Mount Merbabu — Attraction in Selo

Mount Merbabu (3,145 m) is the 3rd highest mountain in central Java, standing together with Mount Merapi as a brother and sister. Merbabu has 5 route to trek (Selo, Suwanting, Wekas, Cuntel and Thekelan).

Even though the hiking trail is always going up and down but it offers you a good view of sunrise and a panoramic view of Mt.Merapi.

Before trekking you need to register on the national park's official website. It requires at least 3 people/group, if you are a solo traveler you can put your name on a website with the date to go. if someone wants to go on the same date and route, you would be invited to join the group and contact your friend via Whatsapp). It has a quota for each trekking route and sometimes is full on the weekend or public holidays.

The journey can be continued to Post 3 Batu Tulis which is at an altitude of 2,593 meters above sea level. Here, I and a group of climbers camped, you can also set up a tent because the area is so wide here or continue the journey to Savannah 2 if the temperature and weather support.

However, it would be nice to take a short walk to Sabana 1. Yes, the privilege of climbing Mount Merbabu lies in the extraordinary beauty of the savanna. Unmitigated, Mount Merbabu has two very large savanna fields. The location is not that far, uphill for about 30 minutes.

Indeed, to arrive at Sabana 1 from Post 3 Batu Tulis takes quite a long time, namely one hour. Even with climbing routes that really make your knees feel like they are going to fall off. However, all the tiredness will be paid off with the soul-satisfying beauty of the savanna.

It's not surprising that many climbers choose to camp at Sabana 1 or Sabana 2. These two savannas are also favorite spots for climbers to take photos. The combination of the typical green of the savanna with the bright blue sky can seduce beauty lovers.

I started the summit attack around 4 am from post 3. I took the morning prayer at savanna 2.

After Sabana 2, the journey to the top of Mount Merbabu begins. Actually there are several peaks on Mount Merbabu, but the ones that can be traversed from the Selo route are Trianggulasi Peak and Kenteng Songo Peak.

The travel time to get to Trianggulasi Peak from Sabana 2 is approximately 90 minutes with an elevation of 916 meters. Regarding the climbing track, no need to ask. Just enjoy it. Because the peak that looks so close to the eye, is actually far away at the feet.

If you are tired, pause for a moment while looking at the scenery around Mount Merbabu. There is Mount Lawu in the east, Mount Merapi in the south, Mount Andong-Mount Telomoyo-Mount Ungaran in the north, and there is Mount Sindoro-Sumbing in the west. Also look at the vast expanse of edelweiss, cantigi trees and savanna. This landscape will more or less distract you from your feeling of tiredness. This good view can certainly be seen when the weather is clear.

After an hour's journey from Sabana 2, climbers will arrive at Triangulation Peak. At the same time, continue to Puncak Kenteng Songo, which is only 123 meters away with a travel time of 10 minutes.

At the top of Kenteng Songo, there are six mortars or pounding tools made of stone and have concave holes. At this peak, climbers can enjoy unforgettable sunset and sunrise moments.

*It's not allowed to climb without registration, even if you go with a travel agency. If all of your group members are foreigners, a guide is required. **There is no phone signal on this route, but you can see the notifications at some point on the way. **Bring back all your garbages to check at the entrance gate. **There is no source of water available...

We did the merbabu trek starting from Selo. We begun with some confusing negotiations about registration for the hike - this should be done beforehand online but proved to be tricky for us so we managed in person for 150k a person.

We started at 1pm in cloudy misty conditions. We walked very quickly (3 of us fairly athletic in our 20s) nervous we had left it too late for sunset views up top. Despite locals saying it would take 5-7 hours to the top we managed it in 3 hours including our short breaks. We got to POS5 in just 2 hours. We got to the top just before sunset and had it to ourselves - it seems most groups camp and go for sunrise and maybe better chance of being alone at sunset. Initially we were entirely in cloud but we dropped just slightly and got great views on Merapi and of the sun setting on top of the cloud.

The route is well marked with posts and black and yellow tape. Both the posts and tape are reflective making them visible at night time as well which proved very useful for our post sunset descent.

Would definitely recommend to long trousers and long sleeve tops. Mostly for keeping the sand off and neater the summit for keeping warm too. We climbed on a misty coldish day even down in the valley (noticeable on the scooter ride in) so found ourselves quite cold on top wearing just a hoodie and tracksuit trousers. Would recommend jumper + warmer layer (thermal or fleece) + coat. The watery mist and wind combination was very cold at the top. Torches and head torches also recommended for sunset - very dark, steep descent with lots of loose ground.

The hike started off in the trees with fairly solid paths for first hour but once you reach the first rope it changes to be much sandier looser paths. Sometimes just sheer cliffs of loose sand which required going on all fours. Usually these sections had rope but particularly nearer the top less rope was provided. The final 900m distance (after pos5) took us an hour because of this and because the elevation of this last section was around 300m making it like 33degrees steep.

The hike wasn’t too busy - we probably passed 10 groups of more serious trekkers bringing up tents during our hike. We were the only group we met just day trekking.

Amazing views and very exciting hike. The sandiness made it unlike any hike I’ve done before and overlooking merapi was very cool. We managed the whole climb on 3 hours sleep and no food other than one pack of Oreo’s and 6 small bananas between three so it’s definitely possible...

Mount Merbabu, located in Central Java, is one of Indonesia’s prominent volcanoes, with an elevation of 3,145 meters above sea level. This stratovolcano offers a challenging yet rewarding hike, especially for those who enjoy outdoor trekking. Merbabu is known for its stunning views, particularly at sunrise, when the sky and morning mist create a breathtaking sight.

The hike to the summit takes trekkers through diverse ecosystems, ranging from dense tropical forests to expansive grasslands. Along the trails, you’ll encounter various species of flora and fauna, including wild orchids and mountain birds that are unique to this high-altitude region. There are also small craters along the route, remnants of the volcano's past activity, giving trekkers a glimpse into the geological history of the mountain.

At the summit, hikers are rewarded with spectacular panoramic views of Mount Merapi, Mount Sindoro, Mount Sumbing, and even the Java Sea on clear days. Merbabu is often chosen by those seeking a beautiful hiking experience without the risk of volcanic activity, unlike its neighboring volcano, Merapi.

There are several trekking routes to the summit, with the Selo route being one of the most popular due to its accessibility and stunning natural scenery. The hike is ideal for beginner climbers who want to experience a volcanic climb with a varied landscape, but without overly extreme conditions.

Overall, Mount Merbabu offers a remarkable hiking experience with magnificent views, while also providing insight into the geological and biodiversity richness of Indonesia's...