- Visiting East Java -

A getaway from Bali

the massive volcanic landscape of east Java

Bali if with out a doubt one of the most popular tourist destination in the world and with good reason. This place is just breathtaking in every single way. Here you will find spectacular waterfalls, volcanos, temples, pretty beaches all with a unique cultural experience. With so many unique spots located on the same destination it is bound to get very busy. This guide will give you insight into spots you can easily access if you are thinking about heading to Bali and want to get away from the crowds and experience something unique. 

Visiting Bali

Bali is located in the heart of Indonesia and is the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. While Bali is the main island in the province, it is actually made out of a handful of smaller islands, Nusa Lemongan, Ceningan and Penida being some of them.  

April to October is the best time to visit as there is little rain and lots of sun. High season in Bali is July and august. At this time the prices will get higher and it will get crowded on the island. 

Where to stay:

Depending on your budget and purpose of travel, some of the most popular areas to stay in is: 

Uluwatu(south), Canggu(Middle, by the coast) and Ubud(Middle, in the jungle) After multiple visits to Bali I have found these 3 areas to be the best. 

If you are heading to Canggu I highly recommend staying at the Eastin Ashta Resort as the location and value for money is great on this resort. With a huge swimming pool, a gym and just a short walk from the beach. Perfect for couples or friends wanting to relax. 

If you are in Bali to explore and create content like myself, the Hustlers Villain Ubud is the place you want to stay. The hustlers Villa is a co-livin' space that are all about creating a community of likeminded people. This is the place to connect and collaborate with other people as they also host weekly seminars. Equipped with fast wifi and a great workspace covered in the green lush colors Bali are know for, not to mention serving some of the best food in Bali, this is the place to stay, work, connect and relax or maybe plan your next adventure. Traveling here with a group is also great as they offer dorms with huge 120cm beds!

Getting to Bali. 

Thai Airways has flights coming in from Bangkok daily.  If you are flying international I always choose Thai Airways as it makes me feel like I am already in Asia once stepping on the plane. A great feeling especially if  the flights are 11 hours like it is from from Norway. From Bangkok it takes around 4 hours to Denpasar, Bali. 

Click HERE to get a special offer from Thai Airways.

Planning your trip

Planning your trip around Bali can be confusing. There are so many spots to visit and if you are like me, you want to be avoiding the crowded places that can easily ruin your experience. As I mention this guide will be a get away from the crowded Bali. That means leaving the main island of Bali. Even though you are leaving Bali you wont be gone for very long, so don’t worry, you wont miss it! (This of course depends on how long you are planning to stay). With two weeks or more in Bali, this guide will be perfect. 

In this guide I will cover a getaway to: 

East Java. Getting picked up at your hotel this is a easy way to see more of Indonesia. From breathing volcanoes to unbelievable waterfalls this will a definitely be a trip of a lifetime. Depending on how you schedule your trip you will most likely be jumping on a cheap flight back to Bali from either Surabaya or Yogyakarta depending on how far you go. 

Komodo National Park, Flores is another perfect getaway from Bali. Different from the other trip, this is the place to go is you like to be in the water. With an impressive underwater life, this is a dream destination for those who like to get wet. With beautiful surroundings you will get to sail across the Flores sea in a pirate ship, and if you are lucky you will get a close encounter with a Komodo Dragon! It doesn’t get much cooler than that! Getting here will require you to book a two way ticket to Lebuan Bajo, Flores. 

CLICK HERE FOR A GUIDE TO KOMODO!

Exploring East Java

East Java will literally take your breath away. Have you ever dreamed about climbing down the crater into an active volcano? Well this was always a dream of mine. Seing the smoke, the fire and feeling the heat bellow feet! The power of the earth! That is what you get visiting east Java! You will also witness the most spectacular and beautiful waterfall there is. It triumphs everything I ever seen! 

It is possible to arrange everything yourself visiting east Java, but because of the distances between the different spots, the horrible traffic, booking your homestay and just finding your way, it is much more convenient to go with a tour company. I choose to go with JAVAINDO-ECOTOURISM. They where easy to communicate with and ended up being the best option. Having a english speaking personal driver the whole trip who are willing to do what it takes for you to feel comfortable is essential. Depending on how you customize your trip, they will cover everything except for food. (the food prices in east java are very low so this wont blow your budget). 

Make sure to bring some warm clothing as some of the spots are freezing cold in the morning. 

Down bellow I've listed some my favorite spots in East Java.

