Karimunjawa Islands, one of the best islands in Indonesia

Karimunjawa Islands are definitely one of the most beautiful islands we have seen in Indonesia.

These little blissful islands are a vision of the tropics. Perfect white-sand beaches with turquoise water which will hurt your eyes. This amazing hidden gem of Indonesia is definitely a “must” destination to visit. It takes an effort to get there as it’s not a very known destination (not yet) but definitely worth it.

As you probably noticed as well, many places are getting crowded and touristy. That’s why we try to look for places which are not commonly known and not many people heard of. If you think that those places do not exist anymore, you will be surprised. There are still many left. And, the Karimunjawa Islands are one of them.

READ MORE: 2 PERFECT WEEK ITINERARY FOR INDONESIA including Karimunjawa Islands.

WHERE ARE THE KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS?

The Karimunjawa Islands are a group of 27 tropical islands in the Java Sea incorporated into the District of Jepara in Indonesia. It is located 80 km north of the city Jepara in Central Java. The islands’ name means “a stone’s throw” in Javanese. It is for sure not a stone’s throw away from the mainland.

WHEN TO VISIT THE KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS?

The best time to visit the islands is during the dry season, generally speaking from April to October.

WHY VISIT THE KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS?

If you love to escape the typical touristic places and try to look for a quiet destination, then Karimunjawa is perfect (for now). The best thing about the Karimnujawa Islands is that they are still not very known among travelers. For instance, Lonely Planet just recently started to mention them at all.

HOW TO GET TO THE KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS?

Getting to Karimunjawa is not that easy. In fact, it took us ages. It was also very confusing to figure out the best and at the same time the cheapest way. We stayed in Yogyakarta which I really recommend visiting. The two temples Prambanan and Borobudur are really worth seeing.

From Yogyakarta, you have to get to the harbor city called Jepara. In Java, distances are usually short if one checks for kilometers only. However, the time it will take in the end is more or less like traveling to the moon. So, when you check Google Maps, it is a casual 200 kilometers. Unfortunately, Indonesian streets and especially Javanese streets are helplessly overcrowded and chaotic.

TAKE A MINIBUS TO THE HARBOUR

A Bus/Mini Bus ride will take anywhere between 5-8 hours from Yogyakarta to Jepara.
A private taxi to Jepara is way too much, so we were looking for a travel agency that organizes night shuttle buses to Jepara. Usually, they pick you up at a meeting point or your accommodation at 11 PM and you will drive through the night to catch a ferry or boat to Karimunjawa in the early morning. Our minibus was almost 90 min late (we were close to believing no one will ever come), very small and not very comfortable. At least there was air-conditioning cooling the bus down to a very “pleasant” 10 degrees Celsius. The ride is also incredibly bumpy. Remember my experience on the boat to the Gili Islands? Peanuts in comparison.

OUR ADVICE: Try to avoid sitting at the back of the shuttle bus. Our bus had a very long wheelbase and the roads are not great neither. So every time we hit a hole I really thought we had an accident. Unfortunately, I didn’t get much of sleep neither.
I even had to take a motion sickness pill, as it felt like I am on a roller coaster to hell.

CHECK THE BOAT SCHEDULE

We arrived at “lovely” Jepara around 4.30 AM. “Lovely” because Jepara is not. There are two types of boats to choose from in order to get to Karimunjawa from Jepara. Speed boat or ferry. And there are many things to take into account. Depending on your travel agency, on the day you plan to go and also on your budget.

IMPORTANT: Every day there is a different schedule for the boats to Karimunjawa. You can check it here. There are days where the speed boat doesn’t even go. On Thursday, there is no boat at all 😀 So, book your hotel accordingly.

The link is provided by Ayu Hotel on Karimunjawa. When in doubt contact your accommodation for boat schedules. Moreover, you will need to check the wave forecast to make sure that there are boats going. Thus, if there is any red color between Java and Karimunjawa no boat will go.

For some reason, it is very hard to get tickets for the speed boat, especially for the return trip. It seems that the company sells most tickets to agents and tour guides in Jepara. So it is very likely that you will need to take the ferry very early in the morning and no speedboat at 11.00 AM. But, don’t worry. We had a really good experience taking the ferry, in fact, it was the best part of our journey to the Karimunjawa islands. Just get a VIP ticket and you are good to go.

