Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

[Gambir Station, Jakarta]
 

If you ever plan to visit Dieng, Central Java, it is possible (and relatively easy too!) to travel by train!

This is what we did:

1. Book our train tickets online (Jakarta – Purwokerto – Jakarta)

I booked our 5 tickets via tiket.com

(I tried to book via tokopedia, but it wasn’t convenient to make payments as they have limited options. In the end, I went to tiket.com, and paid via KlikBCA, online bank transfer)

We chose the executive train (Argo Dwipangga), leaving Gambir Station at 08:00 and reaching Purwokerto Station at 12:50

Don’t forget to reserve your seats online and print our your train vouchers.

You’d need these vouchers when printing your tickets at the available ticket machines at the train station.

(Not sure if  all train stations have these machines. If they don’t have them, the officers will print the tickets for you)

 
This is what our train (Argo Dwipangga) looked like!

Clean and new.

Tips: 
– Bring along your jacket as it can get rather cold on the train.
– It took us 4 hours and 50 minutes to get to Purwokerto, so do bring along toys and books, etc for the kids

2. Before leaving Jakarta, book your rented car (comes with driver)

We booked our car and driver at Calya Wisata.

The owner’s name is Ibu Novi, and communication was done via phone and Whatsapp messages (Made my 50% deposit through bank transfer).

It took us around 2.5 hours from Purwokerto to Dieng by carWe booked a Suzuki APV for 5 days and 4 nights, and it cost us Rp2.350.000

(This includes picking us up from Purwokerto, driving back from Dieng to Purwokerto, the driver’s fee and the petrol. Driver’s meals and parking tickets are to be provided and paid by us)
 

[Our rented car and driver. We also received photos of the rented car, license plate number, name and mobile number of driver from the agency]

 
It took us around 2.5 hours from Purwokerto to Dieng by car. 

I was told that some drivers just ‘drive’ and would wait in the car while we toured around places. They are after all the ‘driver’, not a guide.

Our driver was Pak Harun, and he’s a great driver and guide! So thankful.

He doesn’t talk very much but he’s very helpful, experienced and knowledgeable. He gave recommendations on which places to visit first (according to the route), accompanied us and helped, even when when we had to climb up the hill at 4am to Sikunir Hill (he brought along his flashlight, etc)

We’d happily recommend Pak Harun. His mobile number is +62 852 920 40742

Tips:
– Do some research on the places you wish to visit before the trip
– Do give some tips to the driver before leaving as our thanks to him.
 

Our train back to Jakarta was Purwojaya, executive train, leaving at 16:10.

(The food on Argo Dwipangga wasn’t too nice, so we had our early dinner before hopping on the train at Purwokerto Station)

PS: Do NOT be late to board the train. It left ON TIME (for both our train trips)
 

So there you go!

Is it recommended?

Yes, it is.

For our case, as we don’t wish to drive all the way to Jakarta, taking the train is the next best and economical option for us! =)

Easy and convenient.

…

More on our Dieng Trip:

– Dieng: Simple Homestay for the Family

…

For more photos and info on our Central Java family trip, click this FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM link to view!