A full guide to Mount Ijen – with or without a tour?
This guide is all about climbing into an active volcano. Mount Ijen, 2 799 m high, is located in East Java near the city of Banyuwangi. The volcano is known for the large blue acid lake, the deep crater and the blue lava – yes, this truly is a landscape and a sight out of this world. And you know what? You can even do the experience on your own, without joining a Mount Ijen tour!
Since a few years, more and more tourists wanted to climb up Mount Ijen to see the blue lava in the crater with their own eyes. In quite a short amount of time, the volcano has become a tourist highlight in the region. But how do you climb into an active volcano? How do you even get to it and what do you need to know about doing Mount Ijen without a tour? This exclusive travel guide to Mount Ijen is all you need to prepare for the unforgettable journey to East Java.
How to get to Mount Ijen
Mount Ijen can easily be reached from Bali. As Banyuwangi is located on the East Coast of Java, you simply need to take the bus from Denpasar to the Eastern end of Bali where the ferry takes you to Java. The whole journey takes about 4 to 5 hours, depending on the speed of the bus and the day.
If the ferry ticket is not included in the bus ticket price, you should pay no more than 6.000 Rupiah for the ferry from Bali to Java.
Another (maybe even more popular route) is travelling to Mount Ijen from Mount Bromo. Mount Bromo is the second of the well-known volcanoes in East Java and the two trips are often connected. It is a frequent route which leads you from the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park to Banyuwangi. You can easily book your driver in the small village of Cemoro Lawang. It is not recommended to book a bus ticket, as this means usually a lot more hassle. Booking yourself a driver with a car is not only more comfortable but you can get some rest in the car before you start your Ijen adventure.
Notes-from-a-traveller´s tip:
If you have explored Mount Bromo before, there is also a possibility to get buy a complete ticket for a driver for both volcanoes. As soon as you get out of the bus from Bali and arrive in Probbolingo, you will have to search for a driver who gets you all the way into the mountains to Cemoro Lawang. The drivers waiting at the bus station often own a travel agency where you can book different drives around the area. Try to get a good price for the drive up to Cemoro Lawang plus a pickup two days later and the drive all the way to Mount Ijen.
Where to stay in the area?
You cannot stay directly at the volcano. All the travellers and visitors are staying in the nearby city of Banyuwangi, where you can book yourself an accommodation. You need to be aware though, that these homestays and small hotels are very basic and cannot be compared to stays in Bali.
The good news it that you will not spend much time in your room anyway. Depending on where you are coming from, you will arrive in the afternoon. Your hiking adventure to the crater of the volcano starts around midnight, which leaves just enough time to get some sleep and rest. Most travellers do not stay for another night because apart from Mount Ijen, Banyuwangi is not worth to visit.
Still, staying in such a local accommodation can really be a great experience and you get to know the locals from a totally different perspective. You will notice pretty soon, that this is really different than what you might know from Bali. Despite both locations being in Indonesia, it is a completely different culture and way of life. But you will see for yourself!
How to get to Mount Ijen without a tour
There are two options when it comes to exploring Mount Ijen:
You can either book yourself a guided tour or explore the volcano on your own.
While most tourists hike up the volcano on a guided tour, it is totally possible to do it without. But how do you get to Mount Ijen without a tour?
There are multiple agencies who will simply offer a ride to Mount Ijen. You can as well check with your accommodation if they have some contact to organize you a driver. Be aware, that you should start the adventure around midnight and your driver should pick you up at 12:15 the latest. The drive is about 30 minutes and you will reach the official parking lot of Mount Ijen.
Hiking the volcano without a guide – what you need to know
If you decide to do the hike on your own, you need to do some organization once you arrive at the parking lot. There are multiple shops where you can get the most important essentials for the hike:
- A gas mask (you should never climb into the crater without the mask -in fact this is vital)
- A beanie
- Some drinks and snacks
- Flash lights
You definitely need to hire flash lights and a gas mask. This can be done in the shops around the parking lot or you can hire some in advance from your hotel or driver. As hiking up Mount Ijen is the number one thing to do in the area, gas masks are frequent and it is not hard to get yourself a mask without a tour.
The great thing about doing the experience on your own, is that you are completely independent. You can start your adventure as soon as you arrive and got your mask. The earlier you arrive, the better. At around 1 am most of the guided tours arrive and start their hike. This will not only mean a massive crowd making their way up to the crater, but as well quite some noise. If you want to experience this on your own with only a few people – make sure to start hiking early.
The way up the crater is not hard to follow. You definitely need your flash lights to be save on the way. If you feel insecure about the hike, just make sure you are following a tour and you cannot go wrong!
How to get into the crater to witness the blue lava
In order to reach the crater, you need to hike up the mountain approximately 1.5 kilometers. After reaching the edge of the crater, you only made it half way. The true challenge for most visitors is the climb down into the crater and back up.
It takes you approximately another hour to reach the bottom of the crater where you can finally see the blue lava with your own eyes. It is fairly easy to hike down into the cater on your own as you simply need to follow the other people. Tours usually split here and meet up at the top of Mount Ijen after about two hours. This means, you will not have any disadvantages of not being part of a guided group.
Half way down the way, you should put on your gas mask. You will notice that the air gets thinner which makes it harder to breathe. The masks are a great protection from the dust and the toxins in the air. It is essential to wear it – for your own health and safety.
On the hike down into the crater, you really need to be careful. There are big rocks and stones all over the ground and slipping and falling is not a rare sight. Make sure to watch your step and hike slowly and controlled. Once reaching the bottom, you need to keep the eyes open for the blue lava. This is a rare sight, but incredibly memorable to see the bright blue color coming out from the volcano.
During your visit, you will also meet miners who work under awfully hard conditions in the crater. Wherever you go, you should respect them and pave the way if they are carrying the heavy brimstone.
The sunrise from the top
After spotting the blue lava, you should hurry to make your way up again. As more and more groups arrive to hike down in the crater, it can get quite busy. There is no “road” leading into the active volcano. There is only climbing over rocks of lava and stones – which means you might need to wait when people are coming down.
As well, the hike up can be quite challenging and you want to reach the edge of the crater just in time for the sunrise. Mount Ijen is not only a great place to see the unique blue lava and an active volcano, but as well to watch the sun rise over the ocean and Java.
During the sunrise, you can as well get a first glimpse on the blue acid lake. Follow the trail around the edge of the crater to find some beautiful views both over the crater and during the sunrise.
There are different photo spots which you should definitely not miss. The acid lake, the trees on the edge of the cater, the surrounding landscape and the view of the sun rising – one view seems to beat the other.
Make sure to make the most of your time at the top of Mount Ijen and enjoy every minute of this unique and extraordinary experience in Indonesia.
After you have watched the sunrise and got all your photos, it is time to hike down into the valley again. Be prepared to always walk in a crowd as all the tours and groups are making their way back down. It still can be a beautiful walk with the first sun rays touching your face after a long and exciting night.
As soon as you arrive at the starting point, you need to give your masks and flash lights back and find your driver to go back to your accommodation. After getting some breakfast, most travellers continue their journey and explore more of Java or travel back to Bali.
The advantages of joining a tour to hike Mount Ijen
The biggest question is: should I hire a guide for Mount Ijen or am I better off alone? Of course, there are both advantages and disadvantages. As there are countless of groups hiking up Mount Ijen every night, it is not hard to find the way by yourself. You will not be walking alone and you will not be going down the crater on your own, there will always be a crowd around you.
Therefore, it is quite easy to hike Mount Ijen on your own.
If you want to feel more comfortable and have a guide by your side, a tour is the better choice. They will pick you up at your hotel and get you all the items necessary for the hike. As well, you will always have someone who can answer your questions and tell you local insights into the area.
A tour to Mount Ijen including the gear and the pick-up should start at around 20 Euros.
When to hike to the crater?
The volcano experience at Mount Ijen can be done throughout the whole year. During all times of the year, there are tours available and the road is open all the time. Still, the best times for this ultimate adventure is April and October. During the dry season, it is easier to walk the trail up the mountain and you got more chance to spot the blue lava.
If you are only visiting Mount Ijen, you need to plan 1 day for this trip to Java. If you combine Mount Ijen with Mount Bromo, this is a two- to three-day tour.
Check out this guide on How to visit Mount Bromo without a tour in East Java for more volcano adventures!
