East Java: Bromo & Ijen Volcano Tour with Blue Fire & Pickup

Summary

Early mornings cold air jeep rides bromo sunrise ijen blue fire hike local guides included

You’ll wake before dawn for Bromo’s sunrise—cold air biting your cheeks—and ride Jeeps across volcanic sand with a local guide from Surabaya. Hike into Ijen crater by night to see blue fire and meet sulphur miners face-to-face before sunrise paints the acid lake green-blue. Along the way there’s strong coffee, village markets, hotel stays included—plus a waterfall stop if you’ve got any energy left.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me in Cemara Lawang wasn’t the view—it was the smell of wood smoke curling out of someone’s kitchen. Our driver, Pak Arif, grinned as he handed us tiny cups of coffee (the kind that leaves grounds on your tongue) before steering us through the village. The air felt sharp and clean, but it carried a hint of sulphur even this far from Bromo. We stopped at a little market where an old woman sold fried bananas wrapped in yesterday’s newsprint. I tried to ask her about the Tengger ceremony—Li laughed when I tried to say it in Bahasa Indonesia; probably butchered it.

That night at Lava View Hotel, the cold crept in early. Didn’t sleep much—the walls are thin and you can hear motorbikes sputtering outside. By 3:30am we were already shivering in the back of a Jeep, winding up to Kingkong Hill. There were maybe thirty people huddled together with thermoses, waiting for something to happen. It wasn’t quiet—someone played dangdut on their phone—but when the sun started leaking over the edge of Bromo’s crater, everyone just went silent for a second. It looked unreal, all those greys and browns and that weirdly soft light on the Sea of Sand below. The main keyword here is “Bromo sunrise tour” but honestly, no words really fit.

After breakfast (rice and eggs, nothing fancy), we drove for hours past fields and warungs to Bondowoso. The hotel had a pool but nobody used it—we were all saving energy for Ijen. Midnight came fast. Our guide handed out gas masks at Paltuding like it was totally normal to be hiking up an active volcano at 1am. The climb was rougher than I expected; dust gets everywhere and you can taste metal on your lips near the top. At some point you see these blue flames flickering down in the crater—nothing like lava, more like ghost fire—and then you notice men carrying baskets twice their size out of the smoke. One miner smiled at us through yellow teeth and just kept going.

I still think about that lake—the color doesn’t make sense in real life: greenish-blue under pink morning clouds, ringed by rock that looks almost fake close up. On the way down my legs shook so bad I nearly slipped into someone’s selfie shot (sorry if you see yourself with a random tourist flailing in your photos). We stopped at Jagir waterfall later; I dunked my head under just because it felt right after all that sulphur air.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Cemara Lawang and waterfall

• Check in hotel
• Tour Cemara Lawang village
• Visit Madakaripura waterfall
• See sunset at Bromo viewpoint

Day 2 — Bromo sunrise and travel to Bondowoso

• Start at 3:30 AM for sunrise
• Watch sunrise at Kingkong View Point
• Drive into volcanic Sea of Sand
• Visit Luhur Poten temple
• Hike to top of Mount Bromo
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Drive to Bondowoso with stop at Bukit Bintang Arak Arak

Day 3 — Ijen blue fire and crater lake

• Depart midnight to Paltuding
• Hike to Ijen crater with guide
• See blue fire and sunrise at crater lake
• Optional visit to Jagir waterfall
• Drop off at Ketapang harbour

Top questions

How early do you start for Bromo sunrise?

You leave around 3:30am from your hotel to reach Kingkong View Point before sunrise.

Is there hotel pickup from Surabaya?

Yes, private transportation with pickup in Surabaya is included.

Do you need a guide for Ijen crater?

A local guide is included for the blue fire hike at Ijen crater; gas masks are provided too.

Are meals included on this tour?

No lunches or dinners are included; breakfast is available at hotels but other meals are personal expense.

Where do you stay overnight?

You spend one night in Lava View Hotel (Cemara Lawang) and one night at Ijen View Hotel (Bondowoso).

How difficult is the hike to Ijen crater?

The hike is challenging and only recommended for travelers with moderate physical fitness or better.

What happens after finishing at Ijen?

You’re dropped off at Ketapang/Banyuwangi harbor (for Bali ferry) or can return to Surabaya for an extra fee.

Can children join this volcano tour?

Children can join if accompanied by two paying adults; not suitable for infants or those with poor health.

What’s included

Your days include private transportation with pickup from Surabaya, two nights’ accommodation (one right by Bromo’s rim and another near Bondowoso), all entry fees and taxes covered, Jeep rides across Bromo’s sand sea, gas masks plus a local guide for the midnight blue fire hike at Ijen crater, mineral water every day, coffee breaks on chilly mornings—and fresh fruit tossed in along the way before drop-off at Ketapang harbor or back to Surabaya if needed.