Prepare for some of Java’s finest hiking adventures in Mount Merbabu National Park. Trek to the summit of a towering dormant volcano and marvel at the otherworldly landscapes of Central Java. Spot endemic and rare bird species. Camp overnight and gaze at a night sky filled with innumerable stars. Mount Merbabu National Park covers about 14,000 acres (5,700 hectares) and is dominated by the dormant stratovolcano called Mount Merbabu (Gunung Merbabu).
The major highlight of the park is Mount Merbabu, which last erupted in 1797. It has two peaks, the 10,318-foot-tall (3,145) Kenteng Songo and the 10,233-foot-tall (3,119-meter) Syarif. From the latter, three forest-covered valleys stretch for miles. The verdant mountain slopes make it easy to forget that this is a volcano.
Follow one of several challenging trails to the summit of the Kenteng Songo peak. The most popular originate from the villages of Kopeng, on the northern slope, and Selo, in the southern foothills. Trek across sprawling meadows, high plains and ridges and through areas of low-lying clouds. Most treks are overnight, allowing experiences of spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Your reward for reaching the summit is a jaw-dropping view of far-reaching valleys and rolling mountainous countryside. Look south to see the 9,610-foot-high (2,930-meter) active volcano, Mount Merapi. Stay overnight at one of the designated campgrounds. Look up at a sky decorated with stars and the Milky Way.
As you hike, listen for the many birds that inhabit the park. Look for ashy drongo, freckled-breasted woodpecker, sooty-headed bulbul and spotted dove in the pine forest areas. See indigo flycatcher, Javan fulvetta and white-bellied fantail in the regions of primary forest. Get up at dawn for the best bird-watching opportunities.
The park is about a 2-hour drive north from Yogyakarta. Find it at the southern part of the Getasan region.
Yogyakarta is a good place to arrange transportation to and guides around Mount Merbabu National Park. Alternatively, catch a public bus to Kopeng or Selo and arrange a guide from there. Plan about 10 hours for the trek from Selo to Kenteng Songo.
