Nglanggeran

Gunung Api Purba Nglanggeran means ancient volcano, and that is the geology: this was an active volcano tens of millions of years ago, long since extinct and eroded, and what remains is a ridge of enormous andesite and breccia boulders piled and split, some of them the size of buildings, with paths and ladders threading between and up them. The climb from the village takes about an hour through gaps you sometimes have to squeeze sideways through, ending on a summit rock with a view over Gunungkidul and, on a clear day, to Merapi. It is inside the Gunung Sewu geopark. The site is run by the village as a community tourism operation, one of the more cited examples in Indonesia, with homestays, a cacao processing group and an embung reservoir above the village.

What you actually see

• An eroded ancient volcano - andesite boulders the size of buildings, split and piled.
• Squeezes and ladders - the route threading between the rocks to the top.
• A view to Merapi - the active volcano visible north on a clear day.
• A village-run operation - community tourism with homestays and a cacao group.

When to go

May to September; sunrise and sunset are the busy times. Half a day.

Honest expectations

The climb is short but steep with awkward squeezes - not for anyone large or claustrophobic. Sunrise crowds are heavy. There is no shade on the rocks and midday is punishing.

Nearby

Pindul cave and the Gunungkidul karst are east; Yogyakarta is west.