:: Indonesia Trekking Travel Guides ::
Indonesia Mountain and
Volcanoes Trekking Information
The best way to explore and
appreciate the rich geographical
and
cultural diversity of Indonesia is to set out on foot:
to hike, to trek or to climb into the fascinating
environments and beautiful countryside of this diverse,
exotic land.
If you intend to really immerse yourself in unique
Indonesian trekking experiences, you have four main
options: hiking up live volcanoes; climbing mountains;
exploring remote cultures; or tracking through jungles.
Note that the hikes and treks described here are just a
few examples of what's available - there are countless
others, less well-known but just as remarkable in their
way.
Most of Indonesia's
volcanoes are part of the Sunda arc, a 3,000-km-long
line of volcanoes extending from northern Sumatra to the
Banda Sea. Most of these volcanoes are the result of
subduction of the Australia Plate beneath the Eurasia
Plate. Volcanoes in the Banda Sea result from subduction
of the Pacific Plate under the Eurasia Plate. Black
"teeth" are on the overriding plate.
Indonesia has 76 volcanoes
that have erupted in historic time - the largest number
for any volcanic region. These volcanoes have had at
least 1,171 eruptions, placing Indonesia second (after
Japan) for the region with the most dated eruptions.
More than 50 volcano still active and very active in
indonesia.
FIRE MOUNTAINS
If
you
want to add that extra edge of excitement to your
trekking activities, climbing up a live volcano is the
way to do it - and, with around 120 volcanoes still
active in Indonesia, there's no shortage of choice.
Nothing quite matches the feeling of standing on a
mountain that's grumbling, puffing, steaming and spewing
ash. Volcanoes, like human beings, are complex and
unpredictable and when you enter their majestic
presence, it's easy to understand why they have such
cultural significance and are revered as gods.
Sumatra
The Bukit Barisan
Salatan National Park in Sumatra is a remote and
beautiful peninsula, which offers hikers a chance to see
some of Indonesia's incredible wildlife, including
Sumatran elephants, barking deer and apes. The trek cuts
through dense tropical jungle and mangrove and finally
opens out on to a pristine beach famous for its breeding
turtles.
West Java
The dramatic history of Krakatoa's destructive
eruptions, explosions, subsidence into the ocean and
re-emergence as "Anak Krakatoa" makes it a popular
"must-see" volcano. It takes about 4-5 hours by boat to
cross the Sunda Strait to this self-contained
island-volcano, and only 30 minutes to reach the crater
summit. This hike takes you through thick vegetation and
up barren slopes until you're looking down into the
depression occupied by the active cone. From the crater
rim where the heat penetrates your shoes, you can look
around and see the remains of islands, which were
devastated by an explosion rated one of the most
powerful in recorded history.
East Java
Perhaps one
of Indonesia's most famous destinations is Mount Bromo,
an active 2392m high volcano situated southeast of
Surabaya in East Java. More people climb Mount Bromo
than any other fire mountain in Indonesia. Bromo itself
is in fact a crater within another gigantic crater, 10km
across and rimmed with sheer 350m high walls. Bromo and
two companion cones rise like islands out of the barren
sandy expanse of the caldera, which is a center of
worship for the local Tenggerese villagers. The
surrounding Tengger Highlands are a scenic wonderland of
puffing volcanic cones, deep canyons, ice-cold lakes,
waterfalls, caves and alpine forests.
A trip to Bromo involves a 3 hour drive from the city of
Surabaya through the villages of East Java up the
mountain to one of several hotels on top of the mountain
ridge.
Kawah Ijen is one
of
Indonesia's most scenic active volcanoes. It sits inside
the 2400m high summit of Gunung Ijen, which rises above
a highland plateau at the far-eastern tip of Java. The
whole plateau is a fairy-tale landscape of cool grassy
fields and soaring peaks. When you climb to the edge of
the Kawah Ijen crater you look down on spectacular views
of a turquoise-blue lake streaked by wisps of sulfur
vapor.
