Pale The Cat: Dieng : The Land Above the Clouds in Java

Dieng Plateau

Never heard this place before until my friend posted her photo on instagram, at the top of a mountain, above the clouds ! how could that be? So had to go there and try new experients as a backpacker here. Well im not much of backpacker person would be, have to carry heavy things, jump from one place to another location quickly and so on. On vacation, im much more a person who love to lay around, enjoy the sunset, get lazy, try cozy restaurant, laying on the ocean, etc. But what the hack ! sounds fun, so off we go –semi backpacking to Dieng.

We took the airplane and goes to Jogja for Rp 300.000, then take the travel car to go to Dieng from Jogja (Rp 45.000), it takes time about 5 hours from Jakarta – Jogja – Dieng. or you could take the bus, from Jakarta direct to Dieng, it will cost you about Rp. 70.000, but you have to be patient for about..... 14 hours ! haha. Try another route to go back to Jakarta, we took the train, from Jogja to Jakarta (Took the Travel again to go back from Dieng to Jogja) cost Rp 180.000 for the Business Class (Just found out that we’re traveling without air conditioner in that train haha), and arrived at Pasar Senen Jakarta.

So we had the conclusion, transportation from Jakarta to Dieng

Plane

Jakarta – Jogja Rp 300.000 (if you’re lucky)

Jogja – Dieng : Travel Rp 45.000

Estimated time : 5 hours

Train

Jakarta – Jogja Rp 180.000 (Business)

Jogja – Dieng : Travel

Estimated time : 12 hours

Bus

Jakarta (Lebak Bulus) – Dieng : Rp.70.000

Estimated time : 14 hours

Enough with the transportation, here’s my 3 Day Trip Schedule

Day #1

07.00 – 08.00 : Jakarta Jogja

10.00 – 14.00 : Jogja – Dieng

15.00 – 18.00 : Candi Arjuna, Telaga Warna, Kawah Sikidang (Rp. 100.000 / car+ guide)

19.00 : Ate at Bu Jono (Rp 10.000)

21.00 : Stayed at Dieng Pass (Rp. 200.000 /night)

Day #2

03.00 : Get up, get ready for sunrise !

05.00 : Drove to Bukit Sikunir ( you can ask the local to guide you + drive you to

Bukit Sikunir, yes you need guide, there will be a lot of track, dangerous to go

alone) Rp 150.000 /car+guide

05.30 – 06.00 : Tracking. From that moment, now i know.... IM DEFINTELY AFRAID OF

HEIGHTS ................ no .. take me to the beach.

06.00 : Watch the sunrise, just like sunny side egg, it was beautiful, even though

sometimes the sun were blocked by the fog, yes it was the rainy season. But

you got the look of the cold forest just like twilight (no im not a fan of twilight)

07.00 : Back to Dieng Pass

10.00 : Went to Jogja by Travel

14.00 : Arived, and eat at Malioboro (Rp 15.000)

15.00 : Went to shayka’s aunt house, to stay and took a shower

16.00 : Taman Sari, near from our house and keraton. This place closed at 16.00, so

when we got there it was closed, but you can still enjoy the view, and the local

will offer you a tour of Taman Sari through another path (not the main gate),

they will explained about the historical building too, that will cost you

Rp20.000 for the guide. Our planned is go to the Candi Prambana too, but its

already dark, and the weather went from sunny day to heavy rain. So we go

back, dont want to be late to catch the train tomorrow

Day #3

08.00 – 17.00 : Jogja – Jakarta

My spend for 3 days /person are :

Transportaion :

Rp.300.000 (Jakarta Jogja)

Rp. 45.000 (Jogja – Dieng)

Rp 25.000 (Guide + Transportaion around Dieng)

Rp. 37.500 (Guide + Transportaion Bukit Sikunir)

Rp. 45.000 (Dieng – Jakarta)

Rp. 40.000 (Around Jogja, use Becak Rp 10.000/ride)

Rp. 10.000 (Around Jogja with transjogja Rp.3000/ride)

Rp. 180.000 (Jogja – Jakarta by Train)

----------------- +

682.500

Acomodation

Rp.50.000 (Dieng pass /person)

Free (at Jogja)

Etc.

Rp. 70.000 (Meal @Rp.10.000-15.000)

Rp.20.000 (Guide)

Total Rp 825.000

Shayka at Kawah Sikidang ( Be careful- Cause the Crater would jump from one place to another, but that's the reason why this place become interesting, oh and they contain sulfur etc)