Java is a land born from volcanic fire.

On the island alone, there are 112 volcanoes, 35 of which are active. These unpredictable mountains of lava and ash have sculpted Java’s wild and mountainous landscape. The Indonesian island teems with fertile highlands, steamy jungles, cloud-ringed cinder cones, and billowing craters.

Perhaps the most emblematic of these Javanese peaks is Mount Bromo. With its puffing smoke and sea of undulating sand, the volcano puts Indonesia’s natural beauty on display in dramatic fashion.

BROMO TENGGER SEMERU NATIONAL PARK

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java contains five active peaks in close proximity. These conical peaks dot a lunar landscape that has sprung from the ancient Tengger caldera.

Forming a backdrop to the park’s classic viewpoint lies Mount Semeru. The 12,000 ft conical volcano rises regally above the surrounding landscape. It is the tallest mountain in Java.

In the foreground, smoldering Bromo thunders and fumes. It emerges from the floor of the crater, as if erupting from a billowing sand sea.

MOUNT BROMO TOURS

I visited the famous Indonesia landmark in June with my friend, Courtney. We chose to travel to the volcano as part of an organized transportation package from our hostel in Yogyakarta.

There are countless agencies offering Mount Bromo sunrise tours and, to be completely honest, I’m not even sure which company we chose. Most tour agencies seem to offer the same product: transport to Cemoro Lawang, accommodation, a 3am Jeep ride to see the sunrise, transport to the Bromo crater and then a ride back to Probolinggo.

I originally wanted to visit Mount Bromo independently, without a tour. But after arriving in Cemoro Lewang exhausted and ill-prepared, my travel companion and I opted to add the sunrise tour to our transportation package.

So at 3am, we piled into a Jeep and followed hundreds of similar vehicles up the mountainside in a cloud of exhaust. When we reached the viewpoint, throngs of tourists were already practically piled on top of each other—selfie sticks in the air—waiting for the volcano to reveal itself.

MOUNT BROMO SUNRISE

In complete darkness, Courtney and I carved out a little space in the crowd and waited for the sun to emerge.

As the minutes ticked by, the sky slowly lightened and I began to see the shapes of the mountains form. With time, the faint outlines of volcanic ridges grew bolder and bolder. The rising sun cast a golden light on the volcano.

The view took my breath away. It was stunning. Awe-inspiring. Majestic.

Viewing the Mount Bromo volcano at sunrise may be cliche and overdone, but it is absolutely worthwhile. Even if you have to endure a bumper-to-bumper Jeep ride up a mountain in order to witness it.

MOUNT BROMO CRATER HIKE

Following sunrise, our Jeep tour dropped us off at the beginning of the Bromo crater hike. The hike to the lip of the crater took us around half an hour, roundtrip.

The short hike to the crater of Mount Bromo crosses a sea of undulating sand, a Hindu temple and a smaller volcanic peak with wave-like ridges.

The hike to Mount Bromo’s crater brought us face to face with the volcano’s power. Like the active Masaya Volcano in Nicaragua, I saw smoke rising from Mount Bromo’s bowl-shaped cavity and could hear its thundering roar. The sound was deafening.

Though I’d hiked up volcanoes before, knowing how active Indonesia’s volcanoes have been in recent years, nearly had me sprinting down the mountainside with every audible rumble.

Staring into the fuming crater was awesome. It was powerful. It rattled me and shook me and pumped my adrenaline a million miles a minute. I was exhausted from my long journey and from lack of sleep, yet I was also exhilarated, awestruck and full of wonder.

And suddenly, the long and tiring bus ride from Yogyakarta to Mount Bromo, seemed like nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

VISITING MOUNT BROMO WITHOUT A TOUR

Though tours are certainly a popular way of exploring Mount Bromo, many travelers visit the volcano independently. Courtney and I had originally planned on visiting the volcano on a DIY adventure, too.

Our original plan was to arrive in Cemoro Lawang with plenty of time to figure out how to hike Mount Bromo the following day. Our nine hour bus ride from Yogyakarta was slated to get in at around 4pm, giving us an entire evening to prepare for our adventure.

Yet, as often happens with budget overland travel in developing countries, things didn’t exactly go as planned.

Seventeen hours and two flat tires later, we finally reached Cemoro Lawang at midnight–exhausted, frustrated and nearly defeated.

To enter the park without paying the entrance fee, you can take a secret passage near the Hotel Cemara Indah. The passage to the right of the hotel parking leads to the crater hike.

For the classic Mount Bromo sunrise viewpoints, pass the hotel and continue to the right. The path leads uphill, to various lookouts on Mount Penanjakan.

Reports I’ve read recommend watching the sunrise from King Kong Hill. The view from King Kong is said to be comparable to that which we visited on the Jeep tour, but has far fewer tourists.

WHERE TO STAY NEAR MOUNT BROMO

Our Mount Bromo tour came with accommodation options that ranged from basic to midrange. Courtney and I chose the cheapest package and realized immediately that it meant we would spend the night breathing through our mouths and laying on towels to create a barrier between us and the bed.

Trying not to think about the bugs, the stench of stagnant urine or the musty sheets, we bundled up in all our warmest clothes and collapsed for two hours of sleep.

I am not exaggerating when I say that our guesthouse in Cemoro Lawang was the worst place I’ve ever stayed.

Homestays are the most prolific accommodation option in Cemoro Lawang. Many of these guesthouses are bookable online but have average-to-poor reviews.

Aside from homestays, there are a few decent-looking places to stay near Bromo. The Plataran Bromo offers a higher end option, as does the Jiwa Jawa Resort.

GETTING TO MOUNT BROMO

The easiest way to get to Mount Bromo is by flying into Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport. From there, private cars or shared minibus can take you to Cemoro Lawang via Probolinggo.

I traveled to Cemoro Lawang from Yogyakarta by bus. It was a grueling journey that took 17 hours. Alternatively, you can take the train from Yogyakarta to Probolinggo. Had I known better, I would have opted to travel by rail.

WHEN TO VISIT MOUNT BROMO

The best time to visit Mount Bromo is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. During this time, lower levels of precipitation make for ideal hiking and sightseeing. Additionally, the skies tend to be clearer, offering unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains and the famous sunrise.

I visited the Mount Bromo Volcano in June. During my visit, I experienced both the pros and cons of travel in the high season: good weather, and intense crowds.

****

Indonesia is a land of fire. It is raw and wild and full of drama.

The Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is one of the most remarkable places to visit in Indonesia. Alongside the volcanoes of Kawah Ijen, Mount Merapi and the Dieng Plateau, it showcases the island’s turbulent volcanic legacy.

The logistics around our visit to Mount Bromo weren’t ideal. We were exhausted from an uncomfortable 17 hour bus ride and had just stayed in the filthiest hotel I’d ever set foot in.

And still, my memories of Mount Bromo are overwhelmingly positive.

In fact, witnessing the Mount Bromo sunrise was so magical, that I wouldn’t hesitate to repeat the experience again and again and again—bus ride and all.

Did You Enjoy This Guide To Mount Bromo, Indonesia? Pin It! 

The post Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour and Crater Hike appeared first on Erika's Travels .