One thing about writing guides for Lonely Planet is that you find yourself discovering and exploring locations that you otherwise might have completely passed by. Such was the case with Dieng Plateau when I visited there a few weeks ago. Located right in the middle of Java, this highland gem totally took my breath away.
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Table of Contents
- About Dieng Plateau
- What to Expect
- Things to do at Dieng Plateau
- The things you could probably miss
- Dieng Culture Festival
- The good and the bad
- Dieng Plateau Tips
- Where to stay in Dieng Plateau
- How to get to Dieng Plateau
- Dieng Plateau Tours
- Summary
About Dieng Plateau
The Dieng Plateau sits at around 2100 meters above sea level, and is known as the highest plateau in Java. In fact, the highest village in Java is actually located on the Dieng Plateau.
The name, meaning “abode of the Gods” seems quite fitting, and with a Hindu Temple complex that dates as one of the oldest complexes in Java, it’s obvious that the plateau held a special place in the hearts of local residents hundreds of years ago. There were once over 100 temples in the region, but over the course of several years dozens of them mysteriously disappeared, leaving just the few that still exist today.
The Dieng Plateau was formed by volcanic activity in the region, and is actually the floor of an ancient caldera, surrounded by volcanic peaks that stretch for around 6 kilometers from North to South.
The entire area around Dieng is an incredible place to visit. From the views and multicolored lakes, to the constantly boiling Sikidang Crater, you will be amazed at what the place has to offer.
What to Expect
Views, views and more views!
Actually, there is a lot more to Dieng than just the views, but they are what will first strike you about the area.
The drive up the mountains, regardless of which direction you approach from, is incredible. Frustration can become a natural part of any drive through Indonesian highlands as you get stuck behind slow trucks that have seen better days. But on the road to Dieng, it can become a real blessing for the passengers. The views are just extraordinary, and keep getting better the higher that you climb.
Along the way, stop off at the cafes and viewpoints. It never gets old, and if you know me, you will also know that there is no such thing as too much coffee!
Another thing to expect is glorious tea plantations that stretch out like deep green carpets on either side of the road. Both Jo and I are suckers for the views of tea plantations, and we lingered way too long both heading to Dieng, and again when leaving.
At Dieng Plateau itself, there is so much to do that you will probably think you didn’t give yourself enough time. The good news is that everything here is really close, and fitting a lot into one day is certainly possible!
Things to do at Dieng Plateau
There is much to do at Dieng Plateau, and fortunately for visitors, the majority of attractions are within an easy to reach area. This is also great for tours, as they can fit a lot more into a single day trip.
Here is a list of things to do at Dieng Plateau, that really make it worth visiting.
- Catch Sunrise at Sikunir Hill – One of the most popular hills in Dieng is Sikunir Hill, and it is famous for its incredible sunrises. In decent weather though, expect to be sharing the hilltop with a lot of others.
- Stroll around Telaga Warna – Located in an easy to find spot right near town, these beautiful lakes are multicolored, and make a wonderful feature on your Instagram feed.
- Visit the Arjuna Temple Complex – Some of the oldest Hindu Temples in Java are right here in Dieng, and the Arjuna Temple Complex is right beside the road. With minimal entrance fee, its worth stopping off and taking a stroll around these ancient structures.
- Enjoy the views at Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin – Some of the best views in the area are from this viewpoint located right above Telaga Warna. It also gives you possibly the very best photos of the lakes. Its easy to reach and right beside the Dieng Plateau Theater.
- Learn about Dieng Plateau history in the Theater – The Dieng Plateau Theater is free with your entry price into the area. Here, you can sit and watch an old but very relevant movie about the creation of the region and history behind it. Anyone interested in Geography and Geology would love this!
- Take a walk around Sikidang Crater – This constantly boiling pit is surrounded by the smell of Sulphur, and is a great reminder that the area of Dieng Plateau is actually volcanic!
- Stop by in Java’s highest village – Sembungan Village is not too far from the main Dieng area, and is a worthwhile drive to check out what life is like in a village located at VERY high altitude.
