Our Semeru trip started from Pasar Senen train station in Jakarta. We took train Matarmaja from Jakarta to Malang which only cost 65.000 rupiah (USD $6). The train took about 16 hours from Jakarta to Malang. Even though the rate is cheap, the train has been equipped with air conditioner which is enough to make you feel cold during night time. The only minus point from this train was that many outsiders came into the train trying to sell their stuff, from toys, food and books.
As soon as we arrived at Kota Baru train station in Malang, we went directly to Traditional market called Pasar Tumpang. We bought logistics for our trip here such as bottled water, rice, vegetables, sugar and many other stuff. However, please keep in mind to bring logistics as light as possible but enough for you to survive during your trip because it will make your trip harder if you bring too much stuff.
After our logistics is enough, we then used jeep to bring us to the last village, Ranu Pani, before starting our foot trip. The rate for the jeep is 550.000 rupiah ($USD 50) for maximum 15 people. You can divide this amount of money with your friend or other climbers or you can just rent private jeep for you. The cost of the rental is still the same.
It took one hour to reach village Ranu Pani. Before we started our foot trip, we need to pay for the entrance fee. The rate is also very cheap, only cost us 10.000 rupiah (USD $1) each. Besides that, we have to provide copy of our identity card and permission from doctor that we are fit to hike a mountain. One thing that we need to do before we start the trip is to fill in our stomach. We bought curry rice and fried tempe in this coffee shop.
The trip from Ranu Pani to the top of mount semeru will be divided into 3 stages:
Ranu Pani Ranu Kumbala Kalimati Top of Semeru
In each stage, there will be few check points which at this checkpoint we can take rest and take some pictures of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park beautiful scenery.
The first stage of the trip will be from Ranu Pani to Ranu Kumbala. This first stage is divided into 3 check points: Ranu Pane Landengan Dowo Watu Rejeng Ranu Kumbolo
The trip was quiet hard since we have to walk through stone, sand, trunk of tree and more over, we still need to bring our own logistics. When I saw other people who used porter to bring their logistics, I just told my self that I will be more satisfied if i can bring my own logistics. Besides that the rate of the porter is quiet expensive, which is 150.000 rupiah (USD $ 14) per day.
Ranu Pani is located at the height of 1700 mdpl and Ranu Kumbolo is located at the height of 2400mdpl. This trip will take a total time of 4-6 hours depending on the speed and stamina. For me, I started my journey from 2 pm and reached Ranu Kumbolo at about 8 pm. My advice is that you can start your trip early, but not later because the temperature at night will be very cold. So it is better to reach Ranu Kumbala early so that you can take rest early inside your tent.
This is the picture of Bromo Tengger Semeru national park that i took during my trip:
