A full guide on how to do Mount Bromo in Java on your own
Are you all about “travelling independently”? No tour and simply doing what you like? If that sounds like you, this guide is exactly what you need to plan your independent journey to Mount Bromo and explore on your own.
Mount Brom in the East of Java is one of the most impressive places a traveller can visit in Indonesia. The volcano is the middle of a unique and spectacular landscape. Some might even say, it feels like being on a different planet. The volcano last errupted in 2019.
Travelling and exploring Mount Bromo has become more and more popular. Even tourists from Bali or different places in Java take the journey to see the Mount Bromo with their own eyes. And what comes with a crowd of tourists wanting to visit a place? Correct, a lot of guided tours.
But you know what? You cannot only visit Mount Bromo without a tour but also explore the area completely independently. Seeing the sunset over the area does not require having a guide and spending a high amount of money on a tour. How do you do Mount Bromo without a tour? – This guide will show you how.
How to get to Mount Bromo
The probably most challenging part abouthow to do Mount Bromo without a tour might be to get to the area. On guided tour, they mostly include the transport from wherever you are. But, no problem for an independent traveller, isn’t it?
The most common route is to travel to Mount Bromo from Bali. Another option is to fly to the nearby city of Surabaya. From the airport, you will have quite a short journey until you reach the area of the volcano.
The journey from Bali is quite long and you need to be prepared for a full day of travelling. You will leave from the one and only bus station in Bali, which is located a little outside from Denpasar. Here you can get the tickets to East Java.
Your destination: Probolinggo
But simply tell them your plan about going to Mount Bromo and they will know what ticket to sell to you. The bus will leave from Denpasar around midday and drive all the way along the coast to the very Western point of Bali.
To get to Java you need to take the ferry from Gilimanuk Harbour to Ketapang Harbour. The price is included in your bus ticket. During the short and sweet ferry trip you need to leave the bus and spend the few minutes on board of the boat. The best chance to get some fresh air during a long day of travelling.
As soon as you have reached Java, the endlessly long bus journey continues. Around 8 pm you can expect a little break in a very local place where you can get some food and rest. The bus will reach the tiny town of Probolinggo at around midnight.
But Probolinggo is NOT the starting point of the hike to Bromo. Probolinggo is located on the main road leading to Surabaya. You need to get deeper into the National Park to reach the village Putus. As soon as you get out of the bus, you will receive countless offers for a drive. Make sure to select your driver wisely and negotiate for a good price up into the mountains.
You need to be aware that it will be very very late when you reach Probolinggo and it is of great importance to reach Mount Bromo safely. You can either choose a driver with a motorbike (only recommended with light luggage such as a backpack) or with a car. The last drive up to Putus will take 30 to 40 minutes.
It is recommended to book your accommodation in advance and make sure it is located in close distance to the trail up to the view point.
Where to stay at Mount Bromo?
The village of Cemoro Lawang (part of Putus) is very local and remote. Tourism has only started to grow recently. Still, there are quite a lot of homestays, hotels and guest houses where you can stay during the trip. A great way to find some suitable accommodation is via booking.com. Make sure to check the ratings from former travellers to get a better image of what the rooms will look like. Depending on your budget, you can find a great option. If you are doing Mount Bromo on your own, you need to book your stay yourself.
It is highly recommended to stay in Cemoro Lawang for 2 nights. After quite an exhausting day of travelling and getting up very early to watch the sun rise over Mount Bromo, you will be grateful for a night of rest before continuing your travels.
As you are hiking up to the view point and exploring the area independently, make sure to stay close to the starting point of the hike. This will make it easier to reach the view point in the morning and you are located in the “center” of Cemoro Lawang. You can check the location of an accommodation on the map before booking to make sure this is a good choice.
Please note: the accommodation in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park can be quite expensive than what you are used to in Bali or other areas in Java. Still, do not expect any kind of luxury. The village is very local and they are not used to that kind of tourism. The hotels and guest houses are therefore quite basic. But what counts is the hospitality of the locals. If you want to do Mount Bromo without a tour, this needs to be clear.
