The Dieng Plateau is a caldera complex that sits high up in the mountains of Central Java.
The mist-shrouded region is covered in potato and tobacco plantations that lie draped over the area’s lush, mountainous landscape like a patchwork quilt.
The Dieng Plateau is home to craters spewing sulphuric gases and to some of the oldest Hindu architecture in Java. There are more than 400 temples—most dating from the 8th and 9th centuries—that sit nestled in the verdant scenery. An undeniable highlight of the area is the scenic hike around Mirror Lake and Color Lake.
The hike affords spectacular vistas of the two adjacent lakes and their mountainous backdrop. And the cool, crisp mountain air is a refreshing break from the muggy heat that characterizes much of the area’s tropical surroundings. Though the Dieng Plateau can be organized as a day trip from Yogyakarta, travelers may prefer to break up the long journey to and from the plateau with an overnight stay in Wanosobo.