Overview
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8 day Java itinerary
One week is definitely not enough to see the entire island, but during this 8 day Java travel itinerary, you will have the chance to visit some of the most impressive places in East and Central Java.
This Java itinerary starts in Yogyakarta and ends in Banyuwangi, but depending on where you are coming from, you can do this trip in both directions. You can easily take a train between Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Banyuwangi to end up back where you started or where you can catch a plane to your next destination. Keep in mind that you need an extra day for this train ride.
Bali is located right next to Java, so you take a ferry between Bali and Banyuwangi, and combine a visit to both these islands during one trip.
Day 1: Yogyakarta
You can start your Java itinerary in the bustling city of Yogyakarta, or just Jogja. This relatively small city is one of the most famous cities and destinations on Java, and it is mostly known for the impressive Prambanan and Borobudur temples. Not only the temples, but also the city itself is worth visiting and spending a few days.
On your first day in the Yogyakarta, you can explore the highlights in the city center, such as Maliboro Street, and prepare your trips for the following days.
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Where to stay in Yogyakarta (3 nights)
The first three nights of this Java itinerary are best spent in Yogyakarta, from where you can explore the sights of day 1 to 3. This city offers different kinds of accommodations, such as hotels, hostels and guesthouses for every budget. We’d recommend you to stay close to the bustling Malioboro streets, close to all the bars, shops and restaurants.
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Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
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Day 2: Prambanan and Borobudur Temple
On the second day, you can wake up early and watch the sunrise over the Borobudur Temple from Setumbu Hill. As soon as the sun is up, you can visit the temple itself. After Borobudur, you can continue your way to the Prambanan temple.
Don’t feel like getting up early or not interested in a sunrise? No problem, you can also just sleep in and later go out to visit the Borobudur and Prambanan temple. You will have plenty of time to see these 2 temples in one day.
The best way to visit Prambanan & Borobudur Temple is to join a day trip from Yogyakarta.
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Day 3: Jomblang Cave
After a day full of temples, on the third day of this Java itinerary, it is time to visit a very unique cave. The best thing about java is that there is so much variety in the activities! In the Jomblang cave, also known as the Goa Jomblang, you are lowered around 60 meters down into a cave on a rope. Inside the cave, you can experience another unique and magical phenomenon: the ‘Ray of Light’. It’s a big beam of morning light shining in through a massive hole, creating this mesmerizing ‘spotlight’ effect. There’s only one guided tour per day, starting at 09.30am, so don’t forget to book in advance.
The tour lasts until approximately 12:30-1:00pm. You can spend the rest of the day in the center of Yogyakarta, perhaps visiting things that were still on your list and preparing for the long train ride tomorrow.
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Day 4: Travel from Yogyakarta to Malang
Day 4, you will spend almost the entire day on the train. The train ride from Yogyakarta to Malang takes about 6 hours. Fortunately, the train infrastructure in Java is very good and the trains are comfortable and clean.
Day 5: Malang
Malang is a lovely city, located in almost the heart of East Java in Indonesia. It is the starting point for many people to visit the Bromo volcano, but there is so much more to do in Malang. For us, it was a city with a wide variety of things to do. That’s why we have provided a whole day in this Java itinerary to do different things in and around Malang.
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Where to stay in Malang (2 nights)
Malang offers different kinds of accommodations, such as hotels, hostels and guesthouses for every budget. We’d recommend you to stay in the city center, close to all the bars, shops and restaurants.
If you are not visiting Tumpak Sewu and Mount Bromo together during a 2D1N tour, you might have to stay another night in Malang from day 6 to day 7.
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Malang
Malang
Malang
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Day 6: Visit the waterfalls
Cities, temples, caves… what haven’t we had yet? That’s right, waterfalls! Day 6 of this Java itinerary is all about waterfalls.
The Tumpak Sewu waterfall is without a doubt one of the most impressive waterfalls in Indonesia. It looks like a massive sink hole with water flowing down 120m over about 180°. To make it even more picture perfect, you have the impressive Semeru volcano as an incredible backdrop. Not far from Tumpak Sewu, there’s another impressive waterfall, the Kapas Biru. You can easily combine a visit to both and make it a waterfall day.
The easiest way to visit Tumpak Sewu and Kapas Biru is by joining a tour from Malang. These tours sometimes include other waterfalls as well. Even easier is to book a complete tour that includes Tumpak Sewu, Mount Bromo and Ijen, to complete the last part of this Java itinerary.
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Day 7: Mount Bromo
Rise and shine in the middle of the night in order to make it to Mount Bromo before sunrise. You can witness the sunrise over the breathtaking Bromo landscape from one of the viewpoints such as Penanjakan or KingKong hill. After watching a magical sunrise, you can explore the sea of sand at the base of the Mount Bromo volcano during a jeep safari and climb your way up to the top of the crater and see this impressive volcano crater from closely.
You can use the rest of the day to travel further to the last destination of your Java itinerary: Kawah Ijen.
We recommend you to visit Mount Bromo during a Mount Bromo Sunrise tour. Or you can visit both Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen on a 2-day tour or a 3-day tour including Tumpak Sewu.
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Day 8: Kawah Ijen and Banyuwangi
On the last day of this Java itinerary, you will have to set your alarm early again. Around 02:00am, you can start to hike up Mount Ijen, see the unique Blue Fire and watch the sunrise over world’s largest acidic volcanic lake.
After sunrise, you will be back down from Kawah Ijen around 7-8am. From here, you can either end your trip Banyuwangi and take the train to another place on Java to catch a flight or continue your journey to Bali.
If you decide to end your trip in Banyuwangi and have some spare time here, you can also visit the De Djawatan Forest and/or the Jagir Waterfall.
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How to get to Java
Java has multiple international and domestic airports in several larger cities such as Jakarta, Yogyakarta and Surabaya. Flights arrive from both other major destinations in Asia and from elsewhere in Java or other parts of Indonesia. You can easily book your flights on Trip.com or Skyscanner. If you come from Bali, it is also possible to get to Java by ferry.
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How to Travel around Java
There are different options to travel around Java such as train, bus and plane. Within the cities, the best ways to get around are to rent a scooter, use Grab or Gojek, hire a private driver or join an organized tour.
Prices for a scooter rental vary between 60,000 IDR to 80,000 IDR for 24 hours.
By train
The best way to move from city to city on Java is by train. All the main cities on Java are connected by an excellent train system. The trains are comfortable, fast, clean and relatively cheap. You can book your train tickets in advance online.
By bus
Another option to reach Yogyakarta, when you are already on Java, is by bus. If you can, we recommend that you take the train, because it is much smoother and more pleasant to travel. If you have no other option, you can find and book buses on 12Go.Asia.
By air
Most of the major cities in Java have a domestic or even an international airport and have flights arriving from Jakarta. There are no direct flights between the other cities, so you will always have to fly via Jakarta. If you are not coming from Jakarta or need to get to Jakarta, the train is a better option to get around.
Best time to visit
Indonesia, and therefore also Java, has only two seasons: dry season and rainy season. Although it is a popular destination all year round, the best time to visit Java is during dry season, from May to October. During these months, you can expect sunny and dry weather, perfect for exploring! Overall, Java has a tropical climate, which means it can be very hot and humid and the average temperature is 27°C all year round.
July and August are considered peak tourist season on Java, so it will be extra busy these months.
Rainy season runs from November to April. You can still visit Java during these months, but there is a greater chance for bad weather.
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
