3-day Mount Bromo & Ijen Crater tour from Surabaya

Volcanic peaks, nights in the caldera, a guide for the whole journey

A 3-day tour from Surabaya to Mount Bromo and Ijen Crater with private transportation, accommodation, meals, guide and all park entry. You leave Surabaya by afternoon, trek Ijen Crater in darkness to see electric blue sulfur flames, then spend the next morning watching sunrise over Mount Bromo's caldera before riding a 4WD across volcanic sand to the crater rim. The tour ends with a waterfall trek and return to Surabaya by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Surabaya to Bondowoso transfer

• Pick up at Surabaya location
• Transfer to Bondowoso hotel
• Arrive and check in hotel
• Have dinner and rest

Day 2: Ijen Blue Fire tour and transfer

• Depart hotel at midnight
• Drive to Ijen parking lot
• Trek to Ijen crater
• See blue flames and crater lake
• Observe sulphur miners
• Stop at local cafe for coffee
• Return to hotel for shower and lunch
• Check out and transfer to Bromo hotel

Day 3: Bromo sunrise and waterfall visit

• Prepare for Bromo stargazing at 2 am
• View night sky and Milky Way
• Watch sunrise over Bromo landscape
• 4WD ride to Bromo crater rim
• Return to hotel for breakfast and shower
• Check out from hotel
• Drive to Madakaripura Waterfall
• Trek to waterfall with guide
• Transfer to Surabaya location

The experience

The tour starts with a pickup from Surabaya airport, train station or hotel before noon, then a 5-hour drive to Bondowoso where you spend the first night. Day two begins at midnight: you drive 90 minutes to Ijen parking lot, then trek 1 to 1.5 hours uphill to the crater rim. The blue flames (sulfur burning as it rises from the crater) are visible only in darkness, and you'll see them alongside the 200-meter-deep turquoise acidic lake. The trek also passes sulfur miners hauling 70-kilogram loads across toxic terrain, a working landscape most visitors never witness. After a local coffee break, you return to shower and transfer to your hotel near Mount Bromo.

Day three starts at 2 am with a drive to a stargazing point, then continues to Mount Bromo for sunrise. The 4WD crosses the Sea of Sand (the flat volcanic bed of the caldera) to reach the crater rim, where you see Mount Bromo (2,329m) rising from the sand alongside Mount Batok (2,440m) and Java's highest volcano, Gunung Semeru (3,676m), in the distance. After breakfast and a shower back at the hotel, you drive one hour to Madakaripura Waterfall, trek 30 minutes through water to reach it, then transfer to Surabaya airport, train station or your hotel. The itinerary is built around two pre-dawn starts and high-altitude walking, so early mornings and moderate fitness matter.

Inclusions cover all entrance fees, the private guide in English, accommodation for two nights, dinner on arrival, breakfast and lunch, a gas mask and trekking poles for Ijen, mineral water throughout, and the private 4WD Jeep for Mount Bromo. A horse ride at Mount Bromo is available as an optional add-on at checkout. The 253 concrete steps to Mount Bromo's summit make it one of the world's most accessible active volcanoes, though the early starts and high altitude mean the tour is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.

What’s included

• All entrance fees to Ijen Crater and Mount Bromo.
• private transportation by 4WD Jeep.
• accommodation for two nights in Bondowoso and near Bromo.
• dinner on arrival, breakfast and lunch.
• a private English-speaking guide.
• gas mask and trekking poles.
• mineral water throughout the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (8 to 70 years) · Under 8: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Java Volcano Tour Operator

Is this one for you?The tour requires two pre-dawn starts and a trek of 1 to 1.5 hours uphill to Ijen Crater in darkness, plus a 30-minute waterfall trek on the final day, so it suits travelers with moderate fitness who are ready for early mornings and high-altitude walking.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time do I need to be picked up on the first day?

Pickup from Surabaya airport, train station or your hotel should happen before noon on day one, allowing time for the 5-hour drive to Bondowoso.

Can I see the blue flames at Ijen Crater during the day?

No. The electric blue sulfur flames are only visible in darkness, which is why the Ijen trek starts at midnight on day two. You'll reach the crater rim in the early morning hours to see them before dawn breaks.

What is the Sea of Sand at Mount Bromo?

The Sea of Sand is the flat volcanic bed of the caldera surrounding Mount Bromo. You cross it by 4WD on the morning of day three to reach the crater rim, riding over the dormant volcanic landscape where Mount Bromo rises from the sand.

Do I need special gear for the Ijen trek?

A gas mask and trekking poles are provided as part of the tour. The mask protects you from sulfur fumes at the crater, and the poles help on the steep uphill trek lasting 1 to 1.5 hours.

What happens on the final day after Mount Bromo?

After sunrise, breakfast and a shower at the hotel, you drive one hour to Madakaripura Waterfall, trek 30 minutes through water to reach it, then transfer to Surabaya airport, train station or your hotel. Flights or trains should depart after 7 pm to allow time for the waterfall visit.

Is a horse ride at Mount Bromo included?

A horse ride at Mount Bromo is optional and can be added at checkout. It is not part of the standard package.