# Jawatan Forest 

# Red Island

# Ijen Volcano 

# Tumpak Sewu Waterfall

# Kapas Biru Waterfall

# Bromo Volcano  

# Rainbow village

# Jomblang Cave

# Borobudur Temple

# Prambanan Temple 

- JAWATAN FOREST -

The Jawatan Forest was my first stop after leaving my hotel in Bali. This fairytale like forest is something you only see in movies. With giant trees covered in moss on each side walking here is a bit surreal. When I visited there where only a few local people having picnic here. A good place to visit if you are into photography. Also a good place to sit down, relax and clear your mind. 

- Red Island -

Next up on my roadtrip though East Java was Red Island. This place is hugely popular amongst local people and the beach gets pretty crowded during sunset. Know for its beautiful sunsets it was easy to see why. With soft red sand and a small island just off the coast it is easy to understand why the locals like this place so much. Because of strong waves it is not recommended to go swimming here but it is said to be a good spot for surfing. 

- IJEN VOLCANO -

Visiting the Ijen volcano is definitely one of the coolest experience of my life. This is where you get to climb down into the crater of a highly active volcano and see the famous blue flame up close( blue lava as it is often called). 

It starts by getting up early in the morning making your way to where the hike up to the volcano starts. Around 2-3 AM you start walking while it is still pitch black outside. The only thing you can see is the enormous sky above you with millions of stars. You will spend 1-2 hours climbing the 800 meters to reach to top of the crater. Then you will make your way down into the crater. There are hundres of people doing the same thing so you will not be alone. Walking down into the crater feels a bit like walking into Mordor.(Lord of the rings) The goal is the reach it bottom of the crater while it is still dark. This is the only time you are able to see the blue flame. Remember to wear your mask as this place is highly toxic! With that being said, this is a once in a lifetime experience! You can really feel the uncontrolled power of mother earth! 

After checking out the blue flame, most people make their way up the crater rim to watch the sunrise. 

I chose to stay down to see how the toxic lake looks up close while it is light. You will also be able to have a chat with some of miners working in the bottom of the crater extracting sulfur from the volcano. These people should be respected as they have what is called the hardest and most dangerous job in the wold. Carrying 70-90 kilos of sulfur on one shoulder all the way up then down the road in the toxic gass all without wearing masks just for a few bucks to feed their families is something hard to understand. 

If you your time is limited, this is not the place to skip. 

- Tumpak Sewu Waterfall -

Tumpak Sewu is a waterfall so beautiful that I first thought it was fake. The waterfall itself is stunningly spread out like a huge curtain covering the big hole in the ground. If that wasn’t good enough, just take a look at the backdrop, Mt. Semeru a huge highly active volcano pours out ash every 20 minutes just to make it look even cooler. What more can you really ask for? It is so spectacular it is hard to wrap your mind around. 

There is also possible to climb down to the bottom of the waterfall to get a up and close encounters. The trail down is made up by wood and bamboo and is an experience on its own! The path is slippery and wet with some climbing involved so make sure to step carefully. 

Once down you will get all wet by the high humidity caused by the waterfall so make sure your gear is in a safe bag. 

# Kapas Biru Waterfall

Kapas Biru is my favorite waterfall in the world. After trekking for 50 minutes into the jungle you will arrive at Kapas Biru. The scenery here is so wild and untouched that I was considering not adding this place in my guide! So make sure to clean up after your vist so this can stay untouched forever! I added it anyway cause I want everyone to get the same feeling I had standing in front of the waterfall. The amount of water being pushed down into one small crack in the stone is so impressive it can take your breath away. 

Located not far from Tumpak Sewu this place can be visited on the same day if you are up for an adventure. 

- BROMO VOLCANO -

The most famous and easiest volcano to visit in Indonesia is Mount Bromo. It is a highly popular spot but it is easy to get away from the crowds if you plan your trip in advance. 

Visiting Mount Bromo is a full day trip and it will be a day you will remember for the rest of your life. The day starts early getting picked up by a jeeps ready to take you to see the sunrise at the famous viewpoint Mt. Panajanka located at 2774 meters. Here you will watch the sun rise up over the rim of the old Tengger Caldera crater. With the best possible view you can get over the crater, the village and all the volcanos of East Java located in front of your eyes, this is a great way to start your morning. Here you can ask your guide to take you to a less crowded spot if you want to get photos with no people. Or you do what I did and wait til people leave and take your photo at the viewpoint. 

After watching the sunrise your jeep will take you down into the Tengger Caldera crater and to what is called the "Sea of Sand". Here you can stop and take photos of the crazy surroundings.