How to reach the view point in the morning (Seruni Point)
The ultimate thing to do when exploring Mount Bromo is the sunrise in the morning. You do not hike up Mount Bromo (of course) but rather watch the impressive sunrise over the lava land from a view point called Seruni Point.
The view point is also part of the multiple tours leaving for the sunrise in the morning. To reach the view point, you need to do a little hike. It takes approximately 45 minutes from Cemoro Lawang and you need to start quite early.
Make sure to check out the exact time when the sun rises (always depending on the time of the year of your visit) to arrive on time. To avoid the crowds or rather to still get a great place to witness the sunset, you should start your hike from your accommodation in Cemoro Lawang approximately 1 and a half hours prior.
It is hard to get lost on the way as there is simply one way leading out of Cemoro Lawang into the National Park.
After an about 10-minute walk you will reach the official entrance of the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. In order to be allowed to enter, you need to pay a small fee at the checkpoint.
The road is leading up to the Seruni point in Serpentines. Of course, it is dark and you cannot see the beautiful surroundings. But get excited for the way down.
What do you need for the hike to the Seruni View Point?
When you leave to Mount Bromo without a tour, make sure to pack the following items:
- Flash light for the hike
- A beanie to cover your cold ears
- A warm jacket
- Gloves
- Some snacks
- Camera
- Warm clothes
- Something to sit on in the mud (a plastic bag or an old t-shirt)
What is the best place to watch the sunrise over Mount Bromo?
As soon as you arrive on the view point (after a sometimes challenging hike), you will notice that it can be quite busy up here. On the way, you might have already encountered some jeeps driving the tourists up the mountain. There are locals selling warm tea and hot chocolate. Most of the tourists who booked the tour will gather around the main view point to watch the show.
But there is a better place, where you can watch the spectacle nearly on your own. Behind the viewing platform there is a tiny trail leading further up the mountain. Follow it for about 5 minutes until you will reach a great place to sit and enjoy the view. Of course, the higher you climb the better chance you will be all on yourself. But make sure to not miss out on the best view!
Now you will know why you got up so early and started your hike an hour earlier. It is worth to be at the best places before some more tourists arrive. And, the show starts before the sun even rises. The sky will turn red and yellow and you can see the whole area waking up – an incredible and breathtaking experience!
The way back down
After the sunrise and after enough pictures and time to enjoy the view, it is time to get back down. As it is still early in the morning, it can still be very cold and you´ll be happy to get a hot chocolate or some coffee from the local ladies. The way down is definitely easier – your heart is happy and full because of the beautiful experience plus you can now enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the trek. You will come across some fields and local gardens and you have a nice overview of the village and the mountains.
As soon as you reach the village of Cemoro Lawang again, it is time for breakfast and a little break. Getting up very early and the long travel day to reach the Bromo National Park can be quite exhausting. And you should get some rest to recharge the batteries for some more exploration in the afternoon.
Explore Cemoro Lawang and the Mount Bromo area
It would be a waste to not explore the surrounding areas while you are in Cemoro Lawang. You took the long journey and made it to a remote area of Indonesia – this calls for some more exploration. After you have rested and got some sleep, you should leave your accomondation again.
The village of Cemoro Lawang is great to get some better insights into the life of the locals in more remote areas of Indonesia. You can stroll around in the streets and visit some of the traditional restaurants.
Another great option is to watch the sunset over Mount Bromo. This is equally spectacular to the sunset and you can get another glimpse of the unique landscape. Cemoro Lawang offers multiple spots where you can watch the sun set and see the Mount Bromo and the surrounding dessert for one more time. You can always ask a local for a new view point or you will discover some unique places on your own.
And of course, you can as well spend some more days in the area. There are some beautiful hikes and activities to do (on your own or with a guide). The National Park is much more than simply the sunrise over Mount Bromo and it is great to have a few more days to explore the area.
If you loved the volcano experience of Mount Bromo without a tour, you should continue your journey though East Java – have you heard of Mount Ijen?
Check out: A full guide on Mount Ijen, Java
