All You Need to Know For Your Upcoming Bromo Ijen Tour
As you may be well aware right now, taking a Bromo Ijen Tour is a recently hype new thing to do while in Indonesia. You can easily squeeze the itinerary while traveling to the eastern part of the archipelago, or on your way back home. However, the trip is not one you could take lightly or even decide on a whim.
Why You Must Do the Bromo Ijen Tour
1. Natural Beauty Like No Other
First of all, both mountains are some of the remaining few active volcanoes in the world. Indonesia has more than a dozen active volcanoes to this day. Yet, not all of them are as accessible as Bromo and Ijen.
Mount Bromo also has a vast sand sea that locals call the whispering sands. It’s in one of the calderas, and you can enjoy it by jeep or on horseback. At more than 2300 meters high, you can also see how the mountain peaks between the clouds.
Compared to Bromo, Mount Ijen offers more challenge as it also has a large amount of sulfur from the crater. However, the fog and mist from the sulfur create the blue flame phenomenon. This is a natural wonder where you can see blue lava-like substance from the Ijen crater.
2. Suitable for all types of Travelers
You may think that hiking a mountain is only for outdoorsy people. But these mountains can cater to even the most casual hikers. Of course, you need to do a little preparation beforehand, especially to prepare your endurance.
Rest assured, you will be with a professional guide and meet dozens of other travelers on the same journey. Anyhow, you may not want to take young children younger than 8 years old, as it may affect their sleep time.
3. Quite Affordable
Travelling can be quite expensive, especially if you’re going solo. However, you can always join a group trip for both mountains. You get to meet other travelers, both locals and foreigners alike, to enjoy nature together.
You can find group members through several backpacker forums. As their traveling plans may coincide with yours. Several tour companies also offer a group setting where you can join an existing group that needs extra members.
4. It Doesn’t Take a Long Time
The total time for a trip to both mountains is two days. On the map, they are quite close by. Yet, keep in mind the travel time that may take up to several hours. Moreover, Mount Bromo is a favorite spot to watch sunrise, while Ijen is for nighttime hiking.
Even though theoretically you can complete both hikes in 40 hours or less than two days. But you also need to consider your energy, as both mountains have very different treks and weather.
4 Things to Prepare before The Trip
1. Choose Comfortable Thermal Clothes
Being an archipelago means Indonesia’s terrain ranges from seaside to long hiking paths. The temperature in Bromo may be less cold than in your hometown. But the temperature change can be quite a shock for your body.
Luckily, several vendors in Bromo offer winter coat rental. So if you think your jacket alone is not enough, you can get a thicker coat before you start the hike.
2. Plan Your Time Wisely
Indonesia may only have two seasons: rainy and dry. But traveling during the rainy seasons means having thunderstorms dampen your plans. The trek also gets more slippery or even inaccessible.
The best period to visit is between April and October. During the dry season, it may be quite hot and humid. But it also means you get to see a clear sky from on top of the mountain. The vista can also be widely different than under the gloomy cloud or under the drizzle.
3. Stay Hydrated
Water is a necessity when visiting a tropical island like Java. You need to stay hydrated to make up for the sweat. Especially when you go on a hike or sunrise trek, since you may feel the lack of oxygen.
Mount Bromo and Ijen are not as tall as other mountains in Java, such as Semeru (3.676 m) and Slamet (3.422 m). Yet, their tracks are equally challenging. Moreover, keeping your hydration level high will also warm your body and replenish your energy faster.
4. Prepare Your Physiques
A little bit of exercise before you visit Indonesia is definitely worth the effort. In addition to walking around the beach or visiting temples, you also need to have enough energy for the treks.
You can start by doing small walks or short jogs every morning. At the very least, your legs are accustomed to the long walk and different terrain, so you can continue your travel without pain.
Some Tips For The Road
1. Stay in the Group and Trust Your Guide
You will have a guide when trekking both mountains, and you may come across other traveler groups. Do not wander around aimlessly, even though some places may look far more beautiful or interesting.
The trek can be slippery and difficult. to walk on. But your guide will choose the safest path and guide everyone to the best point to enjoy the breathtaking view. They will also fill you with facts and local knowledge that you won’t get anywhere online.
2. Carry Some Cash
Indonesia’s QRIS system sure makes payments a lot easier to do. But you still need to carry some cash around during this trip. Whether it’s to buy coffee or warm meals before the trip, getting extra services, or buying souvenirs, there’s no harm in carrying some cash with you.
3. Travel Light
The trip to Bromo and Ijen may be challenging. But you don’t have to carry a large backpack with a tent or other camping gear. At most, the trek will take several hours round-trip.
However, you may still need to carry a small backpack for your water bottle and several snacks. You also can carry some personal items such as sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen.
Should You Go Before Or After Bali?
Since it’s located in East Java, which is quite close to Bali, you may wonder if you should visit it before or after Bali. In fact, Mount Ijen is a popular stopover for travelers who wish to reach Bali by sea.
Yet, you should check with your overall vacation plan, especially for your flight back home. If you find a cheaper flight from Jakarta or Surabaya, you can put the Bromo and Ijen on the last leg of your vacation days. You can take the bus or flight from Bali to Banyuwangi to go to Ijen.
How to Have a Memorable Trip
Naturally, all trips are always memorable, whether for good or bad reasons. However, you sure prefer to have a smooth journey with less hassle. After all, vacation is a time to relax and escape from your everyday stressors.
To ensure the best trip possible, you should get in touch with a trusted and experienced tour company. They can arrange the whole itinerary for your Bromo Ijen Tour or tailor it to fit your needs and preferences. All you have to do is reach out and let the professional do the rest.
