Top Things to do in Java
Top Hotels in Java
- 1. Pullman Ciawi Vimala Hills Resort
- 2. Goldvitel Hotel
- 3. Le Eminence Hotel Convention & Resort
- 4. Hotel Ciputra Jakarta managed by Swiss-Belhotel International
- 5. Pesona Alam Resort & Spa
- 6. The Papandayan
- 7. The 1O1 Bogor Suryakancana
- 8. @HOM Hotel Simpang Lima by Horison
- 9. Grand Mercure Bandung Setiabudi
- 10. Swiss-Belresort Dago Heritage
What to do and see in Java, Indonesia: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Java, Indonesia including Ijen Crater, Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, Mount Semeru Volcano, Borobudur Temple, Mount Bromo, Batu Secret Zoo (Jawa Timur Park 2), Ullen Sentalu Museum, Timang Beach, Prambanan Temples, Ganjuran Church.
Restaurants in Java
1. Ijen Crater
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By donny h - New York City, New York
Many different options are available for this Ijen "Blue Fire" Crater experience. I was traveling through with a friend and we did this through local guide / pickup from our accommodation in Banyuwangi.
The highlights of most of the night tours being the blue fire experience, sunrise, and views of the acid lake. Bit unfortunate not to experience crystal clear views but overall it was a decent enough experience to recommend.
Costs: TOUR - Vary with the tour options you choose but we managed to get a price pp 180K which included transport, gas mask, and hand flashlight ENTRANCE - there is a fee imposed to tourists to get into the volcano park area itself that came in around 250K since it was a weekend or holiday. I think its maybe 150K at other times. Keep this in mind as its a cost above the tour costs.
Recommended Gear:
Warm clothes / layers for the top since you will easily arrive ahead of sunrise in the middle of the night.
Gloves help for those going into the crater for blue fire searching.
Headlamp if you have, but most tours also provide a handheld mini flashlight to help
Gas Mask should be provided with tour, but there were also people renting on site as well. Unsure of the price there but it is needed for anyone doing the blue fire night descent into crater
Footwear with a decent tread. You don't necessarily need hiking boots for this climb. I easily did these in my crossfit trainers.
Water & snacks are helpful for the overall climb. There are little hut shops setup at the start and midway up the volcano for anyone that forgets to provision. You obviously will pay the market rate.
Camera. Most recent cell phones (iphone, samsungs) work as well as can be for night photography but any photography fiends will want to bring their tripods for night / long exposure of the blue fire and or stars on the ascent.
Hike Experience: 3KM or so hike to each way this is done in the middle of the night.
Uphill: The hike up itself is a bit challenging uphill for those that are not in adequate shape. Overall I saw a wide spectrum of people doing this so just plant one foot in front of the other and go at your pace. The path is paved and there is really only one way so the chances of going the wrong way are almost none. When you get near the crater rim it does level off for the last bit for anyone making mental notes on difficulty.
Crater: Getting to the crater rim is challenging for some but the real challenge is the crater experience. Be sure to have masks on. Follow a thin rocky and sometimes slippery pathway down into the crater it takes about 40 minutes due to the sheer amount of people generating traffic on the pathway. Some people not quite in top top shape make this a bit of a mixed bag because of being slower and or too cautious causing the backups. Gloves come in handy for anyone needing additional touch points on the rocks going down or up. The path itself also needs to accommodate any persons going back up.
Downhill: The downhill after sunrise is pretty easy for anyone with prior hiking experience. Sticks are not necessary but are always a helpful tool for anyone with bad knee concerns. I managed to do a nice jog downhill for at least half of the way.
Other:
Push Carts - On the way up and down there is a good amount of locals offering push kart type service for the really lazy and uninspired. Seems to be a two man operation going up and 1 going down with use of handy brake system. The carts vary in comfort to how each local has constructed the vehicle. Haggling seems to work with most quotes going down starting at around 100K and quickly dropping as you walk away. I tested this out for fun just to see what the market rate would be around.
Sulfur Sculptures - the mine workers and other local sellers do offer sculptures made out of the sulfur found around Ijen Crater / Volcano. I think from what I have read a donation is probably better for the cause since I've read these trinkets just get confiscated at the airport anyways.
Miners: You will run across miners at some point on the path so please be mindful they are working and probably carrying huge baskets of sulfur which probably weigh upwards of 150-200lb each load (I tested this out with a miner nice enough to let me try the weight) I think it just adequate and decent to give them the right of way on the path. I've read and seen that some of these miners do not even operate with proper gas masks so donations are probably welcome if anyone feels generous. Even with masks i've also heard that these miners don't typically change out the filters because partly education and affordability of new filters.
2. Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 941 reviews
Reviewed By Xie2 - Jakarta
I could not see the sunrise as the mountain was covered by thick foggy and drizzles. The weather was very cold. The toilet service fee is higher than others. If you could bear the pee, you can do it and find meals with cheaper price around Pasir Berbisik (Whispering sands) area. To view the perfect sunrise, you must visit Mt. Bromo in Summer (June - August).
3. Mount Semeru Volcano
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
Reviewed By La_livian
Recommend to go here on fasting month, or else it can get quite full with visitors. The mountain is beautiful! Especially the hidden treasure of ranukumbolo lake. Just a piece of heaven on earth.
From Malang, you need to go to Tumpang, which take about 1.5 hours. From Tumpang, you will need to rent jeep to go to Ranu Pane village (about another 1.5 hours). Personal vehicle is not allowed. You start the trekking from that village (registration is mandatory). The track is not that hard (mmm we hire porter to bring our carrier and tent, and the food), bit quite far tho. It takes about 4 hours walk to get to the lake Ranukumbolo. Because I really lo e walking in the forest, I really enjoy my trekking.
We spend the night at the lake. Beware, it can be really cold. For us Indonesian, we are not use to cold weather.
The next morning, we continue hike to Kalimati. The track starting to be quite dusty and the forest is a bit more open. And also, there ia quite some elevation going on. Another 4 hours walk (for normal people who is not true hikers.. lol) to get to Kalimati. You will also pass a field of purple flower (bloom in summer), which is actually a parasite plant, bit really beautiful. Haha.., what an irony.
We put our tent in kalimati, trying to get some sleep because by 12 am, we will start the hike to on top of Semeru mountain, Mahameru.
The hike is harddddd But worth every walk and every blood and tears. It took us 7 hours to get to the peak. We were quite slow. Usually it takes around 4-5 hours.
The view from the peak is amazinggg. All clouds. The mountain height is 3726 mdpl.
You have to get down before 10 am, because the mountain will spray toxic smoke.
The journey going down only took around 1-2 hours haha..and we are really exhausted but proud and amaze by His greatness.
What a journey!
I recommend to go to Ranukumbolo if you dont want to hike to the peak, which is forbidden actually
4. Borobudur Temple
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6 reviews
Borobudur Temple Compounds This famous Buddhist temple, dating from the 8th and 9th centuries, is located in central Java. It was built in three tiers: a pyramidal base with five concentric square terraces, the trunk of a cone with three circular platforms and, at the top, a monumental stupa. The walls and balustrades are decorated with fine low reliefs, covering a total surface area of 2,500 m2. Around the circular platforms are 72 openwork stupas, each containing a statue of the Buddha. The monument was restored with UNESCO's help in the 1970s.
Reviewed By javaprivatetourguide
after a few days I explore the central of Java I arrived here, this trip I accidentally stopped at the complex of enshrinement of Borobudur and arjuna temple, although the weather is rather hot I remain enthusiastic, the building is very impressive, made long before the technological sophistication but seen from the shape and structure making it very sophisticated in this day, it amazes me, I really appreciate the government that still guard one of the cultural heritage and one of the wonders of this world.
5. Mount Bromo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Soaring over 2300 meters above sea level, Mount Bromo is the only active volcano inside Java's spectacular Tengger Caldera national park.
Reviewed By donny h - New York City, New York
Mount Bromo is located near the town of Cemoro Lawang and accessed by two towns in Java. Malang (low key, 4X4 required to access up to the volcano area) OR Probolingo (more trafficked, public access & infrastructure)
The Malang route offers nicer view on the approach that requires you do rent 4X4 jeep to take you up. This can be a rewarding and very chill scenic ride up to Mt Bromo area. Saw some motorbikes but also saw alot of them getting stuck in the bigger puddles of water and mud along the way.
The Probolingo route does offer some decent views, but mostly forgettable road trip between Cemoro Lawang and Probolingo.
The Mount Bromo experience is usually comprised of two main activities.
1. Sunrise Viewpoint of Bromo
2. Trek to Mount Bromo Crater
Re: Sunrise
in the main area of town near the center is the main paved road that takes you up to the Mt Bromo viewpoint. For those staying in town a 3:30 or so wakeup and trek up the road is probably the timing. Those arriving via tour or hiring some car / motorbike service up the hill can time for later to get up towards the viewpoint. Plenty of vendors at top to get a warm drink to wait for sunrise.
