Bangorejo: Bubak Sawah and Dam Sere

Bangorejo tells two distinct stories about the area: Bubak Sawah, a ritual marking the start of the planting season, and Dam Sere, which was introduced as a tourist destination in 2021. If you are looking for a holiday rental here, you can use the local traditions and the area's character as a day-trip destination at the time as a starting point for planning your own trip.

Bubak Sawah: a planting-season ritual

On 10 October 2021, farmers in the hamlet of Sere in Bangorejo held Bubak Sawah at Dam Sere. The ritual marks the start of the planting season. The farmers asked God to protect them from problems such as pest infestations during the growing season. The prayer focuses on specific concerns about the fieldwork ahead. The participating farmers from the Himpunan Petani Pemakai Air (HIPPA) brought food from home and shared it with one another. The prayer and food exchange give the occasion two closely connected aspects: the hope for protection during the growing season and the sharing among those involved. For travelers who want to learn about local traditions, this combination of agriculture and sharing a meal is a particularly vivid way to experience Bubak Sawah.

Dam Sere and other activities

Dam Sere, formerly known as BBU 10, was considered an alternative day-trip destination in Bangorejo in 2021. Several photo spots and gazebos were among the area's features at the time. During the Bubak Sawah event, Dam Sere was introduced as a tourist destination. The banks of the Sungai Sere river at Dam Sere were also used as a public space in 2021. The area's history therefore includes both the planting-season ritual and the area's tourism focus at the time.

Another distinct account of activities also comes from Bangorejo: in 2021, local young people opened tubing and white-water activities on a nearby river. This adds an active river element to the themes of agriculture and day-trip destinations, as reported for that year.

Banyuwangi: culture and nature on a broader scale

The wider destination of Banyuwangi adds its own cultural and landscape themes. The Gandrung Sewu Festival has been held there since 2012 and has been part of the Kharisma Event Nusantara program since 2023; you should check dates for future editions separately. Desa Wisata Adat Osing Kemiren preserves the customs, language, and traditional arts of the Osing community. Gedhogan, a harvest-time tradition, is associated with the village: women strike mortars and pestles, accompanied by angklung and drums. It is best to confirm locally when a performance will take place. In Kemiren, visitors can also learn how to prepare traditional coffee: the beans are pounded, roasted, and sifted before the coffee is served. Traditionally, the beans are roasted in a pan over a clay stove. You should confirm the availability of this experience with local hosts.

Banyuwangi's natural attractions also have their own distinctive features. Alas Purwo National Park encompasses mangroves, savannas, tropical lowland monsoon forests, and coral-fringed beaches. Thousands of migratory birds visit its forests every year; sea turtles come to remote beaches to lay their eggs. For another landscape and activity highlight, visitors can walk along the crater rim of Ijen for about one to one and a half hours. A 3 km route leads from Paltuding Post to the rim of the Ijen caldera. Local access rules can change; check them before your visit.

When looking for a holiday rental in Bangorejo, you can first decide what to focus on: would you like to learn mainly about the local agricultural tradition and the history of Dam Sere, or also explore the cultural and natural attractions of the wider Banyuwangi area?

Discover more destinations: Banyuwangi, Gradjagan.

Back to the broader travel overview: Banyuwangi.