Gumuk Reco Sepakung : a place for selfies which overlooks "Gunung Gajah Mungkur"

Gumuk Reco has grown to become a top destination in Banyubiru Sub-district for selfie seekers. Keep reading this blog post to find out fun and exciting things which are offered by the most visited tourist attractions in Sepakung Village.

As a "desa wisata" (tourist village) in Semarang Regency, Sepakung Village which is on the slope of mount Telomoyo, has been developing for tourism by Ahmad Nuri, its Village Chief who orders the locals to search the potential areas within Sepakung Village for tourist attractions. And now some interesting spots are nice to be visited, such as "Gumuk Reco", "Cemoro Sewu", "Curug Kedung Macan", "Gunung Kendil" and "Air Terjun Goa Semar".

Two men whom I met there, Rohimun (a treasurer of Gumuk Reco) and Daryono (a secretary of Gumuk Reco) claimed that their tourist attraction, which was inaugurated by Deputy of Regent of Semarang Regency in october 2017, is the most popular and most visited one.

Gumuk Reco is easily accessible from Salatiga and Ambarawa as the gateway to Sepakung tourist village is on the road between those cities through Muncul, merely follow Jalan Muncul Raya (the main road).
It takes only 32 minutes drives (3.7 km) after passing through Bukit cinta Rawa Pening.
Accidentally, according to goodle map, it takes just 34 minutes drive with its similar distance (12 km) from Salatiga to Gumuk Reco.
When you've already passed through "Langen Tirta Muncul" (Muncul Public Swimming pool) which is on the right side. You need to drive only for more 600 meters. When you see Kebumen market, slowly, you almost arrive at the gateway. It's next to SD Kebumen 01 (Kebumen Elemantary School 01). See the photo bellow.

You will enter the gateway on a small street. And from here just 2 km to Gumuk Reco.

Go straight until a T-junction and turn right on an ascending road.

Since the road is not only up but also small, just enough for one car. So I recommend to ride a motorcycle. Although you must also be careful, especially on the way home if you ride an automatic motorcycle, because I heard someone ever had an accident here after its brakes were getting hot and didn't work well.

Fortunately, a resting place is available for automatic motorcycle riders to have their motorcycles rested for a while until the brakes become cold and will perform well so they can back home safely.

If you intend to go to Gumuk Reco by a public transportation. You stop at the gateway on jalan Muncul Raya and change with "ojeg", a motorcycle taxi, which already waiting for passengers there. Just tell him your destination, and he will take you to Gumuk Reco they will also wait for you and take you back again at a cost IDR 30k (USD 2.20).

A common environment for travellers hiking up a mountain region, including on the slope of mount Telomoyo, is dominated by vegetations. So you can feel fresh and cool air here.

Not far, you will see the second T-junction, then turn right and keep following the road until you meet a Y-junction, like picture below.

Follow the road sign to Cemoro Sewu (on the left side), a viewing post which has beautiful scenery of mount Ungaran, mount Merbabu, mount Gajah Mungkur and lake Rawa Pening. And soon you will arrive at Gumuk Reco. It is located before Cemoro Sewu, which is 700 m farther.

The front area of Gumuk Reco, there is a small motorcycle parking space with "Sapta Pesona" (Seven Charms) - Aman (Secure), Tertib (Orderly), Bersih (Clean), Sejuk (Cool), Indah (Beautiful), Ramah (Hospitable), and Kenangan (Remembrance) are written on colorful wooden planks. On the other side is a row of "warung makan" (simple restaurant) sell some food and drinks, and they serve more option of menus at the weekends when there are more visitors. Then, walk down few meters is a counter ticket. And the ticket price is IDR 5k (USD 0.40) and IDR 2k (USD 0.15) for a motorcycle parking fee.

Gumuk Reco covers a total area of 2 hectares land which is owned by "Perum Perhutani", state-owned enterprises which has a duty and authority to organize planning, arrangement, cultivation and forest protection in its working area. So in return, 30 percent of selling tickets go to "Perum Perhutani".

Gumuk Reco is still managed by some local people who want to develop their village and create new jobs for the locals by employing some of them while the others open "warung makan" (food stalls) which sell food and drinks for visitors.

Rohimun (the treasurer) and Daryono (the secretary) whom I met - They both, including the chairman (Didi) work like volunteers. They merely want to see "Sepakung Village", especially the people can increase their welfare by the existence of Gumuk Reco.

So far, they are able to donate to the village fund as much as IDR 2 millions per month. (USD 146).

Roaming around Gumuk Reco which is dominated by pine trees is really exciting and relaxing. You can get a thrilling feeling, adrenaline rush and an unforgetable experience by doing swinging above the valley with an amazing view of "Gunung Gajah Mungkur" (mount Gajah Mungkur) which is actually a hill, but commonly, the locals call it as a mountain.

You can try the most instagramable attraction for a little money, IDR 10k (USD 0.75).