Overall there is 4 viewing areas from what the locals described. But really its the view off the paved road up at Penanjakan point and those that travel on foot up to an additional 1km have access to a variety of other viewing areas. No guarantee of clear morning without a bit of cloud cover in the rainy season so we decided to stick with the view from Penanjakan point because of the warning of wet and washed out pathways potentially. Also the locals say because everyone always wants the higher view, it sometimes gets too crowded and it really is not much of a difference of view.
Re: Trek to Bromo
After sunrise most people make their way down the hill back into town and out towards the volcano crater itself. Its a flat trek across some black sand and up a 268 or so step stairway to the crater rim for views. Plenty of hawkers offering motorbike rides across but its not really necessary if you are in some sort of shape to walk this. Might suck a bit treking up the hill back into town if you are staying there. Most tour companies I believe just wait for you on the flat parking area outside town.
Other considerations: There is a park fee that needs to be paid depending on type of visitor and which road you come in on to Cemoro Lawang. I want to say it came in around 230K each pp being a foreign visitor.
We did this without a tour and stayed in Cemoro Lawang. Arriving in Cemoro Lawang in early afternoon allowed us to trek to the volcano that day, then do sunrise the following morning and take our time. We were able to get a public transport (30K or so) from the main square to Probolingo at the 11am schedule time. But honestly I think they just line up and take most people as they fill up and stay rough to any established schedule.
Most tours I believe are pickup around midnight for ride to, sunrise, trek to rim, and return.
6. Batu Secret Zoo (Jawa Timur Park 2)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Batu Secret Zoo, Kebun Binatang Modern yang membentang seluas 22 hektar di Kota Batu. Dengan koleksi lebih dari 300 spesies hawan unik menarik dari berbagai belahan dunia.
Reviewed By Fasya F
Many variance of animals The animals are healthy Have many variation of thing to see They have amusement park, swimming pool ?? The zoo is so arranged so we can see all animals
7. Ullen Sentalu Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1 reviews
Javanese Heritage museum
Reviewed By Thomas T - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The owner of our hostel told us to go give this museum a try and I'm glad he did as it was a nice find. They offer tour guides that will take you through the halls and explain a lot about most pieces. The downside of this is that you don't get to walk around freely and you cannot stand around admiring a piece for long as the guide has a limited amount of time to take you through the museum. We had some questions and some pieces we wanted to see a bit longer due to the connection with culture in other parts of our planet and that led to us being in the same room as the group that came after us all the time.. then there were 2 guides explaining 2 different things in 2 different languages and it became clear that we had to rush on out. Nice place but we felt like we were just rushed through so they can do as many groups as possible in a day.. maybe they can think about offering a bigger tour for people with more than average interest.
8. Timang Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 227 reviews
Reviewed By Hafiz J
Visitor has two options to go to the island. It can either be by the hanging bridge or the gondola. Both offer their own unique experience. Be sure to bring your selfie stick to get nice shots of yourself during the ride. The guide at the island can help you to get nice photo of yourself at the island itself. One of a kind attraction that is a must if you go to Gunung Kidul beach area. They now offer 4x4 ride to Timang Beach instead of motorcycle. I do recommend to take the 4x4 due to safety reason.
9. Prambanan Temples
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 5 reviews
These ancient masterpieces of Hindu architecture are adorned with bas-reliefs depicting the famous Ramayana story.
Reviewed By bernie47801 - Denpasar, Indonesia
One of the most extraordinary structures in the world. A must visit location when you come to Indonesia. Allow at least a half day to experience this site. Much easier to access compared to Borobudur but just as fascinating. These two sites should be on your bucket list together with Angkor Wat.
10. Ganjuran Church
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 149 reviews
Reviewed By MegaNainggolan
This is a roman catholic church building with a Javanese joglo house architectural style.
The building was beautifully built with intricate decoration on the pillars, ceilings, and antique lamps.
The altar, tabernacle, and all liturgical ornaments are designed in harmony with the traditional Javanese culture.
A place for devotion, meditation, and prayer to Christ the King is situated in the form of a Hindu-style temple (Candi). Inside the temple is a statue of Christ the King, artistically imagined in the form of a Javanese King costume.
A quiet and tranquil place for devoting your prayer in a spiritual journey, or simply a visit to enjoy this unique architectural feature.
Pilgrims from many distant places come to this Church, and there is a large open hall for resting, and shower rooms are available for pilgrims.
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