Tour to Mount Ijen - Night Trekking with Expert Local Guide
Mount Ijen Trekking with Local Guide
Begin your adventure before dawn on a night trek to Mount Ijen, where you'll witness the rare blue fire phenomenon—visible only in darkness as sulfur gases ignite at over 600 °C, casting ghostly flames across the night. Guided by an expert local and traveling in the comfort of a private car, you'll hike mountain trails to the crater rim, where sunrise paints the sky and reveals an otherworldly volcanic landscape. From here, watch sulfur miners at work in extreme conditions, carrying heavy yellow baskets up steep slopes—a scene as harsh as it is captivating.
What the Mount Ijen Hike is Like
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Start Time: The trek begins in the early hours, usually between 1:30 AM and 2:00 AM, to reach the blue fire before sunrise.
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Duration: Around 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the crater rim, plus extra time if you descend into the crater to see the sulfur mining area.
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Distance & Difficulty: Approximately 3 km of steady uphill trail, with some steep volcanic sections. Rated as moderate difficulty.
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Required Gear: Wear trekking shoes; the tour provides all necessary equipment, including flashlight, gas mask to protect from sulfur fumes, and a warm jacket.
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Included Services: All hotel transfers, accommodation, and transport to Ketapang Port. Tips and services not mentioned are not included.
The Blue Fire Phenomenon
Visible only in darkness, the blue fire occurs when sulfur gases emerge at temperatures above 600 °C (1,112 °F) and ignite upon contact with air. The flames can soar up to 5 meters high, creating a natural spectacle found in only a few places on Earth—and Mount Ijen is home to the largest and most intense display.
Sulfur Miners Inside the Crater
Inside the crater, miners work in extreme conditions:
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They break solidified, bright yellow sulfur formed as volcanic gases cool through a network of pipes.
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They carry baskets weighing 70–80 kg (154–176 lbs) up the steep trail to the crater rim and beyond.
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All work is done manually, without machinery, in one of the few active sulfur mines inside a volcano.
Sunrise Over the Turquoise Lake
I will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the starting point of the trek, where an expert local guide will accompany you along the route. After the night trek, sunrise lights up the acidic crater lake, with a pH as low as 0.13. From the crater rim, you can take in sweeping views of the Ijen caldera and, on clear days, the island of Bali in the distance.
After the visit, I can drive you directly to Ketapang Port to continue your journey by ferry to Bali. On the way, we'll stop at the Kalipait River, whose yellowish waters are a striking reminder of Mount Ijen's volcanic activity.
Other Optional Tours You Can Do With Me
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Sunrise at Mount Bromo
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Tumpak Sewu Waterfall
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Madakaripura Waterfall
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Trowulan Archaeological Park
