Five Tourist Villages in Central Java — A Worthy Alternative to Ubud

If you're already accustomed to the green slopes and tranquil atmosphere of Bali's Ubud, try changing the scenery and heading to Central Java. Here too, you'll find rice terraces, mountain air, and rich culture, but without the tourist crowds.

Kemetul stretches along the southern slopes of Mount Merbabu, about an hour and a half drive from Yogyakarta. The terraced fields wave out to the horizon, while in bamboo pavilions on the edge, you can enjoy corn rice, tapioca getuk, and fragrant stewed cassava. From the heights, you can see a rare view of three volcanoes at once — Merbabu, Merapi, and Sindoro. Trekking enthusiasts can catch the sunrise from the summit of Merbabu: the climb is non-technical but requires an early start and basic physical fitness.

Pentingsari is officially part of the Special Region of Yogyakarta but is actually located on the border with Central Java, making it easily accessible from both areas. The village is known as "educational-cultural" for its numerous workshops: here you can learn to play the gamelan, dance the Ramayana, and roast local Arabica coffee beans. The settlement is located on the western slope of fiery Merapi. From here, jeep tours depart to observation points, lava tunnels, and an abandoned village destroyed by the 2010 eruption.

Wonolelo sits at an altitude of about 800 m: during the daytime, it's a comfortable 24°C even in the dry season. The steep slopes alternate between vegetable plantations and rice terraces, and every weekend there's a farmer's market. The guesthouses offer views of the smoking cone of Merapi. For a change of scenery, you can head down to the coast — visit the black sands of Parangtritis or rent a bike and tour the little-known beaches of southern Java: Wediombo, Klayar, and bays around Pacitan.

At the foot of Andong Hill hides a 25-meter waterfall of the same name, accessible by a shady path along irrigated fields. The village itself stretches along a crystal-clear stream and is known for eco-agro-tourism: guests help harvest rice, learn to weave pandanus baskets, and brew herbal jamu infusion. The ascent to the summit of Andong takes about two hours; from the ridge, you can see not only Merapi and Merbabu but also the distant peaks of Sindoro and Sumbing.

Candirejo lies just three kilometers from the majestic Borobudur, but the atmosphere here is quite different: quiet streets, jasmine-scented courtyards, and sleepy fish ponds. Tourists are invited to homestay programs: you can spend the night in the home of a batik weaving master, learn to weave mats from palm leaves, or go on a bike tour of the surrounding hills. In the morning, many head to Borobudur to watch the sunrise, while in the evening they return to the village for a traditional 'Mardi Tirta' musical performance accompanied by bamboo flutes.

Source: vivasemarang