Most visitors to Karimunjawa see one mainland beach — Tanjung Gelam — and spend the rest of their time on boats. If you have a scooter and a spare day, the main island has a dozen more, strung along small roads on its east and north coasts, and they are mostly empty.
Two are worth seeking out. Annora, on the east coast, pairs a quiet beach with a short walk up a hill for a view over the reef. Bobby Beach, in the north, is a wide, pale curve of sand with calm, clear water.
What to do: Annora, Bobby & the Quiet Beaches
Climb Annora Hill
A short, steep path behind Annora beach leads to a hilltop with a view over the reef flats, their colours shifting with the depth. The east coast is the sunrise side: come early and you will have it to yourself.
Swim at Bobby Beach
Bobby Beach has a broader stretch of white sand than most on the island and gentle, clear water for swimming. A few simple stalls sell drinks; otherwise it is you, the palms and the sea.
String together the east coast
The road down the east side passes other quiet bays, among them Legon Lele, backed by forest and rice fields, and Nirwana. None has much in the way of facilities, which is exactly why they are quiet.
Make it a loop
With an early start you can ride from the town to the east-coast beaches, continue north to Bobby Beach and the mangrove boardwalk, and finish with sunset at Tanjung Gelam or Bukit Love.
Getting there: Annora, Bobby & the Quiet Beaches
- By scooter from Karimunjawa town. The main road is surfaced; the side roads to the beaches are narrow and sometimes rough. Offline maps help, as signs are sporadic.
- Expect a small parking or entry fee at the better-known beaches.
- Guesthouses can arrange a car and driver for a beach day if you prefer not to ride.
Insider tips
- Carry water, snacks and cash — you cannot count on a stall being open.
- At low tide the water on some beaches retreats a long way over reef flat; wear reef shoes and check the tide.
- Ride slowly: there are goats, chickens, potholes and gravel on the bends.
- Leave nothing on the sand, and take a bag for any rubbish you find.
Tours & transfers: Annora, Bobby & the Quiet Beaches
These bookable experiences are the easiest way to fit Annora, Bobby & the Quiet Beaches into a Karimunjawa trip:
Snorkelling & island hopping from $126 per group Snorkelling & Island-Hopping Tour Karimunjawa (Private Tour)
The same full-day route as the shared boat, but the boat is yours. That means you can leave earlier, linger where the coral is best, skip a stop you do not want — the shark pool, for instance — and keep children or nervous swimmers close. Priced per group rather than per person.
- Your own boat and crew for the day
- Set the pace: longer snorkels, quieter islets
- Barbecue lunch on an island and a sunset stop
Private multi-day package from $336 per group Package 3 Days / 2 Nights
An all-inclusive three-day, two-night Karimunjawa holiday: hotel, tours, transport and meals in one price. Priced per group and run privately. A new listing without reviews yet, so compare the inclusions with the other packages.
- Hotel, tours, transport and meals included
- Private group
- Two nights on Karimunjawa
