The Fun Of Swimming Down The Blue River Welo Petungkriyono

Welo River is one of the tourist destinations that is currently booming in Pekalongan and its surroundings. The river, which is located in Petungkriyono District, has clear and natural water. Even in some spots, this river is blue-green.

Its beauty is also a magnet for tourists to explore the Welo River. Realizing this potential, the community began to manage the tourism potential of the Welo River. One of them is Welo Asri tourism which is located in Kayupuring Petungkriyono Village

Not only presenting the nature of the Welo River, here visitors can also get various facilities. Starting from swimming equipment, such as buoys and tires, outbound and archery packages, body rafting packages, and also river crossings. For those who want to enjoy the silence of the night, the manager of Welo Asri also provides lodging and camping ground.

The Welo River that flows in the Welo Asri tourist complex also has several location points with different levels of elevation. So that visitors can adjust and choose which spots they want to enjoy. On the upper steps of the stairs with a fairly shallow depth can be used for swimming or just ciblon. This area is suitable for visitors who are not good at learning to swim.

In the middle, there is a river path flanked by small stone walls. This spot is very challenging if used as a point for body rafting or other water games. It's just that there must still be supervision from experts or tourism management officers.

On the lower side, there is a fairly deep pool spot. Even so, the scenery in this area is very pleasing to the eye. Because of the turquoise water gradation. In some spots, a small gazebo is also provided for visitors to enjoy the fresh river in the middle of the thick forest of Petungkriyono.

The tour, which is now managed by Pokdarwis Welo Asri, was initiated around October 2016. In collaboration with Perum Perhutani, this tour is now managed by local residents. With a ticket price of IDR 5,000 per person, visitors can enjoy the sensation of freshness and greenery of the Petungkriyono tropical forest.

Representative of Pokdarwis Welo Asri, M Kuswoto explained, there are several facilities provided by the manager. Such as prayer rooms, toilets, meeting halls, and others. In addition, his party also provides lodging which is priced at Rp. 100 thousand per night. And for tourists who want to experience staying at a thousand-star hotel, aka camping, it also prepares a camping ground area. Per tent, his party set a tariff of Rp. 15,000. In addition, camping equipment is also provided with rental prices starting at IDR 40,000.

For water tour packages, the manager also provides river tubing, where there are two packages provided. The short track package is as far as 800 meters, and the long track package is more than one-kilometer. For the long track package, tourists only need to pay Rp. 75 thousand per person, while for the short track it is priced at Rp. 60 thousand. Not only buoys and tires but this package are also equipped with dining facilities, coffee breaks, certificates, stickers, and more. While the body rafting package, it also provides packages and non-packages. For the rental of buoys and tires, the price is Rp. 10 thousand.

"In this pandemic period, it's quite quiet. Because these kinds of packages are usually more attractive to tourists from outside the city.

In the future, it will focus on improving visitor facilities and comfort. So that it can make visitors feel more at home and enjoy Welo Asri tourism. Such as the arrangement of safer tourist routes, the addition of gazebos on the banks of the river, and also adding selfie spots. (Novia/ Contributor)

--- Translated by Laksita ---