Indonesia: Tips for a round trip from Java to Komodo

You want to go to Indonesia for the first time, but you don't know exactly where to go? After all, the country is made up of more than 17,500 islands. We propose a tour for newbies who want to satisfy their wanderlust after the pandemic.

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A month in Indonesia - that sounds like a lot of time and a relaxed travel mode to see paradisiacal bays, spectacular volcanoes and ancient temples.

Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that.

The country in Southeast Asia consists of more than 17,500 islands, Sumatra alone is larger than Germany.

In four weeks you can only see a very small part and you have to limit yourself to a few regions if you don't want to sit on the bus, train or plane all the time.

It takes three days to travel to and from the airport and a stopover in Singapore, for example.

For beginners we recommend the classic and varied round trip from Jakarta via Java to Bali and from there on to Lombok - or instead to the Komodo National Park.

The route presented here is only one of countless possibilities and can of course be expanded, shortened or modified as required.

On Java to the largest Buddhist building in the world

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In the unanimous opinion of Indonesian experts, the train journey is still the most beautiful way to discover Java.

In several days - depending on the time and mood - it goes relaxed from west to east over the most densely populated island of Indonesia.

Most travelers quickly leave the capital Jakarta, a gigantic juggernaut, behind.

Tip: Book the hotel for the first night near a long-distance train station (for example Gambir).

The train ticket is best bought online a little in advance and printed out at the station.

There is a choice between three classes, the cheapest (Ekonomi) is missing on some faster connections.

Source: dpa, OSM contributors;

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The first set goal on the journey to the east is Yogyakarta, or “Jogja” for short.

The city is Java's cultural center and has several historically significant places, such as the Sultan's Palace.

Those looking for a high-quality souvenir will be happy in the antique shops around Prawirotaman Street, where there are also numerous boutique hotels, coffee bars and stylish restaurants.

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If the first exhaustion of the journey is over, it is worth getting up early again.

Outside Yogyakarta, a real eye-opener awaits: the temple complex of Borobudur, a colossal stupa with the floor plan of a mandala, the largest Buddhist building in the world.

The mood is at its best at the beginning of the day, even if you usually share the view with dozens of other tourists.

The island of Java is famous for the Buddhist temple complex of Borobudur

Source: Getty Images / Albert photo

The tour can be booked in almost every hostel in "Jogja".

The journey begins at night, so that you arrive at the temple complex before the bus tour groups.

While the sun rises behind the Gunung Merapi and the mist rises from the rice fields, the muezzins are singing;

Mostly Muslims live in Java.

When it got light, you can admire the artistic reliefs.

A night trip to Ijen volcano

Volcanoes fascinate and instill fear, are at the same time an acute threat and popular excursion destinations.

Indonesia, located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, has some particularly hot specimens to offer in Java.

It would be a shame to ignore them all, especially since the sightseeing tours are well organized.

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The Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park with its huge volcanic basin and several craters is a must.

There is a non-stop train from Yogyakarta to Probolinggo.

At night, the tours start in the city with pick-up from the hotel and take the guests to a car park in the national park.

From there it goes carefully on foot with a headlamp under a twinkling starry sky to King Kong Hill, a perfect vantage point.

Tourists enjoy the view from the crater rim of the Bromo volcano

Source: Getty Images / shaifulzamri

The view of Gunung Bromo and Semeru during the sunrise is picturesque.

It becomes particularly dramatic when the first clouds creep into the basin, under a blue sky.

Below you can walk on the crater rim of the Bromo, while the smoke rises from the mouth of the volcano.

A nocturnal excursion to the Ijen volcano in eastern Java is even more spectacular, as it leads to the bottom of the crater.

There, igniting sulfur gases shoot in blue flames, some meters high, out of the volcanic rock.

Play of colors at dawn: the crater lake of the Ijen in eastern Java shines turquoise

Source: dpa-tmn

The gases are so biting that tourists wear protective masks on their faces, while local workers work hard to get the sulfur lumps from the mountain - without a mask.

The turquoise lake inside the Ijen comes into its own with the first light of the day from the crater rim of the volcano.

The train journey ends in the coastal town of Banyuwangi with the exhausting volcano excursion to the Ijen.

After the hardships of the trip so far, Bali is now waiting, where you can take it easy for a few days as you like.

The ferry leaves and you leave Java and the first week of Indonesia behind you.

Surfing, diving and vacationing on the beach in Bali

Of course, you can just as easily spend a week as a month in Bali.

There is always enough to see, and the community of international travelers and part-time dropouts is large.

The friendliness of the Balinese, the playful charm of the island, which is reflected in the ornate house temples of its Hindu inhabitants, and the excellent infrastructure make it easy to stay here longer than planned and to forget the days.

While the beaches in the south of Kuta are the main attraction for surfing, many globetrotters particularly like to stay in Ubud, a small town in the hinterland where hipsters meet hippies and hedonists meet culture-loving day trippers.

