Hello!
I've been thinking about visiting Indonesia for a few years. I've always been drawn to the tropical climate, the jungle, the crystal-clear waters, and the culture of Asian countries. What I didn't know back then is that after deciding to take this trip, I would fall in love with this country again.
It's a very large country. To give you an idea, Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, and naturally, you had to choose one of them to begin your adventure.
The criteria for choosing one was very simple: my adventure partner and I had two things clear: we wanted adventure and little tourism, and Java met these requirements, so we decided to spend two weeks exploring the east of the island.
Upon landing in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, we took an internal flight to Surabaya, a city located on the eastern tip of the island and the starting point of the trip.
We rented a car and began our adventure through East Java for the next two weeks. Since a day-by-day trip would be too long, I'll divide this post into five locations, five incredible spots located throughout the far east of Java:
1. Rainbow Village, Malang. A small village where the roofs are painted in colors by children to attract tourists.
2. Lumajang, the village of waterfalls .
3. Tabuhan and Menjangang Islands
4. Ijen Volcano
Day 5: Back Home!
I'm attaching a MyMaps so you can see the route:
1. Rainbow Village, Malang
Our first stop on the trip, located about four hours from Surabaya, was our closest option for spending the first night. When we arrived, it was already dark, so we set our alarms and were there early in the morning, in Rainbow Village.
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This village has a beautiful history behind it; it was painted like a rainbow by students from the University of Malang a few years ago. What was once a village with very few resources and a rather precarious way of life began to attract tourism to improve the living conditions. Today, if you visit East Java, it's a must-see stop, to meet its people and lose yourself in its colorful streets. After spending our first day in this area, it was time to return to the hostel; the next day was a busy day of driving to reach one of the most impressive areas on the entire island.
2. Lumajang, Indonesia's most impressive waterfalls
Our base for the next three to four days was the small town of Lumajang. Once we were settled into the Dear Traveler hostel, it was time to explore the area. The alarm went off, and there we were, ready to take advantage of the best daylight.
I'll leave you here all the waterfalls we visited, in no particular order, although I already know which is my favorite, and you?
Tumpak Sewu
Known as the waterfall of a thousand falls, I don't think it needs any explanation. I remember that day, we were at the top even before dawn, only the sound of the water and the jungle could be heard; I've rarely felt so peaceful. Little by little, the sun began to rise, illuminating the scene with a soft light. It was the perfect moment to take the drone and enjoy it for a while.
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The descent to the waterfall was a great adventure, crossing rivers and holding onto bamboo canes. When I arrived, I couldn't believe what I was seeing; that feeling ran through my body. For a moment, I thought I was on another planet. I'm leaving you with these photos; as they say, a picture is worth a thousand words. |
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Goa Tetes
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Continuing along the river in the opposite direction to Tumpak Sewu, we came across this spectacular system of waterfalls and caves. The best part was that the water was warm, like a spa in the middle of nature. |
Kabut Pelangi, Kapas Biru: each one more spectacular than the last. Just the descent through the jungle to these waterfalls was worth it. Every now and then, we came across a local whose fields were located near the river, a spectacular landscape. Giant ferns and stone walls covered in tropical plants, just insane.
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We never tired of seeing waterfalls and jungle, although on our last day in the Luamajang area, we decided to drive south, an hour from our accommodation. We wanted a beach and a motorcycle, and it wasn't hard to find one. We rented a motorcycle from a local for about 20 euros and had a great time driving along the volcanic sand beach at sunset, alone with no one else, enjoying the sea breeze, the peaceful atmosphere of the local fishermen, and everything around us.
3. Tabuhan and Menjangang Islands
The adventure continued along the east coast of Java, heading for some small islands located an hour away by boat. The first stop was Menjangang Island, closer to Bali than Java, so it was inevitable to run into the occasional tourist. The island's inhabitants are a bit strange; they have brown fur and four legs—they're deer! It was curious to see them running across the island.
What you can't miss is a snorkel, a pair of fins, goggles, and a snorkel, and you can enjoy one of Java's most impressive seabeds. We saw many species of fish, starfish, and other creatures, surrounded by spectacular coral.
The next stop was Tabuhan Island, smaller than the previous one and closer to the coast of Java. And now we had it all to ourselves!
There was absolutely no one else there, what a feeling... The dips were very frequent, it was hard to stay out of the water in the heat.
4. Ijen Volcano
The adventure continued with a visit to one of Java's most iconic sites, the Kawah Ijen volcano, which houses the world's largest acidic lake, perfect for a swim (just kidding, don't even think about putting a single toe in that water). It was a three- to four-hour hike to the summit, followed by a descent into the crater to see the blue fire, with miners working tirelessly—a harsh reality that's hard to accept at the time. The blue fire I mentioned is the result of sulfur combustion in a gaseous state, which is not recommended for breathing, so they rent gas masks right there before the climb.
Note: If you go, I ask you to respect the miners. Even though it is a tourist attraction, there are people working in very harsh conditions, and sometimes we tourists get in their way while they carry baskets full of sulfur that can weigh 70-80 kg.
The hike was definitely worth it, as we enjoyed one of the most beautiful sunrises of the entire trip. Just bring some warm clothes, because it's freezing up there.
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5. Bromo Volcano and Madakaripura, the sacred area of East Java
The last two stops of our adventure. We returned to Malang from Ijen, a full day's hike, and settled there again to begin the trek to Bromo. The active Bromo volcano, at an altitude of about 2,300 meters, is one of the busiest tourist spots in East Java. That's why we decided to avoid the crowds and go early in the day. In Malang, we met up with a local friend, rented some trail bikes, and drove two hours into the night to arrive at the top at sunrise.
The road is quite dangerous, so I don't recommend it if you're inexperienced on a motorcycle. In that case, there are many tours that take you there in a jeep, which is much safer, but the window for improvisation is closed, and that's something we don't like much, hehe. Once you get there, be prepared to get cold; the change from an average of 30C to 0 or below is brutal. I'm not exaggerating. But it's definitely worth it... Gazing at that Martian landscape at dawn is definitely worth it.
After making the most of the best possible light, it was time to descend to the Bromo Savannah, a sea of sand where jeeps and motorcycles crisscross like crazy, horseback riders cross the road... I swear I'd never seen anything like it, it was literally like being on another planet, hard to explain.
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It was time to climb the Bromo ring and see the volcano from above. A slip here could cost you your life, so be very careful where you step.
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We had swallowed enough sand, so we grabbed the bikes and headed back to Malang, our base camp.
| The last stop of the trip was the immense Madakaripura Waterfall, a sacred area for the locals and a 200-meter waterfall, one of the tallest in all of Java. Exhausted by this point in the trip, from the sheer number of adventures we'd packed into our lives, from waking up every day at dawn and staying up every sunset, from the hours of driving, riding a motorbike, boating, and snorkeling—two weeks nonstop—it was time to regain some energy. We flew to Jakarta from Surabaya to spend the last day of the trip there, more relaxing, back to civilization. |
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Here we conclude this adventure and this brief travel diary. I can't recommend Indonesia enough; neither my photos nor my words can describe what we experienced during these two weeks. We had high expectations, but they were certainly exceeded by its landscapes, nature, and, above all, its people. In case you're still hungry for more, here's a video I made about the trip: https://youtu.be/cV6N99Pl2wo |
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