Exploring Java and West Bali, From Savannas to the Sea

Day 1: Greeting Alas Purwo
The first stop was Banyuwangi, with jeeps waiting to take the group into Alas Purwo National Park. Lunch was served at Joyo Surf Camp, which doubled as a base for the night, before venturing into Sadengan Savannah. There, wild peafowl fanned their tails, Javan banteng grazed in herds, and monkeys darted across the grassland. Evening ended at Pantai Trianggulasi, where a cloudy sky muted the sunset but left the coastline bathed in quiet, golden light.

Day 2: Peafowl, Ancient Forests, and Baluran's Savannah
Morning began with an unexpected spectacle, a peacock unfurling its feathers near the breakfast table. Later, the journey continued to De Djawatan, a grove of towering trembesi trees that felt like the setting of a fantasy tale. Lunch featured Banyuwangi's fiery nasi tempong before moving on to Baluran National Park. Often called the “Africa of Java”, this park revealed open savannas with roaming Javan banteng, wild buffalo, and langurs. Night was spent at I-Glam, resting in the cool foothills near Ijen.

Day 3: Blue Fire at Dawn and Crossing Into Bali
Before sunrise, the group trekked for two hours to the crater of Mount Ijen. The blue fire, one of only two such phenomena in the world, glowed in the darkness while dawn painted the acid lake in soft light. On the descent, local “trolley taxis” offered rides, creating both speed and support for the community. By midday, a ferry carried the team across to Gilimanuk in Bali, continuing to West Bali National Park for a stay at Menjangan Eco Lodge. The evening closed with a Balinese cooking class, where flavors told their own stories of tradition.

Day 4: Diving Menjangan and the Ritual of Mesegehan
Menjangan Island was the highlight of the fourth day. Its coral gardens shimmered with parrotfish, sea turtles, and reef sharks, while wild deer roamed freely onshore. The visit also included Gili Kencana Temple and the ritual of Mesegehan, where offerings were carried around the grounds to neutralize negative energy. Often held at Plataran Menjangan, this tradition demonstrated how spirituality and ecology remain closely connected. For travelers, it revealed how tourism in Indonesia is not just about places, but about respect for culture and the natural world.

Day 5: Trails of Life
The final day carried the theme of reflection. Trails of Life, a guided trek through West Bali National Park, used stories from nature to mirror the human journey. Along the way, participants planted endemic trees and joined coral restoration efforts, small yet meaningful acts of giving back. These programs, developed under the vision of the Indonesian ecotourism network, showed how exploration can leave something lasting behind.

Ekspedisi Legenda Khatulistiwa was more than an itinerary, it was a collection of encounters with land, sea, and community. From the savannas of Alas Purwo and Baluran, to the volcanic dawn of Ijen, to the coral-rich waters of Menjangan, each stop carried lessons in both beauty and responsibility. Above all, the journey reminded travelers that conservation and adventure can move forward together, ensuring that Indonesia's natural wonders remain not only admired today but protected for tomorrow.