Are you trying to get away from your hectic weekdays and looking for a quiet and relaxing spot? If so, Karimun Java is one of the best places to go. You will hardly believe what such small islands can offer to you. There are white-sand beaches and palm trees and reef as the fringe, bright and clean turquoise water as far as the eyes can see, warm weather, and more than enough resorts or lodges for you to spend the rest of the day.

The Ideal Tropical Paradise

Located in Central Java, precisely about 90 km off the northern part of Central Java’s coastline, initially, Karimun Java was designated as a National Marine Park. The natural beauty is extraordinary; this is by far one of the most common reasons for tourists to visit this island, although there are many other reasons. However, fewer people means being less crowded and it will give you more private and relaxing atmosphere in enjoying the beauty of the islands.

Karimun Java consists of 27 small islands, with Karimunjawa and Kemujan as the main islands. The Karimunjawa Island is larger and it has everything to offer to backpackers or divers who enjoy both underwater and trekking activities. The landscape is quite hilly and steep in particular spots, with the highest peak is about 570 meters, and other peaks are about 150 meters or more. The idea of perfect vacation is about enjoying your free time to the fullest, and Karimunjawa is the perfect place for sunbathing at the daytime, or having romantic dinner at the local restaurant. If you visit the place during the non-peak season, it is most likely that you can wander around the island without being disturbed by other tourists.

Must-Try Activities in Karimum Java

What can you do once you land on the island? With so many marine populations under water, diving and snorkeling are the most favorite activities to spend the day. Take a plunge and enjoy yourself exploring the marine life such as the coral reefs or colorful fishes, the black coral or the organ pipe coral. If you want to experience a different diving sensation, try the wreck diving. The wreck of Panamian ship, Indono, in 1955 had become an ideal and healthy platform for the fish to grow. You can find the shipwreck dive spot around Kemojan Island.

Within about one hour of travel time with boat from Karimunjawa, you will discover a beautiful sandbank that only appears during the low tide called Gosong in the middle of the sea. This spot makes a perfect place to swim and capture the moment under stunning scenery. To get around the islands, you can rent a motorcycle or bicycle, and rent a local boat to get to other nearby islands. This will cost around Rp200.000,- for the whole day.

To fulfill your outdoor excitement, trekking is a challenging alternative that is not limited by height. You can trek the highest peak of the islands, enjoy the beautiful trekking panorama through the forest, and discover the tropical wildlife such as deer, long-tailed macaques, sea eagles, and various species of birds. After you spend the daytime exploring the islands, you can enjoy yourself in a relaxing afternoon, looking at the sunset from your resort or lodge. Some resorts also provide the tourist with diving activities as holiday package.

Most foreign tourists only know Bali as a part of the famous and popular destinations in Indonesia. However, do you know that there is way more beautiful place in Indonesia? It is Wakatobi, an island that serves you authentic natural beauty of Indonesia’s nature. The name of Wakatobi is derived from the islands of Wangi-Wangi (local people called it Wanci), Kaledupa, Tomia, and Binongko that exist there. To reach Wakatobi, you may choose between air or water transportation (it’s just 2 hours from Bali island), but the best option should be using a boat, where you can enjoy or relax yourself while sightseeing, while the boat is passing through the sea.

Increasing popularity as a premium vacation spot

Wakatobi begins to gain its status as a premium vacation spot now, since it offers various holiday options, including diving, sightseeing, canoeing, exploring the exotica of the island, and many more. Wakatobi is also the name of national park, which becomes the home of coral reef, marine biodiversities along 600 km of the island’s territory. From the 850 known coral species in the world, 750 of them are in the Wakatobi.

Can you imagine how beautiful this island, then? These diversities become one of the major attractions for both domestic and foreign tourists to spend their quality time in this island. Frankly speaking, Wakatobi is actually located in s remote area with lack of infrastructure; but that is the interesting part. With fewer people and building operations around you, you will get the most private and exclusive time during your vacation in this area.

Adventurous Spots in Wakatobi

• Diving

If you love outdoor activities, you can rent a boat that offers you sailing comfort and enables you to dive into the beautiful sea, snorkel or swim. This way, you can enjoy Indonesia’s paradise under water.

• Cultural attractions

This island also provides cultural tourism spots that become special attractions for the tourists. There is old Dirkaton Lia mosque located in Wangsel sub district, Kraton Bente mosque in Kaledupa sub district as the Islam missionary historical heritage sites. Enjoying yourself under the sun deck; seeing the sunset is relaxing, while talking about your days with the loved one.

• Above-the-water attractions

Another interesting place to spend your above-the-water vacation in Wakatobi is visiting a genuine sea gypsy village. Here, you can spend your hours exploring the lifestyle of the local forger, producing fine local weapon such as ‘Keris’, or learning how the traditional industry produces Sarong. Although it is not an extremely adventurous experience, you can check out the culture and customs of the local people, and interact with them. Of course, this is rather entertaining.

Visiting Wakatobi would be the best thing to do around March until December. During the summer months is the best time to dive or spot pilot whales. The weather is not very cold, yet you will still be able to feel a refreshing shower during the first and last months of the season. What is vacation without tasting fine local cuisine? In Wakatobi, you can enjoy traditional foods such as Kasoami, Kambalu, Kauolo, and many more.

If you love island trip, consider visiting East Borneo province in Indonesia. This province is famous for its Derawan Island; an area consists of several smaller islands with beautiful beaches. The island has become very famous since the 90’s as a great place to do diving, snorkeling, watching sea turtles and golden jellyfish, and basically just enjoying beautiful nature of East Borneo. You require hours of trip from the international airport of Sepinggan in Balikpapan, but it is really worth the trip.

About Derawan Island Location

Derawan Island is a part of administrative area of Berau Regency, about 30 minutes of plane trip from Balikpapan City. However, once you arrive in Berau, you still have to use car to the Port of Tanjung Batu, before using boat to reach Derawan Island. It takes about 3 hours from Balikpapan to Derawan (not to mention extra time you must spend in other trips before reaching Balikpapan), but there are many transportation means that can take you there because of the popularity of this island.

Derawan Island itself consists of 4 main islands; Sangalaki, Derawan, Kakaban and Maratua. You can visit each of this island area by using boat rented from the island next to it. For full travel around all islands in one day, you can rent a boat that costs around $150 per day. This is a practical way to visit all islands at once in a day. You can save much more money if you order travel package.

What to Do in Derawan Island

There are many interesting things you can do in Derawan. For starter, this island has really beautiful beaches, and they are relatively quiet despite many tourists that come. Therefore, they make perfect spots for swimming and snorkeling, and of course diving in some beach points. You can also rent floaters, being photographed underwater by the guide, or watching sea turtles in their natural habitats.

You may also want to visit Kakaban Island to swim in the famous Kakaban Lake, which is full of non venomous golden jellyfish; this is one of two lakes in the world that are full of non venomous jellyfish (the other one is in Philippine). You can swim and do snorkeling here, with rented snorkeling equipment. If you visit with tour guide, you can also get photographed underwater while playing with golden jellyfish.

Going with the travel group also has its own benefits; you can join unforgettable seafood barbeque dinner on the beachside.

What Not to Do in Derawan Island

There are a couple of rules you must remember when visiting Derawan Island. You are forbidden to throw garbage from the boat or to the beach in the island. Since you may not always find the trash can in the island, you are advised to bring special plastic bag to keep the trash, and throw it away once you find trash can. Also, in Kakaban Island, you are forbidden to enter the jellyfish lake by jumping, since it will disturb and even kill the jellyfish.