For the more cautious hikers and climbers, there are
plenty of reassuringly dormant mountain volcanoes to
explore. These peaks not only provide challenging
climbs, and rich, varied hiking environments, but also
offer unforgettable panoramic views across the
countryside.
Bali
Gunung Agung, known
to the Balinese as the "Navel of the World", totally
dominates the island of Bali with both its 3014m
physical stature and its spiritual significance. This
exhilarating two-day return climb is not for the
faint-hearted and is best attempted with a guide. It
takes you through thick vegetation and volcanic debris
before bringing you to an icy summit ridge, from where
you enjoy some awesome views.
Lombok
Gunung
Rinjani, which at 3726m towers over the island of Lombok,
is the fourth-highest mountain in Indonesia. This peak
is renowned and revered for its mystical powers and
great beauty. The strenuous three-day round-trip to the
top involves negotiating some difficult terrain, but
it's well worth the effort. The views of Lombok and
across to Bali are breathtaking, and the stunning green
caldera lake and hot springs just below the summit make
for one of the most idyllic camping grounds you'll find
anywhere in Indonesia.
East Nusa Tenggara
A climb up the extinct volcano of
Keli Mutu on the island of Flores offers one of the most
other worldly sights in all of Indonesia. There are
three lakes on top which are continually changing color
from black to green, and maroon to turquoise as they
leach minerals from the surrounding earth. The 3-4 hour
climb up the 1613m mountain is not difficult, and many
people attempt it in the dark to enjoy the spectacular
views and colors at dawn. As the sun rises, piercing
mist and clouds, a breath-taking panorama is revealed,
with the three crater lakes at your feet.
With rich history that stretches back to ancient
times, plus 336 different ethnic groups, everywhere you
go in Indonesia offers extraordinary cultural
experiences. Hiking into out-of-the-way areas is one of
the best ways to really encounter these living yet
historic cultures, and you will often feel as if you're
on a journey through time.
Sulawesi
The Mamasa-Bittuang trek in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi,
offers a striking landscape of mountains, jungle and
beautiful farmlands, and a window into the mystical
culture of the Toraja people. Their unique and most
complex architecture, most notably the buffalo-shaped
houses, sophisticated craftsmanship, and intricate
tribal rites and ceremonies draw visitors from all over
the world.
Central Java
In Central Java, the
huge, volcanically active Dieng Plateau - which is
itself the marshy caldera of an ancient collapsed
volcano offers spectacular landscapes and an encounter
with some of the country's oldest architectural relics.
Many days can be spent hiking around the area exploring
mineral lakes, steaming craters and picturesque mountain
villages, but the highlight is undoubtedly the ruins of
several seventh century Hindu temples, thought to be the
remains of a once flourishing religious center.
TREKKING THE MIGHTY JUNGLES
If you
've
ever wanted to experience the deep, strange world of the
rainforest, Indonesia is one of the best countries to do
it. The jungles here are the oldest in the world; vast
tracts are still untouched; the biodiversity is
mind-boggling; and in isolated Irian Jaya local people
have changed little since the Stone Age.
Irian Jaya
The week long
trek to Lake Habbema in the highlands of remote Irian
Jaya takes you through villages, streams, gardens and
steep rainforest slopes to mossy sub-montane and montane
forests. The lake sits 3000m above sea level in a broad
alpine marsh - a spongy expanse of mosses, tea-brown
streams and strange vegetation.
Behind
it looms the spectacular sight of Irian Jaya's
second-highest mountain, Gunung Trikora. The most
popular fro technical trekking in
Indonesia is Mount Carztensz
Kalimantan
The Muller Mountain
trail in Kalimantan follows the traditional route used
by the native Iban people to cross the island. It cuts
right through the heart of the jungle. The trail is very
hilly and crosses many rivers, but exhaustion and wet
feet are more than compensated for by the beauty of the
virgin jungle and the sighting of many strange jungle
animals and birds.
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