Many people don’t happen to visit the small island in the north of Java in Indonesia called Karimunjawa. I was lucky enough to hear about this place from a fellow traveller who I met in a hostel in Jakarta.

So what there is to do in Karimunjawa?

Beaches

You will see that the island is full of gorgeous and quiet beaches for you to discover. I encountered several beautiful beaches which were totally empty from people. Just relax, read a book, take a swim and all of that on a private paradise beach in Indonesia. Just to name a few I can recommend going to Pancoran Beach in the southeast and Batu Putih beach in the northeast for tranquillity. If you are searching for some basic service as well (like fresh coconut and food served) then go to Batu Topeng Beach in the west.

Snorkelling

The surroundings of the island offer great snorkelling opportunities. Book a tour in one of the tour offices for as low as 200.000 IDR and enjoy a full day discovering the magnificent sea life.

Discover the island

Rent a scooter for a day or two and just drive around the island. The roads are decent with asphalt and traffic is almost non-existent. Perfect place to practise your scooter skills while in Indonesia. Small villages and farm animals running around freely make the place really pure and untouched.

Sunrise and Sunset

Never miss a sunset on the islands! Perfect place to watch the sunset is Tanjung Gelam Beach. If you are up for a small walk uphill then another place for sunset is Love Hill. If you are a morning person or just haven’t gone to sleep yet then go to the harbour or Pancoran Beach for sunrise to kickstart your day!

How to get there?

Getting to the island is pretty easy actually. When already on Jawa you just need to find your way to the port of Jepara from where you can take a fast boat (ferry) to Karimunjawa. Ask your hotel/hostel or a tour company and they will organise the transportation for you. Personally, I booked my trip using a tour company while situated in Yogjakarta. By the way, the island also has a small airport! So it might be a good idea to search for some flights there. I personally used the airport to fly to Surabaya. The cost of the flight was even less then I would have paid for using boat and ground transportation! And imagine all the time saved. The word on the street is that Karimunjawa is going to be next Bali in Indonesia so make sure to visit this place before it is full of tourists! To see some photos check out the gallery. Also, check out my video 30 days in Indonesia.