Ijen Hike Ultimate Guide
I don’t know about you, but we don’t usually volunteer to be out of bed and hiking at an unorthodox hour like 2 am unless we expect a fantastic outcome from such effort. Happy to announce, we can now say the Ijen hike is a must-do experience in Indonesia, which no East Java itinerary is complete without.
Otherworldly electric-blue flames, milky turquoise water, and the pungent odor of burning sulfur create the unique volcanic landscape that awaits at Mount Ijen, home to the world's largest acidic crater lake. While it may not sound like your everyday walk in the park (because it is not), embrace the experience and be rewarded with a sight you'll never forget!
This Kawah Ijen travel guide is packed with all the information you need to navigate this adventure smoothly and rest assured you are making the most out of the experience, whether you are hiking Mount Ijen with or without a tour.
Mount Ijen
Nestled on the east side of Indonesia's Java island, you will find Mount Ijen – which is not your typical mountain. Ijen is part of a volcanic complex, with its active crater, Kawah Ijen (Kawah means “crater” in Indonesian), as the star of the show. Mount Ijen stands at approximately 2,799 meters above sea level, and its crater, which last erupted in 1999, holds a one kilometer wide, 200 meter deep acidic turquoise lake. With a pH level of almost 0, it is one of the most acidic lakes in the world.
The location of Ijen on the far eastern side of Java makes it possible for people to stay on the neighboring island and join a Mount Ijen tour from Bali.
Every morning, travelers from all over the world hike in pitch black darkness to witness not only the iconic Ijen sunrise but also its blue fire phenomenon, which is only visible at night. These flames are caused by the combustion of sulfuric gases that emerge from cracks in the volcano. The area is also known for one of the last still operational sulfur mines in the world, where miners carry kilos of sulfur from the lake to the foot of the volcano.
Ijen Hike: Before you Go
When preparing for our Ijen hike, we came across all sorts of information that was so polar opposite that we decided to take it with a pinch of salt. Some people would say hiking Kawah Ijen required such a physical preparation that they had given up halfway, while others would describe it as a walk in the park. For what it's worth, for us it was neither.
For your reference, we saw people of all ages doing the Ijen hike. We are not avid hikers, and for us, it was of moderate difficulty. Despite the steep slopes and areas that slid a bit, I managed to reach the top with an injured ankle from a previous adventure.
The perception of the intensity of this hike will depend on several factors, so we decided to break them down for you, so you can assess if this is the adventure for you and enjoy your experience to the fullest, whether you join an Ijen tour or go solo.
Physical Condition
The Mount Ijen hike difficulty is moderate and does not involve any climbing. It requires a decent level of fitness due to the uneven terrain, steep slopes, and distance – approximately 3.5 kilometers, with around 600 meters of elevation gain to the Mount Ijen crater rim. Going up Ijen takes around 1 hour and 30 minutes, but expect to walk a bit more once you reach the top to see the Mount Ijen blue fire, and to get to the sunrise viewpoint.
Along the way, local men will offer the service of taking you up in a small cart. We didn’t use it, but many people accepted the deal from the main gate. The cost for the complete Ijen trekking is generally between 600,000 IDR and 1,000,000 IDR (34-57€). This is extremely hard work, so be fair when negotiating a price.
Ijen Hike Health Certificate
Since January 6, 2024, all travelers hiking Mount Ijen are required to have a health certificate to ensure they are in good physical condition. These certificates can be easily obtained at a local medical center for 50,000 IDR (3€) per person. Most Ijen tours will arrange the appointment for you, but if you are traveling solo, ask your accommodation for the nearest center.
Considering this new rule, hiking Mount Ijen is not possible for:
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Asthmatics.
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People with heart conditions.
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People who are significantly overweight.
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Pregnant women.
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Children under 3 years old.
Time of Visit
The best time to visit Ijen is between the months of May and October to avoid the rainy season, with July and August being the busiest months. However, sporadic rain is possible year-round. We visited in September and encountered some rain on the way down, making it a slip-and-slide journey, so we wouldn’t recommend anyone to try the Ijen hike in the rain.
The Ijen weather will require you to wear layers. Before sunrise temperatures can be as low as 8 to 12°C from November to May and 0 to 8°C from June to October. In the late morning and afternoon, the Ijen weather can warm up to around 22 to 30°C.
Environment
Be mentally prepared for the fact that you won’t be alone. This is not a hidden gem, and there will be a lot of people hiking Mount Ijen at the same time as you. That being said, you will be hiking in complete darkness, and at times all you will see is the light of other people’s headlamps. Follow the lights, as everyone is going to the same place, and take your time with the hike – there are no awards for the first people to reach the top.
Along the trail, there will be some pit stops (posts 3 and 5) with toilets and small stalls selling hot beverages and instant noodles. Either way, we suggest you take snacks and water with you, and use the toilet prior to the hike, as there are no facilities at the crater itself.
