About Banten accommodation

Banten sits at Java's western tip, about three hours from Jakarta by toll road, and it's home to something you won't find on any other Indonesian beach trip: Ujung Kulon National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the last wild refuge of the critically endangered Javan rhino, with around 82 rhinos left in its forests. From the coast near Tanjung Lesung you can also spot Anak Krakatau, the active volcanic island smoking away out in the Sunda Strait.

The region runs from busy, established beach strips like Anyer and Carita, an easy long weekend from Jakarta, to the quieter stretch around Tanjung Lesung near the national park gates. Anyer suits a quick beach fix with a bigger choice of resorts, Tanjung Lesung suits a slower trip built around the park, the reef and Tanjung Lesung's own 15-kilometre run of white sand.

Where to stay in Banten

• Tanjung Lesung: the resort strip closest to Ujung Kulon National Park, with a long white-sand beach, calm water for swimming and boat trips out toward Krakatau's smoking cone.
• Anyer & Carita: the established beach run north of Tanjung Lesung and closer to Jakarta, with a bigger spread of resorts, dive shops and weekend crowds.

How much is Banten accommodation?

• Budget: AU$25-50, guesthouses and homestays around Anyer or near the national park gates, simple rooms with fans or basic air-con.
• Mid-range: AU$70-140, beachfront hotels and resorts in Anyer and Tanjung Lesung with pools, restaurants and direct beach access.

What Banten is known for

• Ujung Kulon National Park: a UNESCO World Heritage site protecting the last wild Javan rhinos, plus silvery gibbons and Javan leopards, across one of Java's largest remaining stretches of lowland rainforest.
• Anak Krakatau: a smoking volcanic island visible from the coast near Tanjung Lesung, sitting out in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra.
• Tanjung Lesung's beaches: a 15-kilometre run of white sand with calm, shallow water that's good for swimming, snorkelling and fishing trips out to nearby islands.

Top-rated hotels in Banten

• Aston Anyer Beach Hotel: a beachfront hotel in Anyer with a pool and conference facilities, handy for a beach break or a work trip.
• Tanjung Lesung Beach Hotel: set directly on Tanjung Lesung's beach, close to boat trips out toward Krakatau and the national park.
• Blue Fish Hotel: a smaller beachfront property in Tanjung Lesung, popular for its quieter stretch of sand away from the bigger resorts.
• Mambruk Hotel & Convention: a long-running resort on Anyer's beachfront with function space for groups and events.
• Sanghyang Indah Spa Resort: a spa-focused resort on the Anyer coast, a good pick if you want treatments alongside the beach.

Travel tips for Banten

• Book a licensed guide through the Ujung Kulon park office ahead of time if you want to track rhino habitat trails.
• The dry season, roughly May to October, gives the calmest seas for boat trips out toward Krakatau and better snorkelling visibility.
• The Serang-Panimbang toll road has cut travel time from Jakarta toward Tanjung Lesung, though allow three to four hours either way.
• Carry cash once you're past the main resort strips, since ATMs get scarce closer to the national park.