Vertical Caving in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Yogyakarta, often called Jogja, is a lively city on the Indonesian island of Java, known for its rich cultural heritage, arts and music. If you’re looking for a great excursion outside of the city, though, Yogyakarta offers some of the most captivating natural beauty on the island. For an unforgettable daytrip, plan an excursion to Jomblang Cave for an unparalleled caving experience.

Jomblang Cave is one of hundreds in the Gunungkidul region and is a true geographical phenomenon. The vertical cave is made of three parts. The first is an immense sinkhole formed with the roof of the cave collapsed, housing a dense ancient forest at the bottom. The second part is a long tunnel, connecting the sinkhole with the third part, the main cave, Goa Grubug.

Cavers are lowered safely on a harness to the bottom of the sinkhole, about 50 meters down, where they find themselves surrounded by the lush ancient forest. From there visitors follow a trail to the tunnel and, as they turn the final corner of the tunnel into Goa Grubug, they find themselves immersed in sunlight pouring through a hole in the roof of the massive cave. The sunlight illuminates the cave in an enchanting glow, making it one of the most popular destinations for photographers.

The natural gem is located about 90 minutes outside of Yogyakarta’s city center. The best way to get there is to rent a car, but be sure to leave early as they only allow 25 people in the cave per day.