Insider tips: Recommended 3-week Java tour itineraries
Compiled by

MelissaJava travel expert at TourRadar
- Days 1-6
Sumatra Exploration
Land in Medan mid-morning to skip the worst airport traffic. Visit Al-Mashun Great Mosque and Maimun Palace on day one. Remember to pack modest clothing that covers your shoulders. Take the 3-hour drive to Bukit Lawang on Day 2. The road isn't great so bring motion sickness medication if you need it. Head into Gunung Leuser National Park the next day for orangutan trekking. You'll want quick-dry clothes and plenty of water since the humidity hits hard. Cool off with river tubing later but keep your valuables safe in dry bags. Visit Berastagi and Lake Toba from Days 4-6. Get to Sibayak Hot Springs before 9 AM to beat the crowds. The ferry to Samosir Island takes about an hour. Grab a spot on the upper deck for the best views of Lake Toba, which holds the title of world's largest volcanic lake.
- Days 7-13
Western Java Circuit
Book a morning flight to Jakarta since afternoon storms often cause delays. Skip the infamous traffic by using the MRT or local GoJek apps. When you reach Bandung, check out the art deco buildings along Braga Street that earned it the nickname "Paris of Java." The mountain drive to Semarang takes 5 hours. Stay close to Kota Lama (Old Town) to easily explore Dutch colonial buildings and find the best lumpia spring rolls. As one visitor put it: "The Lawang Sewu building is hauntingly beautiful at sunset, when the 'thousand doors' cast long shadows across the marble floors."
- Days 14-21
Central and Eastern Java
Spend two nights in Yogyakarta, staying in artsy Prawirotaman near good restaurants. Pack warm clothes for the 3:30 AM Borobudur sunrise trip since mornings get chilly. For Mount Bromo, book a room in Ngadas Village to experience local life. The sunrise jeep ride is rough but the views make up for it. Bring good shoes for the "Sea of Sand" walk and something to cover your face from volcanic dust. Finish in Surabaya. Plan for a 4-hour drive from Bromo with traffic. Book late afternoon flights since morning fog often delays mountain departures.
15 Days in Indonesia, incl. Java and Bali
An 8-day adventure weaves through Java's cultural sites before reaching Bali. The route from Jakarta leads through Yogyakarta to Mount Bromo, with carefully planned overnight stops for immersive cultural and natural encounters.
- Days 1-2
Jakarta
- Day 3
Jakarta to Bandung
- Day 4
Bandung
- Day 5
Train to Yogyakarta
- Days 6-7
Yogyakarta & Solo
- Days 8-9
Malang & Bromo
- Days 10-14
Bali
- Day 15
Departure from Denpasar
- Days 1-2
Yogyakarta
Start in Yogyakarta, the cultural center of Java. Visit traditional markets in the early morning before it gets hot. In the late afternoon, rent a bike to explore the rice paddies outside the city. Make sure to try the local gudeg near Malioboro Street - it's a delicious young jackfruit curry sold by street vendors.
- Days 3-4
Magelang & Borobudur
Take a 90-minute drive to Candirejo Village for an authentic taste of Javanese life. Get up at 4:00 AM for the Setumbu Hill sunrise. You'll need a headlamp and good shoes since the path can be slippery with morning dew. The view of Borobudur Temple rising from the mist makes the early wake-up worthwhile.
- Days 5-6
Solo to Mount Bromo
- Days 7-8
Mount Bromo & Surabaya
Take a 3:30 AM jeep ride to Bromo. Wear sturdy shoes for the crater climb and bring something to cover your face from sulfur fumes. A recent visitor said: "The pre-dawn hike was challenging but seeing the sun rise over the volcanic landscape was incredible. Layer up - it's freezing before sunrise but heats up quickly."
- Days 9-10
Kalibaru
- Days 11-12
Banyuwangi & Ijen Crater
- Days 13-14
Pemuteran
- Days 15-17
Ubud