Java, Indonesia
East Java Trip
An epic ride through East Java's volcanoes,
waterfalls, lively cities and paradise beaches
1,350 km
Distance
16 days
Duration
Moderate
Difficulty
September 2023
Trip Date
Java became one of my favourite islands in Indonesia: volcanoes, ancient temples, lively cities and a culture that felt rawer and more traditional than Bali's. I rode from Bali through East Java all the way to Yogyakarta, crossing some of the most stunning landscapes I've seen in Southeast Asia and stopping in energetic cities like Malang and Surabaya along the way. Tumpak Sewu, Bromo and Ijen were unforgettable. Karimunjawa required a small detour and a ferry, and I even took my scooter across with me, but it was absolutely worth it for the white beaches and clear water. Then Yogyakarta added a completely different side of Java, with Borobudur and Prambanan bringing centuries of history into the journey. It was the perfect mix of wild nature, city life, ancient culture and life on two wheels.
The Route
This isn't a loop, it's a one-way trip from Bali to Yogyakarta (or the reverse). Standard scooter rentals expect the bike back where you picked it up, so it comes with its own logistics: buying a scooter locally and reselling it at the end, or renting from a company that does one-way drop-offs. Some places deserved at least two full days, so in the end the whole thing took me 16 days and 15 nights. Here's where I stopped:
Bali
The Island of the Gods was my starting point, just a few hours from the far east of Java, and honestly the easiest place to sort out all the logistics around the bike before setting off.
Banyuwangi
The first city I hit in Java, and on its own there isn't much to see, but it's the base for climbing Mount Ijen, which made it the perfect way to kick things off.
Jember
A mid-sized city that tourism hasn't really reached yet. I stopped here mostly to break up the riding, but ended up really enjoying it, a genuine window into local life.
Lumajang
A small village with just enough tourist infrastructure to be useful, a good base near the spectacular Tumpak Sewu Waterfalls on the way to Malang.
Malang
This was the city that impressed me most out of all of them, the colors everywhere, how kind people were, that odd mix of modern and simple living side by side. I stayed two nights and was glad I did.
Cemoro Lawang
Same deal as Banyuwangi, a stop I couldn't skip, this time for the sunrise lighting up Mount Bromo, the volcano that basically is Java in a lot of people's minds.
Surabaya
A modern, buzzing city that barely registers on the tourist radar, full of fascinating local markets, striking mosques, and modern malls.
Rembang
The road from Surabaya to Jepara (the port for ferries to Karimunjawa) is a long one, and Rembang made a solid halfway stop for the night.
Jepara
A port city that exists, as far as I could tell, purely for the ferries to Karimunjawa. The ferries that take vehicles run on a limited schedule and leave early, so it's worth digging up the timing beforehand.
Karimunjawa
A little paradise off the north coast of Java, perfect if you love the sea, snorkeling, or just need some quiet. I got there by ferry with the scooter on board and stayed three nights.
Semarang
Another modern city like Surabaya, good for a dose of local life without the crowds, decent restaurants and services too. If time is tight this one's skippable.
Surakarta
A calmer, less developed city than Semarang or Surabaya, known for its cultural heritage and royal history.
Yogyakarta
A vibrant, historic city famous for its markets and temples, and where I spent two nights wrapping up the whole journey through southeast Java.
Bali→Banyuwangi1
1Banyuwangi→Jember2
2Jember→Lumajang3
Views on the Way to Lumajang
3Lumajang→Malang4
Malang
Malang→Cemoro Lawang5
5Cemoro Lawang→Surabaya6
6Surabaya→Rembang7
7Rembang→Jepara8
Sorting Tobacco Leaves
8Jepara→Karimunjawa9
Karimunjawa (Island Hopping)
Island Hopping
Karimunjawa
Karimunjawa→Semarang10
10Semarang→Surakarta11
11Surakarta→Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta
Sixteen days, and this route tied together natural wonders and ancient stone in a way that few trips I've done ever have, volcanoes, waterfalls, an island of white sand, and temples that have stood for over a thousand years, all covered on my own two wheels, at my own pace.
Trip Info