Facts
| Elevation: | 3,339 m (10,955 ft) | Prominence: | 2,811 m |
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| Ribu category: |  Sangat Tinggi |
Province: | Jawa Timur (East Java) |
| Google Earth: | kml | Other names: | Arjuna, Arjuno-Welirang, Arjuna-Welirang |
| Rating: |    (3 votes) Add your rating
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Photos
 Welirang from Tretes (Heinz von Holzen, August 2006)
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 Welirang sulphur harvest (Heinz von Holzen, August 2006)
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 Welirang sulphur (Heinz von Holzen, August 2006)
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 Arjuna and Semeru from Welirang (Heinz von Holzen, August 2006)
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View a slideshow in our Picasaweb gallery
Bagging It!
This peak is the highest point of the enormous Arjuna-Welirang range, located just 50 kilometres south of Java’s second largest city Surabaya. The lower Welirang peak is active though Arjuna itself is dormant. The twin Kembar peaks nestle between them and a traverse of the entire range is one of the finest hikes in Java. It’s a huge area so camping for a night or two is absolutely necessary. A guide is necessary for all routes as the navigating the paths can be very difficult indeed on the higher slopes. Unfortunately, finding good guides seems to be quite difficult for this mountain range and there have been several reports of guides with little knowledge of the range climbing totally unprepared. Therefore it is best to try to arrange guides in advance rather than just turning up at the starting point.
There are several routes – permits should be easy to arrange at all of them – the most popular and well-defined being from the mountain resort of Tretes to the north of the range. This trail leads up Welirang (3,156m) and then south to the Kembars and finally Arjuna. This route takes a minimum of 8 hours so most people stay for one night in a sulphur collector’s shelter on Welirang before continuing to Arjuna.
The range is also accessible from Selekta/Selecta in the south-west near Batu and from Sumber Brantas/Cangar to the west. This route is especially useful fort anyone wishing to climb either Welirang or Arjuna as it starts high up and leads to a pass between the Kembars. Hikers can then choose to turn left (north) towards Welirang or right (south) towards Arjuna. Sumber Brantas is 11km beyond Selekta and the hike begins at two cement pillars (1,750m) just before the road descends to Cangar air panas (hot springs) at 1,628m. The start of the trek is a farm track leading through fields of carrots and potatoes. There are plenty of track junctions so local knowledge is essential. At 2,022m the trail enters forest and at 2,110 make sure you turn left rather than heading up to the right. There is a tiny camping area at 2,153m before a reight turn at 2,200m. There is a lot of dense vegetation here so it can be difficult navigating the correct path. The route leads under several large tree trunks before emerging at a slightly larger camping area (2,357m) marked with a large boulder. From here the Kembars are clearly visible in good weather.
The route continues through pine woodland, a right turn at 2,571m (follow the yellow and blue string). After another camping area you will encounter some hot steam emerging from beneath boulders in the middle of the pine woodland (2,644m). The forest ends at 2,900m and the truly great views begin. Soon the trail reaches the top of the pass (2,910m) between the Kembars. This is an excellent and popular place to camp.
To reach Arjuna, take a right turn (south) here. The trail is quite difficult to see at this point so simply follow the contour of the mountain ridge and you will find the correct trail. The first peak you reach is Kembar (south) and from here you can enjoy the fantastic panorama to many other mountains both near and far. There are shallow, grassy craters and lots of sulphur vents on this peak so take care not to inhale the gases. From this peak, the trail dips steeply to the col between Kembar south and Arjuna – now clearly visible as an impressive, narrow and steep mountain just ahead of you. The trail leading down from Kembar south is very steep so take you time and be careful not to head down one of the very dangerous cliff areas. Beyond the col is a large and incredibly wild area of huge volcanic boulders scattered across a minor peak. It’s a confusing area and easy to get lost here in bad weather. To avoid this area and head straight to the climb to Arjuna, head round to the left (east) and pick up the trail up the steep pinewood slopes of Arjuna at a green sign (2,851m). It’s a long haul up the slopes but the views are incredible – Gunung Butak to the right, Gunung Penanggungan to the left and Welirang behind (north).
There are plenty of place to camp all over Arjuna mountain so finding a spot even at weekends should not be a problem here, especially above 3,100m. The first top you will reach on Arjuna is crowned with a regional boundary marker (3,315m). The trail then descends slightlyu before heading up to a wider summit area. This is a very similar height to the final top – which most people consider the true summit – and may even be a metre or two higher. From this top Semeru is visible right infront of you. The final top is a very narrow, impressive and boulder-strewn peak and there is a green sign to inform you that you have finally reached the top of Arjuna. This summit itself is known as ‘puncak ringgil’.
If not returning the same way, there are routes down to Lawang and Purwosari in the east. Both are long, long hikes which take a minimum of 6/7 hours. Just below the narrow summit with the sign is a trail heading east (in the direction of Semeru). It leads down through pine woodland to a tree with signs on it (3,100m). Here take a left for a route down to Purwosari (which eventually leads to some ancient monuments) or a right turn for Lawang. The Lawang trail is very overgrown but if you keep the huge mountain range of Semeru infront of you it is difficult to get truly lost. Notable landmarks are Shelter 3 (‘Pos Mahapena’, 2,179m), a border stone at 1,910m, Shelter 2 (‘Pos Lincing’, 1,597m) which has an actual hut before the trail leads down through the large tea plantation at Wonosari. You finally reach a road at 925m and ojeks can easily be arranged at the security post for the 4km journey to the main Surabaya-Malang road at Lawang.
