Mount Ijen in East Java, Indonesia, is known for its captivating features, including the mesmerizing blue fire, stunning crater lake, and some of the most unique landscapes we’ve ever seen.
Let’s get straight to your full guide to Mount Ijen and address any questions you may have, such as mount Ijen fees, Mount Ijen tours, Mount Ijen safety, Mount Ijen hike difficulty and much more.
The information we offer throughout this article are questions we asked for ourselves when planning our Mount Ijen hike, with many not too easy to find answers to. Therefore, we assure you to leave no stone unturned and get you feeling fully prepared for hiking Mount Ijen.
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Full Guide to Mount Ijen: How Do I Get to Mount Ijen?
Firstly on our Mount Ijen guide let’s figure out how we are going to get to Mount Ijen shall we?!
Getting to Mount Ijen from Bali:
Take a ferry from Bali to Banyuwangi in East Java. Ferries depart hourly from Gilimanuk on the Bali side and arrive in Ketapang Harbour 30-45 minutes later. A ticket is only 20.000 IDR per person one way.
Getting to Mount Ijen from Malang:
Take a train or bus from Malang to Banyuwangi. You will probably stop off at Probolingo so why not add to your trip by including a visit to Mount Bromo.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: Is There Accommodation Near Mount Ijen?
Banyuwangi is the nearest major town to Mount Ijen, here you will find a variety of different accommodations that suit all budgets.
In most Mount Ijen accommodation, you have the option to either rent a scooter and self drive to Mount Ijen, or participate in a Mount Ijen guided tour.
Renting a scooter from most hotels typically ranges from 70,000 to 80,000 IDR. Another essential item available for rent is a gas mask, which can be hired for 30,000 IDR.
If you want to be close to Mount Ijen for an early morning trek, consider staying in the Paltuding area where you can find basic accommodations. Just keep in mind you will still be getting up at 1 AM!
The lowest price we ever paid for accommodation was in Banyuwangi. Given the fact that we were getting up at 12am to hike Mount Ijen we figured 4 Euro for a room to lay our heads for the few hours was pretty fair!
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Full Guide to Mount Ijen: Should I Book Accommodation in Advance?
We booked our Banyuwangi accommodation only the day before we arrived, however, it was low season (January) during our East Java trip so it may be no harm to have a booking secured.
As always, we found our accommodation on booking.com.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: Are Mount Ijen Guided Tours Available & What Do They Usually Include?
Yes, there are Mount Ijen guided tours available. Many tour operators in the surrounding areas, such as Banyuwangi, offer guided tours to support you with your Mount Ijen hike.
These Mount Ijen tours typically include transportation, a local guide, gas masks, and sometimes breakfast. Prices start at around the 300.000 IDR, but do not include entrance fees.
More than likely, once you book your accommodation, the host will contact you offering information on a Mount Ijen tour package. If not you can always contact them for the information required.
Make sure to double check whether the Mount Ijen tour does or does not include the entry fee to Mount Ijen so that you are prepared.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: What Safety Precautions Should I Take When Visiting Mount Ijen?
It is a requirement to obtain a doctor’s certificate of good health prior to your Mount Ijen hike. This will be requested at the ticket office.
Once again your accommodation will assist and arrange this for you and should cost you 20k IDR.
- WorldNomads – Travel insurance is our go-to insurance company. They have the best fine print of all travel insurance companies and are number one for a reason.
However, we forgot to get certificates. When we were asked for them at the ticket office we simply stated we didn’t have them, and nothing more was said.
We got our tickets and off we went! Whether it was the luck of the Irish, the office guy was having a good day or it’s not too implemented is unknown…
Don’t forget to rent a gasmask if you plan to go down to the famous Mount Ijen blue fire – unless you are a fan of inhaling poisonous fumes and gases this will be essential!!
You will be wearing the gas mask once you start the descendant into the crater.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: What is the Entrance Fee for Mount Ijen?
The entrance fee to Mount Ijen volcano is 100,000 IDR (6 USD) on weekdays and 150,000 IDR (10 USD) on weekends.
You can easily buy your Mount Ijen entrance ticket after arrival. The parking fee is 5,000 IDR (0,35 USD) for motorbikes and 10,000 IDR (0,65 USD) for cars.
Bring cash to make this payment.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: Is it Possible to Hike to the Summit of Mount Ijen?
Yes, it is possible to hike to the summit of Mount Ijen and in fact, this was one of our favourite things we experienced during our Indonesia trip.
Lots of tourists focus on witnessing Mount Ijen’s blue fire but don’t miss the opportunity to also to enjoy panoramic views of Mount Ijen’s crater lake and the surrounding landscapes – we much preferred this activity over Mount Ijen blue fire.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: What is the Trekking Difficulty of Mount Ijen?
