Things to do on Karimunjawa Island, Java – Guide & Itinerary

Karimunjawa Island was, I suppose, the fun beachy section of my 16-day trip to Java (aka my favourite place in Southeast Asia). Although Karimunjawa Island is a hassle to get to – it’s a 2-hour boat journey from a city on the north coast of Central Java which is devoid of tourism – those who make an effort will be rewarded with pristine tropical beaches, a fun environment, unspoilt by over-tourism, and the friendliest locals you’ll ever encounter.

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Where is Karimunjawa Island?

Here it is. Isn’t it cute? Karimunjawa is a 2-4 boat journey North of central Java with Borneo to the Northeast.

Why visit Karimunjawa Island?

The main reason to visit Karimunjawa is, essentially, the exact reason why most people HAVEN’T visited yet – it’s pretty hard to get to. So whilst you might have a headache on your way over, once you’re there, it’s going to be a hell of a lot quieter than similar islands off Thailand or Bali, for example. It’s a must-do for people who want a more raw island experience.

Despite the population only being around 9000, we were heavily outnumbered by locals – I kept spotting the same tourists over and over (in a lovely way, we’d spot each other and say hi). It felt as if there couldn’t be more than 50 Western tourists total, though there surely were more hiding elsewhere. It had a great vibe and was fun to explore a place where you have no idea what’s around each corner.

When to visit Karimunjawa Island?

Check the Indonesian holidays – Karimunjawa mostly has local tourism so it will be a lot busier if your trip coincides with a Javanese holiday. I left on the Friday before a holiday and could see it felt A LOT more crowded the evening before I left. (Though the timing was great because there were so few tourists during my trip – everyone waited to arrive on their holiday!) I went in April and enjoyed near-perfect weather – though we did have a thunderstorm for an hour on a snorkelling trip while we were on a tiny fisherman’s boat and got drenched. All adds to the adventure though, right? April – October is generally thought to have the best weather.

How to get to Karimunjawa Island?

Karimunjawa is admittedly a hassle to get to. For boat schedules and how to book tickets, you can see my dedicated blog post on how to get to Karimunjawa. I have also included onward journey information for Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang and Bromo.

How to get to and from Karimunjawa, Java’s Paradise Island

Our trip began at 8 am and we met at my hostel Bodhi Tree (a few minutes walk to the port). It ended at 17:30 and we saw the sunset from the boat as we approached the main island. Although this is more expensive than some snorkelling trips in SE Asia, bear in mind this includes hopping onto abandoned pristine islands in the middle of the sea and, if you make sure you avoid Javanese holidays (most of the tourists on Karimunjawa are locals) you might well be the only boat you see all day. The exact islands you hop to will depend on the weather. 🙂

Packing List for Thailand, Bali and Southeast Asia

It was depressing to see the number of plastic straws, bottles, makeup containers lotions, food wrapping such as instant noodle packets… and STYROFOAM that was broken up and littered everywhere making it impossible to collect. I certainly will never get close to buying another packed-in styrofoam again. The locals also reminded everyone not to touch the coral or go too close to the sea animals, which is rare at other places I’ve been to. Please don’t chase turtles guys.

HIKING IJEN AT SUNRISE – Travel advice for seeing a natural phenomenon – East Java

1. Head to Bukit Love Hill Viewpoint

Cost: 10k for 3 three entries (1 AUD, 0.56 GBP, 0.71 USD), so you can go back for sunrise or sunset! I highly recommend it for sunset – you should be okay to see it at most times of year since you get an amazing panoramic view from the top!

2. Head to the Northern Beaches

If exploring on your scooter, it’s a good excuse to head to the north and check out the beaches on the NW coast. Ask for a map (or use this one shoddily photographed here) and head up to Batu Lawang Beach – there are actually two or three beaches in this area. See the one I ended up at photographed here – me and the lovely Dutch girl I met were the only people there!

3. Scoot around the palm trees and mountains

Just driving around was super fun! I enjoyed it in the late afternoon when the sun was hanging low and so pretty! Perfection.

IF YOU’RE A SOLO TRAVELLER AND CAN’T DRIVE A SCOOTER (like me, though I was lucky enough to meet a Dutch girl who drove me around!)

• you can walk to Bukit Love viewpoint, though go early as it gets hot. People were so friendly and with any luck, someone would take you on their back. Speak to your accommodation about things to do or head to Bodhi Tree Hostel to hang out as the locals and tourists there are so friendly) to see if anyone can help you out or has room for a passenger!
• Feeling introverted? I get that. Stay in the main town and you’ll have no issues booking on to trekking with a guide or going on a snorkelling trip (the port is a few minutes walk from the main town). If you’re shy, I recommend doing snorkelling FIRST as you’ll automatically end up meeting a group of other travellers.

DAY THREE – KARIMUNJAWA’S BEST BEACHES

Whilst I’m usually all about exploring, it seems mad to come to beach heaven and not check them out! I get bored on beaches easily, so downloaded a few articles to read and went around lunchtime so I could enjoy the view with some veggie rice.

