Pentingsari Tourism Village, located on the slopes of Mount Merapi in Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta, has grown into a flagship rural tourism destination thanks to its rich natural and cultural potential. The village is about 22.5 km from Yogyakarta city center and offers an immersive travel experience that combines scenic landscapes with local wisdom and community based activities.
Natural and Cultural Potential
Visitors can enjoy a wide range of hands-on activities, such as gardening, farming, ploughing the rice fields, as well as learning to make wayang suket (grass puppets) and play traditional musical instruments. The village also offers live-in programs, where guests stay with local host families and experience the daily life of the community firsthand.
Community Empowerment and Local MSMEs
The management of the tourism village involves active community participation through the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), which ensures that residents share the economic benefits generated by tourism. A number of local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have flourished in the village, including Wedhang Rempah (traditional herbal drink), Komi Tunggak Semi, Kopi Madu Merapi (Merapi honey coffee), Jamur Gin-Gin (mushroom products), purple sweet potato chips, Amplang Lele (catfish crackers), and Batik Badong.
Visitors and Tourism Activities
Pentingsari Tourism Village countinues to develop as a community-based destination that prioritizes local empowerment and cultural preservation. Despite its location on the slopes of the active Mount Merapi, the village successfully welcomes around 25,000 visitors each year.
The management of the tourist village is under the coordination of the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), which involves the community at every stage, from planning to evaluation. This ensures that the economic benefits of the tourism sector can be felt equally by the citizens.
Additionally, Pentingsari Tourism Village is also known as an independent tourism village that received the World Green Destination Award Top 100 in 2019, a prestigious award in the field of international tourism.
Pentingsari Tourism Village offers a variety of tour packages that visitors can enjoy. Here are some available tour packages:
- Live-in Package
Description: Tourists can stay with local families in the village to experience the daily life of the local community. Activities include gardening, farming, and other traditional routines.
Activities: Catching fish, making wayang suket handicrafts, and directly engaging with villagers’ daily activities.
- Education and Culture Package
Description: This package is ideal for visitors who wish to gain deeper insights into the culture and traditions of communities living around Mount Merapi.
Activities: Learning traditional dances, playing traditional musical instruments, and participating in local cultural classes such as handicraft making.
- Nature Tour Package
Description: Enjoy the natural beauty around Pentingsari Tourism Village, located on the slopes of Mount Merapi
Activities: Trekking, village walks to admire rural scenery, and joining nature tours around the Merapi area.
- Agriculture and Plantation Package
Description: Designed for visitors interested in agricultural life by taking part in activities on local farms and plantations.
Activities: Planting or harvesting crops and learning how to manage farmland using environmentally friendly methods.
- Culinary and MSME Package
Description: A visit to spots that highlight local culinary specialties and village-based MSME products.
Activities: Tasting traditional food and drinks, such as Wedhang Rempah, and observing the production of local MSME goods such as coffee and chips.
- Family and Children Package
Description: A specially designed program for families and children that combines fun and educational experiences.
Activities: Catching fish, learning traditional dances, and interacting with farm animals in the village.
- Adventure and Mount Merapi Package
Description: For adventure seekers, this package offers tours to the famous Mount Merapi area.
Activities: Trekking or off-road trips around Merapi, learning about volcanic activity, and enjoying panoramic views from higher vantage points.
These packages are designed to offer diverse experiences, allowing visitors to connect closely with nature and local culture while at the same time contributing to the village economy.
With its rich potential, Pentingsari Tourism Village not only showcases natural beauty and living traditions but also brings positive impacts on the local economy and the well-being of its residents.
Information/contact for Pentingsari Tourism Village: @desawisatapentingsari (Instagram).