The trek to the summit is considered moderate in difficulty. The Mount Ijen hike involves walking to the rim of the crater which is a hard gravel track of steady incline.
It is when you reach the crater and begin descending toward Mount Ijen’s blue fire that it gets a bit rougher. You will have to do a bit of scrambling over rocks here but take your time and you will be fine. This descent can take 30-60 minutes depending on your fitness.
We witnessed people of all ages hiking Mount Ijen, however, there is an option to be drawn up or down by a local on a cart. Yes, re-read that, this is true!
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: What is Mount Ijen’s Blue Fire?
Mount Ijen’s blue fire has been mentioned numerous times at this stage, but what exactly is Mount Ijen’s blue fire?
Mount Ijen’s blue fire is a rare and mesmerizing natural phenomenon caused by the combustion of sulfuric gases.
Here’s how we make sense of what happens:
At Mount Ijen’s crater, the temperature can rise significantly due to the volcanic activity. When the sulfuric gases mix with oxygen in the air, they can combust spontaneously at high temperatures. This combustion reaction produces a flame.
When sulfur burns, it produces a blue flame, creating the surreal and captivating blue fire.
Mount Ijen’s blue fire is only visible during the night or in the early morning hours before sunrise.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: When is the Best Time to see Mount Ijen’s Blue Fire?
The entrance gate to park opens at 2am and there will be a crowd gathered by that time, each wanting to get a glimpse of Mount Ijen’s blue fire before the crowds.
We left Banyuwangi at 12:30am and made our own way to Mount Ijen entrance via scooter – this took about 1 hour and we had time to have a coffee before the gates opened.
*There will be food/drink options to purchase at the entrance gate.
We would say our fitness level is moderate, yet we were still one of the first 10 people at Mount Ijen’s blue fire. Good thing too because we passed big crowds on our way back up.
Trust us, you will not want to spend too much time at Mount Ijen’s blue fire – it is poisonous gas after all and it REALLY stinks!
So get your photos, and head back up the crater to get a good spot for the best part – Mount Ijen crater views at sunrise.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: Can You Swim in the Crater Lake?
Can you swim in Mount Ijen’s crater lake? Unless you like the idea of ending in a corrosive, excruciating death, then we would strongly advise to stay out of the water!
Look, it won’t kill you, but the water in the crater lake at Mount Ijen is highly acidic due to its volcanic origin and will definitely do serious damage to your skin and health.
So, no you cannot swim in Mount Ijen’s crator – the largest acid lake in the world!
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: What is the Significance of Sulfur Mining at Mount Ijen, and Can I Witness it?
Local miners at Mount Ijen are tough, strong, nuts and probably very unhealthy.
They break apart the solidified sulfur, load it into baskets, and carry this very heave basket out of the crater before wheeling it downhill.
The miners often endure challenging conditions, including exposure to toxic sulfuric gases.
During your visit to Mount Ijen you can witness sulfur mining as part of their trek to the summit. The mining activities are often visible near the crater, and you may encounter miners carrying heavy loads of sulfur.
It’s a unique and eye-opening experience, but it’s essential to be respectful of the miners and the challenging nature of their work.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: Is Mount Ijen Worth Visiting?
So the big question, is Mount Ijen worth visiting? Witnessing the largest acid lake in the world? Absolutely, we think that Mount Ijen is worth a visit for that.
The the view of the crater at sunrise was simply spectacular, and honestly, we were completely lost for words at the sights before us. Or else we were so very tired from lack of sleep!
We can certainly say we have never witnessed such a unique, eerie landscape like this before and it was simply exhilarating.
The panoramic views was our highlight of our Mount Ijen hike, however, in saying that, witnessing Mount Ijen’s blue fire was pretty cool, but just don’t expect much of it.
Mount Ijen’s blue fire is only in quite a small section, and sometimes the photos can be deceiving – as if there are rivers of blue fires. This is most definitely not the case.
Full Guide to Mount Ijen: Final Tips
- As mentioned above, don’t forget to rent a gasmask if you plan to go down to the blue flames.
- Warm gear – it can get quite cold as you wait for sunrise in the early hours of the morning.
- Water – as with any hike, bring sufficient water to stay hydrated.
- Appropriate footwear – we wore runners/trainers and that was fine.
- Headtorch – you will need this to see where you are walking.
Enjoy Visiting Mount Ijen!
We love talking about all things Indonesia so we would love to hear from you. Have you visited Mount Ijen or are you planning a visit?
If you have any more questions or if we are missed any vital information please feel free to leave us a comment below or message us through our socials.
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