Surabaya-Bromo-Kawah Ijen-Bali in 5 days (Pt 1)

This particular trip happens solely because of the blue flames. When I was traveling in Lake Toba, Medan, Indonesia, I met this amazing Brazilian guy, Paulo Leite. Leite – in Portugese it means milk, remembering how he explains to me that day. Coincidentally we were staying at the same chalet. He was once a teacher, now a full-time traveler, and currently he was in the midst of exploring Indonesia. We get into talking about where he’s been and where he’s going next, then he showed me the photos.

The blue flames. Captivating blue flames.

At that point, I have not seen anything like it. It might as well be a snapshot of something NASA took in Mars! But no, he said these are photos he took in Kawah Ijen, located in Banyuwangi regency, Indonesia. And I knew then I had to go and see them blue flames with my own eyes. (also knowing that this magnificent view is just less than 1 hour flight away… )

The journey

After some online research, I found out that the picturesque Mount Bromo which was in my to-go list and Kawah Ijen is in the same route, so I booked a flight to Surabaya via Air Asia. The only thing that you have to bear in mind, is the distance between these locations and the road conditions (they are no highways there).

Surabaya to Mount Bromo will take you about 3-4 hours drive, from Bromo to Kawah Ijen another 5 hours drive, and upon reaching Kawah Ijen, you’re already nearing the tip of East Java, and upon crossing it by ferry, you will reach the island of Bali. It’s the best route to go as you don’t have to waste time retracing the bumpy road to go back to Surabaya to catch a flight back home. The search to find a driver that can pick us up from Surabaya and take us all the way until Bali – lead me to Mr. Esnawan of Nathan Tour & Travel. His brother Harso was the one who picked us up and took us for the journey. I went on this trip with another 2 colleagues of mine.

Some tips :

Check the weather forecast. We went to Bromo somewhere early September and it was really cold. (up to a point where we actually bought the gloves that the locals were selling). So bring a good thick jacket and gloves just in case.
This is an exploring/hiking trip, so good stamina is necessary. I wasn’t prepared much on this part, so it took me a whole lot of huffing and puffing but in the end I still made it.
Bring good torchlights because you will leave for the Bromo and Ijen excursions at about 3am when its still dark. Yes 3am.
The reason why its good to end this trip in Bali is because there you can unwind and massage away all the tiredness of spending hours on bumpy roads and the hiking.

Mount Bromo

I think I’m going to let the photos do the talking now…

Malang

Sunrise

Captivating sunrise

panorama-bromo

me-bromo

Thanks to our awesome guide, he took us to a spot that we don't have to squeeze for the view — Thanks to our awesome guide, he took us to a spot that we don’t have to squeeze for the view

And before the sun completely rises, we hurried down to the Pasir Berbisik (Whispering Sands) beside Bromo — And before the sun completely rises, we hurried down to the Pasir Berbisik (Whispering Sands) at the foot of Bromo.

Holding the ball of fire in your hands. Can only catch this before the sun is really up over our heads.

Untouched sands. A good guide with good timing is really crucial. If we arrived 15 minutes later, this whole sand area will have tyre tracks allover. — Untouched glistening sands. A good driver/guide with good timing is really crucial. If we were to arrive 15 minutes later, this whole area will have tyre tracks allover.

Me at Pasir Berbisik

Pasir Berbisik

jump

savannah

padang2

Next, off to see the Bromo crater. Scenario at the foothill. — Next, off to see the Bromo crater. Scenario at the foothill on a peak season when the weather is good. On a bad day, the surroundings will be all cloudy.

The stairs up to Bromo crater. It’s a long, steep and dusty walk.

View from the crater. Little ants crawling up the stairs. You can choose to ride a horse up until where the stairs are if you find it tiring to walk.

Where we stayed, Yoshi hotel — After seeing the crater, back to hotel just in time for breakfast at 10am. Here is where we stayed, Yoschi’s hotel.

potato

Our rooms at Yoschi's — Our rooms at Yoschi’s.

Pasir Putih Beach, Situbondo, on the way to Ijen Crater — Stopped by the Pasir Putih Beach, Situbondo regency, on the way to Ijen Crater

Stopped by the Pasir Putih Beach, Situbondo regency, on the way to Ijen Crater

From Mount Bromo, we passed by Probolinggo and Situbondo on the way to the Ijen Crater, our next destination where the blue flames are at.

Continue to Part 2

1 Comment

Ijen Bromo Tour says:

April 4, 2018 at 9:22 am

hi Fira nice trips and photography. i am Harys from Kawah Ijen Tour Service, here i would to bridge your friend or all people who to visit bromo or ijen, we have special package, we hope we could help to make your ijen bromo tour easier, just email me or visit our web kawah ijen tour. do not hesitate if you need more information or any assistance,,
thanks Fira