Mount Telomoyo is a local gem in Central Java that is still mostly undiscovered by foreign tourists. Driving through the lush jungle to see incredible views of the surrounding volcanoes at picturesque overlooks, it's easy to see why locals love it. In this article, I'll share the best way to visit Mount Telomoyo as a foreign tourist as well as tips for your trip to Central Java.
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About Mount Telomoyo
Mount Telomoyo (Gunung Telomoyo), also spelled Telomojo, is a stratovolcano in Central Java, on the border of the Magelang and Semarang Regencies. It lies along a line of volcanoes extending from Ungaran in the north to Merapi in the south.
At 1,864 m (6,115 ft) above sea level, Mount Telomoyo is a great spot for views of the surrounding volcanoes in the region and to enjoy sunrise / sunset. Part of the reason Mount Telomoyo became so well-known with locals is due to staff at the telecommunications tower at the peak posting their beautiful views on social media.
Best Time to Visit Mount Telomoyo
In general, the best time of year to visit Java, and therefore Mount Telomoyo, is during the dry season from May to September. During dry season, you'll be more likely to have sunny skies and clear weather. However, during our visit in July, we had plenty of showers.
To choose the best time of day to visit Mount Telomoyo, we asked the staff at the resort where we were staying. Since it had been rainy in the afternoons on the previous few days, we opted for a Mount Telomoyo sunrise tour instead of a sunset tour.
How to Get to Mount Telomoyo
Mount Telomoyo is located ~60 km (37 mi) south of Semarang and ~70 km (43 mi) north of Yogyakarta. To get from either city to Mount Telomoyo, or Central Java in general, you'll need to rent a car or motorbike, hire a car with a driver, or join a tour.
Staying at MesaStila Resort in Central Java like we did, however, it's easy to arrange a private tour of Mount Telomoyo.
Driving Up Mount Telomoyo
One of the reasons Mount Telomoyo is a great volcano to visit in Central Java is due to its accessibility. With a road winding all the way up to the peak, you can enjoy beautiful views with no hiking involved. However, the road is quite steep and limited to motorbike and jeep traffic only.
Perhaps you can tell how steep the road is from this photo?
Locals often drive their own motorbikes to the top. As a tourist, you can either rent a motorbike or hire a jeep (with a driver) at the base of Mount Telomoyo to take you up to the peak. You can find the entrance on Google Maps at "Area Parkir Wisata G. Telomoyo" behind the Masjid Al Kautsar.
Book a Tour through MesaStila Resort
Personally, we found the best and easiest way to visit Mount Telomoyo was to arrange a sunrise tour through the MesaStila Resort where we stayed in Central Java. Our tour included a driver to take us to the base of Mount Telomoyo. Then, our driver handled the arrangements for our jeep and also helped us out with logistics once we got to the peak.
Mount Telomoyo Sunrise Tour
As I mentioned, we booked a Mount Telomoyo sunrise tour through the MesaStila Resort. Whether you're thinking of booking the same tour or trying it on your own, I'll give you an overview of what to expect on Mount Telomoyo.
Note: I've included a review of MesaStila Resort at the bottom of this article in case you're looking for a jungle getaway in Central Java.
Leaving MesaStila In the Dark
Given my intense hatred for early mornings, choosing the sunrise tour over the sunset one was unusual for us. However, like I mentioned earlier, it was often rainy in the afternoons so the sunrise one seemed like the best option.
We met our MesaStila (MS) driver at the front of the resort bright (nope, it actually was dark) and early at 3:15 am. After looking us over, he warned that it would be colder up on the mountain and we might want to bring a jacket.
Unfortunately, we were already wearing our warmest clothes since we didn't initially plan to go on a sunrise tour. Spoiler: We definitely regretted our lack of foresight.
Mount Telomoyo Base
The drive from MesaStila to the base of Mount Telomoyo took around 30 minutes. As we drove up into the mountains, we were amazed by how much activity there was in the villages. Apparently, the morning markets open well before dawn.
At the entrance to Mount Telomoyo, there's a parking lot with jeeps, a mosque, and public restrooms (squat toilets). Our MS driver arranged a jeep for us and the four of us - our jeep driver, our MS driver, plus Jeremy and I - left the base around 4:00 am.
Jeep Ride up Mount Telomoyo
Since it was chilly outside, they kept the top up on the jeep for the ride up the mountain. Though it was dark, we could see village lights twinkling in the distance at the various viewpoints.
The drive from the base up to Mount Telomoyo peak took around a half hour and we arrived at 4:30 am.
Arriving at the Peak - Triangle Sky Telomoyo
Once we reached the top, we drove into some kind of garage for Triangle Sky Telomoyo - a giant, multi-leveled viewpoint. In addition to viewing spots, the facility offers food stalls and clean restrooms (western + squat toilets).
