24 Days Grand Journey of Java
This trip is for the ones that want to explore Java to the fullest
DAY 1 : ARRIVAL IN SEMARANG – OPTIONAL VISIT TO AMBARAWA TRAIN STATION – TRANSFER TO HOTEL
Welcome to Semarang! Upon arrival at the airport, you will be picked up by your teman and you will be transferred to your accommodation. You can also visit Ambarawa Train Station as an optional option.
Enjoy the rest of the day at your accommodation.
DAY 2 : HALF DAY HIKE TO MOUNT ANDONG (APPX. 3 HOURS) – BACK TO HOTEL
After breakfast, you will be driven to North Magelang where you would hike Mount Andong! Aside from Mount Andong, you can also visit Mount Panderman, and both can be accomplished with a 3 hours relatively easy trek and both provides fantastic summit view; a spacious “tundra-like” plateau above the clouds, with surrounding mountains in all direction.
After that, you will be taken back to your accommodation to rest.
DAY 3 : SELOGRIYO TEMPLE HIKE – TRANSFER TO WONOSOBO
Start early morning to experience the scenic walk at Selogriyo. Selogriyo is a small Hindu structure located an hour drive north from Borobudur. Although it is not rich with epic stories like Borobudur and Prambanan, it is nestled in a graceful natural environment. It takes 30 minutes to complete the gentle trek up to the temple, but we guarantee that you’ll spend at least double that time to admire the view!
Finished with your trekking, you will continue to Wonosobo.
Check-in at your accommodation and enjoy for the rest of the day at your accommodation.
DAY 4 : FULL DAY DIENG TOUR (INC. SUNRISE) – TRANSFER TO BOROBUDUR
Start early morning (appx. 4AM), you will be driven to Dieng Highlands to start your activity of the day. Dieng Plateau is Java’s highest village, known for its “tropical Swiss-like” landscape, plantations on steep hills. You will catch sunrise from Mount SIkunir, and a delicious ongklok noodle can be found nowhere else in Indonesia. DIeng also known as home to some 30 active craters and a dozen of picturesque lakes.
Please bring some warm clothes, as Dien can be as cold as -2 degree celcius in July and August.
After that, you will continue to Borobudur area and will be transferred to your accommodation to check-in and rest.
DAY 5 : ANDONG/CYCLING TOUR AROUND BOROBUDUR VILLAGE – MENDUT & PAWON TEMPLE – SUNSET AT BOROBUDUR TEMPLE
Today, you will start your activity with cycling/andong tour around Borobudur Village. The calm village called ‘Candirejo’ is a perfect place to relax while paddling your bicycles or riding on a horse cart (andong). You will then continue to Mendut and Pawon Temples, located at the Borobudur Temple Complex.
Nearing sunset time, you will be taken to visit Borobudur Temple to see the most magnificent sunset in Java from top of the temple.
Next, you will be driven back to your accommodation.
DAY 6 : SUNRISE HIKE AT MENOREH HILL – JAVANESE LUNCH AT KOPI BADHEK – OPTIONAL BATIK WORKSHOP
Today, you will embark on a sunrise adventure! You will be driven to the starting point to hike Menoreh Hill. There are 1 to 3 hours route available depends on your physical condition. When you are on top then you will be able to get upclose with the locals on their plantations and enjoy the fantastic view. Descend down from the hill, you will be taken to Kopi Badhek Restaurant to have an authentic Javanese lunch. Experience Javanese authentic culinary at its best In this beautiful place; a small plantations surrounded by sweeping rice fields.
Next, you will be driven back to your accommodation or continue to have a Batik workshop afterwards.
DAY 7 : TRANSFER TO SOLO (APPX. 4 HOURS) – DANAR HADI BATIK MUSEUM
Today, you will continue your journey to Solo. The drive will take around 4 hours and upon arrival, you will have option to go straight to your accommodation to check-in and rest, or pay a visit to Danar Hadi Batik Museum, Indonesia’s (and possibly the world’s) most extensive batik showcasing. Ranging from ancestral batiks over 200 years old to modern contemporary batiks; this is a truly exceptional way to learn about batik and its motives.
DAY 8 : CETHO AND SUKUH TEMPLE (EARLY MORNING) – BACK TO HOTEL
Early morning after breakfast, today you will visit two peculiar temples of Cetho and Sukuh (1 hour ride from Solo). Located on the slopes of Mount Lawu, the picturesque highland temple of Cetho and Sukuh has kept historians puzzled. The temples were the last significant area of temple building in Java before the island’s court were converted to Islam in the 16th century.
