Monday, March 30, 2020

Indonesia Travel Guide: Mount Merapi Tours in Jogjakarta

Indian lady standing on a red jeep at Mount Merapi open area, Jogjakarta, Indonesia.
Mount Merapi is not an unknown mountain. Whether you’ve heard of it or not, it’s one of the most active and powerful volcanoes in Jogjakarta, Indonesia. It has erupted many times, and each eruption has left a deep mark on the people living nearby.

But thanks to the hard work of those in the tourism industry, Mount Merapi is now one of the must-visit places in Jogjakarta (JOGJAKARTA THINGS TO DO). Tourists can explore this strong and scary mountain in a safe way. A Mount Merapi tour is an adventure from start to finish. You will ride in a jeep and stop at three places before going back to where you started.

How the Tour Starts

You begin by getting into a jeep. Usually, three to four people can ride in one. The ride is bumpy and dusty. The road is narrow and full of sand and rocks. Hold on to the metal bars inside the jeep, because the ride can be rough. This part of the trip takes about 20 to 30 minutes (BEST THINGS TO DO IN SOUTH AFRICA).

 

Jeep Ride in Mount Merapi, Jogjakarta, Indonesia

Bumpy jeep ride heading upwards to Mount Merapi, Jogjakarta, Indonesia

Mini Museum - Sisa Hartaku

Your first stop is a small house that was turned into a museum. It’s called Mini Museum Sisa Hartaku, which means "what’s left of my belongings." After the eruption, the family who lived there saved whatever they could and displayed it for visitors to see.

 

Inside, you’ll find burnt cooking pots, melted fans, damaged dolls, and old photos covered in ash. You will also see reminders of the 2006 earthquake near Jogjakarta, which killed over 5,000 people and left thousands without homes. This stop may be short, but it is very touching.

Indian lady standing with both hands stretched to the sign against Museum in Mount Merapi, Indonesia.

Display atop a table, things savaged, including photo frame in a museum, Mount Merapi tourist spot.

One part of a wall of a house effected by Mount Merapi eruption, in Indonesia.

Wall showing things salvaged from Mount Merapi volcano eruption in a house, Indonesia.

Mini Museum Sisa Hartaku, Mount Merapi, Jogjakarta, Indonesia

Alien Stone

Next, the jeep takes you to Alien Stone. This is a huge rock that came down during the 2010 eruption. It got its name because some people think it looks like a face or even an alien head. It’s a good place to stop, look around, and take photos. The rock shows how powerful the volcano really is. The land around it also shows how the lava changed the area.

Open area with black rocks of various sizes in Mount Merapi, Jogjakarta.

Indian lady standing with head wrapped, against a big black rock in Mount Merapi, Indonesia.
Mount Merapi Bunker Kaliadem
The final stop is the Mount Merapi bunker. This is a small shelter built to protect people from the heat and ash during eruptions. It’s made from thick iron and is built into the ground. Sadly, during a past eruption, two people died here. Today, the bunker stands as a reminder of how dangerous the volcano can be. There’s not much to see inside, but it makes you stop and think.
Inside view of a bunker in Mount Merapi, Indonesia.

Top overview of Bunker Kaliadem in Mount Merapi, Indonesia.
After the Tour
By the time the tour ends and you return to where you started, you’ll probably be hot, tired, and covered in dust. The first thing you’ll want is a cold drink. After that, food. There are a few local places nearby where you can get simple and tasty meals like fried rice or satay.
A glass bottle of Indonesian tea atop a table at a tourist spot, Jogjakarta.
This tour is more than just fun. It shows you how strong nature can be and how people in Jogjakarta live with it. Mount Merapi is not just a volcano, it’s part of their life, their story, and their strength.

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