Karimunjawa

Have you ever had a dream about holidays in a tropical paradise? No people, no infrastructure, just you, an emerald sea, an equatorial evergreen forest and never-ending beaches. This is what you can find in the Karimunjawa archipelago, 27 islands located in the north of Java. Most of them compose the Karimunjawa National Park. These islands are especially famous among water sports lovers because of a diverse offer including snorkeling, diving and much more. But don’t judge a book by its cover! If you expect a developed resort in a paradise you will be surely surprised. The infrastructure of the archipelago is extremely limited and it is necessary to emphasize that a trip to these islands can be a bit tricky, especially in the rainy season. Actually the only way to get there are ferries from Jepara, other option are private air charters from Semarang.

Karimunjawa archipelago is inhabited by three main ethnic groups: Javanese, Madurese and Bugis, consequently its ethnic structure has influenced architecture of the island. Most of the traditional Javanese and Bugis houses can be found in Kemujan island, which is an interesting destinations for travellers looking for some cultural experience as well. One of the most important highlights of the archipelago is the ‘school of sharks’ in Menjangan Besar Island offering unique experience of swimming with these wild animals. There is no doubt that another interesting spot is a grave of Sunan Nyamplungan, an Islamic preacher famous of his religious activity in Karimunjawa and a son of Sunan Muria Kudus.