View from the top when we first arrived at the peak.
Our MS driver bought our entrance tickets. Then, he set us up with bean bags chairs (included in the entry ticket) along the edge of the viewing platform.
In my opinion, we arrived way too early at the top of Mount Telomoyo. Undoubtedly, the goal was to grab the best spot and beat the crowds. We visited on a Sunday and Telomoyo is a popular local hangout. However, I think we could have arrived a half hour later. Many people didn't arrive until after 5:00 and the sun wasn't supposed to rise until after 5:30 am.
Wear Warm Clothes
My whining about arriving too early had a lot to do with how cold I was as we shivered for around 2 hours. At the peak, the temperature was probably a max of 50°F (10°C), with gusty winds blowing up from the valley. About 20 minutes after we sat down, clouds rolled in and the moisture made it feel even worse.
Triangle Sky Telomoyo - notice how others are bundled up?
While most people around us had proper jackets with hoods, given they probably came from home, I wore only a light sweater, Jeremy just a t-shirt. Plus, I stupidly wore flip-flops instead of sneakers. Since we hadn't packed warm clothes for our Indonesia trip, we didn't have a lot of options.
Major lesson learned - if you plan to do a volcano tour in Java, pack a coat!
Food and Coffee Options
Although we didn't go investigate the food options ourselves, there must have been food stalls or a main cafeteria at which to order food. Our guide got us coffee and holding that helped warm up our hands a bit. Around us, we saw people eating noodle soup, fries, and other hot dishes to keep warm.
Cloudy Sunrise
Unfortunately, we did not have the spectacular sunrise for which we'd hoped. At the time the sun was rising, we were still enveloped by the clouds. We watched as they gradually lightened and turned a pinkish hue. It also warmed up a bit, but not enough to stop the shivering.
Our guide checked in with us around 6:00 am and told us that we should wait longer. That if we were patient, the clouds would clear so at least we'd get a view.
Epic Views on Mount Telomoyo
By 6:30 am, I wanted to give up. Just as we were about to go find our MS driver, we started seeing glimpses of Mount Merbabu, a nearby active volcano. It gave us hope.
The clouds beginning to lift away.
Then, a few minutes later, the clouds lifted and the views were incredible! Suddenly, it was all worth it! We could see Mount Merbabu and the valley clearly from our perch on the viewing platform.
To get to a different viewpoint, our guide helped us climb up a muddy hill for panoramic shots of Mount Andong and Mount Merbabu.
When we climbed back down the hill, crowds at Triangle Sky had exploded. People were trying to get the best shot and snacking while admiring the view.
Good thing we were done with our bean bags because they were taken when we got back!
Telecommunications Tower Viewpoint
After we'd snapped all the photos we wanted at Triangle Sky, we walked up to the telecommunications tower viewpoint.
The platforms near the towers offered different views from Triangle Sky. From there, you could see two other volcanoes, Mount Sumbing and Mount Sindoro, in addition to Mount Andong.
Jeep Drive Down Mount Telomoyo
On our drive back down Mount Telomoyo, our jeep driver stopped at a couple of other scenic viewpoints and coffee shops. At each space, our MS driver paid a small fee for us to go in and take photos at the various platforms set against the volcano backdrop.
Our jeep driver went in with us each time and took about a million photos of us. He was so sweet and enthusiastic about taking our photos. Each time I gave him my phone, he took about 20 photos. At one point, he even scaled a muddy hill to get the "best" shot!
Just us with our jeep
The one where our jeep driver climbed the muddy hill
Drive back to MesaStila
As we drove back to MesaStila, we got to appreciate the beautiful landscapes we'd missed in the dark on the way to Mount Telomoyo. Our driver pointed out the various crops and fruit trees being grown along the road. It was interesting to get a glimpse of the villages as we drove by them.
We returned to MesaStila Resort at 8:45 am, just in time to get the day started!
Thoughts on Mount Telomoyo Trip
Personally, I think the Mount Telomoyo sunrise tour was the best way to visit this Central Java volcano. Even though we didn't see the actual sunrise, the views afterwards were amazing. Plus, it was nice to be able to see a local spot.
When we arranged our tour, the cost for the Mount Telomoyo sunrise jeep tour was 2,904,000 IDR (190 USD) for 2 people, not including tips for our 2 drivers. Perhaps a bit expensive, but I don't think we'd have figured it out on our own.
Where to Stay Near Mount Telomoyo
There are not a lot of places to stay near Mount Telomoyo as it's in the middle of the Central Java countryside. In case it's not obvious, the spot I'd recommend is the MesaStila Resort & Spa. Below is an in-depth review to help you decide whether you should book this relaxing retreat.
Accommodations Near Mount Telomoyo
If you'd like to search for other hotel properties, you can use the accommodations map below. The closest cities to Mount Telomoyo with a wide range of places to stay are Salatiga (to the east) and Magelang (to the southwest).
