Want to have a unique experience in Indonesia? Stroll through rice paddies and visit the sacred Hindu temple hidden among the terraces of Java.
- Hundreds of crops in a rice field stretching down the slope of a volcano.
- A Hindu temple hidden among the vegetation, offering sweeping views from above.
- 2 local guides who will show you alternative routes and share their culture with you.
- And not a single tourist for several kilometers around.
Do you want to see a little slice of the real Indonesia and fall head over heels in love with it?
Come on a hiking trip through the rice paddies of Java with the folks at Lotus 2 Homestay.
Technical Details of the Excursion to Candi Selogriyo
- Difficulty: Easy.
- Distance by motorcycle: 27 km (54 km round trip).
- Travel time by motorcycle: 45 min (1.5 h round trip).
- Walk: 1.5km (3 km round trip).
- Walking time: 30–40min (2–2.5 hours round trip, including sightseeing and breaks).
- Elevation gain:100 m.
- Total duration of the tour: 4 hours (approximately).
- Start:Lotus 2 Homestay.
- Final:Lotus 2 Homestay.
- Price: 160,000 rupees per person (€13 at the current exchange rate)
- Date taken(photographs): September 2012.
Walking Through Rice Fields in Java
Ride on a motorcycle
Nui and another guy (our drivers and guides) pick us up on their motorcycles at 1:00 p.m., and off we go to Selogriyo!
The route as a "package" is quite long but very entertaining.
We drove through narrow streets, small towns, rice fields, and the craziest traffic I’d ever experienced up to that point (four days later, this seemed like child’s play, but that’s a story for another article).
Despite everything, I felt very at ease because I had purchased my travel insurance from IATI.
A3-weektrip through Indonesia with no worries for€110? And without having to pay anything up front in case of any unexpected events? I never leave home without them anymore. 😉
Psst… If you sign up here, you’ll get a 5% discount on the final price, no matter which insurance plan you choose: family, backpacker, adventure…
Rice plantations
In about 45 minutes, we arrived in Campurejo, a small farming village literally surrounded by rice paddies.
We parked our motorcycles and walked up a dirt path that gradually climbs along the edge of the plantations to the Hindu temple.
As you climb higher, the views become more and more spectacular.
Nui explains that the different colors of each terrace are due to the various stages of rice growth, and that some of them, instead of rice, actually contain chili peppers! (The kind they put in every dish, whether you like it or not.)
And so, little by little, we arrived in Selogriyo.
Afternoon Snack at the Selogriyo Temple
Selogriyo is a small Hindu temple reminiscent of some of the smaller structures we saw at the Prambanan complex.
The best part? No tourists—just locals.
- Some kids hanging out.
- A couple in love enjoying the view.
- And the four of us. Just like that.
We took off our shoes and took the opportunity to have a snack while lying on the grass next to the temple.
Walking Among Rice Terraces
When it was time to head back, Niu decided to take a different route and walk along the narrow paths that the farmers themselves use to move from terrace to terrace.
How could anyone say no!?
It was wonderful to immerse ourselves in the rice paddies and be surrounded by that explosion of colors: browns, greens, yellows…
Return by motorcycle
In 45–50 minutes, we were back at the hotel with grins from ear to ear and our butts sore from the bumps on the motorcycle. 🙂
Why Take a Tour Through the Rice Fields with Lotus 2 Homestay
When we visited the Borobudur Temple on our trip through Indonesia, we made the perfect choice for our accommodations: Lotus 2 Homestay.
We chose it because of the reviews and its proximity to the temple (500 m).
But we never imagined that they would earn a place of honor in our memories of that trip.
How did they do it?
Being authentic. They gave us the opportunity to see the real Java, learn about its customs, and mingle with its people.
Jack and his guys (Niu was the one who spent the most time with us during those two days) made us feel welcome and gave us the chance to have authentic experiences off the beaten path:
- Visit the Mendut Monastery at dusk and attend a Buddhist meditation session as guests.
- Watch as the sun rises over Borobudur from a nearby hill.
- Eating the best Nasi Goreng (fried rice with vegetables) of my life in the most unexpected place.
- To happen to attend a traditional ceremony featuring tantric dances and chants right in the middle of the street.
- And of course, look for a temple hidden among the rice paddies. 😉
On top of that, Jack arranged our transportation to the airport and gave us the chance to see the Prambanan Temple (thank goodness, because I would never have forgiven myself for leaving without seeing it).
And more excursions we didn't have time to go on… 🙁
Paradox: Even if you're not staying at Lotus 2 Homestay, stop by if you want to get off the beaten path and discover another side of Indonesia.
You won't regret it. 🙂
Useful links
- Accommodations at Lotus 2 Homestay.
- Flights to Indonesia: Trabber, eDreams, and Momondo.
- 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance when booking from here.
Road tripping through Indonesia? Then you'll love these:
- 3-week road trip through Indonesia: Java and Borneo.
- Prambanan, Indonesia's largest Hindu temple.
- Meditate with Buddhist monks at Mendut temple.
- Experience a sunrise from Borobudur temple.
- 4-day klotok boat trip through Borneo: encounter wild orangutans.
- How to organize your visit to Bromo and Ijen: 4 options.
- 3-day, 2-night itinerary through Bromo and Ijen.
- Pulau Derawan: how to get there and spend 7 days on the island.
Map
Do you know of any other hiking trails through rice paddies in Indonesia that aren't overrun with tourists and that respect the culture and customs of the workers who live in the area?
I'd love to hear about your experience—please share it in the comments! Thank you. 🙂