The beautiful island of Java should not be missed during a tour in Indonesia. This complete itinerary takes you from West Java to East Java by train. You start in the capital Jakarta and end on the beautiful island of Bali. Along the way you pass several highlights that Java has to offer such as the tea plantations in Bandung, the temples of Borobudur and Prambanan in Yogyakarta, impressive waterfalls and the active volcanoes Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen. Quickly discover the ultimate travel itinerary through Java in Indonesia!
Everything you need to know for your tour of Java
This Java travel itinerary in Indonesia starts in the capital Jakarta and ends on the island of Bali which lies to the east of Java. Those who want can also end the itinerary in the city of Malang in East Java and fly back to Jakarta or another destination from there. Many travelers only visit Central Java and East Java in a few days. A shame, because Java has so much to offer and you really want to take your time here. With two weeks you can already visit the most beautiful highlights of Java. Are you limited in time? Then fly from Jakarta to Yogyakarta and start your roundtrip in Java, Indonesia.
To enter Indonesia, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. Once you land, you can apply for a visa-on-arrival, and this applies to all islands in Indonesia. This allows you to stay in the country for up to 30 days. In Indonesia, they pay with Indonesian Rupiah, where €1 equals 19,000IDR. Both on Java and the islands of Bali and Lombok, we found that many Indonesians could speak English quite well and communication went smoothly.
How to get around in Java, Indonesia
This itinerary Java in Indonesia can be done entirely by train and public transportation do. The train network in Java is in excellent condition and the trains are very comfortable. Unlike Europe, you don’t pay very much for a1st class seat, but you get a lot in return. Besides spacious seats, you always have an electrical outlet, air conditioning is available and you get meals on the train. The best thing about traveling by train on Java, however, was the scenery: along the way you pass beautiful rice fields and authentic villages. The ideal way to see a lot of the island! You can easily book your train tickets through this website.
Two weeks round trip Java in Indonesia
Day 1 – 3: Jakarta
You start your tour of Java in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. We found the city itself not so spectacular, so in one day you can certainly see the main sights. Be sure to visit Merdeka Square where you will also find the National Museum. Furthermore, the Old Town is definitely worth a visit, where you can still find a lot of Dutch influences. In the evening, be sure to eat at Café Batavia. This authentic restaurant takes you back in time and you will even find bitterballen on the menu!
Where to stay in Jakarta
In Jakarta, you will find accommodations for every budget. Given the size of the city, it’s best to stay somewhere around Merdeka Square or Old Town. You can get around easily with the cab app Grab. We stayed at the Millenium Hotel Jakarta which was hugely luxurious including a full breakfast for about €45/night.
- Budget ($): Konko Hostel Jakarta
- Comfort ($$): Millennium Sirih Hotel Jakarta
- Luxurious ($$$): The Orient Jakarta
Day 3 – 6: Bandung
On day 3 of this Java round trip you will take the train from Jakarta to Bandung. This comfortable train ride takes you for 3 hours along beautiful landscapes filled with rice fields. Once you arrive in Bandung, you arrive in a surprisingly large and modern city. In the city itself there is not much to do, but it is mainly the area around Bandung that has a lot to offer.
Day 5 and 6: Bandung and surroundings
The area around Bandung can actually be divided into two parts. In the south you will find Ciwidey where you will find vast tea plantations . You will also find a white crater called Kawah Putih. In the north you have Lembang and this area is characterized by vast forests where you can visit the Orchid Forest and the Floating Market of Lembang. What we found so special about Bandung is that it is still untouched by tourism. Often we were the only tourists and the friendly Javanese were always eager to take pictures with us.
TRAVEL TIP: We visited all these highlights with a local guide named Robbie and we can only recommend him to you! Book a tour with our guide here. Alternatively, you can rent a scooter and explore on your own, but keep in mind Java’s incredibly busy traffic.
Where to stay in Bandung
You also have plenty of options to stay in Bandung. From the train station, you can easily take a Grab to your accommodation.
- Budget ($): Dago Teuku Angkasa 14
- Comfort ($$): Buminakura
- Luxurious ($$$): Hilton Bandung
Day 6 – 9: Yogyakarta
Today you will again take the train towards Yogyakarta. This train ride takes 7 hours but along the way you will enjoy beautiful landscapes and authentic villages. In the afternoon you will arrive in Yogyakarta and in the evening you will be able to visit the famous Malioboro street. This is the place to be if you want to store: from local food stalls to souvenir shops and art stores. Especially at night, this is a spectacle and you will be overwhelmed by all the smells and colors.
Day 7: historic Yogyakarta
Your first full day in Yogyakarta is spent exploring the city’s highlights. We found Yogyakarta incredibly pleasant to stay in and there is a lot to see as well. Start the day around opening time at the Taman Sari water castle. This complex consists of a nice mix of Javanese and Dutch architecture. Then you can also visit the Sultan Palace or Fort Vredeburg. The latter was completely renovated in 2024 and tells you more about the history of Java. End your day with one of the most fun things to do in Yogyakarta: a batik workshop and go home with an original souvenir from Indonesia!
Day 8: cultural Yogyakarta
Today you will visit two impressive, religious complexes: the temples Borobudur and Prambanan. Start the day with Borobudur, the largest Buddhist temple in the world. With this guided tour you can also climb Borobudur, highly recommended! After Borobudur you continue towards Prambanan which is the largest Hindu complex in Indonesia. Here you can walk around freely without a guide. Count on 2-3 hours and stay until sunset for some great photos!
Where to stay in Yogyakarta
In Yogyakarta, it is best to stay near Malioboro Street or around Jalan Prawirotaman street, where you will find plenty of nice bars and restaurants.
