CONTENTS  

Geomorphology

Indonesia (210 million inhabitants) is the world's largest archipelago and one of the most populated countries after India, China and the United-States, stretching over 5,000 km. Its 17,000 islands and more rise onto a spine of 500 volcanoes, 128 of which are active today. Over time, volcanoes have reshaped some islands, and provided an incredibly fertile and rich ashen soil base. Plants of all sorts grow in this environment and some islands (Java and Bali) yield two rice crops per year.
Indonesia is home to a number of ethnic groups, with about 500 tribes speaking 500 languages and dialects. About 60 % of the population lives on the island of Java, the world’s most populated island, with over 13 millions in Jakarta alone. Indonesia is proud of its uniqueness, as reflected in the national slogan: ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’ (Unity in diversity).
The archipelago is divided geographically into four areas. From West to East:

1. The Sunda Islands (Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi)
2. The Lesser Sunda Islands (Bali, Lombok, Flores, Sumba, Sumbawa, Timur)
3. The Maluku archipelago
4. Western Papua (former Irian Jaya)

Flora

Each island has a unique flora and fauna. Relative isolation has produced an amazing regeneration of both soil and wildlife, giving to each island a unique charm. In addition, few are aware that 10 % of the world’s rainforests are found in Indonesia. As a result, Indonesia  supplies some 300 species of rare and medicinal plants for the pharmaceutical industry.
Close to 30,000 plants are foundthroughout the archipelago, including over 15 % of the world’s entire plant species. Indonesia’s rainforests are among the richest in the world, with over 4,000 varieties of trees. Some are over 40 meters tall (diptocarps) and bloom once or twice every second year.
These rainforests are also home to a large variety of orchids, including the ’lovely ladies‘ slippers,’ the beautiful but seldom-seen “black orchids”, and 14 species of rare raflesias, the world’s largest flower.
For fruit-lovers, Indonesia is simply a piece of paradise: imagine! over 25 varieties of bananass to select from! Other products grown in the archipelago include rubber and rattan trees, gums and resins, but also tea, coffee, and rice.

Fauna 

An archipelago of fragmented islands naturally provides a diversity of wildlife, and Indonesia is home to an incredibly rich and diverse fauna. Rare and endangered species alone constitute an impressive list, including the Javanese and Sumatran rhinoceros, the clouded leopard, the golden cat of Temminck, the ajak wild dog, and orangutans... Wildlife specimens can easily be observed along trails and roadsides, particularly at dawn and dusk. The country shelters about 210 indigenous species (birds not even included!). Among its 1,480 species of birds, 370 are indigenous and most only live on one or few small islands in the archipelago: a true delight for birdwatchers.
Speaking of birds, the most famous bird across the archipelago in fact… does not exist! It is a colourful mythical creature, half human, half bird. To this day, the Garuda is a revered symbol and the prevalent theme among dances and artistic creations.
Other wild animals include small lizards, the most notorious reptile: the Komodo dragon (over 4 meters in length), crocodiles, and an outstanding variety of colorful butterflies.

Handicraft  

Indonesians enjoy a strong artistic heritage and several regions are known for their textiles, woodcarving (woodcarving from Bali, by Kalimantan’s Dayaks and Irian Jaya’s Asmats), jewellery and general craftsmanship. Although the dip in the country’s export trade has somewhat dulled the initial growth in this industry, the sheer volume and advantageous prices of these items make shopping in Indonesia a delight and a great opportunity to meet artists or craftspersons. And an activity which can easily become an all-consuming pastime.

Currency 

Indonesia’s currency is the Rupiah. Always carry with you small notes and coins. Indeed, in most parts of the country, change for Rp 50,000  notes is hard to find. The largest available denomination is Rp 100,000.
Euros and dollars are accepted in tourist areas, including in the islands of Java, Bali, and Lombok. American Express are the preferred travellers’ cheques. Moneychangers are found everywhere in main cities. Prior to changing large sums of money, please ensure that the bank or moneychanger you are dealing with carries sufficient cash. Credit cards are not widely accepted. They may be used however in main cities, large hotels, some car rental facilities and exclusive restaurants.

Photography

We select from among a number of criteria: the need to reach the top before sunrise (to be able to enjoy the view from the volcano’s top at dawn or because of cloud covering…), the possibility to camp on its flanks, and the beauty of the environment  at its base.

 Itinerary

• View from its summit. Some volcanoes, whenever they are dormant, are attractive because of the panorama their summits provide (e.g. view over other volcanoes, the ocean or the sea…)  

 Trekking at the base of a volcano

JAVA 

Volcano: Mt. Gede 

Elevation: 2,958 m
Type: Stratovolcano
Mount Gede is among the highest mountains in West Java. As its older twin (on its northwest side), the Pangrango volcano , Mount Gede overlooks the major cities of Cianjar, Sukabumi and Bogor. Numerous lava flows streak the flanks of the Gede volcano, some of which date back to earlier unrecorded eruptions. Its activity has been recorded since the 16th century, with its last eruption in 1957. Because of these eruptions, Mount Gede’s slopes are covered with a wonderful flora, and are right at the heart of Mount Gede Pangrango National Park, a Unesco world biosphere reserve. On your trip, you will admire fast flowing rivers, waterfalls, lakes, mountain forest, elfin woodlands, sub-alpine grasslands and a unique fauna!