Where To Stay Near Mount Ijen
If you are planning an Ijen sunrise mission, you will want to stay as near as possible to the beginning of the trek. With that in mind, there are two alternatives you should consider, both in Banyuwangi, a town in East Java that serves as a gateway for the Ijen volcano hike.
Overall, East Java doesn’t offer the same wide variety of quality accommodations as its neighboring island, Bali. Banyuwangi is no exception to this rule. That being said, don’t lose hope, there are still some very nice places, and we have gathered them here for you.
Central Banyuwangi
Central Banyuwangi is a great place where to stay near Mount Ijen for those joining a Kawah Ijen tour or hiking during the day. It is not only the starting point of many Ijen tours, but there are also plenty of accommodation options and restaurants. The drive from Banyuwangi to the starting point of the Ijen hike is about 1 hour 30 minutes. Here are some of the best accommodations in Central Banyuwangi:
How to Get to Mount Ijen
The first step on how to get to Mount Ijen is to travel to the east of Java Island, Indonesia, specifically to the town of Banyuwangi. If you purchase an Ijen tour package, you won’t need to worry about a thing. There are pickup options from Bali and plenty of other spots in East Java, such as Surabaya Airport and Malang. Some tours also include other points of interest, such as Mount Bromo.
If you are traveling to Ijen without a tour, you can reach Banyuwangi by train or bus. To get to Mount Ijen from Bali, for example, you need to take a bus (or drive) to Gilimanuk Harbour, and then catch a ferry to Ketapang Port in Banyuwangi. Finally, drive to Ijen. However, if you are already in East Java, we suggest taking the train when possible, as it is faster and more comfortable.
Train tickets sell out days in advance, so be sure to buy them online ahead of time.
Get your tickets here to the transportation to Banyuwangi that suits your needs:
To travel solo from Bromo to Ijen, you will need to take a public van from Cemoro Lawang to Probolinggo and then catch a bus or train to Banyuwangi from there. The van ticket must be purchased on the spot, but the ticket from Probolinggo to Ijen should be bought in advance – click on the link above to get yours.
Once you arrive in Banyuwangi, your best options are to rent a car or motorbike (over 110cc due to the steep ascents), join a tour, or ask your hotel for a transfer service (compare this with the Grab prices available for the route). The drive from Banyuwangi to Ijen takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, and the roads are overall in good condition.
If you use Google Maps, opt for the car route even if you are traveling by motorbike. The motorbike path is a poor shortcut with no proper road, which will end up taking you significantly longer.
Licin Region
If you are exploring Ijen without a tour, we suggest staying in Licin, right at the foot of the volcano. There are fewer accommodation options and services in this area, but you will find places to spend the night (well, “night” – until 2 am) as close as a 5-minute walk from the gate where the hike starts*.
There are only a couple of places to stay that are 5 minutes away from the Ijen gate. The remaining Licin accommodations are 20 to 30 minutes away by car or motorbike.
Most of the accommodations near Mount Ijen are on the humble side but offer stunning surroundings. In Licin, you can also fully immerse yourself in the experience by staying in a homestay hosted by a former sulfur miner*. Here are some of our top recommendations for where to stay in Licin, Banyuwangi:
There is also a camping area located near Paltuding Pos, the starting point for the Ijen hike. However, we can’t recommend it as a good alternative. While it will only cost you around 5,000 IDR (0.30€), it has no amenities other than space to pitch your tent. It also gets very cold, and depending on the direction of the wind, the sulfuric gas fumes can irritate your eyes and throat before you even start the hike.
Mount Ijen Entrance Fee
The Kawah Ijen entrance fee is 100,000 IDR (5.70€) on weekdays and 150,000 IDR (8.50€) on weekends – for foreigners. If you are hiking Ijen without a guide, you can purchase your ticket online via its official website, which truth be told, is not the most user friendly thing out there. Alternatively, you can ask for assistance from your local accommodation. The Kawah Ijen entrance fee is included in most tour packages.
Hiking Mount Ijen is possible year-round, from 2am to 2pm. However, note that Ijen is closed on the first Friday of every month, and during the rainy season, it might open later due to weather conditions.
Attention: Due to volcanic activity, the park may open later or may not open at all. Be sure to check the latest updates before your arrival.
What to Wear Hiking Mount Ijen
Hiking Mount Ijen is not much different from other treks in Indonesia, but the sulfur gases add some unconventional items to the hiking gear list. Here is a checklist of the essential gear and what to wear hiking Mount Ijen:
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Good hiking boots or sneakers with a strong grip.
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Wear a windbreaker and layers – the temperatures will change considerably after sunrise, but at 2am it is seriously cold, even a beanie and gloves are welcome.
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Flashlight (essential) – If possible, use a headlamp so your hands are free.
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Gas mask (essential) – provided if you are on a Ijen tour and available for rent at most local homestays and businesses near the starting point, for around 40,000 IDR (2.30€).