READ MORE: The best Komodo tour in Flores, Indonesia: visit Padar Island, secret pink beach and komodo dragons

HOW MUCH WILL THE BOAT COST YOU

The speed boat costs about 150.000 Rp (10 EUR) one way and takes about 2 hours. The ferry is 50.000 Rp and it takes usually 4.5 hours. However, the queue for the tickets is very long. And that is why a travel agent or the minibus driver will wait in the line for you. Usually, they will charge a little tip (around 20.000 Rp). We decided to get VIP ferry tickets which I highly recommend.
A VIP seat costs only 25.000 Rp (ca. 1,50€) extra and will make a huge difference. Coming to Jepara without any sleep, completely destroyed and frozen the boat ride was like a visit to a Spa. The VIP seats are very comfortable, and I slept almost the entire way. The room is also reasonably air-conditioned and does not feel like a butcher’s chamber to keep meat fresh. The common area doesn’t have any Aircon and the seats are very uncomfortable. It is also usually completely overcrowded and super loud.

After 12 hours we arrived at Karimunjawa Islands. Honestly speaking, I was thinking: Karimunjawa, you better be good, because it took forever to get here.

VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW

If the ferry leaves at 7 AM it doesn’t necessarily mean that it will. It can leave earlier. You need to be at the harbour at the latest at 6.00 AM because the boat will leave once it is full. Both times our boat left at 6.30 instead of 7 AM.

WHAT TO DO ON KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS?

Karimunjawa is an ultimate paradise and you can find one of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia. Go for a snorkeling trip around Karimunjawa, grill your own fish, enjoy beautiful sunsets, rent a scooter and drive around. There is so much to do. I am sure you will find your piece of paradise.

READ MORE: THE BEST BEACHES OF SOUTHEAST ASIA

SNORKELING AND ISLAND HOPPING DAY TRIP WITH SUNSET IN KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS

Our hosts from Ayu Hotel organized an awesome snorkeling trip for us. This trip was my absolute highlight on Karimunjawa.
The snorkeling tour started at 9.00 AM and we came home after sunset, around 6.30 PM. We were on the boat with only one other couple, so we had plenty of room and paid 220.000 Rp.

The trip was amazing. Island hopping around Karimunjawa Islands is truly a breathtaking experience. The water changes colors constantly, so we could admire many shades of blue. At first, we drove for some time until we reached our first snorkeling stop and beautiful coral reefs. We saw a few clownfish, turtles and of course a huge variety of tropical fish.

After that, we drove for another 45 minutes and we arrived at a deserted island where our captain caught a few fish with a harpoon. That was our lunch. 

GLEYANG ISLAND

We continued for about 5 minutes and reached GLEYANG ISLAND where we spent around 2 hours.

THIS PLACE WAS SURREAL. The water was incredible. Fine white sand and amazing turquoise water left us breathless. I just couldn’t believe it. Also, the swing in the turquoise water kept me busy for some time. Well, I had to make some classy swing pictures 😀 After, we just lied in the shallow heavenly blue water. Seeing this island, I peacefully said: “Well, those 12 hours of terrible ride were definitely WORTH IT.”

Here our captain grilled fish. Served with rice, vegetables and as dessert, we got fresh fruits. I was really sad to leave this place. When the captain said that we have to return. I screamed. “Noooooo, just leave us here” 😀

READ MORE: The best beaches on Bali (with a map)

On the way back to the main island we watched a beautiful sunset on the boat. I really love those sunset moments. I felt so lucky to experience it. With every sunset, I reflect on my day and the best thing is that there is always a new day after.

READ MORE: Bali to Gili Islands: How you can easily get to Gilis

SPEND TIME ON UJUNG GELAM BEACH

The next day, our host recommended us to go to a beach called Ujung Gelam. He said that this is the prettiest and the best beach on the main island. We rented a scooter (70.000 Rp) and we went to check it out. He was absolutely correct.

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An incredible place. Because we left early in the morning, we were alone there. On the left side of the beach, there is a little bay and this is where we spent the whole day. We were completely alone, surrounded by palms and rocks. We enjoyed this place so much that we even came back the next day.

Warm water and beautiful turquoise water with incredible surroundings will make you come again. As we came in the morning, the water was very beautiful. However, in the afternoon, around 3 PM, more and more locals and tourists from Java come to the beach.

