Think BIG
The largest Buddhist Temple,
The world’s largest acidic crater lake,
The largest Blue Fire area of the world,
One of the largest calderas,
Two of the most active volcanoes…all on one tour
Itinerary
Day 1: Denpasar to Licin (Ijen), 190 kilometers, 118 miles
Leaving Kuta, you will head west passing small villages as well as a suspension bridge before turning right to go up the mountain in the north direction. Rice fields and clove trees line the curvy tarmac road. After a coffee break, you will approach the north coast via the small town of Pupuan.
Once on the northern ring road, follow the coastline westward to the ferry port of Gilimanuk where you will have lunch. The ferry to Java needs one hour which you will “win back” by entering a different time zone. It’s around 30 kilometers to Taman Gandrung Terakota where terracotta statues of traditional dancers symbolize a Thanksgiving tradition. Now, you will just have 1 kilometer to go to your hotel in Licin, a small village on the hillside of the Ijen massif.
Day 2: Licin to Ijen-Blawan, 85 kilometers, 52 miles
Leave around 1 a.m. for a 15-kilometer ride to the parking area of the Paltuding Ranger Station where the partly steep 3-kilometer trek to the rim starts. Short time to relax then it goes down to the crater’s bottom and its acidic lake. The famous blue fire is a side effect of the Sulphur mining there. After having taken photos of this impressive phenomena and a walk on the rim to overlook the crater from above, you will head back to your bikes just realizing how steep uphill has the night walk been.
Back to the hotel, there is time for breakfast and a nap before check out. After lunch, you will start the way to Blawan. Visit a Sulphur-containing water stream and the hilly grassland Kawah Wurung. You will stay in a more than hundred years old Dutch colonial building which is now used as a homestay. Nearby are the Blawan waterfall and the natural hot spring basins where you will relax your tired legs.
Day 3: Blawan to Cemoro Lawang (Bromo), 240 kilometers, 149 miles
In the chill of the morning, start your ride along coffee plantations direction Jember, a bigger city of this region. Agriculture changes later from sugar cane to rice cultivation. After having a stop for re-fueling the bikes and yourself, you will bypass the city of Jember and go on through the countryside on mid-sized roads direction west. Lunch break will be held in Lumajang, one of the gates to the Bromo-Tengger National Park.
Biker’s heart beat will get up on the Senduro ramp, a very curvy uphill section. Via Ranu Pane, you will arrive at the rim of the huge Tengger Caldera. An overlook provides a nice view into the caldera. A small concrete road leads down to the bottom and the adventure of the Sea Of Sand starts, 7 kilometers in the sand before you reach concrete surface again. One kilometer more to your accommodation in Cemoro Lawang.
Day 4: Cemoro Lawang to Bromo-Batu, 160 kilometers, 99 miles
Today’s first goal is the sunrise point Penanjakan, therefore the activities start at around 3 a.m. First back to the “Sandbox” for app 4k then steep uphill on serpentines, high probably disturbed by some tourist Jeeps. Full concentration is mandatory but the reward won’t be long in coming – a stunning view to one of the most active volcanos on earth, the Mt. Bromo while enjoying an amazing sunrise over the Tengger Caldera and the highest mountain of Java, the Mt. Semeru.
Getting back the same way, you will approach the temple at the bottom of Bromo by bike, biker’s advantage! A 15-minute uphill hike brings us to the rim of Bromo where you can taste the hell having a look into the “maw” of the volcano. Now it’s time for breakfast. The next target is the Madakaripura waterfall, app 30 kilometers away. Walking 2 kilometers from the parking area on a quite even path to the waterfall beyond a waterfall. Simply stunning.
Back to the bikes and on the road again. Partly side road, partly main road – bit more traffic is expected today. Having our lunch break on the way. Late afternoon, you will arrive to Batu, a town embedded in some mountains of more than 3,000 meters altitude. You will stay over here.
Day 5: Batu to Tawang Mangu, 220 kilometers, 136 miles
The morning starts with a sumptuous breakfast, then you have just 10 kilometers to the first stop – the Coban Rondo Waterfall, comfortably reachable by bike. On further way, you will pass several towns in the elongated plain of East Java before reaching the surroundings of the Lawu massif.
At the summit of a pass at altitude of 1900 meters above sea level, which is also the trailhead to climb this 3000+ meter mountain, you will stop for refreshment and some photos. 20k to go to our accommodation, 10 of it on tiny, partly super-steep streets and tracks between the farmer fields - a part of the “temple loop”. After visiting the Sukuh temple, check in to our nearby hotel with great view to the area of Tawang Manggu.
Day 6: Tawang Mangu to Borobudur, 135 kilometers, 83 miles
The Cetho temple, a Hindu worship place on the slopes of the Lawu mountain, is our first target today. The climate conditions at the altitude above 1000 meters above sea level are suitable for a continental-like agriculture thus the farmers cultivate onions, potatoes, cabbage and also strawberries.
After bypassing Solo, the region’s capital and home of Indonesia’s President, and having got your lunch, you will ride up to Selo, the starting point for climbing the mountains Merapi and Merbabu. The pass is 1600 meters above sea level and provides a great view to the active volcano on its left. 45k to go to the famous Buddhist temple of Borobudur. After having visited this World Heritage Site, you are just 1 kilometer away from your hotel among the rice fields. Swimming in the pool or just chilling with a cold beer to round the day.
Day 7: Borobudur to Jogjakarta,80 kilometers, 49 miles
The early bird catches the worm. We have to get up at 4 a.m. to ride to a 5-kilometer away overlook. The sunrise over the valley with the temple and the glowing red shining volcanos in the background surely compensates for the early get up. The nearby “Chicken Church”, a worship place for all religions, is the next goal. This very special building offers a fantastic view to the volcanos Sumbing and Sindoro in the north as well as to the Soroloyo Ridge in the south.
After breakfast and packing, ride at first through the “Gardens of Java” and later south of Merapi before approaching the last highlight of the tour, the in the 9th century established Prambanan temple. You will visit the Hindu temple compound before having lunch. The last leg of the last stage is ahead now. Less than 20 kilometers to your hotel where the tour ends.
Motorcycles:
CB 500 X / KTM 390 Adventure
Versys 250 / CRF 250 Rally
Honda CB 150 X / CB 150 R / ADV 155 / NMAX 155 Travel
Note: For this you get a maximum of Impressions about Indonesia and Java. No double riding of same roads.
Skill level(s) required for this tour:
Advanced:
- Can ride for 5-6 hours
- Extensive riding experience
- Assistance on demand (if required)
- Experienced with riding a variety of motorcycles
- Comfortable with any terrain and weather conditions