Travel Guide Kaliurang

Located 25 km north of Yogya, the health resort of Kaliurang (900 m above sea level) clings to the side of a volcano: trails, forests, waterfalls and a refreshing coolness just a bus ride from Yogya. On a clear day, this village offers extraordinary views of Merapi (2,912 m). You can stroll along the forest park trails and stop off at the foot of the waterfalls.Always check the instructions before setting off. Mount Merapi is prone to sudden eruptions. It's one of the country's most active volcanoes, and also one of the most closely watched. It erupts every two-and-a-half years on average, twenty-five eruptions since the 1930s, and each time it takes its toll in human lives. In 1969, burning mud devastated fields and villages, and swept away river bridges. In 1994, the eruption claimed 68 lives, burned by the toxic fumes emanating from the lava flows. In 2006, 15,000 people had to be evacuated, and in 2010, 253 souls perished during the eruptions.Avoid visiting at weekends, when the resort is overrun by Yogyakarta residents. It is possible to climb Merapi, but from Kaliurang it's not recommended (and it's harder): you have to start from Selo, a village north of the volcano (where you can find very basic accommodation and guides; the best way to get there is to take a bus from Solo to Magelang and get off at Selo, a 2-hour journey costing 25,000 Rp).Basic caution: go with a guide, follow the marked trails and prefer to venture out in the dry season, otherwise the slippery slopes make the operation almost impossible, to say the least. We recommend using the services of a local travel agency, which will take care of everything and (usually) know how to turn back in case of unforeseen circumstances. In any case, it often happens that the climb to the crater is not authorized for safety reasons. Find out more. In general, organized tours leave Yogyakarta around midnight, to allow a night ascent and allow visitors to enjoy the splendid sunrise from the top of the crater. You'll be back in town by 7 a.m., in time for breakfast! In any case, avoid climbing in the middle of the day, as it gets very, very hot.