Trains are more than just a mainstay of transportation for Lebaran's homecoming. Nowadays, trains, along with buses and planes, are one of the leading transportation alternatives for vacations. Do you often travel by train to visit various tourist destinations on the island of Java?

You should be proud if you are a train traveler. Trains are still a cheap, comfortable, fully equipped, and on-time mode of transportation. Traveling by train can be the best choice, especially if you plan to explore tourist destinations that still need to be discovered, hidden locations, or need access to an airport.

Currently, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) has collaborated with PT KAI/KA Wisata and ASTINDO to present the "Bundling Tour Packages with Trains (Bundling Paket Wisata dengan Kereta Api)" program to welcome the 2024 Lebaran Holiday.

The collaboration will provide thematic tour packages in areas the airport cannot reach. For example, tour packages for tourists who want to travel to/from Nganjuk, Blitar, and Kebumen have charming tourism potential. Thus, this collaboration is expected to help realize the target of 1.5 billion archipelago tourist movements by 2024.

If you plan to travel by train and experience a different sensation, here are some tourist destinations on the island of Java that can be reached by train:

Photo: Illustration of the beauty along the railroad (Shutterstock/Akhmad Dody Firmansyah)

Kebumen

When traveling along the southern route to Yogyakarta or Solo via the Bima or Taksaka trains, one district is always passed by but still needs to be explored. The area is Kebumen Regency, famous for its various beach tourism destinations, reservoirs, caves, and historic forts.

If you're looking for a quiet time to refresh your mind, beach hopping might be the right choice. After getting off the train at Kebumen Station, it is only a one-hour drive to Menganti Beach. You will be amazed by the clear blue sea water and the coral rocks that surround it.

If you get bored, try stopping at Pecaron Beach, only 20 minutes away from Menganti Beach. The rows of coconut trees, the sound of crashing waves, and the cool coastal breeze bring inner peace upon arrival. 

Nganjuk

If you are planning to travel to East Java to Surabaya or Malang using the Gaya Baru Malam Selatan or Gajayana trains, you can take a moment to visit Nganjuk. It is one of the regencies in East Java that has quite interesting tourist potential, one of which is the Singokromo Waterfall. 

Although you have to travel almost an hour from Nganjuk Station, the view of the magnificent 20-meter-high waterfall erases the fatigue after a long journey. In addition, the relaxed and beautiful atmosphere around the waterfall will give you peace during your trip here.

Tulungagung

Still, on the train route to Surabaya or Malang, Sobat Parekraf will also pass through Tulungagung Regency, which has beautiful beaches still little known to many tourists. The beaches in Tulungagung are very suitable for beach hopping.

One of the recommended beaches in Tulungagung that is interesting to explore is Pacar Beach. Located about 1.5 hours from Tulungagung Station, Pacar Beach has soft white sand and is famous for its unique waterfall on one side of the cliff, which flows fast and is easy to reach. 

If you drive for 2 minutes from Pacar Beach, you can visit Lumbung Beach. This tourist destination in Tulungagung is famous for its giant stone icon in the center of the beach. The atmosphere is still wonderful, perfect for healing after a long trip.

Blitar

After passing through Tulungagung, another interesting destination is the Blitar Regency, also accessible by train. One of the popular destinations in Blitar is Gumuk Sapu Angin, which is about an hour's drive from Blitar Station.

Gumuk Sapu Angin is a tourist destination in Blitar suitable for healing and photo hunting. We are greeted with views of the hills and cool mountain air and a mesmerizing view of Mount Kawi and Mount Kelud. It's suitable for use as a photo background!

Pekalongan

Next is the City of Batik, Pekalongan, Central Java. Famous for the beauty of its batik patterns, Pekalongan also has many excellent tourist destinations suitable for traveling by train. One of the most popular is Mangrove Park Pekalongan, where you can see rows of lush mangrove plants.

But if you want to know more about Pekalongan Batik, you can visit the Pekalongan Batik Museum. Only 10 minutes away from Pekalongan Station, this batik museum houses more than a thousand batik collections. You can even find batik clothes that are hundreds of years old! Pekalongan Station is always passed by many trains heading to Semarang, Surabaya, and Malang, such as the Argo Sindoro, Argo Merbabu, and Argo Bromo Anggrek.

Are you interested in traveling by train during vacation?

Cover: The thrill of traveling by train (Shutterstock/Akhmad Dody Firmansyah)