The Javan sulfuric marshland known as the Dieng Plateau has begun to attract more tourists in recent years. Include this on your schedule if you want to get a local experience in Indonesia.
This was one of my favorite parts of touring the core island of this endless archipelago, and it’s only a few hours’ drive from the Borobudur temple. After seeing the best of Yogyakarta, a royal city in central Java, it’s a wonderful addition to your journey.
How would you describe Dieng Plateau?
After knocking for about ten minutes when I got to my homestay in Wonosobo, I realized that nobody was home and that there was no one in the area who could be of assistance.
So, to the amusement of the endless schoolgirls who kept coming to the window across the street to laugh and giggle at me, I bought a bowl of Bakso noodles from a neighboring stall for fifty cents and sat down next to him in the rain. This was going to be a recurring theme throughout my stay in Dieng.
That laughing is what has me enamored with this nation. We need more laughing in the world, a friend once told me, and she appreciated Indonesians for their ability to discover humor so quickly.
I utilized my excellent hand gestures to get the owner’s son, friend, or neighbor to give me a tour on his bike the following day for 120,000 IDR after I had settled in and been given a guest book to sign—the first person to do so in nine months, it seemed.
Whoever it was, he was fantastic and arrived on schedule. He gave me lunch, drove me around all of his friends’ houses on the way back so they could snap selfies with me, and sneaked me into parks before they were open. That was the case at Wonosobo, a larger town 20 minutes away by car from Dieng. Shopkeepers didn’t know how to overcharge, there were no tourists, and everyone spoke with smiles, which is how I prefer to travel.
Dieng’s top 5 attractions
The nicest part is that you can easily explore the Dieng Plateau by renting a bike or simply hiring a driver for the day; you don’t even need to take a tour.
Investigate the volcanic craters there. The previous volcanic eruption occurred in 2009, and the entire Dieng Plateau is an active volcanic region. Early in the morning, you can explore bubbling craters and essentially “enjoy” the sulfurous scent.
Observe the sunrise over the clouds. You may visit the village of Siknur and its mountain peak for a rather spectacular sunrise above the clouds for a steal of 50,000 IDR ($4.50/£2.50). Starting in the village, the “trek” takes around 20 minutes and is rather easy. There was only a small group of natives watching the day begin with me, and no guide was required.
Discover unspoiled nature off the usual route. I didn’t speak English or see any other tourists for two days. It was wonderful to enter Indonesia properly after spending a week in Bali. The country’s breathtaking environment, which includes expansive rice fields and striking sceneries, gives the impression that you have arrived in a far-off place.
Investigate nearby deserted parks. A 100,000 IDR admission fee is required to enter the national park, which is home to several temples and the “color changing” lake. Ask your helpful guide whether you can “sneak” in for 50,000 IDR, and try to get there before it opens. I was able to enjoy the entire park without any interruptions because it worked for me.
Take a tour of the temples. For a few days, Dieng offers a lot to keep you occupied or relaxed, from small temples to large lakes where you may rent boats.
How to Reach the Dieng Plateau
You can take a tour from Yogyakarta to Dieng for about $35, but doing so will cause you to miss the sunrise. As an alternative, you can ride the local bemos round-trip for less than $10 or hire a driver for a few days for around $100. The itinerary is Yogyakarta to Wonosobo to Dieng, with the option to stop at Borobudur. Anticipate about three hours with a driver and six hours by bus.
Without a schedule, you can wave down bemos, which are little local busses, and spend time with the people. You will love it as much as I do if you are content to interact with animals, teach English to schoolchildren, and share fruit with elderly women while they run errands. If not, you might prefer to hire a private driver.
Viator provides a budget-friendly package that may be reserved in advance, beginning in Semarang and continuing on to Dieng.
How to Get Around
You may rent your own bike for about 50,000 IDR, but I spent 150,000 IDR for a driver, guide, and bike for the day in Wonosobo. Whether you choose to stay in Dieng or Wonosobo will have a significant impact on the cost.
Places to Stay
You may now reserve lodging in Dieng and Wonosobo online thanks to the growing number of hotels and guesthouses. However, keep in mind that most lodging in the area is not online, so simply showing there can bring with it both discounts and inconvenience. In general, I think Agoda offers a wider range of options in rural Indonesia.