Java, the most populated island of Indonesia, is home to some of the most incredible volcanic landscapes in the world. Central Java and East Java are a must for your Indonesia itinerary.
The smoking craters at Mount Bromo and Kawah Ijen have become famous tourist destinations in Java, but this island is also dotted with jungles, ancient temples, and waterfalls galore.
This 1-week East Java itinerary will guide you through some of the unmissable highlights of Java that we visited on our first trip through the area, starting in Central Java and ending in west Bali.
You can click the links for more information on each of these sights as you go!
โ Where To Start
The starting point of this Java itinerary is Yogyakarta in central Java, Indonesia.
Fly to Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA), which is served by a bunch of budget friendly airlines with good ratings. AirAsia often has flights from Singapore (SIN) or Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to Yogya for 1 million Rupiah ($70 USD), or flights from Bali (DPS) for only 600k Rupiah ($40).
You can shop for flights to Yogyakarta at Skyscanner.
You can also do this itinerary in reverse if youโd like, starting with the Bali ferry ride and then ending in Yogyakarta. The whole process will be largely the same!
โข Day 1: Dieng Plateau
Kick off your Java sightseeing with a full day trip to Dieng Plateau in the volcanic highlands west of Yogyakarta, starting from town in the early morning hours to get there in time for an epic sunrise on Sikunir hill.
After the sunrise, go see the sulfuric lakes, hill terraces, smoking hot springs, and some of the oldest surviving temples on the island of Java.
More info: Dieng Plateau
Sunrise on Sikunir hill
โข Day 2: Prambanan & Borobudur Temples
โ Prambanan Temple
Spend the morning exploring Prambanan, a group of massive Hindu temple ruins near Yogyakarta city in central Java. This temple is less famous than its cousin Borobudur, but I actually like this one best.
โ Borobudur Temple
Move on to Borobudur, a big 9th century Buddhist temple that is a bit further outside Yogya and is famous as the largest Buddhist temple in the world. Side note: you can swap the order of Borobudur and Prambanan on this day if you want to see the sunrise at Borobudur.
Borobudur Temple
โข Day 3: Train To Malang
Take the 7:45 AM train from Yogyakarta Stasiun to Malang.
The train ride takes 8 hours and costs 170k Rupiah (~$12 USD) per person. Book your tickets online at Tiket.com or the KAI website, and then scan the e-ticket when you reach the station.
This train ride was actually one of my favorite parts of the trip! Itโs comfy, scenic, and enjoyable. You get A/C and food, and some amazing views of the Java countryside.
โข Day 4: Malang Waterfalls
โ Tumpak Sewu Waterfall
Start your day at the most impressive waterfall in Indonesia, Tumpak Sewu. The best lighting for photos is early in the morning, and itโs a 2 hour drive from Malang, so youโll need to get a very early start!
โ Kabut Pelangi Waterfall
From Tumpak Sewu, drive another 10 minutes east to the trailhead for Kabut Pelangi. This is a huge waterfall worth the 45 minute hike!
โ Kapas Biru Waterfall
From Kabut Pelangi, drive another 10 minutes east to the trailhead for Kapas Biru waterfall. This one is a short 30 minute hike, but the waterfall at the end is incredibly scenic.
โข Day 5: Coban Pelangi + Drive To Mount Bromo
โ Coban Pelangi Waterfall
This is a cool side trip you can do before the drive to Bromo. Coban Pelangi waterfall is a hidden beauty, located in the mountains 1 hour east of Malang.
โ Drive From Malang To Mount Bromo
Drive from Malang to Cemoro Lawang (the village at Mount Bromo). The distance from Malang is only 130 kilometers (80 miles), but be prepared for it to take 3+ hours. Get to bed early so you can be ready for Bromo!
Mount Bromo is one of the main highlights of this East Java itinerary, so youโll want to do it justice.
Volcano X-ing
Before the sunrise
โข Day 6: Mount Bromo Sunrise + Drive To Banyuwangi
โ Mount Bromo Sunrise
Wake up early and hike or drive to the sunrise viewpoint for Mount Bromo. Seeing these smoking volcano craters at the crack of dawn is a bucket list experience youโll never forget.
โ Drive From Bromo To Banyuwangi
Drive from Bromo to Ijen (homestay nearby is best). The distance from Bromo to Ijen is 230 kilometers (140 miles) and the drive takes a whopping 6+ hours.
Sunrise At Mount Bromo
โข Day 7: Kawah Ijen Crater + Ferry To Bali
โ Kawah Ijen Crater
Wake up early and hike to the Ijen Crater. Itโs a tough hike and you have to start very early if you want to see the blue fire (optional), or at least get there by golden hour for the best photos.
โ Ferry To Bali
Cross from Java to Bali with the ferry at Ketapang. The trip takes 30-60 minutes and only cost us 8k Rupiah (less than one US Dollar) per person since we werenโt bringing any vehicle with us.
In Bali, you can book a private driver in advance to pick you up at the port (recommended), or you can negotiate for one when you land at the port. Either way, there will be an extra charge for drivers here, since the port is a long drive from the main tourist areas of Bali and itโs outside of most driversโ normal service areas.
Welcome to Bali! The adventure is just getting started!
Kawah Ijen crater lake
Ferry To Bali
When Is The Best Time To Visit Java?
The best time to visit Java is from April to November, when itโs more sunny and dry.
The rainy season runs from November to April. You can go during this time, but it may not be ideal for the waterfalls or sunrises.
Our East Java Driver
Starting from Malang (Day 3), we had a driver from Zaini Transport for the rest of the trip. He took us to all the waterfalls on this East Java itinerary, plus Mount Bromo and Ijen, and finally dropped us at the Bali ferry.
