6 Reasons Why You Have To Take Bali To Mount Ijen Trip

Bali to Mount Ijen trip – Bali is undeniably one of Indonesia’s tourism magnets that is very famous abroad. Thousands of tourists always take the time to visit Bali every year.

However, did you know that other charms are just as impressive as Bali? You just haven’t discovered them yet. One such charm is the Ijen Crater.

Mount Kawah Ijen, commonly abbreviated to Kawah Ijen, is an active volcano located in two districts, Bondowoso and Banyuwangi, within the Bondowoso Ijen Tourism Park Nature Reserve area in East Java. 

It has an altitude of 2,443 meters above sea level, a lake depth of 200 meters, and a crater area of 5,466 hectares.

Ijen Crater has much uniqueness that will make you fall in love as soon as you set foot there. 

Let’s look closely, here are the six reasons you must take Bali to Mount Ijen trip. Once you take it, you will never be able to forget it. 

The Blue Fire 

The first thing Bali to Mount Ijen trip you should not miss when you visit the Ijen crater is the blue fire.

Did you know that there are only two blue fire phenomena in the world? Besides the Ijen Crater, the other blue fire is in Iceland.

To reach the Ijen crater, you have to hike for  3 – 4 hours and cover a distance of about 3,4  km. Although the terrain is quite difficult, all your tiredness will be rewarded with an amazingly beautiful view.

If you’re lucky, you can witness the legendary blue fire for yourself. This blue fire itself is only visible at night or early morning when it is very dark.

This blue fire appears when sulfur gas with a high pressure of about 600 degrees Celsius that comes out of the rock cracks comes into contact and burns by the surrounding air, resulting in blue sparks that are very amazing.  

The Instagrammable Views 

During the Bali to Mount Ijen trip, the stunningly beautiful landscape is one of the main reasons to visit. The Ijen Crater offers an Instagrammable panorama, making it perfect for capturing with your camera.

The panorama around the turquoise-green lake with a dramatic and beautiful touch and the temperature is quite cold, which is the main attraction and characteristic of Ijen Crater.

The scenery at the Ijen Crater is very beautiful. Evident from the many foreign and local tourists who make this tourist spot crowded.

In the morning, you can see a very beautiful sunrise. After the sun appears, its golden rays will reflect on the crater. In addition, if we arrive at the top of Mount Ijen, we can see neighboring mountains such as Mount Merapi, Mount Raung, and others.

The Sunrise 

The view of the sunrise from the top of the Ijen crater lake is an extraordinary sight. It is magical in this Bali to Mount Ijen trip. Something that will make you speechless due to its beauty.  The sun shines on the crater lake and refracts the turquoise color of the lake water.

You can enjoy this sunrise from the top of the crater. You can also see Semeru in the distance from the top of the Ijen crater. Don’t forget to take your best photos.

To catch the sunrise, you better climb back up at 3 or 4 am. Sunrise in Ijen is around 5 am. The best spot to watch the sunrise is the top of the crater. 

Sunrise in Ijen happens quickly, usually taking only 10 minutes. The sunlight makes the sky change from dark to light gray and then a yellow tinge appears. 

Have your camera ready to capture the moment when the sun rises and its rays hit the ground. You can also see other mountains in the distance, shrouded in clouds. It’s so beautiful!

The Sulfur Miners

  

Ijen is also famous for its stories of traditional sulfur miners who mine sulfur with makeshift equipment. This reality kind of bitter truth in this whole Bali to Mount Ijen trip. But, it does exist. 

You will meet them as you climb Ijen to its summit. They usually go down to the crater lake to dig for sulfur.

After getting it then they transport it up with a basket. The sulfur can weigh up to 100 kg. Then they carry the sulfur down Mount Ijen for 3 km.

You can meet them and listen to their stories if you are lucky. If you meet them, please show enough sympathy for the hardship of life that they have to endure.  

The Sulfur Lake 

Ijen Crater is located at the top of Mount Ijen. This mountain is an active volcano. It is 2,443 meters above sea level. Ijen Crater was formed due to the eruption of Mount Ijen. The eruption made the crater filled with water, thus forming a lake. Its depth reaches 300 meters.

Ijen Crater Lake is the strongest and largest acidic water lake in the world.  The lake has a high acidity level with a PH of about 0.5.