- Check out the views – On the road into Dieng there are many, many cafes and viewpoints with views that stretch down the valley and beyond. Some places have dedicated selfie spots, and serve local foods and snacks.
- Enjoy a local Tea Plantation – One of our favorite things to do at Dieng Plateau was to stroll around the tea plantations. My tip is to get there in the early hours around dawn. The pickers are out and you can watch them work, chat with them and get some great photos!
The things you could probably miss
This list is from personal experience, but if you are pushed for time, then you could probably miss a few things at Dieng Plateau, and not be kicking yourself afterward.
First, Telaga Warna is extremely overpriced, and really offers nothing other than the view of beautiful green lakes. As a foreigner, paying in excess of 100k Rp is excessive when there is nothing to do other than walk around the lakes on a boardwalk.
Instead, head up the hill to the lookout above them called Batu Pandang Ratapan Angin. The view here is beautiful and you will get a full panorama of the lakes below. Also, don’t listen to the Jeep companies that will try to charge you 250k Rp per person to go there, claiming the road is impassable. It isn’t, and even buses can drive there.
Second, Sikidang Crater. This volcanic pit is a bubbling mud pool that can be quite captivating. But if you come from New Zealand, or have been to Iceland, or any other part of the world where there are bubbling volcanic pools, then this will not exactly leave you speechless. Plus, by skipping it you avoid the 3 kilometers of warungs and souvenir shops they make you walk past on the way out. Seriously, I thought I’d wandered into an Ikea store by accident and expected to be able to buy Swedish Meatballs before I left.
If you have the time, then by all means visit these places. We did (I was researching for Lonely Planet after all) and I don’t regret it. But if you are pushed for time, you CAN miss them.
Dieng Culture Festival
In August of every year the Dieng Plateau comes alive with the Dieng Culture Festival. This annual event has become a tradition that showcases the best that the region has to offer, and keeps alive some of the unique local traditions.
One of these is the cutting of the children’s dreadlocked hair. Dread locked hair is a phenomenon that occurs to the children of the Dieng Plateau, and despite many studies by experts, no one has yet been able to find a scientific answer to why it happens. There are local beliefs and superstitions however, and this is “celebrated” every August on the final day of the Festival.
Children with dreadlocked hair do not get it cut off until they specifically request it to be done so. The hair grows that way naturally when very young, and once it has been cut it grows back normally. Parents, by tradition, will grant one wish for the child when they have their hair cut – a wish in the form of a present. If the wish is too outlandish, then the child is made to wait till next year.
The hair cutting ceremony takes place at the Arjuna Temple Complex on the steps of the temple. It is a big moment in the lives of the Dieng children, and a “coming of age” of sorts.
During the Festival there are many other events over the several days that it takes place, including fireworks and outdoor cinemas at night. If visiting Dieng Plateau during this time, be aware that it is very popular, and accommodation is sold out months in advance.
The good and the bad
Let’s start with the good.
There is a lot to do in Dieng. So much, in fact, that you will wonder how it has been kept a secret for so long. The views, the crisp air and the lazy vibes of Dieng make it the perfect place to unwind. The people are friendly, but then maybe not any more friendly than most other places in Java.
Basically, you can expect to have a couple of wonderful days at Dieng Plateau, and experience something totally unique from the rest of Java.
Like anywhere though, there are the “bad” things as well. Fortunately though, these are not bad enough that you wouldn’t want to visit, or that would stop you still having a wonderful time.
First, is the fees to see things. And fees to do things. And fees to enter the Dieng area. And basically just fees for going ANYWHERE.
I’ve lived in Indonesia for 4 years and seen a lot of the country. I know how it works. Back home in Bali you pay to enter waterfalls. You pay to park at the beach. This is how local Banjar’s earn their money and are able to maintain the facilities. In Dieng though, they take it to a new level.
TOP TIP – Carry a lot of small money with you at Dieng Plateau, as you will be constantly handing money out the car window for every reason that you can imagine. You will pay to enter the region. You will pay to come into the “tourist” area of Dieng. You will pay to park. Then, you will pay to enter an attraction. Using the toilet? Pay again.
