Cempaka Guest House

The staff were super nice and helpful, the air conditioner and WiFi worked great, and breakfast was delicious, with a larger portion than we’ve had elsewhere in Indonesia. The neighborhood is typical rural Indonesia, not very elegant, but I felt safe and comfortable in the guest house. It’s a great location for the Borobudur sunrise entrance, which is different from the regular daytime entrance. The room could use updating, especially the bathroom. The toilet wasn’t fixed to the floor very well and rocked side to side, and there was no shower curtain, so showering would have gotten the toilet paper wet. The huge bed took up almost the whole room, leaving little walking space, but it was great for sleeping. If you’re in the area for Borobodur, this is a good place to stay.

The staff are nice, though they didn’t speak English. The room is okay, but the door is pretty bad, noisy and hard to lock. NO HOT WATER :(((((((((((((( The temple gates are nearby, 900m to the entrance and 100m to the exit.

For sunrise at Borobudur, you can book the ticket at reception. The staff will wake you the next morning and take you to Borobudur at 4:30am. It’s very close to the temple. I only expected a clean room and towels for what I paid, but got complete toiletries and tea too. Good value for money, and very recommended for anyone visiting Borobudur for sunrise.

The location is unbeatable for distance to the temple, and the traditional javanese architecture gives you a chance to experience the real Indonesia. I never expected such a modest place to be this incredible. The rooms are well appointed, and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. I’ve seen other accommodations in the area, and this is by far the very best.