Train trip through Java - 10 days backpacking in Indonesia

General Information

The city of Yogyakarta is very interesting and an ideal starting point for excursions to various sights. On the one hand you have a very lively main street and on the other hand quiet residential areas. You can easily explore the entire city on foot. We have organized a driver for the excursions directly at the hotel.

Accommodation

GRIYA WIJILAN, Jalan Wijilan, Panembahan, Yogyakarta City

Very nice hotel and nice staff. Right next to it, however, is a mosque and the muezzin calls out to prayer 5 times a day, including at 4 a.m.

Activities and Sights

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Explore Yogyakarta on foot

We walked through town all day and looked at a few sights.

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The World Water Castle, Jalan Kompleks Taman Sari, Patehan, Yogyakarta City

The Sultan and his family used to spend their free time here. The moated castle (called Taman Sari in Indonesian) is located in the center of Yogyakarta and is one of the most famous sights. It was built as a spacious garden in the 18th century. The Taman Sari moated castle is only open until 3 p.m. You can explore the facility for a small entry fee.

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Jalan Malioboro, Sosromenduran, Yogyakarta City, Special Region of Yogyakarta

Jalan Malioboro is the major shopping street in Yogyakarta. Shops, market stalls and warungs are lined up here. The street is quite touristy, but it's worth seeing the hustle and bustle here with your own eyes. If you like markets, you should stroll through Pasar Beringharjo. You can buy batik here, as well as groceries and spices. The market is open between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

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Borobudur Temple, Jalan Badrawati, Kawasan Candi Borobudur, Borobudur

This temple complex is probably one of the main attractions of Java and not without reason! The Borobudur Temple dates from the 8th century and is the largest Buddhist temple complex in the world. In general, there is a lot going on here and many tourists come for sunrise (various tours are also offered here) We just went there very relaxed in the morning and it wasn't too crowded. Tickets can easily be purchased on site.

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Day trip to temples

We organized a driver through the hotel who took us to the various temples that day: Borobudur Temple, Prambanan Temple and the Chicken Church. The sights are all outside of the city so you have to drive a lot. For the two temples we bought the combined ticket for IDR 630,000. (Sunrise is more expensive)

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Prambanan Temple, Jalan Raya Solo - Yogyakarta, Kranggan, Bokoharjo

The second major temple in the Yogyakarta area is the Prambanan Temple. It is the largest Hindu temple in Indonesia. We were here at sunset.

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Chicken Church, Kurahan, Kembanglimus, Magelang

The popularly known Gereja Ayam is an interreligious house of prayer or church building near the two large temples Borobudur and Prambagan. . You have a great view from the viewing platform on top of the chicken. Be sure to stop by when you're around. Entry is very cheap.

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General Information

The city of Probolinggo only served as a stopover for a further journey to Mount Bromo. The bus stop for the van to Cemorolawang can be found here: Jl. Raya Bromo No.3, Triwung Lor, Kec. Kademangan, Kota Probolinggo, Jawa Timur 67223, Indonesia

Accommodation

OYO 1482 Brak Residence

Rooms were fine for one night. The hosts were very nice and even picked us up at the train station and took us to the bus stop the next day.

Activities and Sights

General Information

Cemorolawang is right next to Mount Bromo. The village is very small and the main source of income is tourism. Accordingly, as a tourist, you are sometimes withdrawn. In the mountains it is very cold and you should wrap yourself up thick. We wanted to explore Mount Bromo on our own without booking an overpriced tour.

Accommodation

Yog Bromo Homestay, Cemorolawang, Ngadisari, Probolinggo

It was the worst hotel in my life. We saw the owner for 1 minute to hand over the keys, then never again. The rooms were totally old and dirty. But there aren't many better options in this small place.

Activities and Sights

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Mount Bromo, Gunung Bromo Area, Podokoyo, Pasuruan

We walked to the base of Mount Bromos - a very nice walk! However, we couldn't go up the crater because the volcano had erupted a week earlier. But we were able to hike through the cooled lava trails - also an experience.

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Mount Bromo, Gunung Bromo Area, Podokoyo, Pasuruan

Of course, the tourist attraction couldn't be missing either: Mount Bromo at sunrise. To do this, however, you have to take on some hardships. It starts (with many other tourists) at 3 a.m. with an ascent to the King Kong Hill viewing platform. We decided not to walk all the way to the top, but looked for a place further down (the view was great too!). So we escaped the tourist crowds. It was freezing cold, we were tired and had to wait another hour for the sun to rise. But it was worth it!

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General Information

Banyuwangi is a town near the Ijen volcano and served as the starting point for our tour. After this last stop in Java, we went to Bali. You can take a taxi to Ketapang Harbor East Java and take the ferry to Gilimanuk.

Accommodation

Hotel Blambangan, Jalan Doctor Wahidin Sudiro Husodo, Kepatihan, Banyuwangi Regency

Very nice hotel with nice staff.

Activities and Sights

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Mount Ijen / Blue Fire Spot, Jalan Kawah Ijen, Dusun Jambu, Tamansari

This time we booked a guided tour based on some testimonials on the Internet - we could have saved ourselves that, however. You are picked up at the hotel at 12 o'clock in the evening and taken to a kind of collection point. All tour operators start the ascent to the crater here. You could have just gone there on your own to climb the volcano, because it's a huge mass event. Everyone starts walking to the crater at around 1 a.m. so that you can experience the blue fire at night and the sunrise in the morning. Still a spectacular view and a great excursion.

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