I want to share some important tips for those planning to visit two volcanoes in Indonesia! These are lessons learned the hard way!
- If flying from Bali to Surabaya, always pay attention to flight information for any changes! Check the electronic board yourself; don’t rely on airport staff. We missed our flight because we were given incorrect information by airport staff.
- If you want to save money, compare prices from different tour operators, and negotiate with local guides. If you choose a tour with good value, be sure to bring disposable towels because the accommodation can be very poor and limited. We stayed at a homestay the second day; the sheets and pillows were stained, and the towels were dirty. We hardly slept.
- If you have enough time, avoid joining tours that are too intense. It’s too exhausting⚠️. The entire journey is spent rushing for sunrises, leaving no time for proper rest or sleep. You can only catch some sleep in the car, but it’s uncomfortable and sun-exposed. So, I don’t recommend intense tours; it will affect your well-being! When going to Ijen to see the blue fire, make sure you have the right timing – I missed it 🥲.
- Bring motion sickness medication; the mountain roads have 18 bends and are steep, making it very easy to get motion sickness. You can also buy this locally in Indonesia; the medication is effective – one pill lasts a day.
- I recommend bringing goggles and non-slip shoes for both volcanoes, especially non-slip shoes⚠️. The terrain consists of volcanic ash and small stones, making it slippery everywhere, and many people fall along the way. For safety, some places may require you to use both hands and feet.
Bromo:
- Start by climbing the mountain to see the volcano and sunrise. Bromo itself is not very tiring, but the path is covered in volcanic ash, making it dirty. After watching the sunrise, we were covered in ash, and our pants and shoes were all damaged. Here, I suggest wearing old clothes and shoes for the climb.
- It’s extremely cold before the sun comes up, so wear thick clothes or you can rent a thick jacket at the foot of the mountain. They also sell knitted hats.
- The journey to the volcano crater is quite far, but mostly flat, and you can pay for a horse ride, around $20 per person (you can negotiate the price). The path to the crater is narrow and without a fence, so be careful of your footing.
Ijen:
It’s really tiring! You have to climb three kilometers of steep slopes, with almost no flat ground, and it’s a constant uphill climb for about 3 hours.
- For a night climb, it’s best to bring a light source and watch your step. You don’t need to wear too thick clothes; it gets hot as you climb.
- There are human-powered carts for both uphill and downhill. The driver pulls you uphill while you sit in a three-wheeled cart. It’s a bit expensive, around $60 (considering the hard work), but you can negotiate.
- When nearing the summit, be sure to wear a gas mask in advance; the gas is toxic. I put mine on too late, and my throat hurt. Wearing only a mask is not effective, but it’s good to have an extra layer of protection because you don’t know how many people have used the guide’s gas mask.
- The road to the blue lake is very steep and primitive, without guardrails. Be extremely cautious!
