Jomblang Cave (Goa Jomblang)
Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta
A true lost world, Jomblang Cave is a collapsed sinkhole that’s part of a cave system that runs through Gunung Kidul, outside Yogyakarta. Visitors are lowered around 165 feet (50 meters) on a rope and then hike down a tunnel to the Grubug Cave, which is flooded with rays of sunlight. Some claim the sunken forest is prehistoric.
The Basics
Tickets, which are required to enter Jomblang Cave, are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets include not only safety gear—helmet, coveralls, and rubber boots—but the sheer sweat of the workers who lower you down into the cave itself and lift you up again, and are priced accordingly. Most travelers visit on a tour from Yogyakarta. Jomblang Cave tours often include trips to other attractions outside the city, perhaps Mt. Merapi, Sadranan Beach, or another Gunung Kidul beach.
Things to Know Before You Go
Jomblang Cave is a must for adrenaline junkies and photographers.
Flashlights are not provided at the cave. Bring your own, or ensure your phone is fully charged.
Bring socks to wear inside the provided rubber boots.
This is not a trip for anyone with a fear of heights.
How to Get There
Jomblang Cave is in Pacarejo, Gunung Kidul, around 35 miles (56 kilometers) southeast of Yogyakarta. It is effectively impossible to reach Jomblang Cave by public transport so, rather than go through the hassle of renting a vehicle and driving, most travelers choose to visit on an organized tour from Yogyakarta. Booking an organized tour can also help ensure priority for entering the cave, important at busy times.
When to Get There
Jomblang Cave is open from morning until just after lunch seven days a week, but you’ll want to time your visit for when the light shines most spectacularly into the caves, typically between 10am and 11:30am. Yogyakarta tour operators know the times of best light and plan their trips accordingly. It’s wise to avoid weekends, when the cave is at its busiest.
Day Trips from Yogyakarta
Jomblang Cave, perhaps combined with some of Gunung Kidul’s golden beaches, makes a popular day trip from Yogyakarta. Other must-do Yogyakarta day trips include the 9th-century Buddhist temple of Borobudur and the medieval Hindu temple complex at and around Prambanan. The volcano Mt. Merapi is another popular choice—when it’s not too active.
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