Earlier this October, Indo Buddies gathered with fellow media colleagues from across Indonesia to take part in the fascinating Jogja Famtrip 2024 “Gelung Minangkara.” Fortunately, our visit to Yogyakarta perfectly coincided with the city’s 268th anniversary, making for a spectacular cultural adventure into this vibrant heart of Indonesia’s archipelago.
We were lucky to be able to take a closer look at Jogja Istimewa through this 4-day, 3-night trip, organised by Dinas Pariwisata Kota Yogyakarta, and in collaboration with Dinas Pariwisata Gunungkidul and Wayang Jogja Night Carnival.
We explored Jogja’s many beautiful sides, from its rich heritage to the daily lives of the locals, observing how modern life coexists beautifully alongside the city’s history. So, of course, we just had to share it with you!
If you’re planning to visit Yogyakarta, keep this article handy to help you pick the best places to stay, as well as a few must-do activities along the way. Let’s dive right in!
Table of Contents
Day 1: First Flight of the Day, Followed by a Leisurely Visit to the Sultanate Palace
We headed to the Domestic Terminal of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, for an early 5am flight with Lion Air. As a sweet reward for being early-birds, we were treated to a stunning sunrise as we boarded the aeroplane.
The sky stayed clear during the short flight to Yogyakarta, and we even caught a view of Mount Bromo Tengger from our window seat.
After a smooth 1.5-hour journey, we arrived at Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) in Kulon Progo and made our way to the airport train station, snapping a picture of YIA’s iconic ceiling along the way.
Being prepared, we had already pre-booked our executive class train tickets through the KA Bandara app (available on iOS and Android). If you have your online train boarding pass, you simply have to scan the barcode at the entrance gate. But don’t worry if you haven’t booked, as there are ticket machines at the airport train station and friendly staff on hand to help with the process.
In just 30-minutes, we arrived at Stasiun Tugu in downtown Yogyakarta aboard the executive train – much quicker than the economy option!
The Jogja Famtrip 2024 Committee had arranged a pickup at Stasiun Tugu, and we were escorted to The Phoenix Hotel, which was just a few minutes drive from the station. Upon arrival, we headed to the registration desk and received our goodie-bags from Dinas Pariwisata Kota Yogyakarta, packed with themed shirts and other fun merchandise.
Since we arrived early, we had time to mingle with fellow participants in the hotel’s charming museum lounge, which exuded authentic Jogja cultural vibes from every corner.
Afterwards, we checked into our room and took some time to relax and change into our batik top for the first activity of the trip, a visit to the famous Kraton Yogyakarta.
Whilst we were there, we had the chance to preview the Parama Iswari exhibition, a special event highlighting the vital role of women in Indonesia, especially the Permaisuri Kraton. GKR Bendara, the Sultan’s daughter, explained how the exhibition has been created to encourage visitors to reflect on the question, “How do you define women?”
Bold pinks filled the exhibit, showcasing the powerful story of the female influence in shaping key aspects of Indonesian life. On display were many impressive items such as warrior clothing, accessories, financial notebooks, photos and paintings.
Some great news is that the Parama Iswari exhibition runs from the 6th October 2024 through to the 26th January 2025, so if you are planning a Jogja visit around that period you should definitely swing-by!
We then took a short walk to the Wahanarata Museum, where we explored more cultural treasures including carriers and paintings, along with the more futuristic VR game and a digital photo booth.
The evening at the museum wrapped-up with a tasty dinner featuring nasi gurih with tempe, chicken, tahu bacem, rice crackers and hot ginger drinks.
The night continued with the official opening of Parama Iswari at Pagelaran Kraton. We sat lesehan-style (with our shoes and socks off) and for around 3-hours, were treated to multiple acts of Wayang Wong under the title “Darmadewa-Darmadewi”. The evening was opened by none other than the Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana X himself and GKR Bendara.
Day 2: Out of the Cultural Heart and into Yogyakarta’s Scenic Countryside
At 6.30am, we enjoyed a hearty breakfast at the hotel to fuel-up before heading-out on our grand tour to Gunungkidul. Known for its dry climate, this area has recently transformed into a lush green backdrop, and we were eager to see what beautiful sights awaited us.
We arrived at our first stop and were escorted onto pickup trucks to climb even higher for our first activity at Taman Teknologi Pertanian, nestled in Nglanggeran tourism village.
The morning kicked-off with a vibrant Reog Ponorogo performance and a short speech from the local tourism representatives, whilst we snacked on bananas, kacang rebus and the village’s signature chocolate drink.
Next, we got creative with batik-style wooden mask painting, using a traditional tool called Canting to trace intricate patterns with melted wax. It was tricky but fun, and we were quite proud of our first efforts!
The masks were then treated with a special liquid, creating a striking red hue that felt almost magical.
