One of the best day trips from Yogyakarta I’ve done is by far a trip to Jomblang Cave. This incredible sinkhole is a once in a lifetime experience, and something I can’t believe took me so long to do. It wasn’t until I was recently researching for Lonely Planet that I finally decided to give it a go, and I’m so glad I did. I decided right away that I would write a guide for Jomblang Cave, and here it is!
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Table of Contents
- About Jomblang Cave
- Where is Jomblang Cave?
- What to expect
- How to get to Jomblang Cave
- Tips and Hints
- Can I do a Jomblang Cave Tour?
- What else can I do nearby?
- Summary
About Jomblang Cave
Jomblang Cave is a stunning natural cave system in Gunung Kidul, a couple of hours from Yogyakarta in Java, Indonesia. Millions of years old, the cave system is accessed via a 60 meter deep sinkhole, from where you will hike through the horizontal cave into another incredible sinkhole with some of the most amazing scenery that you will ever see!
In an area honeycombed with caving systems, Jomblang Cave is a one of a kind destination, and an experience that you will never forget.
Where is Jomblang Cave?
Jomblang Cave is located in the regency of Gunung Kidul, approximately 20 kilometers South East of Yogyakarta city. It takes about 90 minutes to drive to the location, which is accessible by car or scooter.
The nearest major town to the cave is Wonosari, located about 7 – 8 kilometers away.
What to expect
Expect to be blown away. That’s it in a nutshell.
Upon arrival, the place doesn’t look like much. There’s a couple of structures at the entrance, and in the large, Joglo style dining room area you will have your name ticked off the list, and given a number. On a crowded day, keep this number as you will need it to know when your turn is up for entering the cave.
Change out your shoes for boots, (gumboots/galoshes) and take a seat to wait. The staff will keep you advised of when it’s your turn, or when to proceed down the hill to the cave entrance.
Entering Jomblang Cave
The entrance to the cave is only a short 3 minute walk down the hill. It doesn’t look like much, and upon approach you will see a contraption consisting of a pulling system, framework and ropes. This is all there to lower you down into the sinkhole. Off to one side, in a small joglo structure will be seated a number of local men who are the muscle that will do the lowering/raising.
So, at this point, in case you didn’t already know, it’s worth explaining that you will be MANUALLY lowered down into the sinkhole. It’s a 60 meter drop down into some gorgeous rainforest at the bottom, and is a slow, controlled descent. Once at the bottom, you will be unhooked, and can move away freely to make room for the next person to be lowered.
Is Jomblang Cave safe?
Yes it is!
With a small caveat that there is always risk involved in anything. And this is a cave, and involves harnesses and ropes and manpower. But it is as safe as it possibly could be under the circumstances.
All of the guides and staff involved are fully certified cavers and abseillers. They inspect the equipment, including ropes, harnesses and helmets on a regular basis, and keep it well maintained. They are experts that take pride in their work, and provide a safe and rewarding experience for everyone that visits.
Inside the cave, the guide will follow you every step of the way. Follow his instructions and don’t stray too far. They know the safe areas to walk, stand, and the best spots for photos!
The Descent
Once you have put on your harness and had it inspected by the staff, you will be called to hook up to the rope system. This is where it gets a little scary, and probably where most people might back out. There is nothing dangerous about this, but it can be quite daunting the first time you put your trust in the equipment and guide, and lean out over the edge of the cliff holding onto nothing.
Don’t worry though, because you will have a friend with you! The descent can only be done in pairs to maintain the correct balance. So you will either have a friend with you, or a guide locked onto the rope beside you.
Once you are suspended out over the sinkhole, and the men (remember the men sitting in the joglo?) have taken the strain on the rope, they will slowly begin to lower you.
The drop is slow, and you will have plenty of time to enjoy it and take photos or video if you have your phone/camera out and ready. I took a wonderful 360 video of the experience that you can find on my Instagram HERE if you want to see more!
