Java Overland

Overland across Java from Jakarta eastward: Bandung, the Dieng Plateau, Yogyakarta and Borobudur, Solo, to the Bromo and Ijen volcanoes, then on to Bali.

Java Overland is the classic land route from west to east across the island of Java, and the most common way for backpackers to travel from Jakarta to Bali. Java is the most populous island in the world, spanning several provinces and dense with volcanoes and ruins of ancient kingdoms. In the west are Jakarta's old town and Bandung's Tangkuban Perahu volcano and tea plantations; in the middle, the Dieng Plateau has ancient Hindu temples and colorful lakes. Yogyakarta is the center of Javanese culture, surrounded by two World Heritage sites, Borobudur, the world's largest Buddhist monument, and the Hindu Prambanan temples, as well as the Sultan's Palace, batik workshops and jeep tours of Mount Merapi; nearby Solo keeps two royal courts and traditional markets. In the east, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park offers sunrise views over the crater cluster from Mount Penanjakan; at the far east, an overnight climb of Ijen reveals rare blue sulfur flames and a turquoise acid lake, and after descending you can take a ferry from Banyuwangi to Bali in about 1 hour. We suggest 8–12 days, with 3 days in Yogyakarta, 1–2 in Bromo and 1 at Ijen as the core. Trains between cities are comfortable and punctual, and for the volcano sections most people join local shared tours. At Ijen you need to wear a gas mask, and the Bromo sunrise viewpoint sits at about 2,700 m, so it is cold before dawn.

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