Our advice: Come there as early as you can. Also. when we were driving there was no one on the road. We even drove around the coast for 2 hours to explore more beaches but we didn’t like it that much except of one other beach. So stick to Ujung Gelam Beach, you won’t regret it.

 DRIVE AROUND THE MAIN ISLAND

We highly recommend to just drive around main island and stop wherever you like for fantastic views. We also came back here for the sunset as we liked the view a lot.

SEE MORE: Would you like to visit a secret pink beach in Indonesia? Then check our blog post on how to find it.

GETTING BACK FROM THE KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS

Getting back from Karimunjawa was also a very confusing trip. We actually wanted to go back with a speed boat and the travel agency told us that we have to get tickets back once we are in Karimunjawa Islands.

However, on the first day, we went to the ticket office and we just couldn’t get them. The answer was: “The boat is full ” and yet: “The boat tickets for the speed boat are being sold a night before the speed boat departs.” So the boat is full but the tickets are being sold a night before? Didn’t make any sense but okay. So we went there 1 day before at 07.30 PM. Waiting, waiting, waiting… Nothing. The office is closed. After waiting for 30 minutes one person asked if they can let us know when they will open the ticket office and how long we should wait. And the answer: “No, there is no point in opening the ticket office because there are no tickets left for the speed boat “:D OKAY, Thanks? Several people waited for nothing and the person in the ticket office couldn’t be bothered to let us know a bit earlier.

ASK YOUR HOST TO HELP YOU TO GET FERRY TICKETS

Finally, our hosts got us ferry tickets, so we didn’t have to wait in the queue. The next day we left at 6.30 AM to Jepara.
The boat ride was so nice, we were the only Europeans in the VIP room, so a lot of staring eyes. Eventually, a few locals came to us and started to talk to us. They were truly lovely people, always curious and admiring that we are so tall and fascinated by our noses 😀 at least that is what they said.

In Jepara, we somehow found our shuttle bus back to Yogyakarta. The funny thing was that there were more people than seats. We had to tell the lady from the travel agency that we cannot possibly fit in, so they were forced to organize another car. The drive was endless. Driving during the day is even worse than at night, it took us 7 hours. 200 km, 7 hours. We came home and we were completely done. But, still, I am very happy that we went to the Karimunjawa islands.

CHECK OUR 2 WEEKS ULTIMATE INDONESIA ITINERARY

ALTERNATIVE AND (POSSIBLY) EASIER ROUTE TO KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS

Get to Semarang where you can also take a speed boat or ferry to Karimunjawa. Like this, you can avoid traveling at night with a terrible minibus.
An even more comfortable way is to fly from Surabaya to Karimunjawa. Airfast Indonesia is the airline that does it. Prices are even cheap: around 350.000 Rp/person. However, flights also depend on the weather.

IMPORTANT: There is no online booking possible and there are only 9 seats on the plane. The tickets can be only purchased directly at the airport in Surabaya. Also you have to consider that the Airport in Karimunjawa is around 22km away from most accommodations. Furthermore, there are no taxis to pick you up. A one-way ride in a private car should cost around 400.000 Rp. Bit rough.

WHERE TO STAY ON THE KARIMUNJAWA ISLANDS

STAY IN AYU HOTEL

I chose this place as it was mentioned in Trip Advisor with the highest ranking. And with a happy smile, I can say that the ranking is definitely justified. Eryl and Marco are amazing hosts and made our stay in Karimunjawa even more enjoyable. They were very attentive and caring. They have several cute huts which are very spacious and nicely designed. I really loved the bathroom which had no roof. So showering and looking at the palms kept me there for a long time.

The tasty breakfast every morning boosted our energy even more. Every morning we had a different breakfast (different types of pancakes, omelets, fruits, etc). Further, people who worked there are very kind, lovely and customer oriented. Marco and Eryl also organized for us an unforgettable snorkeling tour for us and you can also rent a scooter at the property (70.000 Rp). All in all, I highly recommend this place and I would stay there again.

Have fun on the Karimunjawa Islands 🙂

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About The Authors

Gretka

Since I was little I always wanted to see the world. Travel to new places, get to know new cultures, see how other people live. I love beaches and I love discovering tropical destinations. That is why, together with my partner Nico, we created this blog to share with you the most beautiful beaches and stunning holiday destinations which we visited during our travels.

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