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Community & Nature Immersion in Semeru Highlands (Tip-Based Stay)

5.0
(3 reviews)3

The experience

Live with locals in an East Java mountain village, help with nature & culture projects, cook your own meals, and experience life the way it was meant to be, simple, shared, and real. No fee just presence. Give what you feel after.

What you offer

5 hours of help per day

Cleaning: Help clean the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.

Cooking: Choose the menu, pick ingredients and cook delicious dishes.

Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.

Social Work: Help with volunteer work in local projects and communities.

What you get

2 days off per week

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Discounts on Tours: Get discounts for tours and excursions around town.

Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely

Requirements

Intermediate English or Beginner Indonesian

Between 18 and 50 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

Welcome to Terrae, nestled in Kandangan village on the slopes of Mount Semeru, East Java. This is not just a place to stay, it's a growing movement to restore harmony between nature, culture, and people. We offer you the chance to live inside a real Javanese/Tenggerese village, join meaningful projects, and share stories over food, fire, and forests. There is no mandatory fee to join, because we believe in shared humanity. But if you feel moved by your experience, you're welcome to contribute a tip (voluntary donation) to support the community that welcomes you.

You’ll be staying in a local resident’s home, humble, warm, and full of heart. This isn’t a tourist homestay, it’s the real village life. You'll sleep in a shared or private room (depending on availability), and use a shared bathroom. A communal kitchen is available for you to cook your own meals, just like locals do.

Your presence helps keep this place alive. Not just financially, but spiritually. We are a small community trying to create something that heals: our land, our identity, and our relationships.
We don’t sell an experience. We share a life.
Your voluntary tip, if you choose to give one, supports:
• Water and electricity for the hosting families
• Cleaning supplies and tools for nature projects
• Compensation for locals who help prepare your stay
• Keeping Terrae open for future volunteers
No pressure. Just presence.

Activities & Shift

Depending on the time of your visit, you might:
• Join trail clean-ups and help preserve access to local waterfalls
• Assist in community-based ecotourism projects
• Cook and eat together with locals and other volunteers
• Take part in cultural rituals or village gatherings (when available)
• Help document or share stories from the village and nature around it
• Learn how nature and culture blend together in this sacred land

We keep things flexible, so you can contribute in a way that fits your skills and comfort.

Rules

Open heart and respectful attitude
Willingness to live simply and adapt to village life
You’re okay with cooking your own meals (kitchen is provided)
Minimum stay: 1 weeks (negotiable)