Java: getting around and guides
Sep 2, 2014 | 10:34 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 225
Java: getting around and guides
Hi all,
I'm still waiting for the Lonely Planet Java (the old one) to arrive, but I need to do some planning now.
Want to spend about 2.5 weeks on this vacation. Arrival in Jakarta. See the big archaeological sites, some volcanoes in the east, maybe a town with lots of history, potentially the site of the mud volcano disaster. Then take a lowcost fly to for example Lombok for a few days of relaxing and a bit of jungle hiking, and then return to Jakarta. We've considered Bali, but think it's too overrun by tourists. Would also consider other islands not too far away for that (any suggestions?)
My question is how to get around on Java. We did a tour on Sri Lanka with a private guide and driver and liked it a lot, but we can't really find something similar for Java. Looks like we need to get to various places ourselves and there meet with a guide to get us to the local places we want to see. We're not really backpackers and wonder where to leave our luggage when we want to go to places not covered by guides
For example some volcanoes near Bandung that seem to be less crowded than the Bromo. Oh, and again: how do we get there 
I'm still waiting for the Lonely Planet Java (the old one) to arrive, but I need to do some planning now.
Want to spend about 2.5 weeks on this vacation. Arrival in Jakarta. See the big archaeological sites, some volcanoes in the east, maybe a town with lots of history, potentially the site of the mud volcano disaster. Then take a lowcost fly to for example Lombok for a few days of relaxing and a bit of jungle hiking, and then return to Jakarta. We've considered Bali, but think it's too overrun by tourists. Would also consider other islands not too far away for that (any suggestions?)
My question is how to get around on Java. We did a tour on Sri Lanka with a private guide and driver and liked it a lot, but we can't really find something similar for Java. Looks like we need to get to various places ourselves and there meet with a guide to get us to the local places we want to see. We're not really backpackers and wonder where to leave our luggage when we want to go to places not covered by guides
For example some volcanoes near Bandung that seem to be less crowded than the Bromo. Oh, and again: how do we get there
Sep 6, 2014 | 7:51 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Sydney
Programs: SQ, GA, QF
Posts: 192
So many questions there. I'll try to perhaps give some suggestions. I think it's better to contact a tour agent separately in different cities that you plan to visit. Jakarta is a massive and developed city. It is a good starting location for touring West Java including Bandung, Mt Tangkuban Perahu, and Mt Krakatoa. I am not sure about a good travel agent there. Try to search these words in Google: Krakatoa or Krakatau tour, west java tour, ujung kulon tour.
Another location in Java that you referred to is perhaps Yogyakarta. This city is near to Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple. Alternatively you also can go to Surakarta (Solo). GA is flying from CGK to JOG and I believe to SOC too. Should be easy to find tours in both cities. Or you can rent a car and explore the cities yourself.
From there, you can then fly to Surabaya (SUB) direct or via Jakarta if you want to fly with GA. SUB is a big city so again should be easy to find a city or regional tour agent there. You can visit the mud volcano disaster area and perhaps visit some towns nearby like Malang and Batu.
From SUB you can then fly to Bali or if you prefer a not-so-crowded place then to Lombok. GA and Citilink are flying from SUB to Mataram (AMI) in the Lombok Island. If you feel more adventurous, you can fly to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) via Bali (DPS).
Another location in Java that you referred to is perhaps Yogyakarta. This city is near to Borobudur Temple and Prambanan Temple. Alternatively you also can go to Surakarta (Solo). GA is flying from CGK to JOG and I believe to SOC too. Should be easy to find tours in both cities. Or you can rent a car and explore the cities yourself.
From there, you can then fly to Surabaya (SUB) direct or via Jakarta if you want to fly with GA. SUB is a big city so again should be easy to find a city or regional tour agent there. You can visit the mud volcano disaster area and perhaps visit some towns nearby like Malang and Batu.
From SUB you can then fly to Bali or if you prefer a not-so-crowded place then to Lombok. GA and Citilink are flying from SUB to Mataram (AMI) in the Lombok Island. If you feel more adventurous, you can fly to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) via Bali (DPS).