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Trekking poles (not essential) – available to rent and helpful in more difficult passages.
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Water and a small snack.
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Sunscreen – for when the sun is out.
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Cash.
If you wear silver jewelry, take it off before hiking Kawah Ijen and leave it at your accommodation. Silver reacts with sulfur and turns black.
Mount Ijen Tours
Witnessing the Mount Ijen blue fire should be part of any East Java itinerary, and joining a tour is undoubtedly the most comfortable way to do it. You can join a Mount Ijen tour from Bali or from a nearby city in East Java, without having to worry about any part of the process. A Ijen tour package can cost anywhere from 30€ to 450€, depending on its length, the time of the year, group size, and inclusions.
Most Ijen tours include:
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Transportation.
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English-speaking local guide.
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Mount Ijen entrance fee.
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Gas mask.
Other inclusions might be accommodation and meals for multi-day trips, and additional items such as water, snacks, or a headlamp. Always check what is included in your tour before booking.
Both group and private Mount Ijen tours can easily be booked online, with the most popular options being:
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Ijen crater tour from Banyuwangi – A day tour from nearby city of Banyuwangi.
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Mount Ijen tour from Surabaya/Malang/Yogyakarta – A 1-day or multi-day trip with pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in an East Java city.
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Mount Ijen tour from Bali – A 1-day or multi-day trip with pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Bali.
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Tour Mount Bromo and Ijen – An East Java tour package that includes two of the main attractions of the island.
You have probably already realized that hiking Mount Ijen without a guide or tour is also possible. This is the most affordable way to visit Ijen and has the added benefit of no time constraints. That being said, getting a Ijen tour package will make your life substantially easier, as you won’t have to handle so many details on your own.
Ijen Hike Experience
Hiking Mount Ijen was one of the highlights of our East Java itinerary. From hiking in pitch black darkness, to realizing for the first time the true scale of the crater with the first rays of the Ijen sunrise giving it color, this is an experience we can’t recommend enough. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect from your Ijen crater hike:
Mount Ijen Hiking
Most of the trail is quite sandy, and you should expect different inclination levels along the way. You won’t see much most of the time, apart from other people’s flashlights. The Ijen hike, one way, takes around 1 hour 30 minutes, so you should arrive at the crater around 3:30 am, if you started at 2am, when the gates open. This leaves you with plenty of time until sunrise to see the blue flames and find a good spot at the “sunrise spot”.
Be very careful walking around the crater, it is very uneven, and there are no rails to prevent you from falling.
Mount Ijen Blue Fire
The combustion of sulfuric gases creates flames with a blue glow, which has become famous as the “Mt Ijen Blue Fire”. From the crater rim, it takes about 25 minutes to get down to the lake.
If you are not interested in seeing the blue fire, you can probably start your hike around 3am.
The path going down is steep and uneven, with no handrail, and it is likely to be crowded. All of this while in the dark, with possible wind changes that could bring a big cloud of sulfur gases your way, which you will feel in your eyes and lungs even with a mask (not going to lie, we panicked a bit when it happened to us). In our opinion, this is the hardest part of the entire Ijen hike. These less-than-ideal conditions are why some people decide not to go down to the lake. However, this hike has much more to offer other than the blue fire. The Ijen sunrise alone is worth the early wake-up call.
While the presence of flames is common, their scale can fluctuate. It can be affected by volcanic activity, as well as by cloud coverage that can significantly obscure the flames. The dry season offers the best chance for clear skies, and as a result: better view of the Mt Ijen blue flames.
The Iconic Ijen Sunrise
After watching the blue fire, it is time for the Ijen sunrise. You can watch it from pretty much anywhere around the crater, but those who are willing to walk a bit more should head up to the “sunrise spot” (you can find it with this name on Google Maps), where brick structures will provide you shelter from the wind until the sunrise.
More than just a beautiful place to watch the sunrise, witnessing our mind-blowing surroundings being painted by the morning light after hours in darkness, was incredible. We will never forget the moment we saw the milky turquoise color of the Ijen crater lake for the first time, like the ultimate reveal, while surrounded by skeleton-like dead trees that seemed straight out of a movie scene.
Kawah Ijen Sulfur Miners
One often-overlooked aspect of the Ijen hike is that the volcano has been mined since 1968 and is home to one of the world’s most hazardous jobs. You will see miners breaking sulfur into blocks with metal picks and loading up to 90 kg on wicker baskets, which they carry on their shoulders (many of which completely fractured) up and down the volcano without gas masks, at record speed, while wearing flip flops or rain boots.
In return for this extremely hard work, they earn less than 0.06€ per kg, and most miners can only complete 1 to 2 loads per day. The load must be taken all the way to the parking lot where the Ijen hike starts. Witnessing such labor is not only impressive but also extremely humbling.
Please don’t get in their way. They are very kind about the presence of tourists in their workspace, which is already chaotic enough, so don’t make their lives harder – let them pass.
Planning Time
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