Want to experience something different in Indonesia? Stroll through rice plantations and visit the sacred Hindu temple hidden in the terraces of Java.
- Hundreds of crops in a rice field cascading down the slopes of a volcano.
- A Hindu temple hidden among the lush greenery, dominating the views from high above.
- 2 local guides showing you alternative trails and sharing their culture.
- And not a single tourist for miles around.
Want to see a slice of the realest Indonesia and fall head over heels for it?
Come on a rice plantation trek in Java with the team from Lotus 2 Homestay.
Technical details of the excursion to Candi Selogriyo
- Difficulty: Easy.
- Motorbike distance: 27 km (54 km round trip).
- Motorbike ride time: 45 min (1.5 h round trip).
- Hike: 1.5 km (3 km round trip).
- Walking time: 30-40 min (2-2.5 h round trip including visit and rest).
- Elevation gain: 100 m.
- Total duration of the excursion: 4 hours (approximately).
- Start: Lotus 2 Homestay.
- End: Lotus 2 Homestay.
- Price: 160,000 rupiah/person (13€ at the exchange rate at the time)
- Date of realization (photographs): September, 2012.
Walking rice plantations in Java
Getting there by motorbike
Nui and another guy (our drivers and guides) pick us up on their motorbikes at 13:00 and off to Selogriyo we go!
Riding pillion turns out to be quite long, but super entertaining.
We crossed narrow alleys, small villages, rice fields, and the craziest traffic of my life up to that point (4 days later, this looked like child's play, but that's a story for another post).
Despite everything, I was completely at ease because I had booked my travel insurance with IATI.
A 3-week trip across Indonesia completely worry-free for 110€? And without having to pay anything upfront if something unexpected happened? I never leave home without them now. 😉
Psst… If you book from here you get a 5% discount on the final price, whichever insurance 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 the bikes and hiked up a dirt path that gradually winds along the side of the plantations up to the Hindu temple.
As you gain elevation, the views get increasingly spectacular.
Nui explained that the different colors of each terrace are due to the growth stages of the rice and that some terraces, instead of grain, grow chili! (the kind they add to every dish whether you want it or not).
And just like that, little by little, we reached Selogriyo.
Snack at 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 at all, just locals.
- A few guys hanging out.
- A couple in love soaking in the views.
- And the four of us. Simple as that.
We took off our shoes and enjoyed a snack while lying on the grass next to the temple.
Walking between rice terraces
When it was time to head back, Niu had the idea to switch routes and cross along the tiny paths that the farmers themselves use to move between terraces.
How could we say no?
It was amazing to immerse ourselves in the rice fields and be surrounded by that explosion of colors: browns, greens, yellows…
Heading back by motorbike
In 45-50 min we were back at the hotel with an ear-to-ear smile and sore bums from the motorbike bumps. 🙂
Why go on a hike through rice fields with Lotus 2 Homestay
When we visited the Borobudur temple during our trip through Indonesia, we hit the jackpot with our choice of accommodation: Lotus 2 Homestay.
We picked it because of the reviews and its proximity to the temple (500 m).
But we never imagined they would earn a place of honor in our memories from that trip.
How did they do it?
By being genuine. They gave us the chance to see the real Java, learn about its customs, and mingle with the locals.
Jack and his guys (Niu spent the most time with us during those 2 days) made us feel right at home and gave us the chance to live real experiences off the beaten track:
- Visiting the Mendut monastery at dusk and joining a Buddhist meditation as guests.
- Watching the sunrise over Borobudur from a nearby hill.
- Having the best Nasi Goreng (fried rice with vegetables) of my life in the most unexpected place.
- Stumbling upon a traditional ceremony of tantric dances and chants right in the middle of the street.
- And of course, searching for a hidden temple among rice plantations. 😉
On top of that, Jack sorted out our airport transfer and gave us the chance to see Prambanan temple (thank goodness, because I would never have forgiven myself for leaving without seeing it).
And more tours we didn't have time to do... 🙁
Paradox: Even if you don't stay at Lotus 2 Homestay, drop by if you want to get off the tourist trail and discover another side of Indonesia.
You won't regret it. 🙂
Useful links
- Accommodation 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 routes among rice fields in Indonesia that aren't overcrowded with tourists and respect the culture and customs of the locals working in the area?
I'd love to hear about your experience, share it in the comments! Thank you. 🙂