Mt Merapi (2914 m)

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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 north, through Selo village, Boyolali district. From Yogyakarta, we can travel by bus to Magelang. We have to travel by another bus to Boyolali and then to Selo (at 1500 m high).
There are many good hotels and inns in Selo where we may stay overnight. Generally the mountaineers prefer to climb the mountain at 2:00 or 3:00 am from Selo, as it takes nearly 4 or 5 hours to climb. Most of the foreign mountaineers like to climb from Selo as this is the shortest route. In Selo, we should bring sufficient water for the climbing.
Trekking from Selo is very steep and we will pass through the pine woods. After walking for about 2 or 3 hours, we will the timberline (border of the forest) and sandy plain, and it will take another 1 or 2 hours to climb the Garuda Peak. Back to Selo from the peak takes around 3 or 4 hours.
Usually on Saturdays many mountaineers climb Mt Merapi. Walking through Selo, we cannot put up a tent on the way. But by climbing through Kaliurang, we can do so. Selo has a more beautiful panorama compared to Kaliurang but is not a quite safe area.
We can say every year accident happens in Mt Merapi, caused by stone sliding or falling down. Volcanic stones of Mt Merapi are sharp and very labile, so it is quite dangerous to climb the mountain. Therefore, the mountaineers shall prepare themselves both mentally and physically also logistics as good as possible.

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