Hello Hive friends and Worldmappin adventurers!
This time I want to take you on a trip to one of the places that I think has the most different vibes from other tourist attractions... This place is not just about scenery , but also about scents , legends , and sensations . It's called Kawah Sikidang , which is in the Dieng Plateau area , Central Java.🏞️
I didn't have high expectations at first.... In my mind , I only saw craters, steam , and sulfurous soil. But as it turned out, when my foot stepped on the location... boom! It was like entering another world. There was a sharp smell of sulphur, thick steam from the ground that kept boiling, and a very magical atmosphere. As if the earth was ‘crying’ from the inside...
• 📍 Location & Access to Sikidang Crater
This crater is in the Banjarnegara area, but because it is very close to the Wonosobo border, people sometimes call it both... Access to here is not complicated. From Wonosobo city center, it takes about 45-60 minutes by vehicle. The road goes up and down, but the scenery is really cool... Green hills, potato fields, and cool, serene air that keeps the eyes fresh...
If you're riding a motorcycle, make sure your vehicle is fit, because the route is quite uphill. But don't worry, there are plenty of places to take a break and grab a coffee on the side of the road...
• 🔥 Experience Walking on a Smoky Land
Once you arrive, you are immediately greeted by a gray , steamy land everywhere. The smell of sulfur is pungent , but that's its characteristic. There is a large crater in the center , and you can see the water boiling violently inside. The rumbling sound is subtle but gives you goosebumps.
My advice : don't get too close to the main crater , stay on the designated path. The steam is hot and can be dangerous... Bring a mask or cloth to cover your nose , especially if you are sensitive to the smell of sulfur...
• 📸 Many Cool Spots for Photos
For those of you who love photos , don't forget to bring a camera or at least a cellphone with a full battery. There are many Instagramable spots here. There are wooden paths , bamboo fences , thick crater smoke backgrounds , and sometimes the sun appears shyly between the fog. The moment when the sun shines thinly into the crater ... oh, how cute to take a silhouette...
If you have a drone , try flying it. From above , the landscape is very dramatic : the contrasting colors of the land , the white smoke , and the green hills in the distance...
• 🥚 Boiling Eggs in a Crater? You can!
One of the unique things you can do here is... boil an egg directly in the crater! Seriously. At some points there are small holes where the water is naturally hot from the earth. You just buy a raw egg , dip it in there , wait a few minutes , and you have a geothermal boiled egg! The taste is standard , but the sensation is expensive...
There are also stalls selling instant noodles , roasted corn , hot tea , and fried foods... Sitting and snacking with the smoke from the crater in the background? Luxury in the style of the people!
• 🎟️ Entrance Tickets & Facilities...
The entrance ticket to Sikidang Crater is quite pocket-friendly... Around IDR.20,000 per person , and motorcycle parking IDR.5,000. If you come with family , this place is quite safe because the paths are neatly laid out and there are guardrails in dangerous areas.
Facilities are also complete. There are toilets , prayer rooms , seats , and of course many souvenir and snack stalls. But don't expect to get a totally deserted atmosphere on weekends , because this place is really a favorite for local tourists...
• 🛍️ Tempting Souvenir Market
Exiting the main crater area , you will enter the souvenir market aisle. This is where the test of faith begins. Snacks are in abundance! Starting from carica , dumplings , jasuke , skewered meatballs , to various chips and snacks typical of Dieng. Many also sell mini potatoes typical of Dieng - smaller , but said to taste better for frying or sambal balado.
The aisles are crowded, sometimes narrow , but that's what makes the atmosphere lively. Many sellers are friendly , and you can bargain casually.
• 🎒 Relaxing Tips Ala Agung
From my experience to Sikidang Crater , here are some tips to make your trip more exciting and safe :
- Use trekking shoes or sandals , not flip-flops... The ground is sometimes slippery...
- Bring a maskv, because the sulfur can make you nauseous if you inhale it for too long...
- Come in the morning , so that the fog has not descended thickly and it is not too crowded...
- Bring a thick jacket or hoodie , because the cold wind of Dieng sometimes penetrates to the bones , especially when the fog descends. Don't underestimate the cold , bro...!🥶
- Bring your own drinking water , it's more efficient and definitely useful...
- Don't litter , help maintain the beauty of this place...
• ✨ Is it worth It?
In my opinion , Kawah Sikidang is a must on your bucket list if you go to Dieng. It's not just about the view , but the experience it offers is really unique. Rarely do we get to stand on steamy, living ground , while enjoying the cool mountain air...
And what I like most is that you don't just get cool visuals, you also get folklore, interaction with local merchants, and the sensation of “stepping on an angry earth” - but in a safe version...
Have you been to Sikidang Crater too? Or just heard about this place? Write down in the comment section your experiences or other exciting places you've been to!
Who knows , next trip we can explore other antimainstream places in Indonesia together! 😉
Stay adventurous ,
Agung Prasetyo
Agung Prasetyo
Agung prasetyo is a freelancer, now he is more focused on exploring creating content, from a life journey that has moved jobs to add experience and insight, from there agung prasetyo is determined to open jobs for others, because from his experience how difficult it is to find work. For him, making people around him smile happily is his greatest happiness. Thank you for reading, hopefully it will be useful.