Hiking on Mount Merapi

The best way to explore and appreciate the rich geographical and cultural diversity of Indonesia is by hiking on volcanoes or trekking through the rainforest. There are many volcanoes that can be climbed in Indonesia (the very popular ones include Mount Bromo, Kawah Ijen, Keli and Krakatoa), but our choice today is the scenic Mount Merapi. 

Merapi is the most active of all Indonesian volcanoes, so when planning a hiking trip, make sure that the volcano is not in an active phase - when it spews out hot gas and lava. From Selo, the nearest village on the north slope, you will need about three to five hours to reach the top depending on your levels of physical fitness. But the reward is totally worth it: if you start your climb at 1am, you can reach the summit by 5:30am and witness the magical sunrise over East Java. Another good reason to climb at night is that daytime temperatures are very hot, causing problems when hiking up a mountain that’s treeless - and therefore without shade.

You can of course opt for one of the organised tours with local guides who know all about Mount Merapi.