Ijen Blue Flame tour: Sulfur mines and sunrise

Blue fire burns at night in the sulfur mines, then the sun rises over the crater lake.

An 11-hour evening and overnight tour from Banyuwangi that climbs Ijen volcano to the sulfur mines, where you watch the blue flame burn in the dark, then wait for sunrise over the crater lake. The tour includes a local English-speaking guide, all safety equipment (gas mask and torch lamp), round-trip hotel transport, bottled water, snacks and breakfast. You trek to the summit on foot. The tour departs in the evening and returns the following morning.

The experience

The tour leaves your Banyuwangi hotel in the evening and climbs toward the Ijen crater. You trek to the summit of the volcano to reach the sulfur mines, where miners work at night extracting sulfur by hand. The blue flame (a natural phenomenon caused by sulfuric gases igniting as they escape from the crater) is visible only in darkness, so the timing of this tour is built around seeing it. You'll wear a gas mask and carry a torch lamp as you move through the mining area.

After watching the blue fire, you stay at the crater through the night and wait for sunrise. As dawn breaks, the sun rises over the Ijen crater lake, a moment the tour is timed to capture. The descent and return to your hotel happen in the morning, completing the full 11-hour cycle. A local guide leads the entire trek and explains what you're seeing. Breakfast is provided before you head back.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• local English-speaking guide for the entire trek.
• gas mask and torch lamp.
• bottled water and snacks during the climb.
• breakfast after sunrise.
• all safety equipment.
• tour insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Without HotelGuide in English · 00:00Pickup is included

With Exclusive HomestayGuide in English · 00:00Includes pickup from IjenStars Homestay

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (9 to 55 years) · Under 9: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 29 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 15 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by IjenStars

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Banyuwangi and want to see both the blue flames and sunrise crater without returning to your hotel between them. The overnight timing makes both possible in one continuous trek.

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.

How difficult is the trek up Ijen volcano?

The climb to the summit requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. You're trekking uphill in the dark with a torch lamp, then staying at altitude through the night. The operator does not recommend this tour for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor cardiovascular health.

What's included in the tour price?

Round-trip transport from your Banyuwangi hotel, a local English-speaking guide, gas mask and torch lamp, bottled water, snacks, and breakfast are all included. Tour insurance is also covered.

When exactly does the blue flame appear?

The blue fire burns at night in the sulfur mines and is only visible in darkness. The tour departs in the evening specifically so you arrive at the crater after dark, when the flame is brightest. You'll see it during the night hours before sunrise.

Do I need to book hotel pickup, or can I meet somewhere else?

The tour includes round-trip transport from your Banyuwangi hotel. One booking option includes an exclusive homestay. The other starts without accommodation, but hotel pickup is still part of the service.