Mount Merapi Sunrise Trek

Have you ever thought of hiking up Indonesia’s most active volcano: Gunung Merapi? Literally “Fiery Mountain”, Mount Merapi is one of the most feared volcanoes on the world; it has erupted at least 68 times since 1548. One of its eruption is believed to be the cause of the downfall of the Central Javanese Hindu Mataram kingdom in 1006. As challenging as it is menacing, the hike is a strenuous 4-5 hours climb across barren scree landscape. Successful summiteers will be rewarded with a 360 degrees unblocked view of Central Java mountain landscape; Gunung Sumbing (3371m) and Gunung Sindoro (3136m) to the northwest, and Gunung Telemoyo (1894m) and the lush Gunung Merbabu (3145m) to the north.

ITINERARY

Day 01

YOGYAKARTA – SELO

Pick up by our friendly driver from the airport or your hotel to the village of Selo (approx. 2-3 hrs drive) for the Mount Merapi climb. The pickup time depends on your pickup location and it is usually between 9pm to 10 pm. After a quick refreshment of coffee and snacks, you will proceed to the trailhead for the climb.

Day 02

MERAPI TREKKING

For this climb, you will scale the mountain from its northern slope. A good time to begin the trek from the trailhead is before 1am so that you can reach the crater rim in time for the sunrise. The trek to the summit takes about 4-5 hrs (approx. 3.4 km). It takes about 1 hour (approx. 1 km) to reach the first checkpoint (Gerbang TNGM –National Park Gate), about 45 min (approx. 0.5km) to reach the second checkpoint (POS1; 2,150m), about 1 hour (approx. 0.6km) to reach the third checkpoint (POS II; 2302m), about 45 min (approx. 0.7km) to reach the fourth checkpoint (Pasar Bubrah; 2675m) and finally about 1 hour (approx.0.6km) to reach the summit. Above timings are estimated and subjected to individual fitness and actual ground conditions. At the summit, you will be rewarded with spectacular views of Central Java’s beautiful landscapes including Mount Merbabu to the north, and the outlines of Mount Sumbing and Mount Sindoro to the northwest. After sunrise, you will descend the mountain via the same route (approx. 3.5 hrs). After a simple breakfast at Selo village you will be transferred back to Yogyakarta.

Package includes:

  • Two way transfer between airport/hotel and Mount Merapi
  • All trekking arrangement (trekking permit, English speaking guide)
  • Breakfast on Day 02

Package excludes:

All items not mentioned in the above inclusion list but not limited to:

  • Return international air tickets
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal porter (SGD 40 each day up to 15kg load)
  • All meals except breakfast
  • All expenses of a personal nature

HIKING GRADE

OPTIONAL PROGRAM

Other hikes in the area include:

TESTIMONIALS

See latest reviews on our Google page!

The climb was great, the view was amazing. We really enjoyed the fact that it wasn't too touristic and all hikers were local. The guide was very helpful and brought us around in Surabaya on Saturday.

Aijing (Group of 2 on a 4D3N Mt Arjuno & Mt Welirang trip in Apr 2019)

Personalised pickup and attention to our well being. Focused to help us to have good experiences. Guide Udin is very professional. Dependable, attention to details, providing good advices. Porters are friendly and helpful. We are very happy with the service level, professionalism of the whole team to bringing good experiences to hikers like us.

– YT (Group of 3 on a 2D1N Mt Merbabu Camping trip in Nov 2018)

Hi Bob, thanks very much for making the arrangements and making this trip a meaningful one for me. The service that you have provided is exception, really unlike any vendors that I have engaged before. The prompt replies and staying connected with the traveller during the trip helps to reassure the traveller. The guides that were engaged were also very professional and ensures the safety of the climber. The guides takes the effort to brief the climber and checks that there are proper safety equipment before the hike so that safety of the climber will not be compromised. It was a smooth trip. The drivers for the transfers were also punctual. It’s really a great trip! Thank you very much!

– Pei Yi (Solo hiker on a 4D3N Semeru trip in Aug 2018)

The guide and porters were experienced and very nice! They were very helpful and fun 🙂 the cooking was delicious and they were wonderful hosts. We were pretty slow but they were understanding about it. They were very accommodating of our wants to stop and take pictures along the way too. I'd like to commend porter Diu (I hope I'm spelling it right), my Friend was struggling up and he offered to carry her bag for her. During the descend, I kept slipping and he was so kind to help me down the many steep paths.

