Borobudur & Prambanan Temples Tour with Ramayana Ballet

You climb inside Borobudur to the monumental stupa at its peak, surrounded by 72 openwork stupas holding Buddha statues.

A full-day tour from Yogyakarta visits three major sites: Borobudur temple with priority access to climb to the top, Prambanan temple complex with its Hindu shrines and Ramayana reliefs, and an evening performance of the Ramayana Ballet staged against Prambanan's backdrop. The tour includes an English-speaking driver, entrance fees, air-conditioned transport and parking. The ballet runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with alternative performances on other days. Lunch and dinner are not included, and a local temple guide costs extra if you want one inside the sites.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Prambanan Temple Complex2h · entry included
2. Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan2h · entry included

Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ramayana Ballet

• Climb to the top of Borobudur temple
• Visit Prambanan Hindu temple complex
• Watch Ramayana Ballet performance

The experience

How do you fit three major temples and a classical ballet into a single day? The tour starts with priority access to climb Borobudur, the 8th-century Buddhist monument built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, a cone trunk with three circular platforms, and a monumental stupa at the summit. The walls and balustrades carry 2,500 square meters of low reliefs, and the circular platforms are ringed with 72 openwork stupas, each holding a Buddha statue. The climb itself is the draw: you move through the stone galleries and reach the top instead of viewing from ground level. Borobudur was restored with UNESCO's help in the 1970s, and the reliefs are highlighted to show the many faces of Buddha as you ascend.

From there, the tour continues to Prambanan, the largest Hindu temple compound dedicated to Shiva in Indonesia, built in the tenth century. Six main temples stand here: three dedicated to the great Hindu divinities (Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma) and three to the animals who serve them. The reliefs on the walls illustrate the epic of the Ramayana, which becomes the evening's performance. You walk the temple grounds and see the carved stone narrative before the ballet brings it to life.

The Ramayana Ballet performs Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, staged with Prambanan as the backdrop. The story unfolds in the Dandaka Forest, where the giant Rahwana kidnaps Shinta and takes her to Alengka. Rama, aided by Hanoman and the monkey forces, builds a bridge to Alengka to free her, leading to a battle between the kingdoms: ape forces against giants defending Alengka. The performance visualizes the reliefs you saw on the temple walls earlier that day. On other days, the venue offers alternative performances: Shadow Puppet on Tuesday, Mahabharata Dance on Wednesday, and Panji Mask Ballet on Sunday. If you book for Friday, the evening show is the Roro Jonggrang Dance instead. The driver and guide do not enter the temples themselves. If you want a local temple guide inside the sites, that incurs an additional fee.

What’s included

• Entrance fees to Borobudur and Prambanan temples.
• Ramayana Ballet or alternative evening performance ticket.
• air-conditioned vehicle with parking.
• English-speaking driver throughout the day.
• pickup from your hotel.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SundayDepartures at 08:00, 09:00, 10:00 and 10:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (11 to 60 years) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 2 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendly

Operated by Asmaradhana Borobudur Tours

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want the driver's English commentary throughout the day and can decide at checkout whether to add a local temple expert: otherwise you'll explore Borobudur, Prambanan, and the evening Ramayana Ballet at your own pace.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 2 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I actually climb all the way to the top of Borobudur temple?

Yes, you have priority access to climb to the monumental stupa at Borobudur's peak. The temple limits climbers to 1,200 per day, and this tour secures your spot to reach the summit and walk among the 72 openwork stupas at the top.

What's the difference between the Ramayana Ballet and the other evening performances?

The Ramayana Ballet performs Thursday, Friday and Saturday and tells the story of Rama rescuing Shinta from the giant Rahwana, staged against Prambanan's temple backdrop. On other days, you'll see Shadow Puppet Performance (Tuesday), Mahabharata Dance (Wednesday), or Panji Mask Ballet (Sunday). Friday shows the Roro Jonggrang Dance instead of Ramayana Ballet.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay for separately?

The tour includes entrance fees to both temples, the evening performance ticket, air-conditioned transport, parking and an English-speaking driver. Lunch and dinner are not included. If you want a local guide to accompany you inside the temples, that's an optional extra fee beyond the tour price.

How long is the full day, and when does it start and end?

The tour runs for 12 hours. Your driver picks you up from your hotel and takes you to Borobudur first, then Prambanan, and stays with you until the evening performance ends.

What happens if I want to visit on a Monday, Wednesday or Sunday?

On Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, Prambanan temple may only be accessible at ground level, so contact the operator before booking to confirm what's available. The Ramayana Ballet on these days performs at Ramayana Ballet Purawisata without the Prambanan temple backdrop.