Malang is a higher-altitude city in East Java and is often only used as a stopover to Mount Bromo. What a shame, as the city has plenty to offer, such as the rainbow village Jodipan, and the beautiful nature.
The city of Malang was once an important city in the cultural history of Java. In more recent years, the Jodipan project also became a symbol of the renewed urban culture in Java and an example for other projects worldwide.
I’m making a list of 6 activities you can do in Malang.
1. Visit Jodipan in Malang
Jodipan was once a neglected neighborhood in Malang, characterized by poverty and crime. Education for children was unattainable, and the future prospects of the community seemed bleak. This changed in 2016 when a group of university students decided to turn the tide. They transformed the neighborhood into a colorful work of art, with houses brightly painted in all the colors of the rainbow. Additionally, the area was adorned with impressive murals.
The “Rainbow Village” project, aimed at raising awareness about hygiene and boosting tourism, had an impressive effect. Jodipan flourished as a popular tourist attraction and became an icon of urban renewal in Java. The quality of life for the residents significantly improved, and nowadays all the children in the neighborhood go to school.
2. Roaming through the Blue Village in Malang
Nearby Jodipan is Kampung Biru Arema, a neighborhood fully immersed in various shades of blue, paying homage to the local football club Arema FC, which is why it bears the name “Blue village.”
The blue paint adorns not only the houses but also the streets and public spaces, giving the neighborhood a dreamlike quality.
Unlike the rainbow village Jodipan, you will hardly encounter any tourists here.
3. Spend time at Wonosari tea plantation
Wonosari Tea Plantation, located at the foot of Mount Arjuno near Malang, is a popular agro-tourism plantation covering more than a thousand hectares. You can take a tour to see the process of picking and processing tea leaves and enjoy the vast tea fields.
You can also find many recreational activities such as horseback riding, paintball, and ATV riding. Accommodations are also available.
The tea plantation Wonosari is mainly known for the view from Kuneer Hill. Unfortunately, the weather was absolutely terrible when we were there, which prevented us from visiting.
4. Visit the Coban Rondo Maze and Waterfall
Coban Rondo is an impressive waterfall 84 meters high, located in the village of Pandesari, about 30 kilometers west of Malang.
The name “Coban Rondo” means “Widow Waterfall” in Javanese and is connected to a local legend about a bride who became a widow after her husband died in a fight to protect her.
Next to the waterfall, you can also visit a maze, which is really fun to do with the kids.
5. Climbing the Bromo Volcano
Two hours from Malang, you can find the active Bromo volcano. Guaranteed to be one of the highlights during a trip in Java. It is one of the most famous and visited volcanoes in Indonesia, standing at 2,329m high. Not only is the volcano remarkably impressive, but the surrounding sea of sand and hundreds of Toyota Land Cruisers that color the barren landscape also ensure an unforgettable experience.
You can visit the Bromo volcano on a day trip from Malang or during a three-day Bromo-Tumpak Sewu-Ijen tour.
Want to know more: Three-day tour Bromo, Tumpak Sewu, and Ijen
6. Hike to the Tumpak Sewu Waterfall
You can find the Tumpak Sewu waterfalls, located just two hours from Malang. These impressive waterfalls, literally meaning “a thousand waterfalls” in Javanese, are situated in the midst of the jungle.
The hike to it was the most adventurous hike to a waterfall we have ever done.
Read more: Two-week tour of Java
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