Once you reach the bottom, there will be a guide waiting to catch you and unhook you from the harness system. Then, once your group is all together, you can head into the cave with the guide.
Into the Cave
The trek into the cave is only short, but can be a little tricky and slippery climbing down the hill to the entrance. There’s a rope to hold onto, and if you take your time it’s not really hard. Once you reach the bottom, take a few minutes to enjoy the spot, standing in the entrance of a massive 50 meter high cave, and take a few photos. The guides are good with this, and know the right spot to stand for maximum effect.
Heading into the cave, simply follow the guide along the marked path. If you don’t have your own torch, he may provide you with one, but otherwise just use your smartphone. The hike only takes about 10 minutes, until you reach the next cavern, which is what will really knock your socks off!
This is the base of another massive sinkhole. Unlike the one you entered through though, this is a lot deeper, and the opening at the top is a small ring of sunlight far above. At the right time of day, which is generally when you will be there, the sun’s rays make an incredible sight, shining down into the cave and illuminating it with a heavenly glow. It’s truly like something out of a Hollywood Movie, and you would half expect Indiana Jones or Lara Croft to appear beside you!
At this point, take as many photos and videos as you can. There’s a river below you which is beautiful, and up to your right are some incredible stalagmites that your guide will take you up to for photos.
Once you are finished, follow the guide back to the entrance, and wait your turn to be hauled back up and out of the pit again.
How to get to Jomblang Cave
Getting to Jomblang Cave is actually easy, but the finally kilometer or so of road can be rough on the car!
Simply follow Google Maps, which will take you through Wonosari (if coming from Jogja) until you take the turn to the right. The maps will take you all the way to Jomblang Cave, just beware of the shocking road as you near it. A normal car will get you there, but you have to take it slow. There’s nothing dangerous, you just don’t want to end up with a flat tyre from the rocky road in the middle of nowhere.
Getting down the road would be a lot easier if you are coming on a scooter, or any sort of 4WD vehicle. In the end, (just like at Pantai Timang Gondola) navigating a bit of a dodgy road is worth it for the experience that awaits!
Tips and Hints
A few things to remember when you go to Jomblang Cave.
- Book ahead! You can do this on their website or IG account.
- If it’s only a few days away, enquire if it will be busy. The less people, the better the experience. On the day we went we only had one other person. (a Tuesday) The day before there were 75 people!
- Get there early. The best sun and conditions are early, and if you are behind a lot of others you may miss them.
- Take a change of clothes as you may end up muddy.
- Think twice if you are afraid of heights, the dark, or are mobility impaired.
- Take water.
- Have a flashlight and good camera/smartphone
- Watch the weather. During heavy rain or wet season the cave may not be open, or at the very least conditions may be extremely muddy inside. The dry season is probably a lot more recommended. Make sure to enquire when you book.
Can I do a Jomblang Cave Tour?
Yes. If you don’t have your own transport you can certainly get to Jomblang Cave on a tour from Jogja. Try THIS ONE, which combines a trip with one of my other favorite places at Pantai Timang Gondola which isn’t far away. Otherwise, check out some of the GetYourGuide advertisements in this article.
What else can I do nearby?
The Jomblang Cave experience is done in the morning, so you will generally have the rest of the day available to you afterward. Here are a few things you can try that I highly recommend.
- Pantai Timang Gondola – This incredible experience sees you manually hauled out over the crashing waves to an island 100 meters offshore in a wooden gondola.
- Goa Pindul – Take a trip on rubber tubes through an underground river system with a guide, learning about the ecosystem and creation of such an incredible place. As part of the package for this, you can do up to 3 adventures, including rafting through one cave, and tubing down an open air river past at least one beautiful waterfall. This place is better in the wet season, but even in the dry is worth it.
Summary
Jomblang Cave is a truly amazing experience. If you are after a little bit of adventure, this will tick all the boxes, and you will have an amazing time doing it!
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