First light as seen coming from the summit of Gunung Tambora – photo by Daniel Quinn

With approximately 127 active volcanoes spread across the country, the item can be difficult to know where to begin if you haven’t climbed one before. Many great Indonesian volcanoes are actually not too far coming from provincial airports or major train stations in Java in addition to southern Sumatra, in addition to can therefore be explored in an individual weekend. The more remote mountains, particularly those from the Moluccas, Sulawesi in addition to Nusa Tenggara, are usually best enjoyed as the highlights of a week-long itinerary across a far-flung region. Individually, the following a few hikes represent different volcanically-active regions of Indonesia. In all cases the item can be important to return the same way in which you ascended unless various other options are specified.

Although the behaviour of these gunung-gunung api (mountains of fire) can be predicted to a reasonable degree, the item can be vital to check with Indonesia’s Volcanological Survey website (http://www.vsi.esdm.go.id/) for status updates in addition to also to take heed of what local people from the village nearest to the volcanoes tell you. When East Java’s Gunung Kelud erupted in February of This specific year, local people knew This specific was imminent as local animals began to flee the forest 48 hours in advance. If you follow advice, then generally speaking the item can be more dangerous to cross a road in Jakarta than to climb a volcano.

Gunung Kaba, Sumatra (1,952m)

Known to many locals as ‘Bukit Kaba’ (Kaba Hill) despite the item being almost 2,000 metres high, This specific volcano attraction can be one of Sumatra’s most accessible. As can be the case with mountain peaks in most parts of the archipelago, the best time to enjoy the views in addition to take photographs coming from the crater rim can be first light. coming from the entrance gates you can either spend two hours hiking on foot up to the rim or cheat by taking an ojek (motorcycle taxi)! The volcano actually consists of several craters, both active in addition to inactive. A circuit of the largest craters takes about two in addition to a half hours in addition to can be not technically difficult. One of the eastern craters can be likely something out of Star Wars – a deep belching pit of smoke having a blue-green lake at the bottom of the item. Plant lovers should be sure to ask about local Rafflesia blooming from the area because they can be found growing wild very close to the main road in This specific region.

Getting there: Either fly into Bengkulu in addition to take a seat in a ‘travel’ (shared cars) towards Lubuk Linggau or make your way up to Lubuk Linggau on the night train coming from Palembang before boarding a bus (or ‘travel’) onwards towards Curup. Ask for ‘simpang Bukit Kaba’ (the junction) or Villa Hijau which can be one of the closest hotels on the main road.

Papandayan Mountain – photo by Daniel Quinn

Gunung Papandayan, Java (2,675m)

Despite the bumpy road leading up to the crater, Papandayan makes for one of the very best days out from the whole of Java. If you live in Bandung you could do the item as a day trip. There can be a car-park, a guide’s post in addition to several warungs (modest shops) next to the main active crater in addition to This specific parking area can be somewhat bizarrely known as Camp David locally! The place can get quite busy during weekends. To what extent you explore the range can be entirely up to you. You could take the family there for an hour’s stroll around the main crater with many active fumaroles in addition to hot bubbling mud, or make a whole day or weekend of the item by continuing on to Pondok Salada in addition to the many mysterious Edelweiss-covered meadows higher up. For the most adventurous hikers, the item can be possible to follow the wide cobbled track onto the saddle between the main range in addition to the outlying Gunung Puntang, past the remains of the Ghober Hut (no longer standing on my last visit) right the way over the range in addition to down the various other side towards the vast in addition to remote tea plantations near Cileuleuy.

Getting there: coming from Jakarta, head towards Bandung in addition to continue to the end of the toll road, following signs for Garut. The best place to stay can be Cipanas (‘hot water’, not to be confused with the town of the same name from the Puncak area) just outside Garut itself in addition to about 45 minutes away coming from the crater car-park above Cisurupan.