His daily price at Malang was 400k Rupiah + petrol, which worked out to be 620k Rupiah ($44 USD) for a full day visiting 3 waterfalls in Lumajang, then driving back to comfy Malang. His Bromo/Ijen rate was a little higher, but still the lowest I could find anywhere!
Our driver Dayat was punctual and very familiar with the area, so we had no trouble finding the waterfalls or other sights on this East Java itinerary. Highly recommended and much cheaper than booking a full tour package!
See Also
- Mount Bromo Volcano Sunrise โ Complete Travel Guide
- Kawah Ijen Crater Lake โ Complete Travel Guide
- Best Hikes In Indonesia โ Volcanoes, Jungles, & Waterfalls
- Most Beautiful Indonesian Islands โ Best Places To Visit In Indonesia
- Indonesia Waterfall Guide โ Best Waterfalls In Indonesia
- Indonesia Beach Guide โ Best Beaches In Indonesia
- Best Things To Do In Indonesia โ What To Do In The Islands
- Indonesia Travel Guide โ Tips, Info, & Photos
24 comments
From the Bali ferry what and how did you get the transport, and how much it cost ? Thanks
Hi Mihai. From the Bali ferry we arranged a private driver in advance, and he took us back to south Bali. You can book this on Klook, but make sure to mention that you will need pickup at the port in Gilimanuk. There will be an extra charge since it’s a long drive and the port is outside of most drivers’ normal service areas. Expect to pay 700k Rupiah or more for the drive, although you can ask them to show you places on the way. It’s also possible to negotiate for a driver once you arrive at the port in Bali, but I think it’s normally better and cheaper to arrange it in advance. Cheers
What would you say is a reasonable price for the whole itenery starting in malang with a driver.
Including all tickets, fees and accomandation?
I got an offer from the comapany you mentioned but it seems pretty highy.
Hi Hendrik. I would say maybe 3 to 5 million Rupiah for 3-4 days of driving and petrol, but it would definitely be higher if you include entrance fees and accommodation. I’m not sure what is a fair price in that case, since we paid for our tickets and hotels separately and only hired them for the transport. Cheers
Hello! Did you guys hike bromo or just drive to it at sunrise!
Hi Meghan! We did both. You can read more about that in our full guide for Mount Bromo.
Did you have to pay for your drivers food and accommodation in east java?
We didn’t pay for our driver’s food or accommodation. Some drivers may ask for that, though.
How did you manage the transportation for day 1 and day 2? Did you book a tour, or rent a car to go to Dieng Plateau, Prambanan & Borobudur Temples?
Hi Feng. For day 1 at Dieng Plateau, I would recommend going with a tour or a private driver. Here’s a Dieng tour with pickup from Yogyakarta.
For day 2 at Prambanan and Borobudur, there are several options, but I think a tour or driver is still a good way to do it. Prambanan is pretty easy to reach since it’s located right in the city, and you can even get to it with a taxi. However, Borobudur is outside of the city so it’s harder to reach. That’s why a combo tour makes sense if it’s in your budget. Here’s a good day tour that includes both Borobudur and Prambanan.
Hey Devd & Intan !
Amar from india.
Your blog and details are one of the finest spot for anyone who considering for indonesia for sure.
i’ve reading few blogs since few days & your one stand out with much enough clean details!
Thank you for giving your time for us ๐
Your 1 week Jawa hit me enough now wanted looking for one more week option apart of Bali.
any other suggestion for photography travelers !?
Hi Amar, thanks for your comment. Some other good options are Komodo, Lombok, or Sumba. Those are all near Bali. You can also find more suggestions for nice Indonesian islands here.
Hi David and Intan,
Did you book you train tickets at the station or in advance. If so please let us know the link. Are there more schedules available at the station?
Hi Lien, we bought our train tickets in advance at Tiket.com and then you just scan the e-ticket when you reach the station. I am not seeing the YK -> ML route on that site anymore for some reason, but you can still buy it at the KAI website.
Thank you David! We will take a look at the site. ๐๐
David,
You mentioned that it takes about an hour from ketapang to Bali but looking at Ferry it says 4+hours. It had several stops. Did you book your ferry on KAI?
Any recommendation where to stay in Bali/Ubud close to attractions. Any food/ places to eat recommendation? How about Durian? ๐. Much appreciated! Sorry for the trouble. You can email meโฆthanks!
Hi Lien! The KAI site is only for the train. We didn’t book the ferry in advance and I’m not sure if you can. It always has seats available though, and there are departures every 20 minutes so it’s easy to get the next one. I just sent you an email for the other questions. ๐
Hi, Great article super helpful! Question, I’m interested in doing what you did for Java: Malang > waterfalls > Bromo > Injen > ferry to Bali. I message the driver service you mentioned and they quoted $411 (6300.000 IDR). Does that sound correct?
Hi! Yes that sounds about right for current prices.
Ok thanks!
Sorry, one more question if it’s not too much trouble. When you booked your driver did you book all of your days at once or did you pay them daily? Also, did you pay for your driver’s accommodations? Did they include all of the fees in their price or did you pay that separately?
I’m trying to book a driver for 2 days: Kepanjen > Tumpaksewu > Cemorolawang > Bromo > Surabaya.
Sure. We booked it all at once, but paid per day. We didn’t pay for the driver’s accommodations, but some drivers do ask for that (since it’s a road trip with multiple days of travel), so it’s possible they may ask for that now. On our trip, we paid our own fees/tickets and hotels separately and only hired them for the transport. That sounds like a good 2 day itinerary for Tumpak Sewu and Bromo. Enjoy!
Ok thanks. Did you pay ahead of time or day of?
We paid the day of.