Vegan restaurants, smoothie cafes and lots of shops make Ubud a tourist hotspot of the pleasant kind.

Whether off Bali or Lombok - surfers find good conditions in Indonesia

Source: Getty Images / Aurora Open / Konstantin Trubavin / Aurora Photos

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Those who want to explore the island's sights can rent a scooter or use the popular Grab taxi app.

And those who have been traveling on a tight budget up to now may treat themselves to higher quality accommodation, for example with a small private pool.

Some of the most popular attractions in Bali include Gunung Kawi and Pura Tirta Empul temples;

But of course there are many more worth seeing.

The same applies to the mountain village of Munduk as the starting point for extensive hikes, to the rice terraces of Jatiluwih and the monkey forest of Sangbeh.

In Ubud, the Balinese dance performances are worthwhile.

Divers find beautiful spots in the north of the island.

What Bali supposedly once was and has become in the meantime could be discussed for a long time.

One thing is certain: On a round trip, the island can be the perfect place to relax.

And for many visitors, Bali is simply a must-see destination, where one would like to have been - and show it off.

Organized tours do not lead to the best Instagram spots for nothing, including the “Gate of Heaven” in Lempuyang, which is shared a thousand times over.

By boat to the lizards in Komodo National Park

After the classics Java and Bali, travelers have the choice: On to the neighboring island of Lombok, which attracts with the imposing Rinjani volcano?

To the offshore Gili Islands, where backpackers spend relaxing days on the beach in simple huts and basically nothing much happens?

Or with a domestic flight from Denpasar to Kalimantan (Borneo) to take a trip to the orangutans in the rainforest?

Everything can be done well, everything is worth seeing.

But instead of monkeys you can also opt for lizards - and what for which!

From the island of Flores, boat tours start in the Komodo National Park with its famous, quite frightening Komodo dragons.

You can fly from Bali in one hour to Labuan Bajo, a clear port city with an evening fish market on the water.

Local tour operators offer tours of various lengths to the national park, which can be booked easily via WhatsApp after a short research on the Internet and with pick-up directly from the hotel.

The accommodation on the ships is often spartan, but the experiences on and between the islands make up for everything.

The largest lizards in the world live on Komodo

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The island of Komodo is part of the Indonesian Komodo National Park, which has a very special attraction in store for visitors: Only here do Komodo dragons live in the wild.

Source: Getty Images / Barry Kusuma

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The sanctuary east of Bali extends over numerous islands, the three largest being Padar, Rinca and Komodo.

Source: Getty Images / Flickr Open

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Komodo dragons are also called dragons - after all, they look like them ...

Source: Getty Images

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... with their flaky skin, flat head and strong body.

Source: Getty Images / Flickr Open

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With a length of up to three meters and a weight of 135 kilograms, Komodo dragons are the largest lizards in the world.

Tourists are only allowed to visit the animals when accompanied by a ranger.

Source: picture alliance / Mary Evans

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This rule has been in force since a man who broke up with his group disappeared over 30 years ago.

All you found was your camera - and a big-belly monitor lizard.

Source: LightRocket via Getty Images

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If the deer is lucky, the Komodo dragon is already full.

The lizards can get by for up to two weeks with one large meal.

Source: Getty Images / Moment Open

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This little dragon is still too tiny to spread fear and terror.

Source: AFP / Getty Images

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Only 4000 people live on the islands of the national park, they live in stilt huts.

Source: Getty Images / Flickr Open

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The island of Komodo is of volcanic origin, dry bushes and palm trees grow on the hills.

Source: Getty Images / Flickr Open

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In Komodo National Park you should also visit the pink beach.

As you get closer, you'll see tiny bits of crimson coral mingling with the sand.

Source: picture alliance / ANN / The Jakar

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Snorkeling and diving are worthwhile: In the waters around the islands there are many colorful fish species, you can see sea turtles and corals.

Source: Getty Images / Flickr RF

This is how travelers get to see the seemingly primeval giant lizards, which it is better not to get too close to.

The animals live on the islands of Rinca and Komodo, the latter is to be expanded into a premium destination with a high entrance fee in the future.

In the national park there are also great diving spots;

Specialized excursions can be booked in Labuan Bajo.

If you don't want to dive that deep, at least go snorkeling.

The absolute highlight here is Manta Point in the middle of the sea between two islands.

The largest rays on earth glide through the water just a few meters below your own body, apparently slowly, but you cannot swim after them.

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Or you can just splash around on Pink Beach in the tropical sea.

The sandy beach actually has a slightly pink color due to the deposits.

After a month of island hopping, it's back home - knowing, having experienced a lot, but not having seen more.

Indonesia is worth a second trip.

At least.

Almost like Bali and yet very different

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Surfers are often the first to discover exotic travel destinations.

Source: Getty Images / Westend61

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In Lombok, they prefer Selong Belanak Beach.