Finished exploring Cetho and Sukuh, you will be driven back to Solo.
DAY 9 : FULL DAY ‘PRAMBANAN THE KOSTUBA WAY’ – NIGHT DRIVE TO YOGYAKARTA – TRANSFER TO HOTEL
After breakfast, you will visit Prambanan area. The area is home to some 300+ temples scattered around the village and its hills. Start a little early in Prambanan Temple before the crowd arrives. Afterwards, we will take you on a private buggy care around the complex to see other temples, especially the beautiful half-ruined Sewu Temple which felt straight out of Tomb Raider’s movie. You will enjoy lunch at Abhayagiri Restaurant, before visiting Ijo Temple (the highest temple in the area) and enjoying sunset at Ratu Boko Castle Ruins. Finish the day as most others do with watching Ramayana Ballet Theatre performance.
Next, you will drive to Yogyakarta City then check-in to your accommodation to rest.
DAY 10 : KERATON YOGYAKARTA (ROYAL PALACE) – KOTAGEDE SILVER WORKSHOP AND SACRED TOMB VISIT
Get closer with Yogyakarta’s golden heritage! Visit Keraton Yogyakarta, a royal palace complex serving as a cultural center for the Javanese people, a museum that displays the sultanate’s artifacts, and the seat of the governing Sultan. Next, you will continue to Kotagede area to experience silver workshop. You can bring your own silver as a souvenir to take home. Near the area, you will also visit the Sacred Tomb of Panembahan Senopati, the first Sultan of Yogyakarta.
Afterwards, you will be driven back to your accommodation.
DAY 11 : SUNRISE HIKE OR JEEP RIDE TO MERAPI – KETEP PASS – BACK TO HOTEL
Today you will get closer with one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, Merapi. It is a towering fortress, bordering north of Yogyakarta with Central Java. A sunrise hike or jeep ride to this place is surely irreplaceable. Jeep ride is the popular visit choice, taking travelers to see the bunker, alien (human-shaped) stone, and remnants of houses and artifacts from the massive 2010 eruption. Meanwhile, 1-hour sunrise hike or advanced 4-hours trekking towards the summit is sure challenging as well.
You will then continue to Ketep Pass, where you can witness a panoramic view of 5 volcanoes around Central Java.
Back to your accommodation afterwards.
DAY 12 : IMOGIRI ROYAL CEMETERY – PARANGKUSUMO BEACH – PARANGTRITIS BEACH SUNSET
First, you will visit Imogiri, a pine-forested region which is the official cemetery of the royal descendants from Yogyakarta and Surakarta. It takes 435 steps to reach the royal tomb, and entering the complex requires special Javanese outfit. Next, you will continue to explore the beaches of Yogyakarta! Parangkusumo Beach is your first stop before continuing to watch sunset at Parangtritis Beach.
You will be driven to your accommodation afterwards.
DAY 13 : WEDI OMBO BEACH – DRIVE TO PACITAN – TRANSFER TO HOTEL
After breakfast, explore Wedi Ombo Beach with beautiful scenery around it. You will then continue to drive to Pacitan before taken to your accommodation to check-in and rest.
DAY 14 : BEACHES AROUND PACITAN – DRIVE TO BLITAR – TRANSFER TO HOTEL
Explore more beaches in Pacitan! Depending on the time, you may visit more than 2 beaches. You will then continue to drive to Blitar and transferred to your accommodation to check-in.
DAY 15 :PRESIDENT SOEKARNO’S CEMETERY – DRIVE TO MALANG
Visit the cemetery of Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno. In this place you may learn more about Indonesia’s history. You will also be able to learn more about Soekarno. Afterwards, you will continue to drive to the next city, Malang. Upon arrival in Malang, you will be transferred to your accommodation to check in.
DAY 16 : MIDNIGHT TOUR FOR SUNRISE AT B29 VIEWPOINT LUMAJANG – TUMPAK SEWU WATERFALL – MALANG
Start midnight and drive to a place called B29 Viewpoint to catch sunrise from the top. This viewpoint showcases Bromo and Semeru from completely different angle, a breathtaking view you shouldn’t miss. Next, continue to Tumpak Sewu Waterfall (a thousand waterfalls), one of the most beautiful waterfalls existed in Indonesia. It has a unique formation due to its widening water, which flows like a curtain. It is no easy task to get the best spot, because getting here requires a 90 degree vertical drop, accomplished by descending through a ladder.