The jeep will then take you close to Mt. Bromo! Mt. Bromo is a highly active volcano which is made easily accessible by steps going all the to the top of the crater rim. In fact it had an eruption just 3 days after my visit so make sure to check the degree of colcanic activity before visiting mt. Bromo. 

A 45 minute walk from your Jeep will take you to the top of the crater. Here you can walk around and witness the smoke rising from underneath. 

- Rainbow Village -

After visiting Mt. Bromo our driver took us to the Rainbow Village or Jodipan Village as it is also called. This is a colorful Village located in the city of Malang. A couple years ago the government had decided the the living condition of this village wasn’t any good and in need of a change. A group of students then came with a suggestion to spice up the village by giving it a bright and pooping new look. They painted the whole village in all the colors of the Rainbow with turned out the change the life of all the people living here. Now every corner, every alley, every house and every wall got a new a vibrant new look. By having a small entrance fee and selling souvenirs to tourist this surely is a good way to rise tourism and create job opportunities for the community. 

This changed has turned out to be giving people of the village hope and optimism as the environment changed and the economy has grown to the better. 

After visiting the Rainbow Village our tour with JAVAINDO-ECOTOURISM ended and our driver dropped us off in Surabaya. From here you can easily fly back to Bali. This tour took 4 days in total. 

- Visit Yogyakarta -

After my guided tour through East Java I ended in Surabaya, I jumped on a 4 hour train to Yogyakarta to visit Jomblang Cave, Prambanan temple, and the worlds largest buddhist temple, Borobudur. 

There is a lot to do in Yogyakarta. From hiking mountains, to caves and temples. The city is know for showing Indonesia at its purest where the traditions are at their most visible. 

Getting around in Yogyakarta can be challenging. I reached out to Yogyakarta Driver through Tripadvisor and they where happy to arrange my Jomblang Cave tour plus they gave me information about all the other spots around Yogyakarta. They offer pickup/drop off from your hotel and will drive you around in a city where the traffic is pretty horrible and dangerous. 

- Jomblang Cave -

Jomblang Cave is a cave located a two hour drive from the center of Yogyakarta. This cave is different from any other cave I ever visited. A huge hole in the ground where you will be rappelling down the around 60 meters to the bottom of the hole is a crazy and to some scary experience. This is completely safe and run by professional people. Once at the bottom your will have to trek for around 500 meters though a dark and muddy cave before you arrive at the amazing heavenly light! 

Tip: Once back up from the cave make sure to check out the many local people who participate to pull people back up. It is a funny sight not to miss! 

It is smart to bring extra clothing for this as you will most likely be covered in mud. 

Visiting Jomblang Cave can be hard as they only offer one trip a day and the spots are limited. So make sure to book your trip in advance. Reach out to Yogyakarta Driver through Tripadvisor as they will be happy to arrange your Jomblang Cave tour plus giving you information about all the other spots around Yogyakarta. They offer pickup/drop off from your hotel and are willing to drive you around in a city where the traffic is pretty horrible and dangerous. 

# Visit Prambanan

Prambanan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is the largest hindu tempel site in Indonesia. Similar to the huge Angkor Wat in Cambodia this temple site is characterized by tall and pointed architecture. Even though it is built in the 9th century many of the buildings are very well preserved.

The entrance fee is around $25. I recommend bying a combo ticket if you are planing to also visit Borobudur as this will save you money. 

- Visit Borobudur -

Borobudur is the largest buddhist temple in the world. Also built in the 9th century this temple is very well preserved. The temple is beautifully decorated with relief panels and Buddha statues. Most people visit the temple for sunrise if you want to avoid the crowds I recommend visiting midday. 

The entrance fee is around $25. I recommend bying a combo ticket if you are planing to also visit Prambanan as this will save you money. 

# Ready for More?

Planning your trip around Bali can be confusing. There are so many spots to visit and if you are like me, you want to be avoiding the crowded places that can easily ruin your experience. As I mention this guide will be a get away from the crowded Bali. That means leaving the main island of Bali. Even though you are leaving Bali you wont be gone for very long, so don’t worry, you wont miss it! 

Komodo National Park, Flores is another perfect getaway from Bali. Different from the other trip, this is the place to go is you like to be in the water. With an impressive underwater life, this is a dream destination for those who like to get wet. With beautiful surroundings you will get to sail across the Flores sea in a pirate ship, and if you are lucky you will get a close encounter with a Komodo Dragon! It doesn’t get much cooler than that! Getting here will require you to book a two way ticket to Lebuan Bajo, Flores. 

CLICK HERE FOR A GUIDE TO KOMODO!

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