However, if you have time you can actually stay at Wisata Agro Wonosari – a popular weekend retreat at the tea plantation where there is a good range of accommodation available.
Bagging information by Daniel Quinn
Practicalities
| Getting there | Lots of transport options from Surabaya. |
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| Accommodation | Tretes and Batu are the best places to stay. |
| Permits | Easy to arrange at the best-known starting points – take a photocopy of your passport photo page just incase. |
| Water sources | Depends on the route but definitely wise not to rely on sources – take enough bottled water with you. |
Location
Origins and Meaning
Arjuno is the Javanese pronunciation of Arjuna. Arjuna is the middle (third) of the five Pandawa brothers who are heroes of the Indian Mahabharata epic and the plays of the wayang purwa, the classical Javanese shadow theatre. Arjuna is renowned as the handsome, invincible warrior of the shadow play, so perhaps the mountain is named “Arjuno” because it is as beautiful and impressive as the shadow theatre character. (George Quinn, 2011)
What a great site! I’ve been living in or visiting Indonesia since 1979 but have bagged hardly any peaks – although Gng Merapi (in 1981) was one of them! Now, I just try to encourage others. Earlier this month my son and a friend climbed Mt. Arjuna, in East Java. I’ll ask them to do a trip report. For arranging trips up the mountain (best done as a 3-day hike) I can thoroughly recommend the Village Tourism Association in Tambak Sari, on the slopes of Arjuna. A good contact is Agus Sugiarto (Sugi), suge_eling@yahoo.co.id.
Some extra detailed info courtesy of Teddy and Juri…..
Tretes is connected by angkot to Pandaan (6000 Rp). Trailhead is at 900 masl (permit – 20 000 Rp per foreigner), there is an asphalt road to the right of the park office hut (ojeks go up for another 1-2 km) and a cobbled road to the left (shortcut). After passing another hut with a barrier (after 30 minutes), the road goes up through a forrest, inhabited by monkeys. 3 hours from trailhead is Pos 1 (1700 masl) with a shelter and flowing water. Another 3 hours up is the sulphur collector’s shelter (2450 masl – flowing water), where the sulphur bags are weighed and stored for collection by a very robust looking jeep once a day (seems a bit impossible, having seen the condition of the track). Here the paths diverge – left and up the slope for Arjuno and straight forward for Welirang. The left path leads to a perfect camping area after 20-30 minutes (flowing water). It starts gentle up the slopes (turn right when you reach the fork) and rises abrupt shortly before the ridge between Kembar 2 (south) and Arjuno. The path is very eroded and there are a lot of loose stones – a rockfall would bowl all the way down and could have grave consequences for the hikers behind and below you. There is a green sign, when reaching the ridge, where you turn left and continue, as described above. Total time from sulphur collector’s shelter up and down to Arjuno should be around 6-7 hours at a quick pace. The path to Welirang is well-defined and eroded by the frequent activity of the workers. There are actually several paths, that always join together and turn into a single track, when reaching the saddle between Kembar 1 (north) and Welirang (2 hours). There is only one junction after this point. Turning right (after 30 minutes) takes you to the peak and crater area, while the straight forward and bigger track leads to the fumaroles and sulphur clouds (~200 meters below puncak area). Total time up and down is not less than 4 hours. Spending 1 night in this mountain should be the minimum, as going either to Arjuno or Welirang on the same day, when starting from Tretes is a long hike. Same applies for returning down from the other peak. According to Junaedi (local guide, tel. 085855622874) it can take 12 hours, starting from the collector’s shelter, up to Arjuno, traversing the ridge (and the two Kembars) to Welirang and going down to the shelter again. But generally speaking, this mountain offers a huge diversity, the two peaks having totally different characters (alpine Arjuno and volcanic Welirang), so every day spent in there is well worth it.
Try this approach and you will fall in love. Start the hike from Junggo’s Hindu pura (temple). Ascent is straight and steep. After 7 – 8 hours you will get to the Arjuna Peak 1 or Penyancangan Jaran (Horse Station). If possible camp over there and make yourself astonished by the almost 360 degree views. Semeru and Bromo are visible. Then another 1 hour of steep trek to the real Arjuna Peaks. Jagalabilawa (Peak 2) and Ogalagil (Peak 3).
From Arjuna to Welirang is an easy 6 hours hike. Descent to the saddle between the 2 summits. Hike across the foot of Kembar 1 and try to feel the mystical atmosphere near the Kuburan Asu (Hounds Graveyard).
When you get to the Lapangan Kotak (Square Plain), turn right to Kembar 2 peak. Steep 1/2 hour trek, then descent to the sulfur miner’s “road” to/from Welirang. To the right is the trek to Tretes. Ascend a little further along the “road” then turn right. You will soon see the large cave with water drops from its ceiling. The cave is only a few meters deep and good to camp in. Freezing in the night. The famous sulfur mines and the summits are only 15 minutes away.
Descending, you could take the 4 hours trek to Sumberbrantas or the longer trek to Tretes. Tretes route is at least 7 hours and definitely only for them with steel knees and ankles. The trek is paved with loose soccer ball stones. Good for 4 WD jeeps but not for our knees and ankles.
Sumberbrantas offers you hot spring bath in nearby Cangar but transportation is scarce. Ojek is available. Tretes is a small town only 1 hour from Surabaya airport, then cars are many.
route start from tretes:
http://www.navigasi.net/gofrm.php?c=FU&t=2580&page=last