MesaStila Resort & Spa - A Review
Nestled in the volcano-dotted highlands of Magelang in Central Java, MesaStila Resort and Spa is a relaxing jungle retreat and coffee plantation. The region's cooler mountain air is a wonderful respite from the stifling heat in Jakarta and Yogyakarta.
On a clear day, you can see several peaks from the property. As we were leaving on our final day, we even saw smoke from Mount Merapi as it erupted.
Pro Tip: Obviously, I'd love it if you used my link to book your stay. However, if you email the resort directly with the info on MesaStila Resort's website, you might be offered a better price than is quoted on Expedia or other booking sites.
About MesaStila Resort
Originally, the property was a colonial Dutch coffee plantation and several of the buildings are from that period, including the Club House and Plantation Lounge which were the original plantation and coffee warehouse.
In addition, the check-in building used to be a colonial railroad station. It was dismantled and brought to the property in pieces, then reconstructed.
Around the property, guests stay in various villas that are decorated with traditional Javanese handicrafts. Given the jungle location, the villas feel very private and offer beautiful green views.
Pro Tip: Don't forget to bring mosquito spray on your jungle getaway! Although the resort has bottles in all of their buildings that guests can use.
Getting to/from MesaStila Resort
MesaStila Resort is about roughly 70-km north of Yogyakarta and 60-km south of Semarang. To get to the resort from either city, arranging a car (or renting one) is the best option. We contacted the MesaStila Resort via email to arrange our transportation:
Perhaps we could have gotten a taxi to take us for a better price. Given the remote location of MesaStila Resort, we wanted to have transportation figured out ahead of time in case a taxi would not go that far.
Arum Villa
When we arrived at MesaStila Resort, we learned we'd been upgraded to the Arum Villa - a lovely surprise! (Originally, we'd booked a Plantation Villa online.) Both villas are quite spacious, but the Arum villa is slightly bigger.
The Arum Villa is a one-bedroom with an ornate room divider that separates the living spaces from the bedroom.
For families staying at MesaStila: The large daybed in the Arum Villa living area could easily serve as an extra bed for children. However, MesaStila also offers a 2-bedroom Ambar Villa for larger families.
The villa's bathroom and closet area was huge with a large soaker tub and rainfall shower. It is a bit tricky climbing in and out of the tub though, especially if you're balance-challenged.
Our balcony had beautiful green views. In the evening, the humming of various bugs really drives home the fact that you're in the jungle.
Activities at MesaStila Resort
During our check-in at MesaStila Resort, staff provided us a schedule of the various activities offered at the resort throughout the week. Activities such as daily morning yoga, batik lessons, a daily coffee plantation tour, a village walk, etc. mean that you can find something to do even if you don't leave the property.
MesaStila Coffee Plantation Tour
Although we did not participate in most of the activities, we enjoyed the Coffee Plantation Tour. Even though they no longer sell coffee beyond their gift shop, MesaStila is still a working coffee plantation.
On the tour, you'll learn about the different coffee types grown at MesaStila and how to tell them apart based on their leaves. We also learned about their use of grafting to create the best crop possible.
At the end of the tour, we visited the Coffee House - the current site where they process and roast the beans. Then, we got to try munching on the coffee beans.
Relaxation and Swimming Pool
Although not a structured activity, we enjoyed a dip in the beautiful swimming pool on the property. After being so cold that morning on the volcano, it was odd to feel warm enough to want to swim!
Food & Drinks at MesaStila Resort
Java Red Restaurant
During our 2-night stay at MesaStila Resort, we ate all of our meals at their Java Red Restaurant. Serving a mix of Indonesian and international cuisine, I believe everyone would be able to find something they like. We enjoyed trying a variety of the Indonesian dishes on the menu.
Afternoon Tea
From 3:00 - 4:30 pm each day, afternoon tea is served at the Club House. You can choose between tea or Indonesian-style brewed coffee (kopi tubruk). A few delicious snacks are also available.
On the first day, we had banana cake and a chocolate cake. The second day was a pandan cake and an Indonesian pastry that I can't remember the name.
Tubruk coffee is made by pouring hot water over finely ground coffee with no filtration. It's not my favorite style as I hate getting coffee grounds in my mouth as I drink.
Plantation Lounge
Another spot we enjoyed during our stay was the Plantation Lounge. With a pool table and delicious cocktails, it was a fun place to hang out in the evenings.
Final Thoughts
When traveling through Central Java, Mount Telomoyo is a beautiful local spot to visit. Although you can do it on your own, it's certainly easier to have a local guide help you out. Plus, spending a couple of days at MesaStila Resort is a great way to unwind after touring temples and busy cities on Java.
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Happy travels!
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