Java is the most populous and the fifth-largest island in Indonesia. It houses some of the most modern and highly-developed cities in the country, from Jakarta, the current capital city of the country, to Surabaya, a city rich with history.

But it’s not those big and modern cities that caught the attention of travelers. It’s the ones that have an abundance of natural beauty, instead of high-rise buildings, that became the most sought after tour destinations.

These destinations can be found from the westernmost to the easternmost part of the island. There’s a wide variety of activities to do in each area, as well, from snorkeling and diving in the sea to trekking and hiking in the mountains.

If you’re planning to go on a holiday, whether alone or with friends and family, here are several destinations in Java that you can and should consider.

Located at the western edge of the main island of Java, Ujung Kulon serves as an important site for both tourism and conservation. Within the area, you can find Ujung Kulon National Park, home of the endangered one-horned rhinos, also known as the Javanese rhinos.

Ujung Kulon, which is part of the Pandeglang District, offers beautiful scenery and a variety of exciting activities to choose from. You can snorkel at Legon Sumino which is known for its beautiful coral reefs and the uninhabited Badul Island, take a boat ride along the Cigenter River which is often called the Amazon of Indonesia, and observe the lives of wild animals at Padang Cidaon.

With a large area that includes coasts and islands, Banten offers a variety of amazing destinations for marine tourism. One of the popular ones in the province is Tunda Island.

This island is yet to become a mainstream tourist attraction, which is good news for the preservation of its marine life. Snorkeling consequently becomes the favored activity at Tunda Island.

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In addition to being pristine, the water also tends to be quite calm, suitable for those who want to swim or simply soak on its surface. Also, don’t miss the opportunity to watch the sunset on Jembatan Putus or the Broken Bridge.

Located near the border of West Java and Central Java, Cirebon became a cultural melting pot between Sundanese and Javanese. The influences of foreign cultures, such as Chinese, Indian, Arabic, and European, can also be seen in a number of its tourist attractions and handicrafts, from the architectural design on Sunyaragi Cave and its unique Batik patterns.

What’s most interesting about Cirebon is that it has plenty of holiday destinations that can be enjoyed by all visitors. History buffs will love spending time at Kacirebonan Palace, learning the history of the city and seeing various relics, such as keris, traditional puppets or wayang, and war equipment. Nature and animal lovers can visit the conservation center of Belawa turtles. Meanwhile, culinary hunters will have a lovely time trying out Cirebon specialties, such as Empal Gentong and Nasi Lengko.

The next time you’re planning on a vacation to Central Java, make sure to put Banjarnegara and Wonosobo on your wishlist, for between these two districts lies a caldera complex known as Dieng Plateau.

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Formed by the eruption of Mount Prau, Dieng Plateau stood at an altitude of 2,093 meters above sea level. You can find a variety of exciting activities here, from simply enjoying the natural charms of Kawah Sikidang, the view from Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin, and the unique Telaga Warna. There’s also Arjuna Temple, which is believed to be the oldest Hindu temple in Java.

Being one of the most popular mountains in Indonesia, Bromo often becomes the destination of choice for nature lovers. A number of vacation packages and tour operators offer exciting activities in the area, from exploring Bromo on a Jeep to camping under the stars.

Stood at an altitude of 2,932 meters above sea level, Bromo is located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park area in East Java. The area looks unique due to the smoke infinitely emanating from its neighboring Mount Semeru, its natural barren land, and its cold temperatures. It offers a very dramatic view indeed.

Spend your holiday at the easternmost tip of Java, where you can find Banyuwangi, an area with a beautiful natural scene that is difficult to match. The mainstay of this area is the Ijen Crater, which can only be reached by trekking. At its peak, you can see the phenomenal Blue Fire of Ijen. Truly a sight to behold.

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Other tourist attractions you can find in this area include De Djawatan Forest which landscape look similar to the ones depicted in The Lord of the Rings, the quiet Coklak Waterfall, Baluran National Park, and the beautiful snorkeling site Bangsring.