Mount Ijen tour from Bali 1 day tour | Privat Trip

Mount Ijen tour from Bali 1-day tour

Mount Ijen tour |Ijen Crater is a stratovolcano located on the border between Banyuwangi Regency and Bondowoso Regency, East Java, Indonesia. It reaches its highest peak at 2,799 meters above sea level.

Ijen Crater has become one of the most iconic places in Indonesia and a favourite destination for travellers. Why? Because we believe that Ijen Crater is the perfect choice for your vacation. It offers all the natural wonders you’ve been dreaming of.

Mount Ijen tour from Bali 1 day tour

The turquoise lake — that’s what tourists often call Ijen Crater — is one of the most Instagrammable places to take stunning photos. Ijen Crater Lake reaches a depth of 200 meters, and its highly acidic water has a pH level close to zero.

This extreme acidity can dissolve human tissue quickly. From the peak of Mount Ijen, you can also see the oldest dam of the crater, built during the Dutch colonial era. The dam was constructed to prevent the overflow of the crater lake.

In addition, visitors can witness one of the most breathtaking sunrises and a rare natural phenomenon found in only two places on Earth — here and in Iceland — known as the “blue fire.”

The blue fire has existed for hundreds, possibly even thousands, of years, although it was only widely known around the 1950s. It forms when sulfur gases emerge from volcanic cracks and ignite at temperatures reaching 600 degrees Celsius, producing an otherworldly blue flame.

Mount Ijen tour from Bali 1 day tour

Well, how we can go there starting from Bali?

Our Ijen Expedition team will pick you up from Denpasar Airport, Kuta, Ubud, Sanur, or any other location of your choice in Bali. You will travel in an air-conditioned vehicle to the westernmost part of the island—Gilimanuk Harbor.

From Gilimanuk, we will take a ferry to Banyuwangi, known as “The Sunrise of Java.” The ferry ride to Ketapang Harbor takes approximately 1 hour. Please note that upon arrival in Banyuwangi, the local time changes by one hour earlier—from WITA (Central Indonesian Time) to WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

Welcome to Banyuwangi! Located at the eastern tip of Java Island, Banyuwangi offers a unique charm. Around midnight (12:00 AM), we will depart for the Paltuding Rest Area, which is the starting point of the Ijen hike. The journey takes about 1 to 1.5 hours.

During the drive, you’ll enjoy views of lush green rice fields, charming countryside landscapes, and the warm hospitality of the local people. The cool, fresh air of the region will make your journey even more enjoyable.

From Paltuding, the hike to the Ijen Crater begins at approximately 1:30 AM. The trek takes around 1 hour and follows a combination of gentle slopes and some steeper sections.

The trail is well-maintained and offers stunning views of the surrounding volcanoes and rich vegetation throughout your ascent.

At the crater rim, you must wear a gas mask to protect yourself from the sulfur fumes. From here, we will guide you down into the crater to witness the famous blue fire—an extraordinary natural phenomenon located right on the edge of the acidic crater lake (temperature: approx. 40°C, pH: 0.5, max depth: ±200 meters).

The descent into the crater takes about 45 minutes over a rocky and challenging trail.

Why does Kawah Ijen have blue lava or Blue fire

The blue fire is ignited by sulfuric gas emerging from cracks in the volcano at temperatures of up to 600 degrees Celsius (1,112 degrees Fahrenheit). These gases originate directly from the magmatic chamber beneath the volcano. The flames can reach up to 5 meters in height, and some of the gas condenses into liquid while still burning.

Mount Ijen hosts the largest blue flame phenomenon in the world and is also home to one of the purest sulfur mines. Escaping volcanic gases are funneled through a network of ceramic pipes, causing molten sulfur to condense.

When molten, the sulfur appears deep red and pours slowly from the pipe ends, pooling on the ground and turning bright yellow as it cools.

Miners then break the cooled sulfur into large chunks and carry them away in baskets. Each load weighs between 75 and 90 kilograms and is carried up 300 meters to the crater rim, with gradients ranging from 45 to 60 degrees. Most miners complete this journey twice a day (source: Wikipedia).

After witnessing the stunning blue fire, it’s time to enjoy one of the most beautiful sunrises in East Java.

Now it’s time to head back. The descent takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour, usually faster than the ascent. Please be careful, as the path can be slippery and sandy in some areas.

Our driver will pick you up at Paltuding Ijen for breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll continue our journey to Ketapang Harbour to cross to Bali by ferry (approximately 1 hour). From there, the ferry will take you toward Denpasar or your designated drop-off location (approximately 4–5 hours).

Keep in mind that Bali is H+1 compared to Java time. You will arrive at your final destination at 3-4 pm.

DETAIL TIME

07.00	: pick up service
07.00-11.00 pm	: drive to Gilmanuk harbor
11.00-12.00 am	: go to java by ferry
12.00-01.00 am	: drive to the Ijen parking area
01.00-02.30 am	: hiking to Ijen crater rim
02.30-03.00 am	: down the crater for blue fire
03.00-04.00 am	: experience the blue fires
04.00-05.00 am	: back to the crater rim
05.00-06.00 am	: enjoy the view over the acidic lake and sunrise
06.00-07.00 am	: back to the parking area
07.00-08.00 am	: breakfast
08.00-04.00 pm	: back to Bali ( Ubud )
4.00 PM	: finish the program