Behind its eerie-sounding name, 'Ojek Setan' (Devil's Motorcycle Taxi) at the Mount Sumbing Hiking Basecamp via Garung, Wonosobo, actually offers a unique experience for hikers and tourists. The term is not a reference to mystical tales, but rather a name for a local mode of transportation featuring a unique seating position, where passengers sit between the handlebars and the driver.
Head of Butuh Village, Dzikroni, explained that this unusual seating arrangement is the main attraction as well as the reason behind the name. Mostly using trail dirt bikes, these motorcycle taxis serve as a vital solution for hikers and locals alike to traverse steep, rocky mountain slopes that are difficult for conventional vehicles to navigate.
To enjoy the ojek service to Post 1, passengers are charged a fare of IDR 30,000. To ensure safety and comfort, the management has established strict regulations. These rules include operational shift divisions, additional fee policies for passengers of certain weights, and an obligation for drivers to ride politely in residential areas.
The service operates in three shifts: the morning session (07:00–11:00 WIB), the afternoon session (13:00–18:00 WIB), and a special early-morning 'tektok' (day hike) session for hikers chasing the sunrise. This well-organized management system demonstrates the professionalism of the local ojek community in managing the tourism potential of Mount Sumbing's slopes.
The existence of 'Ojek Setan' has now transformed into a tourism icon that not only facilitates mobility on the hiking trail, but also brings a tangible economic impact to the people of Butuh Village. The residents' creativity in managing this natural potential has successfully turned the challenge of extreme terrain into an attractive business opportunity for tourists from various regions.
