Mountains

Mt Slamet is the second highest mountain in Java. There are three routes leading to the mountain; one from west side of the mountain, one from Batu Raden, and another from Bambangan, out of which is the shortest route to the mountain. To go to Bambangan, we should travel from Purwokerto to Purbalingga and from Purbalingga to Bobotsari. From Bobotsari we can travel through villages surrounded by many trees to Penjangan village by truck. This is the last village that allows cars and vehicles to pass through. It takes about another 1 hour trekking to Bambangan from Penjangan villages. There is an Information Center, were mountaineers can get information. We may take a rest in this place, too. We can hire a guide in Bambangan. In case we will put up a tent on the way, we should obtain the permission from the Forest Authority (Perhutani) of Serang (Bambangan). If we go up the hill a bit further, we will find a new large hut, but no water or electricity is available. We may take a rest h...

The shapes of Mt Merbabu and Mt Lawu are identical. Both have no active craters as they were parts of old volcanic mountains. The peaks of these two mountains formed plateau caused by erosion and nearly lost its natural forest. From the south, we may walk through Selo village to reach both Mt Merapi and Mt Merbabu. From the north, Kopeng village, we can reach only Mt Merbabu. To reach Kopeng, we may travel by bus from Yogyakarta to Magelang, then to Salatiga and finally to Kopeng village. In Kopeng village, there are many hotels and inns, also a tourist park where we can put up a tent for overnight stay. We should continue trekking to Tekala village where we should complete preparation for the climbing and carry water since there is no water on the way. In case we need a guide we may obtain in Kopeng village. Walking through vegetable and acacia garden, we continue our journey upward and finally reach the ridge. In the ridge, we can find a dilapidated hut at 2400 m high. Walking u...

There are two main routes leading to Mt Merapi. The first route goes from the south, Kaliurang. Start from Yogyakarta we may travel by bus to Kaliurang (at 1300 m high). Kaliurang is an interesting tourist resort where many hotels are around. From Kaliurang we may travel by bus to Kinaharjo village. Entering the village, we shall buy a cheap ticket. In the village, we can find a guide also information about the mountain. Kinaharjo is the last village, where we should obtain sufficient water for climbing and returning. It will take nearly 6 hours to climb the peak of Mt Merapi from Kinaharjo. The path from Kinaharjo will lead us to Kendit, the timberline (border of last vegetation). Afterwards, we will pass through a labile and stony plain, where the journey becomes strenuous. Reaching the peak, we may to around to look at the sulfur crater. Its highest peak is called ‘Puncak Garuda’ (Garuda Peak), where the temperature is about 10-15 degree Celcius. The second route is from the nor...

It is quite easy to climb Mt Lawu as it is in the close vicinity to the city, therefore many mountaineers climb this mountain. Start from Surabaya, we can travel by bus to Madiun, and continue to Cemorosewu through Sarangan. In case we start from Surakarta, we can go directly to Tawangmangu and continue to Cemorosewu. Cemorosewu-Sarangan valley is a tourists spot, as it has fascinating scenery. The valley shape is like a saddle. It is the highest main road in Java Island, at about 1900 m high. At Cemorosewu we should register ourselves to Forest Authority (Perhutani) and complete logistics for climbing. From Cemorosewu on the way to the peak, we will find four huts successfully at 2100 m, 2300 m, and 2800 m high from the sea level. We will also find ‘Pesanggrahan Argo Dalem’ at 3100 m. On the way to the peak, we will pass away pine forest and acacia forest up the height of 3000 m high, close to the peaks, we can look at some small salfatara at the bottom of the steep ravine. Peak ...

Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park is part of 4 regencies i.e. Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Malang, and Lumajang. Mostly Mt Bromo crater, this area is very well known by tourists both foreign and domestic. There are many routes leading to this place. To go to Mt Bromo from Pasuruan, from Surabaya take the bus going to Probolinggo and get off in Pasuruan, from there, take mini bus to Tosari-Wonokitri. In Wonokitri, we can spend the night at hotels or inns or go directly to Mt Pananjakan or the sand sea and climb Mt Bromo. Mt Penanjakan is the best view point to look at Mt Bromo and its surrounding. They really have a fantastic panorama with smoke blows from Mt Bromo crater, colorful lava on the slope of the mountain and wide desert around. From here, the sunrise looks more beautiful with Mt Semeru as its background. If we start from Probolinggo, we can go by mini bus or walking (about 3 km) and stay overnight there. In the next very early morning we can start our journey to Mt Bromo crat...

Summit of Mt Argopuro has the height of 3088 m above sea level. There are two routes to go to Mt Argopuro, from Baderan-Besuki and from Bremi village in Probolinggo. But the fastest way is from Bremi village. It is easy to reach Bremi as there are buses depart from Probolinggo twice a day at 06:00 am and 12:00 am, which will go to the village. It’s better to stay overnight in this village. There is a small and quite cheap inn here. It seems that the inn was built during the Dutch colonial periods. The inn is surrounded by beautiful and natural scenery, that make a rustic atmosphere. Before climbing the mountain, we should report to the local police or the local PHPA in Bremi. In the next morning, walking for about 3 hours passing the agathis plantation and tropical forest, we’ll arrive at Taman Hidup Lake. We can use the water for drink and cooking. We can also set a tent and stay overnight around the lake or close to the river in the higher place. Taman Hidup Lake is fabulous and ...

Mt Raung is a unique and big mountain in Java Island. Its uniqueness is found in its caldera whose depth is 500 m, which is surrounded by many small peaks which give us enchanting scenery. The easiest way to reach Mt Raung is from Bondowoso. From Bondowoso we can take a mini bus to Sumber Wringin through Sukasari village. Start the trekking from Sumber Wringin through pine forest and coffee to ‘Pondok Motor’ (climber post) in which we can meet the key keeper named Mr. Serani (he death). We can take a rest there to prepare ourselves for nine hours climbing to the peak of Mt Raung. Climbing to the peak, we will pass through Coffee Plantation, pine, and casuarinas trees, before reaching the camping ground. For about 1 hour we have to go on as edge and then another 1 hour on a sandy and stony path to the peak of Mt Raung. It will take 7 hours to return to Sumber Wringin village. Mt Raung is 3332 m high above sea level where strong wind often blows. There is another higher peak, but the...

Ijen Crater is an active one, which is combination of Mt Raung and Mt Ijen. There are two main routes leading to the crater. The first route is from Banyuwangi to the southwest through Jambu village. By mini bus from Banyuwangi, we go to Licin village and by another mini bus go to Jambu village, as the last village. From the Jambu village, we start trekking by passing Coffee and Clove Plantation along the way to a splendid tropical forest. This way is used daily by the workers to carry sulfur stores from Ijen Crater, so the path is quite wide and good. In the middle of the journey, we will find cold water from a small river. It will take 4 hours before getting at a prairie. There are three locked huts and some water from rain. We need another 1 and half hours to reach to the crater. On the way, there is a small office managing sulfur mining, in which we can buy drinks or cigarettes. The second route is from Bondowoso to southeast passing Wonosari and Ijen caldera which is the bigge...