A5-day tour of Java
If you’re travelling in Indonesia, you might like to spend a few days on one of the country’s main islands — Java. The island has a number of not-to-be-missed attractions. In this article, we suggest a five-day itinerary around Java, to help you see the essential sights of this fabulous island.
We begin our tour from the east, in the city of Banyuwangi — assuming that we have arrived by boat from the island of Bali, and that we’re planning to spend 5 days exploring the neighbouring island of Java. The challenge is to fit long transfers into such a short stay, and to come away having discovered the basics of the island, such as its volcanoes, its temples and some of its beaches.
Itinerary day 1
21:00 - 02:00
Spawning of turtles on Sukamade beach
During the first part of the night, we witness the magical spectacle of the turtles spawning on Sukamade beach. A phenomenon unique in the entire world.
19:30 - 21:00
Dinner
Dinner at the camp close to Sukamade beach, where we can rest and pass the time until nightfall.
10:00 - 19:00
Tour of the Meru Betiri National Park
The Meru Betiri National Park will be our first stop-off in Java, as we venture into the jungle territory of the south of the island. The visit will give us an opportunity to learn about the Park’s ecosystem, and to discover some of its attractions.
Itinerary day 2
12:00 - 20:00
Kawah Ijen
To enjoy the so-called blue fire, the best time to ascend Kawah Ijen is in the early hours of the morning. The blue fire is actually the colour of the sulphur lake inside the volcano. A unique spectacle.
10:00 - 12:00
Baby turtles
Morning on Sukamade beach brings another surprise — the cute baby turtles heading for their new life in the sea. We can take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy the beach’s wild scenery.
Itinerary day 3
18:00 - 19:00
Dinner and rest at Cemoro Lawang
Bearing in mind that next morning we are going to watch another of Java’s famous sunrises, it is advisable to have an early dinner and then rest in one of the small lodges in Cemoro Lawang, the nearest village to Mount Bromo.
08:00 - 19:00
Transfer to Mount Bromo
We leave Mount Ijen to travel to Probolinggo, and from there to Cemoro Lawang, the village at the base of Kawah Bromo, or Mount Bromo, 2,000 metres high and one of the world’s best-known active volcanoes.
00:00 - 06:00
Sunrise on Kawah Ijen
As the first rays of light appear, we can enjoy an unforgettable sunrise from the crest of the Ijen volcano.
Itinerary day 4
19:00 - 20:00
Dinner at The House of Raminten
Tomorrow we have our last early start, so it makes sense to have dinner and go to bed early. The House of Raminten is an interesting choice for dinner, as it is a classic restaurant in Yogyakarta for locals and visitors alike.
14:30 - 17:00
The Sultan’s Palace
After our break, we can visit the city’s most important edifice, the Sultan’s Palace, still a royal residence.
13:00 - 14:00
Beringharjo Market
We begin our visit in Beringharjo market, where we can take the opportunity to have lunch.
06:00 - 12:00
Transfer to Yogyakarta
Our last long transfer on this marathon tour of Java is to Indonesia’s cultural capital, Yogyakarta.
03:00 - 05:00
Sunrise on Mount Bromo
Once again, a very early start to watch the sunrise from the top of this active volcano — one of the most sought-after photo opportunities on the island of Java.
Itinerary day 5
12:00 - 15:00
Visit to Prambanan temple
Java’s other great temple, Prambanan, is a Hindu temple and a true wonder of the world, well worth a three-hour visit.
07:00 - 12:00
Visit to Borobudur temple
Visit to Borobudur temple, the world’s greatest Buddhist temple, and one of the most famous in Indonesia, the largest temple built in honour of Buddha, and the place where he was believed to have been buried.