Road Trip from Bali to Java: An Unforgettable Adventure

elomoutier
Jun 19
6 min read

Tumpak Sewu waterfall Java Indonesia — Tumpak Sewu Waterfall

Before leaving Bali, where I spent the past year, I wanted to explore more of Indonesia. Bali is just a tiny part of the country, which is full of stunning landscapes and hidden gems. My partner and I packed our bags, jumped on our motorbike, and set off on a road trip through East Java. What we discovered was nothing short of breathtaking. If you love the natural beauty of Bali, Java will completely blow you away.

In this article, I’ll take you along our journey, sharing our itinerary, favorite stops, and plenty of insights and advice to help you plan your own Indonesian road trip.

Note: Driving in Indonesia isn’t for everyone. If you’re not confident on chaotic roads or unfamiliar with local driving habits, hiring a driver may be your best bet. If you’ve driven in Bali, that’s a good start — but Java’s roads can be even more intense.

Ubud to Munduk

We started in Ubud and made our way to the mountain village of Munduk, about 1.5 hours away. The route is steep in places, but the scenic drive is well worth it. Along the way, we stopped at two iconic sites: the Jatiluwih rice terraces (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a serene water temple.

In Munduk, we stayed at Hotel Bali Bening, a charming spot with stunning mountain views. If you’re looking for a more luxurious experience, the area has many other options as well.

Crossing to East Java: Munduk to Licin

From Munduk, we headed toward Gilimanuk (about a 2-hour drive) to catch the ferry to Java. You can either book your ticket online or buy it directly at the harbor. There are small shops selling tickets just in front of the ID checkpoint.

The crossing took about 45 minutes, and we arrived in the city of Ketapang. From there, we had another hour of riding to reach Licin, a town ideally located for hiking Mount Ijen.

Where to stay:

Budget: L'Javas Villa
Mid-range: Lintang Luku Tent Resort

Licin to Malang (via Jember and Tumpak Sewu)

From Licin, we took the N3 road to Jember for an overnight stop (3-hour drive). The city isn’t a tourist hub, but it's convenient for rest and has many hotel and food options.

We then detoured toward Tumpak Sewu, one of the world’s most stunning waterfalls, known for its dramatic horseshoe shape and 120-meter drop into a lush green canyon. Instead of continuing on N3, we took a scenic route via Puger Beach, which offered unforgettable views of volcanoes, rice fields, and the ocean.

Where to stay: Kaliningrad Cottages 2 – peaceful and close to the falls with views of Mount Pronojiwo. (Note: Cottages 1 and 2 are quite different — choose 2 for nature and tranquility.)

We stayed two nights here to recover from the long ride and make the most of the area.

Exploring Malang

The drive from Tumpak Sewu to Malang took around 2.5 hours. This university city has a lively atmosphere and makes a good stop to rest.

One must-see spot: Jodipan’s colorful villages (Kampung Warna Warni, Kampung Tridi, and Kampung Biru Arema). Originally slums, these areas were transformed by local university students into vibrant art spaces. Entry fees range from 5,000 to 10,000 IDR per person.

Mount Bromo

From Malang, we made our way to Mount Bromo via the southern route to Gubukklakah (1-hour drive), instead of the more touristy Cemoro Lawang. This choice allowed us to ride through the Sea of Sand, an expansive black sand plain surrounded by lush, green mountains — one of the most unique landscapes I’ve ever seen.

You can:

Rent a jeep tour (private or group) – ideal for travelers who want comfort and a guided experience.
Ride a motocross – best suited for adventure lovers with off-road experience.
Go by motorbike (as we did — fun but a bit challenging in the sand) – suitable if you're a confident rider and don’t mind a bit of a thrill.
Choose to either go very early morning to see the sunrise or during the day (we chose the latter as it is less crowded)

Stay: Mountain Ecolodge – beautiful rooms with incredible views.

Where to eat: Lintangan Cafe & Resto

Back to Ijen (via Probolinggo and Pancoran)

Next, we made our way back toward Mount Ijen through the mountain roads. We stopped first in Probolinggo (2-hour drive) — where we had a delicious meal at Yakuza, a small Japanese restaurant run by a lovely family from Borneo.

From there, we continued to Pancoran (2.5-hour drive), a lesser-known village that gave us access to Ijen’s trail. We returned to Licin for the hike, staying again at L’Javas Villa.

Hiking Mount Ijen

Hiking on Mount Ijen was one of the most incredible experiences of our trip. The hike typically starts at 2:00 AM. You’ll reach the top by 3:30 AM, descend into the crater to see the blue flames (a rare sulfur gas phenomenon), then climb back up to watch the sunrise over the stunning turquoise acid lake. You can also choose to do the hike during the day, but I truly recommend staring early in the morning.

Things to know:

Entry: 155K IDR + 5K IDR geopark fee
Gas mask rental: ~100K IDR (ask your accommodation)
Medical certificate required (can be arranged for 25K IDR)
Flashlight and mask provided by some guesthouses

After the hike, treat yourself to a hearty breakfast at Resto 1911 in Licin.

Return to Bali via Menjangan

From Licin, we rode to Ketapang, took the ferry back to Gilimanuk, and headed to Menjangan Island — one of Bali’s top snorkeling and diving spots. We stayed in Banyuwedang (30 minutes away), as the island itself is uninhabited.

Tours (~500K IDR per person) include:

Entrance to the national park
Equipment rental
Snorkeling guide
Lunch

Top spots: Coral Garden & Underwater Cave

Sunset spot: Sunset Beach Restaurant (book in advance during high season)

Final Stops: Munduk & Back to Ubud

On the way back to Ubud, we stopped again in Munduk, which allowed time to visit Pura Melanting, Melanting Waterfall, and Nungnung Waterfall. The drive from Banyuwedang to Munduk took about 1 hour, and from Munduk to Ubud another 1.5 hours.

A Few Words in Bahasa Indonesia

Indonesia is home to over 17,000 islands and hundreds of regional languages. Bahasa Indonesia (the national language) helps unify the population.

Here are a few useful words (and don’t hesitate to use a phrasebook app like Google Translate or Learn Bahasa Indonesia to help with pronunciation and everyday expressions):

Greetings & Politeness

Terima kasih: Thank you
Selamat pagi: Good morning
Selamat malam: Good evening
Selamat tidur: Good night
Selamat datang: Welcome
Hati-hati: Be careful

Food Terms

Ayam: Chicken
Telur: Egg
Tahu: Tofu
Nasi: Rice
Mie: Noodles
Sayur: Vegetables
Udang: Shrimp
Daging sapi: Beef
Goreng: Fried
Geprek: Fried
Putih: White (usually Nasi Putih - white rice)
Tidak pedas: Not spicy

Interactive Itinerary Map

To help you visualize the journey, I’ve created a Google Maps itinerary with all the key stops and routes we took. You can use it to plan your own trip, save locations, or get a better sense of travel times between each destination.

This road trip across North Bali and East Java has been a beautiful adventure — from misty mountains and volcanic landscapes to cascading waterfalls and vibrant villages, the journey offered a deeper, wilder side of Indonesia that I’ll never forget.

If you’re craving a deeper connection with nature, a taste of local life beyond the usual tourist trails, or simply looking for inspiration for your next adventure, I hope this guide has sparked your curiosity.

Have you been to Java or planning a similar trip? I’d love to hear from you! Save this post for later, or send it to a fellow travel lover. And if you want more travel stories, wellness tips, or insights from life on the road, feel free to follow me here or subscribe to my newsletter.

Let’s keep exploring, one soulful step at a time 🌿