Getting Around Java By Car With Daytrip
If you are having trouble planning how to travel across Java, this blog post has the perfect answer.
While researching how to navigate Indonesia during my six-week trip, I soon realised that getting around Java would be my biggest challenge.
Java is the largest of the Indonesian islands, and it can be difficult to travel independently between places without a car. Guided tours in Java over several days, usually starting in the capital, Jakarta, or Bali, seem to be the favoured option, but it was not what I wanted.
Distances between Java's must-see landmarks are vast. I took the train for a four-hour journey between Yogyakarta and Surabaya. I was very impressed with it, but after getting off the train and needing to continue onward, my options were limited. Buses were limited, schedules did not fit my itinerary, and internal airline reviews were scathing.
Having used Daytrip.com for my sightseeing transfers in Malaysia, I knew they were a reliable company. I could arrange suitable transfers in Java in a comfortable vehicle with an English-speaking driver, so booking my Java road transfers with them made sense.
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Java Road Trip
I needed three road transfers in Java. Surabaya to Malang, then the next day, Malang to Bromo, and then the following day, a whopping six-hour journey from Bromo to the ferry port of Ketapang, where I would say goodbye to my driver and board the ferry to Gilimanuk in Bali.
Two journeys, each between 1 and 3 hours, can be booked immediately on the Daytrip.com website. The longer drive from Bromo (where we stayed overnight to witness sunrise over the active Mount Bromo) to Ketapang Port was customised.
By informing the Daytrip team of my requirements, they swiftly organised the customised drive for me, as it wasn't a route usually offered. I could also keep the same driver for all three journeys, which was nice because we felt we had connected with him by the end of the three days.
Why use Daytrip.com?
Daytrip stands out among other road transfer companies by allowing customers to add optional sightseeing stops to their journey. Instead of just driving past landmarks, you can work them into your itinerary and visit them on the way to your destination. It's an excellent idea.
Daytrip provides either Sedans (similar in size to a VW Passat), compact MPVs (similar to a VW Touran), or larger vans (similar to a VW Transporter).
The condition of the vehicles depends on the country you are visiting. For example, the vehicle we had in Java wasn't as new as the ones we had in Malaysia, but we still enjoyed a swift, comfortable drive, with water provided during the trip.
How does Daytrip.com work?
Visit Daytrip.com and select your starting point and end destination. The service is available in 130+ countries.
Don’t worry if your exact route isn’t shown in the drop-down menu. A custom-made transfer can easily be arranged for you at no extra cost.
I had to use the custom-made facility for my transfer from Bromo to Ketapang Port, and within a couple of hours of requesting the route, the Daytrip.com team confirmed it.
Once you are in the booking portal and have inserted your travel requirements, you can pick from a list of attractions you want to see along the route. You can also choose how long you want to spend at each place. This service has an additional fee, but it is well worth it.
The next step is to pick a vehicle for your transfer: a sedan or an MPV.
I upgraded to an MPV because several transfers were long, and I wanted to travel in style! Also, we are both tall, and I wanted plenty of room to stretch our legs in the vehicle.
Each passenger is allowed one piece of checked luggage and one piece of hand luggage. Customers with more luggage than allowed can contact customer support to find a suitable solution.
You can pay for your transfer online up to 24 hours before pick-up or pay your driver in cash.
Finally, a few days before your sightseeing transfer, you will receive details about your driver, including a photograph, and information about the vehicle. The driver will not contact you again before your transfer. However, you can use the provided details to communicate with them if necessary.
Helpful Daytrip drivers
Daytrip drivers are vetted to ensure they are suitable for international travellers and have a good command of English. Our driver was friendly and told us about Java and his life there.
He was also a great asset to us in getting our online ferry tickets from Java to Bali. I hadn't realised there is a one-hour time difference between the two islands (even though they are only a one-hour ferry ride apart), so we had underestimated our arrival time in Bali and needed an earlier ferry.
Our driver came to the rescue, ordered our tickets online, provided a QR code, and we travelled quickly and safely, arriving at 4 pm for our sailing.
I previously read online that tickets could be purchased at the ferry terminal, but that's not the case; you must buy your tickets online before arriving at the port. Once our driver had booked them, we gave him the cash (unbelievably, only equivalent to 50p each!)
Sightseeing stops in Java
When I used Daytrip.com in Malaysia, there were many fabulous optional sightseeing stops along the routes I took; however, in Java, because the country is so big, most of the tourist spots were a long way from my driving route, and so diverting to them would add considerable time to a journey, making it not viable.
Nevertheless, I still managed to see the colourful village of Jodipan on my morning departure from Malang to Bromo. I had planned to visit it the previous evening on my way from the Surabaya train station to my hotel in Malang. Unfortunately, I hadn't realised that the sun went down at 5.30 pm in May, which meant it would be dark when we arrived in Jodipan. This was no problem for my driver, who was happy to go there the following morning instead.
My final thoughts on Daytrip.com
While I was given these three transfers in Java as an affiliate of Daytrip, I also used their service twice in Bali (and paid for them myself). For me, factoring in optional sightseeing stops along the way is excellent. It is much easier than arranging a separate journey at another time, only to return to places you may have already passed during a transfer.
Using Daytrip in Bali
Our Daytrip sightseeing stops between Munduk in northern Bali and Ubud in central Bali were at the Buyan and Tamblingan twin lakes viewpoint, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, and Taman Ayun Temple.
These places were on my Bali travel itinerary, and if I hadn't been able to make the stops en route with Daytrip, I would have had to take a day out of my time in northern Bali or Ubud to visit them, which my schedule didn't allow.
Our second sightseeing stop with Daytrip.com was during our transfer between Sanur and Uluwatu, where we spent two hours at Bali's GWK Cultural Park.
Our driver, Matthew, kindly purchased tickets online (much like our driver had done for the ferry in Java), so we could quickly scan the QR code he provided without queuing.
We had paid Daytrip for a two-hour stop at the cultural park, but we could have extended our time there with our driver, if necessary, by paying him an additional fee.
So, wherever you are planning to visit in the world, Daytrip.com is the perfect company for sightseeing transfers.
Need help planning your next holiday?
Please check out my curated Travel Resources Guide for the exact booking platforms, transport tools, and eSIMs I use on my travels.
Please PIN for Future Travel to Java
Are you looking for further inspiration for travel to Asia? Please check out the following posts:
Java Itinerary for One Week: Borobudur, Yogyakarta and Bromo
My Ultimate Malaysia Itinerary For 4 Weeks – From Penang to Borneo
25 Best Tourist Attractions in Penang, Malaysia
Sepilok Nature Lodge Review: A Beautiful Oasis in Sabah, Borneo
The Ultimate 4-Day Siem Reap Travel Itinerary for a Perfect Trip to Cambodia
Malaysia or Singapore: Which One Is Best To Visit?
Top 10 Great Things To Do In Singapore At Night
2 Weeks In Vietnam: A Perfect Vietnam Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
Angela Price: is an accomplished travel writer bringing extensive expertise and passion to the world of travel.
With over 40 years of globetrotting adventures under her belt and with a keen eye for unique experiences, she has established herself as an authoritative voice in travel, offering invaluable insights for fellow adventurers seeking to uncover the delights of worldwide destinations.
Her motto is “live life wandering not wondering”. Read more about Angie.