Karimunjawa is the place to be.
Once you learn how to pronounce its name, you're halfway there. It only takes an airplane ticket to Jakarta, lots of patience, and a few days of traveling between trains, buses and ferries. But Heaven is worth the journey.
This archipelago is a cluster of 27 islands in the java sea. Only seven of the islands are inhabited. The reefs are a mixture of fringing, barrier, and patch with bottom depths ranging from 15 to 40 meters.
Once you learn how to pronounce its name, you're halfway there. It only takes an airplane ticket to Jakarta, lots of patience, and a few days of traveling between trains, buses and ferries. But Heaven is worth the journey.
This archipelago is a cluster of 27 islands in the java sea. Only seven of the islands are inhabited. The reefs are a mixture of fringing, barrier, and patch with bottom depths ranging from 15 to 40 meters.
Why go.
A beautiful sea getaway from the hustle and bustle of the inlands of Java, though Java mainland does bring a lot of charms, this is the answer to your cravings for sun, sea and sand. Also this place is not swarmed with tourists yet unlike the famous Bali of Indonesia, therefore you can find yourself enjoying the serenity of secluded and tranquil white beaches. Travelers come here to have a fix of snorkeling or diving as well, where the coral reefs are well protected.
When is the best time to go.
As the rest of Java, Indonesia of tropical climate, the best time to go Karimunjawa would be during the dry season of April to October where the weather would be consistent sunny but humid.
What to do.
Island hopping for snorkeling
Rent a boat and go hopping from one island to another, exploring the sea and the beaches as you go. Snorkeling is a must here where the corals are aplenty and the sea clear and blue. There are many small islands to explore, the popular ones being Pulau Tengah, Tanjung Gelam and Menjangan Besar (touted most beautiful).
Diving
Having 35 types of corals, sponges, mixtures of fringing and barrier with depths of 15 to 40 meters, Karimunjawa can be another diving haven, where you can meet a large variety of marine life and even shipwrecks. Good local diving spots here are Taka Panyawangan and Gosong Cemara.
Fishing in the deep sea
Another interesting thing to do here in Karimunjawa is to go fishing. You can rent a boat and go out to the various good fishing spots nearby to catch some lunch or dinner and finish it off with fresh coconut which are easily found around the islands.
Hike around the islands
Ask the locals and hike or trek around, you may just find yourself from places with beautiful panoramic view of the islands and the sea.
How to get there.
From Semarang, take a bus to Jepara town, which takes about 2 hours. Then from Jepara take a ferry boat from the port. The fast ferry will take 1 hour 45 minutes at the cost of 70,000 Rp and it departs from Jepara every Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. And if you are feeling in a pinch and having a lot of time on your hands, you can take the 6 hours slow ferry boat that goes off on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
If you have money to spare and tight on time, you can actually charter a flight from Semarang to Dewandaru Airport in Kemujan Island.
How to get around
On islands itself, as they are relatively small, you can walk around on foot or rent a motorbike to go around.
Where to go nearby. Where to stay
Semarang – Famous for batik, a second city of Java
Wonosobo – for more village life in the heart of Java
Dieng Plateau – the rolling greens of highlands with ancient temples, lakes and craters
Yogyakarta – Springboard to Borobudur and Prambanan temples.
Where to stay
Apart from a few luxury resorts, the cheapest way is to rent a place via homestay and have a local family host you. Beware... you will be fully immersed in a new world, without the comforts you are used to having: electricity is available after sunset and there are no restaurants (just small warung where you can taste local foods and fresh fish). Sounds fun? You bet.
A beautiful sea getaway from the hustle and bustle of the inlands of Java, though Java mainland does bring a lot of charms, this is the answer to your cravings for sun, sea and sand. Also this place is not swarmed with tourists yet unlike the famous Bali of Indonesia, therefore you can find yourself enjoying the serenity of secluded and tranquil white beaches. Travelers come here to have a fix of snorkeling or diving as well, where the coral reefs are well protected.
When is the best time to go.
As the rest of Java, Indonesia of tropical climate, the best time to go Karimunjawa would be during the dry season of April to October where the weather would be consistent sunny but humid.
What to do.
Island hopping for snorkeling
Rent a boat and go hopping from one island to another, exploring the sea and the beaches as you go. Snorkeling is a must here where the corals are aplenty and the sea clear and blue. There are many small islands to explore, the popular ones being Pulau Tengah, Tanjung Gelam and Menjangan Besar (touted most beautiful).
Diving
Having 35 types of corals, sponges, mixtures of fringing and barrier with depths of 15 to 40 meters, Karimunjawa can be another diving haven, where you can meet a large variety of marine life and even shipwrecks. Good local diving spots here are Taka Panyawangan and Gosong Cemara.
Fishing in the deep sea
Another interesting thing to do here in Karimunjawa is to go fishing. You can rent a boat and go out to the various good fishing spots nearby to catch some lunch or dinner and finish it off with fresh coconut which are easily found around the islands.
Hike around the islands
Ask the locals and hike or trek around, you may just find yourself from places with beautiful panoramic view of the islands and the sea.
How to get there.
From Semarang, take a bus to Jepara town, which takes about 2 hours. Then from Jepara take a ferry boat from the port. The fast ferry will take 1 hour 45 minutes at the cost of 70,000 Rp and it departs from Jepara every Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday. And if you are feeling in a pinch and having a lot of time on your hands, you can take the 6 hours slow ferry boat that goes off on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
If you have money to spare and tight on time, you can actually charter a flight from Semarang to Dewandaru Airport in Kemujan Island.
How to get around
On islands itself, as they are relatively small, you can walk around on foot or rent a motorbike to go around.
Where to go nearby. Where to stay
Semarang – Famous for batik, a second city of Java
Wonosobo – for more village life in the heart of Java
Dieng Plateau – the rolling greens of highlands with ancient temples, lakes and craters
Yogyakarta – Springboard to Borobudur and Prambanan temples.
Where to stay
Apart from a few luxury resorts, the cheapest way is to rent a place via homestay and have a local family host you. Beware... you will be fully immersed in a new world, without the comforts you are used to having: electricity is available after sunset and there are no restaurants (just small warung where you can taste local foods and fresh fish). Sounds fun? You bet.