On 10 October 2021, farmers in the hamlet of Sere in Bangorejo held the Bubak Sawah ceremony at Dam Sere. The ritual marked the beginning of the planting season: participants asked God to protect them from problems such as pest infestations during the growing season. For travellers interested in culture and agriculture, this custom offers a specific insight into a local connection with the seasons.

For Bubak Sawah, the participating farmers of the Himpunan Petani Pemakai Air (HIPPA) brought food from home and shared the dishes with one another. As described, the ritual therefore includes not only a plea for protection, but also the act of sharing itself.

Dam Sere and other local points of interest

The Bubak Sawah event introduced the Dam Sere area as a tourist destination in 2021. Dam Sere, previously known as BBU 10, was considered an alternative excursion destination in Bangorejo that same year, with several photo spots and gazebos. The riverbank of the Sungai Sere at Dam Sere was used as a public space in 2021.

Another local attraction involves activities on a nearby river: in 2021, local young people in Bangorejo launched tubing and white-water activities. A farming ritual and an activity-focused excursion thus cater to different interests; the information about Dam Sere and the river activities relates to 2021 in each case.

Culture in the wider Banyuwangi destination

Beyond Bangorejo, the wider Banyuwangi destination offers other cultural experiences. The Gandrung Sewu Festival has been held there since 2012 and has been part of the Kharisma Event Nusantara programme since 2023. If you would like to plan your trip around a specific edition, check its dates.

The customs, language and traditional arts of the Osing community are preserved in Desa Wisata Adat Osing Kemiren. Visitors can learn how traditional coffee is prepared there: the beans are pounded, roasted and sifted, and the coffee is then served. Traditionally, roasting is done in a pan over a clay stove. Check with local hosts to confirm whether this experience is available on your visit date.

Gedhogan is also part of Kemiren’s cultural identity. During the harvest season, women perform the tradition by pounding mortars with pestles, accompanied by angklung and drums. It is advisable to confirm locally when a performance will take place. Religious tradition can be seen at the Hindu temple Pura Giri Selokah in Alas Purwo National Park: it attracts many pilgrims, particularly during the sacred Pagerwesi ritual.

Every evening, cultural performances take place at Taman Blambangan as part of “Banyuwangi Culture Everyday”, a programme organised by the Banyuwangi Tourism Office. As schedules may change, it is worth checking the dates in advance. Kampoeng Batara is a creative educational destination where children learn about culture and literacy; check programme details if this offering is important to your travel plans.

Coasts, forests and trails in Banyuwangi

The wider Banyuwangi destination features a variety of coastal landscapes. Teluk Hijau, also known as Green Bay, is located in Taman Nasional Meru Betiri near Sarongan, Kecamatan Pesanggaran, Kabupaten Banyuwangi. Clear, greenish seawater, rocky cliffs and well-preserved tropical forest define the bay. At Pantai Pulau Merah in Desa Sumberagung, Kecamatan Pesanggaran, a small hill of red sand near the shoreline is a distinctive feature.

Alas Purwo National Park encompasses mangroves, savannas, tropical lowland monsoon forests and coral-fringed beaches. Thousands of migratory birds visit the park’s forests every year; sea turtles come to its remote beaches to lay their eggs. Djawatan Benculuk offers a different forest landscape: a protected forest in Dusun Purwosari, Benculuk, Kecamatan Cluring, Kabupaten Banyuwangi. Giant trembesi trees, several centuries old, shape the area.

Travel information about Ijen also describes two distinct sections: a three-kilometre route leads from Paltuding Post to the rim of the Ijen caldera. A walk along the crater rim takes about one to one and a half hours. Local access rules may change, so check them before your visit. Pantai Plengkung, also known as G-Land, is in the Alas Purwo National Park area in Kecamatan Tegaldlimo and offers large waves for experienced surfers; sea conditions vary. Bangsring Underwater in Desa Bangsring, Kecamatan Wongsorejo, is instead a snorkelling destination and coral reef conservation centre.

Plan your accommodation around the places you actually want to visit. If Gandrung Sewu, Gedhogan or the coffee experience is important to your trip, check dates or availability in advance.

Discover more destinations: Gradjagan, Banyuwangi.

Back to the wider travel overview: Banyuwangi.