2025 will be all about the big Bali day trip, and in our opinion, the bigger, the better. Let’s say…visiting a whole other province in a day and climbing an active volcano in the process is kinda big.
Sound like your kind of adventure? Then, in 2025, you need to plan a 24-hour trip from Bali to East Java to explore the unbelievably magical Mount Ijen.
In fact, during a trip to Bali, tourists can set themselves their very own three peaks challenge: summit Mount Batur, Mount Agung in Bali, and Mount Ijen in East Java.
As leaders in Bali look to promote more incredible travel destinations in both West Bali and East Java, combining the regions as a travel destination, Bali-bound tourists will hear more and more about Mount Ijen.
Maybe you’ve already heard of the famous Mount Ijen? It’s no secret or hidden gem, but it is a famous Indonesian landmark that is often overlooked by Bali tourists…probably because it’s not in Bali.
Located in the east of East Java Province, Mount Ijen is easily accessible from Bali via a short ferry trip from Gilimanuk Harbour in West Bali.
The ferry crossing takes just 30 minutes or so and is super easy to arrange. The drive from Banyuwangi is just under 90 minutes, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to see how the landscape changes so rapidly from the sea to the summit of the active volcano.
Mount Ijen is an active volcano and is best known for its azure blue acid lake at the crater summit and its blue fire that burns day and night.
The majority of the hike up to the summit is completed under the cover of darkness, meaning hikers see the blue flames at different spots along the trail, and it is simply magical.
The blue flames are caused by volcanic gases that are filled with sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide that space from the crater at super high temperatures and ignite when they come into contact with the air.
There are many tour providers offering a 24-hour return day trip from Bali to the summit of Mount Ijen for less than USD 150. The tours are fully organized and include an English-speaking guide and local driver.
Tours also include pick up and drop off from your hotel in Bali, a return ferry ticket, and, of course, entry fees to the Kawah Ijen site.
Specialist equipment required to trek up the highly sulphuric and icy cold peak, like gas masks, head torches, and gloves, is also required. Most tours will also include overnight accommodation in East Java, as well as a local dinner and breakfast buffet.
24-hour whole-day trips to climb Mount Ijen generally depart from Bali in the early afternoon, around 1 pm, arriving at Gilimanuk Harbour for a late afternoon, early even ferry crossing, and transfer to the local accommodation in East Java.
In the early hours of the following day, guests are driven to the starting point of the hike, and the real adventure begins.
Reaching the summit by sunrise and returning to base by breakfast time, guests are back in Bali just after lunch – it’s kind of crazy to think about how easy it is to experience one of Indonesia’s most famous bucket list expeditions even while on vacation in Bali.
Some blogs online say it is possible to hike Mount Ijen without a guide, but this is not the case. Over the years, hikers have gotten into serious trouble and even died on the slopes of Indonesia’s most famous peaks, Mount Batur, Mount Agung, and Mount Ijen, after attempting to hike to the summits without a local guide.
In mid-2024, the Head of Indonesia’s Search and Rescue Agency, Kusworo, called out the ‘reckless’ behavior of both domestic and international tourists who were not taking risks associated with hiking the country’s active volcanoes and dangerous mountain trials seriously.
Book through a reputable provider, have a stress-free and safe experience, and enjoy all that Wonderful Indonesia has to offer!
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