Kawah Ijen Blue Fire Trek from Bali: Private Guided Crater Tour

Hike to an active crater and watch sulfur burn blue at dawn

A private guided trek from Bali to Kawah Ijen crater on Java, including ferry crossing, hotel pickup and drop-off, meals, and all trekking gear. The trek takes 5 to 6 hours from the starting point at Paltuding, passing sulfur mining operations and reaching the crater rim to see the blue fire phenomenon at sunrise.

Step-by-step itinerary

Ijen Crater Trekking and Transfer

• Private hotel pickup in Bali
• Ferry ride from Gilimanuk to Ketapang
• Rest stop at hotel in East Java
• Dinner with Indonesian cuisine
• Register and prepare trekking equipment
• Trek to Ijen Crater and see blue fire
• Breakfast at local restaurant
• Return to hotel after trekking
• Ferry transfer back to Bali
• Drop off at Bali hotel or new address

What’s included

• All entrance tickets to Kawah Ijen.
• professional English-speaking trekking guide.
• door-to-door pickup and drop-off in a private air-conditioned car.
• ferry crossing from Bali to Java.
• breakfast box and dinner with Indonesian menu.
• all trekking gear including poles, headlamps, mask, gloves, safety pack and rain cover.
• insurance.

Times

• Every day 14:00

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Before you book

Group Private 2 group tours ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 2h before

Ages Adult (10 to 85 years) · Child (5 to 9 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Moderate physical effort Public transport nearby Not recommended during pregnancy Not recommended with heart problems Not recommended with back problems Infants must sit on laps

Operated by Seminyak Tour Driver Bali

Prices and times updated today

Traveler reviews

5.00 ★★★★★ Exceptional 4 verified traveler reviews

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The experience

The day starts before dawn at your Bali hotel with door-to-door pickup in a private air-conditioned car. Your English-speaking driver and guide take you to Gilimanuk port on Bali's west coast, where you board a ferry across the Selat Bali strait to Java. The crossing takes 30 minutes and runs through the air-conditioned cabin of the ferry. Once you arrive at Ketapang Harbour on Java's east side, you stop at a rest area hotel, then continue to Paltuding, the starting point for the trek. Dinner and fresh tropical fruit wait at a local restaurant before the hike begins.

At Paltuding, your guide handles all registration (tickets, passenger forms, local guide verification, and insurance), then outfits you with trekking poles, a headlamp, hand flashlight, mask, gloves, safety pack, and rain cover. The trek itself covers 5 to 6 hours round trip, climbing through the volcanic landscape to the crater rim. Along the way you pass sulfur mining operations where workers extract the mineral by hand. The blue fire (sulfurous gases igniting as they emerge from the crater) shows most vividly in the pre-dawn darkness before sunrise breaks over the crater lake and the surrounding landscape. After the trek ends back at Paltuding, you eat an Indonesian breakfast at a local restaurant, then return to the ferry for the crossing back to Bali and the drive to your hotel or a new address of your choice.

The entire experience spans 20 to 23 hours from pickup to drop-off. All entrance fees, the guide, the ferry, the private car, meals, trekking equipment, and insurance are included. Children from age 5 can join. Infants sit on an adult's lap. The trek demands moderate physical fitness and is not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, cardiovascular concerns, or pregnancy.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 9 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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 is the blue fire at Kawah Ijen and when can I see it?

Kawah Ijen's blue fire is sulfurous gas igniting as it emerges from the crater, visible most clearly in the pre-dawn darkness before sunrise. You see it during the trek to the crater rim, which takes place in the early morning hours of the hike.

How long is the actual trek from the starting point to the crater and back?

The trek from Paltuding takes 5 to 6 hours round trip, including the climb to the crater rim and the descent back to the starting point.

Do I need to arrange my own transport from Bali to the Ijen crater?

No. Door-to-door pickup and drop-off from your Bali hotel is included, along with the private car, driver, and the ferry crossing to Java. Your guide handles all registration and logistics at the crater.

What trekking gear and equipment do I need to bring?

You don't need to bring trekking gear. The tour provides poles, headlamp, hand flashlight, mask, gloves, safety pack, and rain cover. Wear sturdy hiking boots and layers you can adjust as the temperature changes with altitude.

Are meals included, and what kind of food is served?

Yes. Dinner at a local restaurant and a breakfast box with Indonesian cuisine are included, along with fresh tropical fruit as refreshment. The meals are served before the trek and after it ends.