Then, when you leave and drive 200 meters to the next place, you will pay again. To park, enter, and pee if you have to. It never ends.
Having said that, we tended to just shake our heads and laugh. The fees are not much, and we still had a great time. Dieng makes its money from agriculture and tourism, so being a tourist is helping them earn a living. Just remember to carry small money!
Of course, if you are on a tour (see below) then all of these fees won’t even matter as they would mostly be included in the price. So, visiting as part of a tour can be a good option.
The second thing is pollution. This is an issue in many parts of Indonesia, but I would have hoped that in such a beautiful place like Dieng, they would make it a priority to keep the area clean. But they don’t and there is garbage laying everywhere.
One of the main issues for Dieng though, is that a LOT of this comes from visitors, and most of them are domestic visitors. If everyone did the right thing and disposed of their waste in a responsible manner, then places like this could be SO MUCH better.
Dieng Plateau Tips
There are a few things to know when visiting Dieng Plateau that will make your visit easier, but also have you prepared for what to expect. A few of them I have mentioned in this article already, but here they are again.
- Carry small money for all the fees such as parking and entrance fees you will have to pay.
- When visiting Arjuna Temple Complex, keep your ticket, as it also includes entry into Sikidang Crater.
- Take note of your ticket when you enter the Dieng area. There are several free experiences included in the price, such as the Dieng Plateau Theater.
- Visit the Tea Plantations early in the morning for the best experience.
- If you are an unmarried couple, be careful with where you choose to stay in Dieng, as they may not permit you to stay together.
- If you only want to see Telaga Warna, then skip the entrance price and head to the viewpoint above.
- Be wary of the overpriced Jeep Tour.
- A tour from Yogyakarta can be a good option if you don’t have your own transport.
Where to stay in Dieng Plateau
Unless you stay in nearby Wonosobo, then staying at Dieng Plateau will probably mean finding an Air BNB, or searching Booking.com for a nice villa or homestay. We stayed in a really nice, new villa that had beautiful views, supplied breakfast, and had a wonderful tea plantation right at the back door.
Below, I will list a few recommended places that we found. But first, a quick word of warning for international tourists.
If you are searching for accommodation, be aware that the area and locals are Muslim. Most of them are quite conservative, and if you are unmarried, you best check before booking a place that it is ok to stay there. Please observe respect for the local customs and show tolerance, as they will show you.
Here is my choice of place to stay in Dieng Plateau.
AGORA HOME
This is the place we stayed and we loved it. Beautiful views across the valley to the mountains opposite that the sun rises behind were perfect. At the back door is the tea plantation. Located a little away from the main center means it is nice and quiet, and breakfast is even included.
If you want to have a look at other places to stay around Dieng, then check out the below link.
How to get to Dieng Plateau
The best way to get to Dieng Plateau is to drive or ride. We drove, and the views are wonderful coming up the mountain. Other than this, there really is no other way to get directly there.
If you rely on public transport, then you should make your way to Wonosobo by bus or train, and then you can catch a “travel” bus, or mini bus up to Dieng. There is also the option to catch taxi or maybe even GoCar or GRAB, but this will be a lot more expensive.
It isn’t hard to reach Wonosobo from places such as Yogyakarta as there are regular bus services.
Dieng Plateau Tours
The other way to get to Dieng Plateau is to take a tour, which is a very good option if you are in Yogyakarta, and don’t have your own transport. There are several options for day trips, but be prepared that it is a long day, usually leaving Yogyakarta in the early hours of the morning.
One recommended tour that gets rave reviews includes pickup at your hotel at around midnight, a 3 hour drive to Dieng, where in the early hours before dawn you will climb Sikunir Hill for the sunrise. The rest of the day is spent touring around to a few of Dieng Plateau’s most famous attractions, before heading back to Yogyakarta.
Click the below link to check it out and get prices.
Summary
Dieng Plateau is a beautiful place in the highlands of Java. It is worth visiting, with spectacular views, incredible scenery, and plenty of things to see and do in a climate that is much different to the rest of the island.
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