Top Things to do in East Java

This hidden gem of an island sits in plain sight just off the coast of Surabaya. The Madurese people, are known through out Indonesia as hard working migrant laborers, while on the home island they rely on cattle raising and salt panning. You can observe people engaging in both by visiting the salt fields or attending the bull racing festival which takes place between July to October.

Here you can find the remnants of the Majapahit Empire which reigned from the 13-16th century. It is the last of the Indianised Kingdoms of Indonesia and is credited for ushering in religious harmony and making the archipelago a major trading power. In Trowulan you can find various structures such as ritual bathing pools, Hindu and Buddhist temples and even a museum which houses various artifacts showcasing the empire’s ingenuity.

A bit further west to Malang, you will find the small town of Coban Rondo. This place is far off the tourist trail, but is loved by locals for weekend getaways. It has a beautiful pine forest nearby and a few great accommodations with views of the nearby valley. Here you can also enjoy nature by taking an ATV ride or strolling along a forested path.

A rather small town with a blend of traditional Javanese and Dutch colonial architecture. It doesn’t require a lot of time, but is a fun and manageable town to walk around and get some Bakwan malang, a unique meatball soup with tofu puffs and and fried wantons. If you want to get some sightseeing done, you can consider visiting the Malang market and the Museum Angkut, where you can find picture perfect vintage cars.

Located in between Ijen and Bromo, the village of Jodipan was not always so colorful. It got its colors some years ago in an effort by a few young people to attract more tourism to the area and prevent it from being destroyed. If you have some time, you should stop by and support their efforts! 

A few hours away from Surabaya, it’s a great midway stop when on a Mt Bromo or Tumpaksewu tour to stretch your legs and see a beautiful waterfall. If you are following this list West to East for your road trip, you may consider skipping this stop, as it will be out of the way getting to Mount Bromo.

Most East Java road trips start with the obligatory visit to Mount Bromo. And despite the crowds, we think it’s still worth your time to kick off your trip there. The panoramic views at sunrise from Kingkong Hill are otherworldly, walking through the sea of sand makes you feel like you’re on another planet and the opportunity to check out an active volcano  right at the crater rim is second to none. If you would like more information about visiting Mt Bromo, you can check this article where you can also find the right Bromo tour. 

Tumpaksewu waterfalls, or thousand streams waterfall in the local language, is just about 3 to 4 hours away from Mount Bromo, and absolutely worth the extra hours journey. You can observe these waterfalls from a few different angles: one from a viewing platform that you can get to by walking 10 minutes on a paved path and the other being at the base of the falls which you can reach by climbing a fairly steep dirt path for about 700 meters. We highly recommend committing to the 2 hour trekking for the best views. For more info, you can check out this article. 

Just a few hundred meters from the foot of Tumpak Sewu waterfalls, you will find Goa Tetes waterfall which are unique as they are falling over a small cave which are super fun to explore. It’s just a small detour from your way back to the entrance of Tumpak Sewu and at an extra IDR 5000 or so, it’s a great way to pack in more sites.

Just around the corner  from Tampaksewu, you can find Kapas Biru, another epic waterfall. Most people come to see it from a viewing point across the way, where they can sit in a stream and watch the waterfall with Mt Semeru in the background (if you are lucky and it’s not too cloudy!). Keep in mind it might get crowded, especially during the weekends, as it’s popular with locals. 

This is another waterfall around the corner from Tumpak Sewu that is nestled in the corner of a lush green canyon. One of it’s unique features is the position in which it is located has the sun hit it just right to make for a most amazing rainbow effect. In fact the name translates to “rainbow mist waterfall”.

Another gem close to Tumpaksewu is Mt Semeru which is the tallest mountain in Java and as a bonus, it’s also active! Because of the recent activity, it’s not possible to climb it, however you can arrange for a sunrise tour from the nearby town of Pronojiwo . Best option is to hire a jeep which will take you for the sunrise and then bring you around the surrounding ares which will take you through pine forests and lava fields. 

A picturesque beach known for a hilly island located just 100 meters from shore making for incredible views, especially during sunset. This beach is also great for surfing. You can rent a surfboard from the local shops.

If you are looking for a way to see some turtles, you should make a detour on your way to Ijen to Sukamade Beach. Run by national park rangers, this program helps to preserve turtle hatching grounds and make sure that more hatchlings have a chance at survival. 

Located outside of Banyuwangi town, Mount Ijen is locally known as Kawah Ijen. It is both an incredible natural phenomenon  where you can observe blue flames spitting from it’s crater depth as well as witness an active sulphur mine. Here local men climb up and down the rocky terrain carrying up to 100 kg of sulphur blocks from the Ijen crater. 

Quite close to the ferry port to Bali and Mount Ijen, Beluran is a unique landscape in Java. It’s savannah like environment is reminiscent much more of an East African national park than anything in South East Asia. If you are looking you may even see some deer striding by as you drive around the park. 

Day 1 : Start from Surabaya and do a day trip to Madura Island

Day 2: Head to Trowulan for a late morning stop and head to Coban Rondo for overnight

Day 3: After a morning of exploring the surrounding area, head to Malang.

Day 4: Explore Malang and head to Jodipan on your way to Cemorolawang for overnight stay

Day 5: Wake up early for Mount Bromo sunrise, followed by exploring the rest of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park and star heading toward Pronojiwo

Day 6: Head to Tumpak Sewu waterfall, visit Goa Tetes on your way back. Also see Kapas Biru waterfall.

Day 7: Wake up early for a sunrise jeep tour with the views of Mount Semeru and head out to Sukamade Beach - it’s a long drive!

Day 8: Spend the day at Sukamade Beach

Day 9: Head to Red Island Beach for an afternoon of lounging at the beach or surfing

Day 10: Arrive at Banyuwangi, and sleep early to wake up at midnight

Day 11: Wake up at midnight and head to Mt Ijen for sunrise views, head to Baluran National Park in the afternoon if you have energy, if not, save it for the next day.

If you are looking to avoid the crowds, you should go after September until May. But if you also want to make sure you have good weather with not a lot of clouds and rain, you should aim for end September to start of November and April to May.

You can most definitely rent a car and drive on your own. Motorbikes are also an option for those that don’t mind the pummeling rain. However if you want to just focus on the site, hiring a car and driver is a really good idea.

East Java has a varied landscape and climate. You might be sweating like crazy on the beach in Sukamade but freezing at Kingkong hill at sunrise. Best to pack lots of layers, sunscreen, sunglasses and hats and most important comfortable shoes for trekking. You should also consider flip flops for the beach. A rain poncho is a must!