Elevation: 2,084 m
Type: Stratovolcano
Mount Tangkuban Prahu is an active stratovolcano within the Sunda caldera. It overhangs the West Java capital of Bandung 18 miles to the South. With 17 eruptions since 1826, this volcano’s latest activity, a small phreatic eruption, dates back to 1985. Numerous legends refer to this oddly-shaped volcano. Wonderful tea plantations cover its flanks.  

Our track:    We trek around the volcano’s various craters and concentrate on its most active one: Kawah Baru (or ‘the new crater‘). Trek back down on the volcano’s northeast face to Ciater’s hot springs.

Elevation: 2,168 m
Type: Stratovolcano
The first eruption of the Galunggung volcano was recorded in 1822. Its last eruption dates back to 1984. Mudflows following its 1822 eruption killed over 4,000 people. The April 1982-January 1983 eruption destroyed the lava dome created in 1918 and produced a new cinder cone within a new crater. Overthis period, 62,000 civilians had to evacuate the area.

Our track: We walk around the volcano’s new crater and head down to hot springs at the foot of Mount Galunggung’s east slope.

Elevation: 2,911 m
Type: Stratovolcano
Mount Merapi is among Indonesia’s most active volcanoes and dominates the landscape immediately north of the city of Yogyakarta, in one of the world’s most densely populated area. Because of this proximity, a number of volcanologists keep a close watch from the Merapi volcano observatory (which we are fortunate to visit on our trek).
Last eruption: January 2001.

Our track: A one-day uphill trek on a track designed by and exclusive to Azimuth Adventure Travel Ltd. We return on the regular track… Our trek ends with an ascent along lava flows, at the foot of the south slope of the Merapi volcano.

Elevation: 3,265 m
Type: Stratovolcano
Mountaineers climb this volcano to enjoy the unique green scenic view it provides, including lovely edelweiss flowers and the challenging beauty of its seemingly dormant crater. No eruptive activity has indeed been reported over the last 10,000 years. However, the crater of this dormant volcano contains active fumaroles and some seismic activity was registered in 1978-1979.

Elevation: Mt. Arjuno: 3,339 m
Mt. Welirang: 3,156 m
Type: Stratovolcano
The twin-volcanoes of Mount Arno and Mount Welirang constitute a 6 km-long line of volcanic cones and craters. Several fumarolic areas with sulfuricdeposition are found on several locations on the Welirang volcano. Its first known historical activity was registered in 1952, when sulfuric  mud flowed down several hundred meters from the top of its northwest flank, while   a dense white smoke rose into the air.
Last activity: Smoke was observed from the summit area of the Welirang volcano in September 1991.

Elevation: 2,329 m
Type: Caldera
The massive Tengger volcanic complex consists of five overlapping stratovolcanoes, each truncated by a caldera. Its youngest volcano is Mount Bromo, one of Java’s most active and most frequently visited volcanoes. Its caldera is one of the world’s most beautiful and is venerated by one of Java’s last hindu communities: the Tengger. In 1995, Mount Bromo woke up from a ten-year sleep..

Our track : We easily access Mount Bromo’s caldera. Trek  on the caldera’s ridge, up to Mount Bromo’s summit and along its crater.

Elevation: 3,676 m
Type: Stratovolcano
Mount Semeru, the highest volcano in Java, and one of its most active, lies at the southern edge of a volcanic massif extending north to the Tengger caldera. Its eruptions are explosive and recur every 20 minutes. Its most recent eruptive period began in 1967.
Last eruption: July 2000.

Our track: A two-day ascent. From the village of Ranupani, through a splendid rainforest, we hike to our base camp, named Kalimati, at the foot of Mount Semeru. The second day, final ascent to the top and back to Ranupani.

Elevation: 2,368 m
Type: stratovolcano with an amazing acid lake
The Ijen volcano complex consists of a group of small stratovolcanoes strucured within the large 20-kilometre-wide Ijen caldera. Immediately west of Mount Merapi is the renowned historically active Kawah Ijen crater, which contains a nearly one-kilometre-wide, emerald-green, acid crater lake. The picturesque lake is the site of a labour-intensive sulphur mining operation.
Last eruption: July 1993

Elevation: 1,717m
Type: Caldera
The historically active Batur volcano is in the heart of two concentric calderas, about 20,000 years old for the first one and 50,000 years old for the second. One of its calderas has become a caldera lake; and above the surface of lake Batur rises an active 700 m tall dome. The first historically documented eruption of the Batur volcano occurred in 1804 and the volcano has been frequently active since then.
Last eruption: July 2000.

Elevation: 3,142m
Type: Stratovolcano
The symmetrical Agung Volcano, Bali highest and most sacred mountain, towers above the eastern side of the island. In Bali, it is forbidden to climb volcanoes during religious ceremonies. Indeed, because mountains are considered sacred by the local population, it would be unthinkable that ’non-believers’ stand higher than sacred temples. Mount Agung’s 1963 eruption apparently caused a considerable decrease in temperature around the world.

Elevation: 3,726 m
Type: Stratovolcano
This massive volcano dominates the northern part of the island and was considered dormant till 1994, when it proved otherwise. Trekking on the way up to Mount Rinjani is among the reasons why a number of tourists visit Lombok. Its most breathtaking feature is Segara Anak, a magnificent crater lake, 8 km long by 6 km wide.
Last eruption: 1994. It sent an ash plume 500 m into the air. Months later, a cold lahar (mudflow) made its way from the summit to a river and killed 30 villagers.