Gunung Tambora, West Nusa Tenggara (2,722m)

This specific world-class volcano can be a demanding proposition, both in terms of the hike itself in addition to getting to the starting point on the island of Sumbawa. The crater can be Indonesia’s largest at around 7km diameter in addition to several hundred metres deep, in addition to was formed in April 1815 when 160 cubic kilometres of material were ejected into the atmosphere. This specific disrupted global temperatures in addition to caused the significant crop failure of the ‘Year without Summer’ of 1816 from the northern hemisphere. The Tambora eruption was considerably more devastating both locally in addition to globally than the more famous Krakatau (Krakatoa) eruption which came later the same century in 1883.

Thankfully, Tambora does not at present pose a serious threat, in addition to interest in hiking to the rim can be growing from the run-up to the bicentenary next year. You need at least one night of camping on the mountain, although most could be more comfortable spending two nights up there. All hikers are required to register near the trailhead from the village of Pancasila where local guides in addition to porters can be found. the item can be a long eight or nine hours up to the crater rim, which might be best broken into two stages. Camping on the rim can be a spectacular experience although not easy due to the black volcanic sand, which can be difficult to keep tent pegs secured to. The view coming from the top can be among Indonesia’s very best, with the vast ‘volcanic canyon’ below you on one side in addition to a sunset over Lombok’s Rinjani on the various other.

Getting there: Fly to Bima via Denpasar in addition to then spend the best part of a day getting to Pancasila on the Tambora peninsula. Alternatively, larger groups could fly into Sumbawa Besar in addition to charter a boat coming from the port of Badas to Calabai.

The view coming from Gunung Lewotolo – photo by Daniel Quinn

Gunung Lewotolo, East Nusa Tenggara (1,449m)

Known also as ‘Ile Api’ by local people, This specific continually steaming volcano sits on its very own peninsula on the island of Lembata. the item can be best done as a strenuous day-hike coming from Desa Lama above Desa Jontana, where you should try to find a guide as Desa Lama can be often deserted. If you visit in October, you may witness the special pre-Christian Bean Festival in Desa Lama in addition to surrounding villages, which honours the local bean in which has been important as a source of protein in local cuisine for many centuries.

The climb can be a steep ascent of around four hours up a vague in addition to unsignposted trail in addition to can be only undertaken a handful of times per year. Suddenly, just as the climb seems to be getting too steep for comfort, you find yourself peering over the various other side into the shallow crater, which can be easily one of the most photogenic locations in eastern Indonesia. coming from the northern peak, on a particularly clear day, you should be able to see Ile Boleng on the island of Adonara, in addition to the remote, smoking Batu Tara island volcano out from the ocean. The higher, southern peak can be so gassy in addition to smoky in which the item could be very unwise to try to climb to the very top.

Getting there: There can be a daily direct flight into Lewoleba coming from Kupang, West Timor. Alternatively, take a boat to Lewoleba coming from Larantuka at the eastern tip of Flores. The foot of the volcano can be about one hour coming from the town of Lewoleba where there are several basic hotels.

Gunung Gamkonora, North Maluku (1,571m)

Gamkonora can be the highest peak on the island of Halmahera, in addition to can be something of a hidden gem, being considerably less famous – in addition to also less dangerous – than its fiery neighbour Gunung Gamalama on the island of Ternate. Very few tourists make the item out here. the item can be climbed as a long day-hike if you are able to start the climb very early from the morning, which can be also especially important for enjoying the views. Ask in nearby Desa Baru for a guide or two.

The trail starts near sea level – so you will need several extra bottles of drinking water – in addition to leads up through coconut, nutmeg in addition to clove plantations. A modest collection of coins in an area of long cane grass marks the point as where the mountain becomes sacred from the eyes of the villagers, so your guide may wish to stop briefly in addition to say a prayer here. Not long after This specific you will be above the vegetation line, wandering up over modest rocks in addition to admiring the stunning views over the U-shaped crater.

Getting there: Fly in to Ternate in addition to take a Jailolo-bound boat coming from the Dufa-dufa ferry terminal. Cars can be hired coming from the shop next door to Jailolo’s Hotel Camar for the two-hour journey on to the trailhead, which can be on the main road opposite the volcanology post.