them.

 

We didn't go to B'budur, instead we negotiated a cheap van at the pier & stayed fairly local - train museum, coffee plantation, Semarang shopping centre & had an interesting & enjoyable day. But a couple of times we were passed by ship's buses & their escorts with sirens wailing.

 

Unless you can find a tour operator with several personal recommendations such as on CC, it's best to bite your lip, open your wallet, & book ship's tour if you want to go to B'budur

 

JB :).

Hi

Thanks for the input.Yes we are planning to go from Semarang. You have confirmed what most people are saying but there are several tour operators on the Web which look orgainised & offer tours for cruise ship passengers. The ship doesnt sail until 20.00 hrs so it occurred to me that HAL may have factored in more time to allow for delays??? Which ship were you on & can you remembner at what time you sailed?

Hi

 

Thanks for the input.Yes we are planning to go from Semarang. You have confirmed what most people are saying but there are several tour operators on the Web which look orgainised & offer tours for cruise ship passengers. The ship doesnt sail until 20.00 hrs so it occurred to me that HAL may have factored in more time to allow for delays??? Which ship were you on & can you remembner at what time you sailed?

We were on mv Discovery, a friendly little rust-bucket & not typical of the mass-market lines.

Don't recall the sailing time, but pretty sure it was around 5pm to 6pm.

So you seem to have a better window.

The tourism industry in Indonesia, apart from places like Bali & Lombok, is in its infancy with a lot of amateur wannabe tour operators. No doubt there's some accomplished & efficient professionals but you do need to be wary.

JB :)

We were on mv Discovery, a friendly little rust-bucket & not typical of the mass-market lines.

Don't recall the sailing time, but pretty sure it was around 5pm to 6pm.

So you seem to have a better window.

 

The tourism industry in Indonesia, apart from places like Bali & Lombok, is in its infancy with a lot of amateur wannabe tour operators. No doubt there's some accomplished & efficient professionals but you do need to be wary.

 

JB :)

Thanks again. My thoughts exactly re Indonesia --especially Java tour conpanies. I have contacted a couple re tours from Semarang & find their responses to be on a "hit & miss " basis. I am also struggling to find reviews for these companies although I havent looked at that too deeply yet so will have another go at this.

I would also appreciate any input from anyone else who has cruised this area.

We did this trip last fall, through HAL. The train ride was extremely worthwhile. The track goes through smaller-than-small towns. You will see people working in their back yards, in paddies, and along the rivers. They will all smile & wave and generally seem happy to see you, no matter how poor they appear to be.

The train itself is very simple ... wooden seats, no windows, amenities. The only restrooms (at the end station) were very primitive, but clean enough. Definitely not western-style ... but, you're not in the west!!

B'b'dur was fascinating, well worth the visit. It was a very long trip, traffic was very bad, we were glad to be on a ship's tour. We were traveling with a couple who went off completely on their own in China & Japan & Viet Nam & the other Indonesian ports (and they have traveled all over India on their own) - this was one of the few ship excursions they took, because they were uncomfortable doing this one on their own.

no windows? really! how long was the train portion of the total trip, and how hot was the train?

We did this trip last fall, through HAL. The train ride was extremely worthwhile. The track goes through smaller-than-small towns. You will see people working in their back yards, in paddies, and along the rivers. They will all smile & wave and generally seem happy to see you, no matter how poor they appear to be.

 

The train itself is very simple ... wooden seats, no windows, amenities. The only restrooms (at the end station) were very primitive, but clean enough. Definitely not western-style ... but, you're not in the west!!

 

B'b'dur was fascinating, well worth the visit. It was a very long trip, traffic was very bad, we were glad to be on a ship's tour. We were traveling with a couple who went off completely on their own in China & Japan & Viet Nam & the other Indonesian ports (and they have traveled all over India on their own) - this was one of the few ship excursions they took, because they were uncomfortable doing this one on their own.

Thanks for your input. Did you get on the train at the old railway station? If so did you get time to see the other trains on displayed there?

My bad! I should have said there was no glass in the windows - they're just open, no screens or anything ... there were lots of bugs and you have to watch your hat. Sorry!!

It was hot, though ... Indonesia is right on the equator!

We took the bus to a regular train station, took the train, and got off at the old station. We had plenty of time to look around the station and at the old engines & train cars. Then we were back on a bus for the ride to Borobudur. We took the bus all the way back.

It was a very interesting trip.

I wouldn't dream of doing the Borobodur trip privately. We took the HAL excursion and as another poster mentioned, you have a police escort to clear the traffic and stop traffic at intersections.

The only downside with the excursion, is the volume of people at Borobodur who arrive at once:eek: I had been there previously when travelling through Java so I was aware of the traffic situation but couldn't wait to go back even if it was on an excursion.

Borobodur is an amazing destination and IMO not to be missed and the little train trip is fun. I think the stress involved in doing the trip privately would take away the wonder that is Borobodur. Also, bear it's a 2 hour trip each way and you would need to ensure that the operator had a reliable vehicle.

This is definitely one port where a ship's excursion is the way to go.

I wouldn't dream of doing the Borobodur trip privately. We took the HAL excursion and as another poster mentioned, you have a police escort to clear the traffic and stop traffic at intersections.

 

The only downside with the excursion, is the volume of people at Borobodur who arrive at once:eek: I had been there previously when travelling through Java so I was aware of the traffic situation but couldn't wait to go back even if it was on an excursion.

 

Borobodur is an amazing destination and IMO not to be missed and the little train trip is fun. I think the stress involved in doing the trip privately would take away the wonder that is Borobodur. Also, bear it's a 2 hour trip each way and you would need to ensure that the operator had a reliable vehicle.

 

This is definitely one port where a ship's excursion is the way to go.

I think it depends on how long you have on-shore. We are on the Azamara Journey in March. We dock in Semarang at 6am and dont leave until 10pm, so realistically have a 14 hour window allowing for customs clearance etc. We plan to do Borobudur and Prambanan Temples in one day and have paid extra to have a police escort out of the City with a private operator who comes highly recommended.

David

Thanks for both responses. Can you please tell me which private tour operator you have been recommended & are using. How many people are on your private tour?

Thanks for both responses. Can you please tell me which private tour operator you have been recommended & are using. How many people are on your private tour?

Hi busybean, the company is called indo global tours. Its actually a buddy of mine who is on the same cruise that has organised this trip.

The plan is be off the ship by 8am (possibly sooner), 2 hour drive with police escort, Borobudur visit, lunch at local restaurant, drive 1 hour to prambanan with visit, return to ship @2.5 - 3hrs. Total round trip around 11 hours, and we should be back around 7pm for a 10pm embark.

I appreciate that this type of "risk" isn't for everyone, but given the time we have onshore, we believe its doable and worth it. i believe we have 8 or 9 folks on this tour which is the max.

David

Hi busybean, the company is called indo global tours. Its actually a buddy of mine who is on the same cruise that has organised this trip.

 

The plan is be off the ship by 8am (possibly sooner), 2 hour drive with police escort, Borobudur visit, lunch at local restaurant, drive 1 hour to prambanan with visit, return to ship @2.5 - 3hrs. Total round trip around 11 hours, and we should be back around 7pm for a 10pm embark.

 

I appreciate that this type of "risk" isn't for everyone, but given the time we have onshore, we believe its doable and worth it. i believe we have 8 or 9 folks on this tour which is the max.

 

David

Hi Thanks for the info

You have longer ashore than we have 09.99 until 20.00hrs) so dont think we could fit this in.

Agreed 150Edmiston. It does depend on the time you have ashore and you certainly seem to have plenty of time for a private excursion. My comments really are aimed at those who have a sail away at 5 or 6pm.

Enjoy your trip. Prambanan is another worthwhile destination to visit.

Hi busybean, the company is called indo global tours. Its actually a buddy of mine who is on the same cruise that has organised this trip.

 

The plan is be off the ship by 8am (possibly sooner), 2 hour drive with police escort, Borobudur visit, lunch at local restaurant, drive 1 hour to prambanan with visit, return to ship @2.5 - 3hrs. Total round trip around 11 hours, and we should be back around 7pm for a 10pm embark.

 

I appreciate that this type of "risk" isn't for everyone, but given the time we have onshore, we believe its doable and worth it. i believe we have 8 or 9 folks on this tour which is the max.

 

David

Hi David

I realise your post is quite old now, but I was wondering how this tour went for you? We are trying to plan a day tour from Semarang to visit Borobudur and Prambanam temples in December this year, and had found Indoglobal on the web, but no actual feedback from travellers who had used them. Our ship will have an overnight in port, so no problem with potential delayed return from the tour.

Hope you're still subscribed to this thread, and can give us some advice! Many thanks in advance

Emma & Simon

Hi busybean, the company is called indo global tours. Its actually a buddy of mine who is on the same cruise that has organised this trip.

 

The plan is be off the ship by 8am (possibly sooner), 2 hour drive with police escort, Borobudur visit, lunch at local restaurant, drive 1 hour to prambanan with visit, return to ship @2.5 - 3hrs. Total round trip around 11 hours, and we should be back around 7pm for a 10pm embark.

 

I appreciate that this type of "risk" isn't for everyone, but given the time we have onshore, we believe its doable and worth it. i believe we have 8 or 9 folks on this tour which is the max.

 

David

Hi David,

Hope you are still subscribed to this thread.

We arrive on Azamara Quest in February 2015 at 6 am and depart at 10 a.m. I need some feedback about Indo Global and their tour to Borodudur. Send your reply directly to my e mail: gailhraznov@gmai.com

Thanks, Gail

We have an overnight in semarang, so I think this trip and then to other sites is doable privately..........:cool:

We have an overnight in semarang, so I think this trip and then to other sites is doable privately..........:cool:

I'm doing an overnight port stop in Senarang in two weeks and plan to do the private overnight. I will report back on how that goes.

Hi David,

Hope you are still subscribed to this thread.

We arrive on Azamara Quest in February 2015 at 6 am and depart at 10 a.m. I need some feedback about Indo Global and their tour to Borodudur. Send your reply directly to my e mail: gailhraznov@gmai.com

 

Thanks, Gail

Hi Gail: was wondering if you read any reply from David. We are on the same ship in Feb. I've introduced myself on our role call. I'll be sending you an email with my details shortly for the list. Cheers, Rose