Banyuwangi: Volcanoes, Nature and Osing Culture
Accommodation in Banyuwangi
Volcanoes, Coast and Vibrant Osing Culture
Banyuwangi combines striking volcanic landscapes with tropical forests, coastlines and a distinctive culture. Experiences range from Osing traditions in Kemiren to the Ijen caldera, as well as remote beaches and challenging surfing. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether culture, nature or seaside activities should be your main focus. These different interests can also help guide your search for a suitable holiday rental.
Traditions and Performances
At Desa Wisata Adat Osing Kemiren, the customs, language and traditional arts of the Osing community are preserved. One special tradition is Gedhogan: during the harvest season, women play mortars and pestles, accompanied by angklung and drums. Visitors can also learn about traditional coffee preparation at Desa Wisata Osing Kemiren. The beans are pounded, roasted and sifted before the coffee is served. Traditionally, they are roasted in a pan over a clay stove.
The Gandrung Sewu Festival has been held in the Banyuwangi Regency since 2012 and has been part of the Kharisma Event Nusantara programme since 2023. Every evening, cultural performances take place at Taman Blambangan as part of the “Banyuwangi Culture Everyday” programme, organised by the Banyuwangi Tourism Office. Another cultural site is Pura Giri Selokah, a Hindu temple in Alas Purwo National Park. It draws many pilgrims, especially during Pagerwesi, a sacred Hindu ritual.
Ijen and the National Park Landscape
The Ijen Plateau, also known as Kawah Ijen, was once a large active crater covering an area of 134 km². Today, Ijen is a quiet but active volcano. The landscape is dominated by the volcanic peaks of Ijen (2,368 m), Merapi (2,800 m) and Raung (3,332 m). A 3 km route leads from Paltuding Post to the rim of the Ijen caldera. Visitors can walk along the crater rim for about one to one and a half hours. These details offer practical guidance for planning your trip without assuming a walking time for the route to the crater rim.
Alas Purwo National Park includes mangroves, savannas, tropical lowland monsoon forests and coral-fringed beaches. Thousands of migratory birds visit its forests every year. Sea turtles come to its remote beaches to lay their eggs. Surfing is another of the region’s special experiences: Pantai Plengkung, known as G-Land, is located in the Alas Purwo National Park area in Kecamatan Tegaldlimo. Its large waves make it an appealing spot for challenging surfing.
Forest, Bay and Sea
In Dusun Purwosari, Benculuk, Kecamatan Cluring, lies Djawatan Benculuk, a protected forest characterised by giant trembesi trees that are several centuries old. Teluk Hijau, also known as Green Bay, is located in Meru Betiri National Park near Sarongan, Kecamatan Pesanggaran. The bay has clear, greenish seawater and is surrounded by rocky cliffs and well-preserved tropical forest. Pantai Pulau Merah in Desa Sumberagung, Kecamatan Pesanggaran, is recognisable by a small hill of red sand near the shoreline. Bangsring Underwater in Desa Bangsring, Kecamatan Wongsorejo, is a snorkelling destination and coral reef conservation centre.
When choosing a holiday rental, you can weigh up your priorities: Osing traditions and performances offer a different focus for a trip than volcanic landscapes, forests and wildlife, or the coast and its varied experiences. Kampoeng Batara is a creative educational tourism destination where children are taught about culture and literacy. If you’re looking for more places to help plan your trip, you can find Banyuwangi, Gradjagan and Bangorejo here.
For the broader travel overview: East Java.
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