Next, you will be brought back to your accommodation to rest.
DAY 17 : MADAKARIPURA WATERFALL – TRANSFER TO BROMO
Today you will visit another waterfall in Java! Dubbed as Java’s most beautiful waterfall, Madakaripuracomprises of lines of waterfall where its center reaches a height of 200 meters, making it Indonesia’s second highest. The main attraction is its environment, encircled by 7 waterfalls and caves. Finished admiring the waterfall, you will be driven to Bromo area and check-in at your accommodation.
DAY 18 : HALF DAY AND/OR SUNSET ‘BROMO THE KOSTUBA WAY’
We know that it is hard to really visit Bromo without the crowd, however, we can “cheat” other visitors by doing Bromo differently (changing the normal route). We will first visit Mentigen Hill. Despite located in lower elevation, this viewpoint provides a fantastic closer look of Mount Bromo from different angle. Afterwards, head down to the crater of Mount Bromo for a short hike. We will then continue to Penanjakan and enjoy Bromo’s iconic viewpoint. Finally, we will descend down again to visit the savanna and whispering sand of Bromo. Alternatively, this second part of the trip can be arranged in the late afternoon; starting in the savanna and whispering sand, before driving to Penanjakan for sunset.
DAY 19 : DRIVE TO KALIBARU (4 HOURS) – KALIBARU PLANTATION
Before reaching Meru Betiri National Park, you will make a stop at a small hill town of Kalibaru. The area has many plantations and scenic views; a great stop surrounded by ranges of hills in the west and south, while Mount Raung is on your north. At elevation of 428 meters above sea level, Kalibaru has nice cool climate and well-known for its potential home industries of Tahu (beancurd). You will then overnight in Kalibaru area.
DAY 20 : MERU BETIRI NATIONAL PARK – SEA TURTLE OBSERVATION (MIDNIGHT)
Today, is your first day exploring Meru Betiri National Park. You will have a chance to visit the fabled refuge of the Javan Tiger and a famous nesting beach for sea turtles. While tiger sight requires a huge luck (and perhaps more time in the jungle), this trip will give you guarantee an exciting off-road jeep ride through the jungles and rivers. You will also start midnight trek to Sukamade Beach where you can see the sea turtles that come to lay their eggs. You will be driven back to your simple accommodation inside the national park.
DAY 21 : MERU BETIRI NATIONAL PARK – DRIVE TO BANYUWANGI – TRANSFER TO HOTEL
Today is your second day exploring Meru Betiri National Park! Explore the jungle more and take a good look, because you may take sight of the Javan Tiger! You will continue to Banyuwangi afterwards.
DAY 22 : FULL DAY TOUR TO ALAS PURWO NATIONAL PARK – TRANSFER TO IJEN
Today you will explore Alas Purwo National Park. The park’s name means first forest or ancient forest in accordance with a Javanese legend that says the earth first emerged from the ocean here. Here, pure wilderness takes over as we will ride on a jeep jungle trekking to explore the rainforest. The end journey is Sadengan, a savanna where in the late afternoon, various animals gather to feed. Among which are Javanese Bull, Peacock, Deer, Monkey, and various kind of birds. The journey wraps with sunset on the beach, before returning to Banyuwangi and transfer to Ijen to overnight.
DAY 23 : IJEN BLUE FIRE AND SUNRISE HIKE – LEISURE
You will start midnight, around 12AM to go to the starting trekking point of Ijen Crater. It is the biggest crater lake in Java and famous with its “Blue Fire”. The midnight hike down to the crater lake lies between natural dams of deeply etched rock. You can also see sulfur miners carry individual loads of up to 70kg, often barefooted, up to the crater rim and then 17km down the mountainside to a factory. You will enjoy simple breakfast on top
DAY 24 : DEPARTURE BANYUWANGI AIRPORT/SEAPORT OR OPTIONAL FULL DAY TOUR TO BALURAN NATIONAL PARK & TRANSFER TO SURABAYA FOR ADDITIONAL NIGHT AND DEPARTURE FROM SURABAYA
Depend on your departure schedule, you will be transferred to the airport or seaport. However, if you still have a lot of time then you may take an optional full day tour to Surabaya to visit Baluran National Park (with additional night and departure from Surabaya).