Tretes is a mountainous resort town in East Java, about 1.5 hours by car from Surabaya (the capital) and approximately 10 km from Trawas and Pacet.

Understand

Tretes is one of the nearest mountainous resort areas from Surabaya. It is a very popular weekend destination - mostly to escape from a bustling and polluted city. Tretes is very much geared to catering for domestic tourists.

Get in

The best way to go to Tretes is by car.

• From Surabaya: Go to the Waru highway entrance and take the "Malang/Pasuruan" direction. Exit the highway/ toll road at the Sidoarjo checkpoint and continue to drive until you reach a junction (at Porong) turn right and take a long straight to the south. Until you arrived at Apolo roundabout, turn right and straight until you reach at Pandaan Police Station roundabout. Turn right at that roundabout and go left and take a long straight climb to Tretes. Or when you will take a right turn at the end of Porong toll road, turn around and go left when you reach the "Jalan Arteri" entrance. Just trough it until you reach the new toll road construction site then turn right. And take a same route like the previous one.

Get around

There is little (if any) public transport here. The best idea is going by car.

You can also take a horse ride (there are some around the market, which is also on the main street).

See

The countryside around Tretes

• On the way to Tretes (at Prigen, about 15 minutes before you reach Tretes' main road) you will see an orchid nursery on the right.
• Beautiful scenery with the view of Mount Welirang, pine trees and flowers
• Kakek Bodo waterfall (beware: the road to this waterfall is extremely steep)

Do

• Sightseeing: view of Welirang mountain, pine trees, flowers.
• Ride a horse to get around Tretes
• Visiting Kakek Bodo Waterfall

Buy

• Fruit and vegetables at the market (be sure to bargain)

Eat

• Rabbit satay foodstalls near the market
• Grilled corn-on-the cob
• sweet fermented glutinous rice

Drink

Restaurants in this area do not serve alcohol and there are no public bars. Some of the larger hotels may have a bar. Either bring some booze with you, or ask around once you arrive.

Sleep

Budget

There are many villas for rent, including on (and near) the main street. There are also some budget hotels along the main street.

Splurge

3-star hotels and above

• Inna Tretes (http://www.innatretes.com)
• Tretes View Hotel
• Tretes Raya Hotel & Resort (OYO 395)
• Hotel Surya

Connect

The telephone area code for Tretes is 0343. (+62-343)

Go next

• Taman Safari II, a large national park-cum-zoo, is less than half an hour away (by car).
• Trawas, another mountainous resort (10-15 minutes from Tretes)
• Pacet, a mountain resort with some hot springs (10-15 minutes from Tretes)