Ijen Crater Lake also has a very beautiful turquoise color. The color is caused by the presence of liquid sulfur dissolved in lake water. The beauty of the color will be more visible when sunlight falls on the surface.

Despite its beauty, Ijen Crater Lake is uninhabitable due to its high sulfuric acid content.  The water is highly toxic.

Caution: Strong sulfur fumes near the lake can irritate your respiratory tract. Wear a gas mask or cloth over your mouth and nose when visiting.

The Hiking Trek 

The ascent starts from Paltuding Post. This post has usually been open since midnight. The hiking trail to the summit covers a total distance of about 3.4 km. The path is dominated by curves.

However, this distance does not include the distance down to the bottom of the crater. The distance from the summit to the bottom of the crater is about 700 m with a slope of about 45 degrees and steep rock. Then there is still a distance of approximately 1 km from the summit to the sunrise spot.

The first 2 km is quite strenuous because the path is uphill and has a slope of about 25 – 35 degrees. In addition to the uphill slope, the sandy soil also makes the steps heavier.

The next path is quite steep and slippery. Then after that, you will meet a gentle path of about 1 km. Here you will find beautiful landscapes and views, which are a pity not to miss.

During the trip, you will encounter some uphill corners that have a slope of up to 45 degrees and it is quite tiring. You are advised to take a short break to catch your breath and re-energize.

For beginners, you should be accompanied by your guide. For those of you who love hiking, this trek is very challenging.

Tips for The Trip 

In this Bali to Mount Ijen trip, right before starting this Ijen Crater trekking, make sure and pay attention to the following things to make your climbing trip easier.

Make sure that you are in good health and fit.

Since you will be walking for 2- 3 hours, and the terrain is hilly, you need to be in good health.

Wear clothes that are appropriate for the activity you are hiking in

Wear warm clothes and a jacket. Although Indonesia is a tropical country that tends to be warm, the situation is different at the top of              Ijen. It’s cold there. So it is better to wear warm clothes that you are comfortable wearing for hiking.

Check your hiking gear

Make sure you bring a flashlight or headlamp as you will be walking at night.

Bring a mask or cloth to cover your mouth and nose if you decide to go down into the crater

Sulfur fumes can be quite deadly if inhaled by you. If you have the money, you can rent a gas mask from locals who sell them at the top of Ijen.

Hire a guide who is experienced and understands the terrain

If you want to hike especially if you are a beginner, it is highly recommended that you hike with a guide or guide who understands the              track.

Wear shoes that are comfortable and appropriate for the hiking activity

If possible, wear special trekking shoes or sports shoes with grips on the base. These are useful for gripping rocks and soil to prevent                 slipping.

Bring your trash bag

Always remember not to leave your trash wherever you are. So it’s better to bring your trash back down and find a trash can, rather than        leaving your trash on the summit.

Bring enough supplies with you

Bring enough water and snacks to put in your backpack. You’ll need them when you’re done hiking.

Determine the best time to hike

Timing this hike is also important. Because if you make a mistake, for example, you come in the rainy season, climbing the mountain is             not very enjoyable.

If you want to witness the blue fire, it is recommended that you leave for the hike early at around 2 am. Blue fire will only be visible if it is         very dark around dawn.

Bring enough cash

There are usually mask rentals at the top of Ijen Crater. If you need one, you can rent it. It’s best to bring enough cash with you.

Bring a camera or phone with a good quality camera

You’ll be capturing a lot of memorable moments here, so prepare a camera or phone with a large resolution, quality camera.

Optional: bring the gives for the sulfur miners

Since their life is so hard and barely get anything, maybe a little gift from you could make their life much easier. But, this is only optional          and works when you agree with this idea. If you do not agree with it, that’s okay. You can just them your empathy. 

Closing 

This Bali to Mount Ijen trip is a trip you should try. Trust me, Ijen also offers a lot of different experiences than what you get from Bali.

After Ijen Crater, you can explore Banyuwangi and if there is still time in your vacation, you can explore Bromo.

There is no need to hesitate in planning this trip. If you are from Bali, you can contact us to get a Bali to Mount Ijen trip package deal. Trust us, it is worth trying. Or just sneak peek at our website to give you some insight. 

So, why don’t you contact us? We wait!