Tucked away in Indonesia is a tiny island that is so crowded with people there’s 1100 residents for every square kilometre.

Java is one of the most densely populated places on Earth with a larger population than Russia.

The island is approximately 138,794 square kilometers (53,588 square miles) in area – around two thirds the size of Great Britan, making it the 13th largest island in the world. Its capital Jakarta is home to more than 30 million people.

According to Britannica, the island averages more than 2,600 persons per square mile (1,000 per square m) and has the majority of Indonesia’s population on only 7 percent of the total land area of the republic.

The entire population of Russia is estimated to be 140 million as of 2024. Java had 151.6 million in 2020.

As well as being crowded with people, Java is also crowded by volcanoes. Almost 50 of them are scattered across this island making the land fertile and perfect for growing rice – one of Java’s main exports.

This agriculture is part of the reason Java is so crowded – farmers flock here to make use of the incredible land to contribute to Java’s exports – sesame, vegetables, bananas, mangoes, citrus fruits, and vegetable oils are produced for local consumption. Tea, coffee, tobacco, rubber, and cinchona (the source of quinine, and grown in the highlands of western Java); sugarcane and kapok (raised in the eastern part of the island); and coconuts are exported.

Aside from its rich land and awe-inspiring volcanoes, Java is also home to a host of breathtaking temples and culture that tourists are welcome to explore.

The UNESCO World Heritage-listed Buddhist temple of Borobudur is stunning beyond comparison. Borobudur Temple Compounds is one of the greatest Buddist momuments in the world and a jewel in Java’s crown. Crafted from volcanic stone it rises five terraces above the ground with intricate lattive stonework.

There’s also the Prambanan Temples – a 9th-century collection of Hindu temples dedicated to the Hindu Trimurti; Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. Prambanan was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991 and is slightly larger than Borobudur, making it perfect for a long day of wandering.

The best time to visit Java is in the dry season which runs from June to October – although this does mean that a lot of the rice paddies will be dry and brown rather than the lush green they display in the wet season.

You can explore gorgeous waterfalls like Tumpak Sewu or taste the delicacies at the Lembang Floating Market.

Even better, Java is an incredibly cheap destination to visit. You can eat, sleep and see the major tourist sites for just £15 a day – and if you’re lucky you might still have some change.

Two star hotels on average range from £5–£14 per night and three star hotels will set you back £15–£26 per night, while trains cost anywhere between £3-£11.