– Stef (Group of 6 on an 2D1N Mt Merbau Summit & Camping trip in Jul 2018)

We were lucky, the weather was good and sunny throughout the trip. Scenery was beautiful and most importantly food was great. A great trek but not a stroll in the park. Summit push was a struggle for some of us. Thanks Ying for making our trip a success.

– Jace Lee (Group of 4 on a 4D3N Semeru trip in June 2018)

Profession guide ensures a safety and comfortable journey during the adventure. Tents and pillows were of good condition and organisation of daily itinerary was based on our capability and ability to continue the hike rather than rushing for the schedules. The hiking and trip journey was enjoyable.

– Adam (Group of 4 on a Mt Rinjani trip in May 2017)

The whole arrangement from the start to the end was smooth. The support of the guide was immense and we enjoyed ourselves all the way through. But kudos to the guide who made this experience a beautiful one.

– Mus (Group of 4 on a Mt Rinjani trip in May 2017)

It has been a fulfilling trip from the start to the end. Ying has been very meticulous from the beginning; paying great attention to our dietary requirement, rooming arrangement etc. Thanks Abdul, our guide, for the encouraging gestures to keep us going especially during the summit push. Fond memories for years to come!

– Celine (Group of 7 on a Mt Rinjani trip in June 2016)

This was our third trekking trip with IWT after Rinjani and Ophir. We continued to be impressed with their consistent personalized customer service and responsiveness. The pre-trip briefing package which consisted of a detailed packing list and things to take note of are especially useful for our climb preparation.Thanks Bob for keeping a constant check on us during the trip. We look forward to many more trips with you.

– HL Chua (Group of 5 on a 5D4N Semeru trip in May 2016)

Thanks to our guide Arief for making my life so much bearable during the 3d2n trek. It was a tough trek especially for someone like me who's not so fit but the scenery was really worth the sweat. Looking back it's a trip well planned and executed. Thanks for making this happen.

– Jiahui (Group of 5 on a Mt Rinjani trip in May 2016)

We had a great trip and received very good services from the mountain guide and his helpers. We greatly appreciate the  thoughtfulness with which iwannatravel planned the itinerary especially when we need to make last minute change to reduce the group size. Our trip is all well planned and executed. We greatly enjoyed ourselves throughout the trip.

– Susana Chua (Group of 3 on a 5D4N Semeru trip in Sept 2015)

Kudos to IWT for making our Semeru trip a success; everything from driver, guide to accommodation were well planned and organised! The Semeru FAQ and packing list provided by Bob were especially useful in helping us to prepare for this trip. Bob was always very prompt and patient towards our enqueries and requests for itinerary amendment. We look forward to our next trip with IWT! 

– Jeremy (Group of 6 on a 5D4N Semeru trip in Aug 2015))

We are very happy with the overall arrangement of everything from the choice of trekking company, the transportation and the accommodations. We were very well taken care of on the trek. The foods on our camping trip was really great. Beyond our expectation actually. =) Thanks you Bob for the patience to answer to all our queries and giving us advises that helps us greatly to planned out our extension stay after the climb. Will definitely join their other climbs or engage them to plan another trip again. =)

– Yen Wei (Group of 9 on a Mt Rinjani & Gili Trip in Aug 2015)

Read more at testimonials!

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DISCLAIMER

IWT LLP, acts only as an agent for The Client in acquiring transportation, accommodations, sightseeing, trekking and other services for The Client’s benefit, and on the express condition that IWT LLP shall not be liable nor responsible for any loss (including without limitation, direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential loss, economic loss), damage, mishap, bodily injury, death, delay, defect, omission or any irregularity that may be caused to The Client, third parties or properties. IWT LLP is to be released from all liabilities deriving from acts of terrorism, hijacking, civil unrest, natural calamities, labour strikes, thefts or any other factors beyond IWT LLP’s control. Any losses and expenses are to be borne by The Client. In the event that IWT LLP is found liable by a court of competent jurisdiction on any basis in relation to The Client’s booking done via IWT LLP, IWT LLP’s maximum liability to the client is limited to the cost of the booking in question. See our full Terms and Conditions.