The golden sunrise
Over a sea of cloud.
Chrisila Wentiasri — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Rachmayantos — CC BY-SA 4.0
The Dieng Plateau's best-known sunrise spot, a hill at about two thousand three hundred metres above Sembungan, the highest inhabited village in Java. Its sunrise is called the golden sunrise, as the sun appears over a sea of cloud and volcanic peaks rise from the horizon: nearby Sindoro, and distant Merapi, Merbabu and Sumbing. The climb starts at Cebong lake by the village about an hour before dawn, on steps and a dirt path taking thirty to forty-five minutes to the top. After sunrise you can come down to see the lake and farms by daylight and have fried potatoes and hot tea from the stalls. The fee is a token one. It is extremely cold before dawn, near freezing in the dry season, and the summit is crowded on holidays. Stay a night in Dieng or Sembungan to catch the sunrise, with winter clothes, gloves and a torch. Check the weather, as on cloudy days the sun may not appear.
Over a sea of cloud.
Sindoro and Merapi.
Sembungan in Java.
Sembungan village, Dieng Plateau
Moderate and short, about half an hour to an hour on steps and path, though the dark, cold and altitude make it a little tiring. Take your time.