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Indonesia

Truth & Beauty

A Custom School Program

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volcano and huts

12 Days

Indonesia is an archipelago spanning over 17,000 islands, hundreds of languages & cultures, and some of the most biodiverse landscapes in the world. This island nation is also the largest majority Muslim country in the world. It serves as a living example for the marriage of Islam, democracy, and religious tolerance. Through hands-on activities, cultural exchange, and immersive travel, students develop a deep relationship to the culture, artistic traditions, and people of Indonesia.

An Indonesian Art & Culture Odyssey

The city of Yogyakarta, located on Indonesia’s most populous island of Java, is known as the cultural, academic, and artistic heart of the country and is Dragons’ homebase in Indonesia. Here, we explore the fascinating history of colonial trade that has centered around the “Spice Islands” for millennia and given rise to a living tapestry of identity. Batik, Gamelan, Javanese dance, and shadow puppetry are thriving cultural and artistic practices in Yogyakarta, all deeply rooted in spiritual traditions from Hinduism through to modern day Islam.

Dragons has cultivated a network of artisans and experts who serve as teachers and mentors to our students. Excursions from Yogyakarta take us to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world and the Prambanan, a 9th century Hindu temple. Through hands-on activities, cultural exchange, and immersive travel, students develop a deep relationship to the culture, artistic traditions, and people of Indonesia.

Highlights & Outcomes

Arts Apprenticeship

Learn and practice a traditional art form or craft tradition under the guidance of a local mentor.

Cultural Exploration

Explore a melting pot of art and culture in Java’s cultural center, and develop a contextualized understanding of local art forms.

Varied Geographies

Compare and contrast rural life, urban life, and life by the ocean.

Gain Global Competencies

Develop leadership skills, travel tools, and cross-cultural competencies that foster resilience and adaptability.

green mountain range with rainbow shining down on left side onto terraced hillside
line drawing of Indonesia

Our Journey

After arriving in Yogyakarta, we travel to the peaceful village of Tembi. Amidst tropical greenery and rice fields, we begin Orientation by setting intentions, learning health and safety, and coming together as a group. We also study basic geography, history, culture, and language. On our final morning, we rise early to watch sunrise over volcanic peaks with the call to prayer echoing in the background.

Moving into Yogyakarta, or “Jogja,” we immerse ourselves in the island’s cultural and artistic heart, focusing on themes of art, religious symbolism, and identity. We explore bustling markets, the Sultan’s palace, and religious centers, and visit students at an Islamic boarding school. After a homestay briefing, we settle into welcoming host families.

Through small-group learning with local mentors, students experience Indonesian culture firsthand, creating art or developing skills such as cooking or music. Excursions take us to Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple, and Prambanan, a 9th-century Hindu temple.

We then head to the southern coast for our final days. Here, we learn the myth of Ratu Kidul, Queen of the Southern Sea, and take time to relax, reflect, and prepare to transfer lessons from Indonesia into our lives back home.

View Itinerary

Indonesia

Sample Itinerary
The following itinerary is subject to change based on your goals and availability.

  • Day 1: Tembi

    After a late arrival, we will travel approximately 1 hour to our orientation site of Tembi and enjoy our first Indonesian meal together.

  • Days 2-3: Tembi

    Begin orientation activities to set goals, build an inclusive group container, and review health, safety, and cultural considerations. Learn some basic Bahasa language. Get our first chance to experience local art by making eco-prints. Explore the surrounding area and learn about farming and agriculture.

  • Day 4: Yogyakarta

    Back in Jogja, explore the central Beringharjo market and famous Malioboro street, center of the batik and textile trade. We visit an Islamic boarding school and meet with students. After a homestay briefing, students are matched with host families and head home for dinner and evening activities.

  • Days 5-8: Jodhpur

    After our daily morning check-ins, we spend the next few days working with our artisan mentors on small group arts and crafts, getting to know our mentors, and exploring the neighborhoods of Yogyakarta. Evenings are spent with host families. During our time here, there will also be opportunities for excursions and hikes to watch stunning sunrises and/or sunsets over the surrounding volcanic peaks.

  • Day 9: Yogyakarta

    On our final full day in Jogja, we’ll head to the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan, UNESCO world heritage sites highlighting Buddhist and Hindu religious history. Upon returning to Jogja, we will have a farewell party with all our host families and mentors.

  • Days 10-11: Parangtritis

    Travel to the southern coast and enjoy the limestone cliffs and tropical beauty of the southern sea. We’ll play on the beach, reflect on our time with artisans in Jogja, and begin transferring the many lessons and experiences from our time in Indonesia to our lives at home.

  • Day 12: Departure

    We head to Yogyakarta International Airport to begin our travels home.

Indonesia Travel Abroad

Custom School Programming

How We Do It

Each Custom School Program is tailored to meet your needs. Through a close, hands-on collaboration, we take the time to understand what matters most—and draw on decades of experience to create something unique, thoughtful, and authentic.

Together, we’ll design a program that’s cohesive, purposeful, and fully supported from start to finish—never a collection of tourist stops or disconnected activities. We’re ready when you are.

Start Building Your Program

Program Components

Our Program Components are the building blocks of your itinerary. During the customization process, these components can be dialed up or down to meet the goals and vision for the program. Each program component is thoughtfully planned to ensure that your students engage meaningfully and authentically connect with the places they visit.

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Focus of Inquiry

What do Javanese fine arts and cultural expressions—such as batik, gamelan, dance, and shadow puppetry— reveal about identity, spirituality, and community in contemporary Yogyakarta?

Independent Study Project

Choose a craft or topic of interest to delve into while in Jogya. Past student have choses arts such as: gamelan, shadow-puppetry, silversmithing, street art, martial arts, cooking, and dance.

Homestay

Jump in to play with siblings, practice your Spanish, help with chores, and get a sense for the rhythm of daily life while being hosted by the generous hospitality and warmth of a local homestay family. Students pair up to spend time in the mornings and evenings at home, while spending most of the day with their group engaged in activities.

Social & Environmental Justice

Explore social and environmental movements through mediums of artistic expression in Indonesia.

Religious & Spiritual Traditions

Examine Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism and Christianity, with a focus on religious pluralism, rituals and festivals/ceremonies, religious conflict and resolution.

Rugged Travel

Travel by public bus and minivans, stay in hotels and homestays, practice Indonesian language with locals, and eat authentic Indonesian cuisine.

Language Study

Learn basic Bahasa Indonesian (as well as some Javanese) every morning through mini lessons with instructors and practice with locals throughout the program.

Trekking

Option to add a day hike outside of Jogja.

Featured Instructors

Our instructors are more than guides—they’re mentors, educators, and trusted companions. Each member of our team is thoroughly vetted, background-checked, and trained in our unique pedagogy and risk management practices. With an average of over four years living abroad and fluency in local languages, our instructors serve as meaningful cross-cultural liaisons.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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