Whilst there are many beaches to choose from and you can’t really go wrong, the Western beaches are a great place to spend an afternoon. They have names like Pokemon Beach and Barakuda Beach. Ask your accommodation to recommend a great beach as I reckon it changes a lot depending on the season and how busy it is.

The cost for the Eastern beach I visited was 5K IDR – all other beaches I visited on Karimunjawa Island had no charge.

BEST SUNSET SPOT?

No Karimunjawa Island itinerary would be complete without the addition of an amazing sunset.

Pantai Ulung Gelam (where the below photos were taken) or Pantai Batu Topeng – they’re right next to each other. Check with your accommodation the best spot for sunset depending on the month you visit! (When I visited, I went in April and was treated to this amazing sunset. Absolutely incredible. I also loved my sunset at Bukit Love Hill (see above) but this one was definitely the best sunset in Karimunjawa!

How to take great travel photos of yourself – solo travel series

OTHER ACTIVITIES 

More things to do on Karimunjawa Island include:

DIVING: Diving costs usually 1 MIL IDR for two dives. 0830am till sunset (so presumably also includes island hopping with lunch). I didn’t dive on Karimunjawa as it was a minimum of two people and there simply weren’t enough tourists. Snorkelling was great fun though.

CAMPING OVERNIGHT ON A TINY ISLAND: Contact a tour company directly if you want to set up a private meal or, if you’re feeling adventurous, want to set up an overnight camping stay on a tiny island.

TREKKING: An 0830 to 1400 trekking trip with a guide will cost around 200K – 300K IDR depending on how many people there are (that’s 300K if it’s just you). Just make sure you take plenty of sunblock, snacks and your reusable water bottle!

HAMMOCKS can be rented for about 25K IDR a day. You can also do more extensive island hopping tours or go on a traditional fishing trip, which I didn’t look into as I am vegetarian.

Avoid shark-related activities where I believe they feed sharks to draw them in so tourists can interact with them and take photos. (I didn’t actually see this as an option where I stayed, but have heard it’s offered in the more expensive accommodations and those catering to local tourists). This is highly suspected to have a very negative impact on the local ecosystem alongside the animals’ well-being. Always be cautious when it comes to animal tourism.

WHERE TO EAT ON KARIMUNJAWA ISLAND?

Karimunjawa town has plenty of warungs to choose from, which are usually my preference (pass the sambal!), but if you’re craving some Western comfort food or a good honest veggie burger Eat & Meet is easy to find in the main town. Yes, it’s pricier, but sometimes you gotta give your stomach what it’s craving!

Meal at Meet and Eat – 50-80K IDR

Huge pancakes and cheap Western meals – 25K IDR

Warungs – usually 20 – 30K IDR depending on your option – are all pretty similar, so I don’t have a specific recommendation.

Can of coke from a shop on a hot scooter day – 12K IDR

Beer – Small 30k, Large 55k – – Amore cafe is pretty basic but has lovely harbour views to enjoy an evening Bintang. I don’t recommend buying beer on the beach – it’s very costly.

Night market – cheap food and comes highly recommended. I didn’t go as I don’t eat fish so not a huge help here.

TUMPAK SEWU FULL GUIDE – 3 waterfalls day trip, trekking info, how to get there, costs and solo travel advice – East Java

THE BEST HOSTEL I HAVE EVER BEEN TO

Bodhi Tree Hostel is an amazing place to stay on Karimunjawa Island. 

As an introverted solo traveller, I have pretty much never found a hostel with the right balance of interaction and, y’know, actually being quiet at night! The interesting locals chatted with me as soon as they realised I was solo, and I met another solo traveller instantly who was super chill and lovely. In the evenings, it was a chilled place to hang with other travellers of all ages (no one was getting wasted, just having a drink together and playing cards etc.) And – a rare treat – it was actually quiet between 10-11 am. I could sleep! Yay.

And you can book snorkelling tours/scooters/boat tickets here too. Karimunjawa accommodations seem to be rated pretty highly, so you should be fine getting somewhere good, whatever your budget.

Where to stay in Karimunjawa?

Hostel: As mentioned before, I stayed in Bodhi Tree Hostel and absolutely loved it. With a restaurant, cute interior, and super friendly staff who will book island tours for you, it’s the best hostel I ever stayed in. Despite being so popular, it was quiet at night, too! Dorms from $5pn, private rooms from $16pn.

Hotel: Ayu Hotel Karimunjawa has gorgeous, air-conditioned rooms with garden views and a blend of Javanese and modern designs. Tours can be booked onsite. From $35pn.

Unique: For budget-friendly floating bungalows, Karimunjawa gives you the opportunity to live in luxury without the expense of the Maldives. Stay at the solar-powered Floating Paradise, overlooking the ocean and mountains from your terrace. Kayak from the pier or book tours and transport with your friendly hosts. From $72pn including breakfast and dinner.