TIMES AUSTRALIA, PROBOLINGGO – High in the hills of East Java, mist drifts lazily above glassy lakes while morning light dances on the ripples. The air is cool, crisp, and filled with promise — a perfect stage for a race that’s more than just a test of stamina. It’s a call from the Seven Lakes Festival 2025.  

A call to reconnect with nature, culture, and self. Welcome to a celebration where sport, adventure, and tradition intertwine in the heart of Probolinggo Regency.

A Festival Born from Nature

Running from 7 to 16 November 2025, the Seven Lakes Festival brings a fresh perspective to tourism in Probolinggo. Instead of beaches or bustling markets, the spotlight shifts to seven of the region’s most breathtaking volcanic lakes, known locally as the ranu.

The crown jewel of the event is Ranu Segaran, a tranquil high-altitude lake encircled by green hills and natural hot springs. It’s here that the festival’s headline challenge unfolds: the Trail Run Ranu Segaran 2025, a nine-kilometer race designed not only to test physical endurance but to remind runners of the harmony between body and earth.

“This is not a usual run,” said event organiser, Ardhimas Indra Wijaya. “We call it a Refreshment from Nature. It’s where you come to break your limits and find peace while doing it," he added.

The Spirit of “Break Your Limit”

The trail’s slogan, Break Your Limit, captures the essence of this race. It’s not about competition alone, it’s about discovery. Participants begin and end their run by the lake’s edge, where volcanic reflections shimmer in the morning sun.

The route leads through forested trails, soft mountain soil, and gentle slopes that trace the perimeter of the lake. Along the way, steam rises from geothermal vents, blurring the boundary between challenge and calm.

At the finish line, the reward is simple but symbolic: a finisher’s medal, cool mountain air, and a fresh young coconut offered by smiling locals.

A Gateway to Probolinggo’s Hidden Beauty

While the trail run serves as the festival’s pulse, the heart of the Seven Lakes Festival beats across the wider landscape. Each of Probolinggo’s ranu from the legendary Ranu Agung with its emerald waters to the serene Ranu Segaran and lesser-known volcanic craters offers visitors a glimpse into East Java’s untouched nature.

The event also showcases local crafts and culture, with exhibitions by the Dekranasda Kabupaten Probolinggo (Regional Craft Council). Visitors can explore traditional batik patterns inspired by the lakes’ rippling forms, taste mountain honey, and experience the warm hospitality that defines Javanese countryside life.

For local authorities, the festival marks a turning point — positioning Probolinggo as a sports tourism destination, blending eco-adventure with cultural storytelling.

A Traveler’s Rhythm: Four Days by the Lakes

For those planning a visit, the festival invites slow travel — not just to witness the event, but to live within its rhythm.

• Day 1: Arrive in Probolinggo and settle near Ranu Segaran. Let the mountain air adjust your pace.
• Day 2: Hike the trails, explore the lake’s volcanic rim, and soak in nearby hot-spring zones.
• Day 3: Join the Trail Run, cheer for participants, and in the evening, enjoy lakeside performances under lantern-lit skies.
• Day 4: Venture to other ranu — Ranu Agung, Ranu Suru, or Ranu Kramat — each offering a new shade of tranquility.

Whether you’re a runner, photographer, or cultural wanderer, each day opens with dew and ends with reflection.

The Seven Lakes Festival isn’t only about crossing a finish line, it’s about slowing down, breathing deeply, and realizing how nature still heals in its quiet way.

The slogan “Break Your Limit” may sound like a call to run faster, but in Probolinggo, it means something deeper: break the limits of routine, of noise, of screens — and rediscover your natural rhythm. In the still water of Ranu Segaran, that message reflects back perfectly.

If You Go

• Event: Seven Lakes Festival 2025
• Trail Run Date: 16 November 2025
• Location: Ranu Segaran, Probolinggo Regency, East Java, Indonesia
• Registration: Rp 200,000 (presale until 31 October 2025)
• Website: trailrunprobolinggo2025.com
• Tip: Bring trail shoes, hydration gear, and a good camera — the views alone are worth the run.

In the end, the Seven Lakes Festival promises more than medals or miles — it offers a moment of stillness between breaths, a memory of nature’s embrace, and a story worth telling long after the run ends. (*)