Discover the best attractions & things to do in Java, Indonesia
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Java Attractions
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From modern megacities to ancient temples, steaming volcanoes to palm fringed beaches, amazing terraced farmlands to dense tropical jungle, Java is an island of contrasts and contradictions. It’s the kind of place that beguiles one minute and frustrates the next but never ceases to fascinate.» read moreThe administrative and...
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When the island of Krakatoa (Krakatau) in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra erupted in 1883, it literally blew itself and the surrounding archipelago apart. Estimated as the equivalent of letting off 200 megatons of TNT, the explosion completely obliterated settlements on adjacent islands, Banten on Java and...
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Ujung Kulon National Park encompasses the entire Ujung Kulon Peninsular on south-western tip of Java and several offshore islands including Panaitan Island, Peucang Island, the Handeleum island group and what remains of the Krakatau island group. It bears the honour of being Indonesia’s first national park and was later...
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Gunung Halimun Salak National park in West Java holds the largest remaining lowland forest on the island. It comprises of Mount Halimun, the Mount Salak range and an 11km forest corridor between. It's one of West Java’s most important water catchment areas and is also one of the last...
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Ujung Genteng is probably one of the best kept secrets in Java. How this gorgeous strip of coastline has managed to stay off the tourist radar is a mystery but I can only assume it has something to do with its middle-of-nowhere location on the southwest coast of Java....
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Located in Banten Bay northeast Java, the Pulau Dua Nature Reserve is a designated bird sanctuary and a haven for coastal and migratory birds from Asia, Australia and Africa which descend on the island in the tens of thousands each year between March and August. In addition, over 100...
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Occupying the entire Blanbangan Peninsular on the southeastern tip of Java, Alas Purwo National Park is a surfing mecca for its world class surf, revered by Javanese mystics and Hindu pilgrims and renowned for its rich flora and fauna.Photo © Theo van Beusekom
In Javanese, the park’s name Alas Purwo...
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Without a doubt, Mount Bromo is the most photographed natural attraction in Java, attracting foreigners and Indonesian’s by the tens of thousands each year. At 2,329m high, it’s not the highest of the volcanoes comprising the Tengger massif but it is the most active.
Before climbing to the edge of...
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To the locals, Semeru is known as Gunung Mahameru or the “Great Mountain,” which in the local dialect refers to the powerful Hindu god Siwa the Destroyer. Considering Semeru’s highly active state the name is apt.
Located in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Mount Semeru tends to be overshadowed by...
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Nestled deep inside a valley in the Tengger mountain range just a few kilometres north of Mount Bromo, the spectacular Madakaripura Waterfall is a must see sight before you leave the area. At 200m high Madakaripura it’s second only to Sumatra’s Sigurura Waterfall as the highest cascade in Indonesia....
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Once the site of the former capital city of the powerful Majapahit between the 13th - 15th century AD, Trowulan archaeological site is a must see for history buffs. The site was first uncovered in 1815 during the Sir Thomas Raffles governance era when the remains of temples, tombs and...
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Because of its enchanting natural beauty, Jomblang is the best known of hundreds of caves in the Gunungkidul cave complex networking the karst hills along the southern coastline of Gombong, Central Java all the way to the Sewu Mountain karsts in West Java.
Jomblang Cave was formed thousands of years...
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If you're looking for an off-road adventure where you can have an up close encounter with some of Indonesia's incredible wildlife be sure to add Sukamade Beach to your travel list. Located on East Java’s southern coastline this beautiful long beach is known as a turtle conservation area and...
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Located just of the east Java south coast about 70km’s due south of Malang, Sempu Island is one of Indonesia's finest hidden gems. An uninhabited protected nature reserve with over 855 acres of forest, crystal clear water, lagoons and white sand beaches this enchanting little island is a must...
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Located in East Java, Mount Ijen stratovolcano is renowned for its 1km wide turquoise blue acidic crater lake, the largest of its kind in the world. However, Ijen is better known for the role it plays in the local economy as around 200 locals mine the highly concentrated sulphur...
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Resting right on the border between East and Central Java, this strata volcano stands proudly at 3,265m. Its three peaks, stunning views and height have given it quite a shining reputation with hikers who come from all over the world to catch sunrise from the top.
Gunung Lawu also draws...
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At only 1,653m high, Mount Penanggungan is not even close to being among Java's highest peaks but it holds a special significance in the hearts and minds of Hindu's and Javanese mystics who have made pilgrimages to the mountain for thousands of years and still do to this day.
According...
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Constructed during the 8th and early 9th centuries, the small temple complex of Gedung Songo contains some of the oldest Hindu antiquities in Java, along with those found further south on the Dieng Plateau. The complex contains nine temples in all, nestled out on the upper slopes of Mount...
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Located about 90km’s off the coast of Semarang, the Karimunjawa Islands are one of Java’s best kept secrets. Comprising of 27 tropical islands, this tiny archipelago is paradise personified. Picture jungle clad islands, swaying coconut palms, white sandy beaches lapped by warm, clear waters. Now imagine having a beach...
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Dieng Plateau derives its name from ancient Sanskrit meaning "Abode of the Gods" and that's exactly what ancient Hindu's considered this misty, mysterious plateau in the highlands of Central Java. It’s easy to understand why as the scenery is stunning.
Essentially the floor of a caldera formed by the eruption...
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Without doubt one of the marvels of the ancient world, the magnificent Borobudur temple is not to be missed. Built in the 9th century as a shrine to Lord Buddha and a place of pilgrimage, Borobudur is the world’s biggest Buddhist monument, and a stunning example of human endeavour.
Situated...
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The Hindu rival to Borobudur, Prambanan temple is a magnificent ancient monument built by the Mataram Kingdom and dedicated to the Hindu concept of creation, maintenance and destruction (called Trimurti) represented by the Hindu gods Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver and Shiva the transformer.
Construction of the temple began...
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Java’s location on the convergence of several tectonic plates, has endowed the island with a complex geographical system. Aside from volcanoes, inland Java is dotted with limestone outcrops and ranges of varying geological ages. The biggest concentration of limestone features is around south-central Java where there are hundreds of...
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Situated in a wide south facing bay overlooking the Indian Ocean on Java’s south-central coast, Tambakrejo Beach makes for a great day trip from nearby Blitar. The beach is clean and sandy but it’s steep and catches a little wave action so it’s not recommended from inexperienced swimmers.
The main...