With Gunungkidul’s scenic view as our backdrop, we snapped some photos, capturing Jogja’s breathtaking natural beauty.
After a fulfilling lunch, it was time to hop back onto the pickups and say goodbye to our friendly and welcoming hosts.
The next activity took us to the wilder side of Gunungkidul – literally! We headed to Goa Pindul for a jeep tour, passing through villages and weaving between the open green landscapes and winding streams. A playful water fight broke out between teams, and we ended up totally drenched, but laughing all the way!
Next, we set-off for our final stop of the day which was about 40 minutes away. Sitting high above the coast, Obelix Sea View is one of the trendiest spots in Yogyakarta, with impressive dining spaces, a delicious patisserie, souvenir store, and jaw-dropping sunset views over the sea.
After dinner under the purply-pink sky, we returned to the hotel, calling it a wrap on another unforgettable and fun day in Yogyakarta!
Day 3: Chilling-out in Malioboro and Enjoying the Wayang Jogja Night Carnival
After an adventurous day, we started our third morning on a more relaxed note, enjoying the healthy immune-boosting drink, Jamu Temulawak, alongside a light breakfast.
Then, we set-off to the nearby traditional market, Pasar Ngasem, to sample some delightful local cakes called Apem and Carabikang. A great place to find these tasty treats is at Apem Beras Pasar Ngasem Bu Wanti, with beautiful colours that make them almost too good to eat!
The market was bustling when we arrived, filled with a variety of snacks and street food favourites, including the sweet and refreshing Dawet Ireng “Ayu Manis” – perfect to help you cool down from the city heat.
After exploring the market, we crossed the street to Batik Darmo for another batik session, this time on square cloth. We began by selecting our desired patterns which were carefully copied by the artisans, then used the traditional Canting tool to start our batik work.
Today’s batik activity proved to be a bit more challenging than yesterday’s, with the colouring process taking longer. So, we headed straight to our next location for our final day’s activities, with our finished batik creations set to be delivered to us later on.
Luckily, our final third day, coincided with Yogyakarta’s anniversary, marking its establishment alongside the Kraton in the 1750s. During this annual occasion, students and staff wear traditional outfits, and we couldn’t miss joining in on the celebrations by dressing-up in beautiful authentic attire as well, posing for a few snaps along the way!
Once we wrapped-up our photo session, we got changed and enjoyed a sumptuous lunch at Novotel Suites Malioboro. Afterwards, we visited Krisna, a souvenir shop that had plenty of fun memorabilia to remind us of our fabulous Yogyakarta break.
After shopping till we dropped, we returned to our hotel for a relax and a light meal, preparing us for the highlight of the trip which would be taking place that evening – the Wayang Jogja Night Carnival (WJNC) #9!
At around 4pm, we gathered at the museum lounge and walked to Tugu Yogyakarta, the venue for the show. By the time we arrived, a large crowd had already gathered, waiting for WJNC #9 to kick-off at 7pm. We managed to score front-row seats and the murmur of excitement was electric in the air!
WJNC combines choreography, fashion, contemporary music and stunning lighting effects, aimed at boosting tourism in Yogyakarta. It has earned a place among the Top 10 Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy for 2024, promoting local arts and culture to showcase tourist destinations.
The 9th edition of WJNC highlighted the theme “Gatotkaca Wirajaya,” inspired by the legendary hero Gatotkaca, known for loyalty, bravery and dedication to his country. Various performances were presented by 14 Kemantren (districts) in Yogyakarta.
Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengkubuwana X officially opened the event, followed by the presentation of the Karisma Event Nusantara certificate. We also felt immense pride knowing that the city had secured its spot on Indonesia’s list of most prestigious cultural events!
The carnival commenced with the Gelaran Nuswantoro, featuring guest performances from seven regions throughout Indonesia, including East Kalimantan, Medan, Padang Pariaman, Barito Timur, Semarang and Ponorogo.
A highlight of the Wayang Jogja Night Carnival was a dramatic flash mob dance, involving hundreds of dancers and adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the closing event.
The night’s excitement reached a crescendo with an impressive display of fireworks. It really was a truly memorable experience to be among the local community, fellow Indonesians and travellers, all of whom share a deep love for the city of Yogyakarta.
Happy 268th anniversary, Yogyakarta!
After the fun and inspiring Wayang Jogja Night Carnival, we enjoyed a delightful supper at Hotel Santika, which was conveniently located near to our accommodation.
Before we knew it, the day had come to an end, and the next morning we bid a reluctant farewell as we were escorted to Stasiun Tugu for our journey back home to Bali.
A huge thank you goes out to Pemerintah Kota Yogyakarta and Dinas Pariwisata Kota Yogyakarta for their warm hospitality and for organising such a memorable trip to such an amazing city!
We can’t wait to see what surprises Yogyakarta has in store for us on our next visit!