- Budget ($): ViaVia Guesthouse or Snooze
- Comfort ($$): Gallery Prawirotaman
- Luxurious ($$$): The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta
Day 9 – 11: Malang
Go to the station in Yogyakarta in the morning and board the Malioboro Express. This is your last train ride that will take you from Yogyakarta to Malang in 8 hours. Once you arrive in Malang, you can still visit the Jodipan rainbow village or the adjacent blue village. These were once slums but were completely painted by students in all the colors of the rainbow to attract more tourism. A visit to the Jodipan rainbow village will cost you 20,000IDR (€1.15) and you will be supporting the local people.
Day 10: waterfalls in Java
On Day 10, get up on time to begin your day trip to the most beautiful waterfall in Indonesia: Tempak Cewu. Also known as “a thousand waterfalls,” this is a must-see during your tour of Java. This impressive waterfall is 120 meters high and flows down from all sides. Do not return directly to Malang after Tempak Cewu, but be sure to visit the Kapas Biru waterfall which you will reach after a hike through the jungle of an hour. Or go take a look at Coban Sriti. Both are very impressive and here you are most likely all alone!
Tempak Cewu is about a 2.5-hour drive from Malang. Therefore, the best way to visit the falls is with a private guide or tour from Malang.
Where to stay in Malang
- Budget ($): Snooze Malang
- Comfort ($$): Cozy Boutique Guesthouse
- Luxurious ($$$): Hotel Tugu Malang
Day 11 – 12: Mount Bromo
We have arrived at the highlight of this two-week roundtrip Java! The next two days you will visit the active volcanoes Bromo and Ijen. For this you have two options: you visit both volcanoes via a tour including transport or do everything yourself. With a tour you will have peace of mind and everything is arranged for you, if you do it yourself you can spend more time at Bromo. If you want to visit Bromo yourself, take the train from Malang to Probolinggo. From Probolinggo there are daily shared minibuses that will take you to the village of Cemoro Lawang which is adjacent to Mount Bromo. If you go on a tour, you will be picked up at night at your hotel in Malang so you will be at Mount Bromo in time for sunrise.
Set your alarm very early the next day (Day 12), because you want to make sure you’re ready before sunrise for the most spectacular view of Mount Bromo. If you’re sleeping in the village of Cemoro Lawang, hike to the viewpoint ‘Kingkong Hill’ and make sure you’re seated here before the sun rises. After a fantastic sunrise, return to the village with your tour or by yourself, after which you can take a look at the crater of Mount Bromo. You will first hike through a vast plain called ‘Sea of Sand’. Then you climb steps up to the crater, where you can hear the volcano rumbling and see the fumes rising from the crater.
TRAVEL TIP: At night it is very cold in this area, so dress well for this. Once the sun is up it does warm up quickly and you can take off your extra clothes.
Where to stay at Mount Bromo
If you wish to explore Mount Bromo at your own pace, you can stay in the village of Cemoro Lawang on Mount Bromo. This village is fully equipped for tourists and you will find many guesthouses that will help you find your way to the sunrise viewpoint. The guesthouses here are simpler though and also keep in mind that you will only have a short night.
- Budget ($): Cahyo Homestay Bromo
- Comfort ($$): Bromo Permai
Day 12 – 13: Kawah Ijen
After admiring the sunrise at Mount Bromo you will travel on to the last stop on this tour of Java: Kawah Ijen. Transport is included in your tour, or if you travel by yourself you will find sufficient transport in Cemoro Lawang to take you to the village of Banyuwangi. This is in fact the base to visit the world famous Kawah Ijen crater. The crater is filled with sulfuric acid and incredibly toxic. During your tour before the start of the hike you will be given a gas mask to protect yourself. You have to get up early again and this time an even more challenging hike awaits you. After a steep 1.5-hour hike, you will arrive in the dark where you can see the Blue Fire burning. Then you wait for the sunrise and slowly see the acid turquoise crater lake of Ijen appear.
Where to stay in Banyuwangi (Kawah Ijen)
The base for Kawah Ijen is the town of Banyuwangi. Here too you will find numerous guest houses where you can stay and who will be happy to help you arrange a tour to Kawah Ijen.
- Budget ($): Banana Homestay
- Comfort ($$): Didu’s Homestay Bed & Breakfast
- Luxurious ($$$): Ijen Resort & Villas – The Hidden Paradise
Day 14: onward travel to Bali
After the sunrise at Mount Ijen, you may choose to recuperate after two impressive but short nights. If you stay another night in Banyuwangi, you might consider visiting the Djawatan Forest or the Jagir waterfall. We decided not to do this and travel directly to Bali after our Ijen tour. At our guesthouse Banana we were able to grab another breakfast. They also helped us with the transportation to Bali: you are picked up at your guesthouse and dropped off at the harbor. There you take the ferry to Bali after which the minibus can drop you off near Ubud in Bali. Or end your trip on Java and take the train from Banyuwangi back to Malang from where you can fly on to your next destination.
Best travel time Java, Indonesia
Indonesia has a tropical climate and therefore has two seasons: dry season and rainy season. The dry season is from May through October, and this is therefore the best period for this itinerary through Java in Indonesia. It is warm throughout the year, with temperatures between 25°C and 30°C.
Do you have any questions about this Java travel itinerary in Indonesia? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information for your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us contact or feel free to email info@snoezelsontheroad.com
Did you know...
When you make a purchase through our links, we receive a small fee. What you pay remains the same, and you support us with it too. A win-win for everyone!
Activities
Book here inexpensively via Getyourguide
Support us with coffee
Support us with a virtual cup of coffee
