Adventurous tour hits Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
By Bambang Trisno and Anis Suryani<\/p>\n
YOGYAKARTA (JP): Have you had enough of \"conventional\" touring
\nfor your holidays? Turn to an adventurous picnic. It lifts up
\nyour spirit and doesn't cost that much money.<\/p>\n
Look at what some local travel agents have to offer.<\/p>\n
Kartika Trekking charges a mere Rp 20,000 to Rp 40,000 per
\nperson, depending on the number of participants, for a 30
\nkilometer fun walk. The breathtaking route starts in Samigaluh,
\nsome 20 km west of here, and ends at Borobudur.<\/p>\n
\"The beautiful scenery is enticing right from the starting
\npoint (in Samigaluh). The walk through the hilly areas allows you
\nto enjoy the distant view of Borobudur Temple and five volcanoes
\nin Yogyakarta and Central Java,\" said Landung Prawoto, 60, owner
\nof Kartika Trekking.<\/p>\n
A trip to Cerme Cave in Selopamioro, Imogiri, some 30
\nkilometers south of here, is another program Kartika Trekking
\noffers. With Rp 25,000 per tour per person, you can enjoy the
\nmost beautiful cave in the province.<\/p>\n
The fare includes return bus ticket and meals consisting of
\nsandwiches, drinks, bananas and young coconuts.<\/p>\n
Landung, father of four children and grandfather of two,
\nusually escorts tourists traveling to Yogyakarta, Central Java
\nand outer islands.<\/p>\n
Before the economic crisis hit the country in July 1997,
\nLandung used to take from 10 to 20 guests to Mt. Merapi every
\nday, but the number has dropped to an average of only two a day
\nnow.<\/p>\n
The bright prospects for the adventure tourism business have
\nlured a French citizen, Dominique Clarisse, to open Azimuth, a
\ntour agency, with his wife Puji Clarisse Widyarsanti. The agency
\nspecializes in trekking.<\/p>\n
To be launched next month, Azimuth offers various trekking
\npackages for up to three weeks. Destinations include volcanoes in
\nYogyakarta and Central Java: Mt. Slamet, Mt. Sindoro, Mt.
\nSumbing, Mt. Merapi and Mt. Merbabu. It also organizes
\nadventurous travels to Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, and Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Dominique said his company also offers cultural tours in the
\nvillages he calls Borobudur Hike, Prambanan Biking, Dieng Plateau
\nHike, and Erotic Sukuh (Temple) Hike.<\/p>\n
\"I don't have any intention of directly competing with other
\nlocal tour agencies,\" Dominique said, adding that he would
\ndirectly market the packages to European nature lovers. Every
\ngroup will be limited to a maximum of 12 people.<\/p>\n
Dominique chose Yogyakarta as his base because of the low
\nliving and operational costs.<\/p>\n
\"I would have to set higher fares for the tour packages if I
\nchose Bali or Jakarta instead,\" said Dominique. He declined to
\nmention fees until the company is officially open.<\/p>\n
There are at least seven companies in Yogyakarta and Central
\nJava offering adventure touring. Besides those, there are many
\nindividuals also running such businesses. They mostly offer
\ntrekking, white water rafting, caving, and rock climbing. Travel
\nagencies and hotels offering the same tour packages support most
\nof their marketing activities.<\/p>\n
Yogyakarta, along with neighboring Central Java, boasts lots
\nof places for adventurous travels. To the north, lies the
\nlegendary Mt. Merapi, one of the world's most active volcanoes.
\nIt is haven for trekkers and nature lovers. Its popularity is
\ncomparable to Mt. Vesuvius in Italy.<\/p>\n
To the south is the gorgeous Pegunungan Sewu (Thousand
\nMountains) plateau which boasts breathtaking valleys and caves.
\nIt is a popular site for caving and rock climbing.<\/p>\n
While Progo river in Kulonprogo and Elo river in Magelang are
\nexcellent places for white water rafting.<\/p>\n
Travel further to the west, to the Central Java town of
\nBanjarnegara and you will find another fascinating place for
\nrafting on the Serayu river.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/adventurous-tour-hits-yogyakarta-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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