Ijen crater tour is probably one of my favorite tourist destinations for first-time visitors in Indonesia. The landscape is out of this world. One of the highlights of visiting Ijen is the blue flames, which you can only see at night.

The flames appear at the base of the Ijen crater and are caused by sulphuric gas catching fire. You can find an article about the flames in National Geographic here. Ijen Volcano is a Stratovolcano mountain which is located on the border between Banyuwangi Regency and Bondowoso Regency, East Java, Indonesia. Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen) has the highest peak of 2.799 meters above sea level.

Ijen Crater Tour | Ijen Crater is a Stratovolcano mountain which is located on the border between Banyuwangi Regency and Bondowoso Regency, East Java, Indonesia. Ijen Crater (Kawah Ijen) has the highest peak of 2.799 meters above sea level.

I’ve been the iconic places, even been the favorite destination for the tourists. Why? Because we ensure you that if the Ijen Crater is the best choice for their vacations. Ijen crater has all the wonderful things, that you want to see it.

The turquoise Lake, that’s what the tourist called Ijen Crater, is One of the Instagramable places to take some photos. Ijen Crater Lake has a depth of 200 meters, and the crater has a high acidity that is close to zero.

So that could dissolve the human body quickly. When we see the crater lake from the peak of Ijen Mountain you will see the oldest dam of Ijen Crater. The Ijen Crater Dam has built when in the Dutch era. It functions to avoid the overflow of crater water.

You can also see the best sunrise ever and the rare phenomenon which is only two in the world, after Iceland, it called “BLUE FIRE”.

The blue fire has been there a few hundred years ago or maybe a thousand years ago. And yet, the existence was known around 1950. Blue fire formed because the solfatara hole with sufficient hot temperature (600 degrees Celcius) is burning the closest sulfurs.

Well, how we can go there starting from Bali? | Ijen crater tour

Ijen Expedition team will pick up you from Denpasar Airport, Kuta, Ubud, Sanur, or wherever to pick up the place that you choose by the AC vehicles for bringing you to the most western part of Bali, Gilimanuk harbour.

And the next route, we’ll bring you to go to Banyuwangi city (The Sunrise of Java) by the ferry ship. It will take 1 hour to reach Ketapang Harbor. When you arrive in Banyuwangi, the times change to one hour slower. Not WITA (Middle Indonesian Time) but using WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

Finally, you’ve arrived in Banyuwangi. Welcome to Banyuwangi city, the easternmost part of Java Island.  From there, at around 12.00 am we’ll bring you goes to Paltuding Rest Area (it will take 1-1,5 hour).

During the trip, you‘ll be spoiled by the various kinds of wonderful places. Such as the green area of the rice fields, the wonderful new place, and the humble kindest face of the people of Banyuwangi, also cool air in the countryside.

From Paltuding Area, at around 1:30 am, you’ll start hiking to Ijen Mountain. It will take 1 hour. The track of Ijen Mountain followed by the sloping track and uphill, for a little bit.

The path is pretty well maintained in good condition and other views of rounding volcanoes and luxurious vegetation will accompany your journey.

From the crater rim (the top of Ijen Mountain) you should be using the gas mask so that you’ll not have taken out short of breath. And then we’ll bring you to go down to see the blue fire right on the edge of the acidic lake (temperature of the lake: +- 40 degrees Celcius; Ph: 0,5; max depth: +- 200 m).

Hike go to down (+- 45mins, the rocky tracking).

The blue fire is ignited with sulphuric gas, which is emerging from cracks at temperatures up to 600 degrees Celcius (1,112 degrees Fahrenheit). Those gases are directly originated from the magmatic chamber under the volcano. The flames could be up to 5 meters high; some gas condenses to liquid and is still ignited.

It is the largest blue flame area in the world and one of the purest sulfur mine. Escaping volcanic gases are channelled through a network of ceramic pipes, resulting in the condensation of molten sulfur.

The sulfur which is deep red in colour when molten, pours slowly from the ends of these pipes and pools on the ground, turning bright yellow as it cools.

The miners break the cooled material into large pieces and carry it away in baskets. Miners carry loads ranging from 75 kilograms to 90 kilograms, up 300 meters to the crater rim, with a gradient of 45 to 60 degrees and Most miners make this journey twice a day (resources by Wikipedia).

After enjoying the gorgeous blue fire, it’s time to saw the wonderful sunrise ever in East Java.

Okay, it’s time to go back home. It will take about 45 mins-1 hour. It faster than when we go hiking. Please more carefully, cause sometimes we’ll meet on the slippery sandy roads.

Well, our driver will pick up you in Paltuding Ijen for breakfast. After breakfast, we’ll continue on our journey to Ketapang Harbor to cross to Bali (with Ferry ship; +-1h). the ship will take you back to reach Denpasar city and wherever your drop off place (4-5 hours). Keep in mind that Bali is H+1 compared to Java time).  You will get Arrived at your final destination at 3-4 pm.

DETAIL TIME | Ijen crater tour

We already have the price list of the package :

• 1 pax: IDR. 3.000.000
• 2 pax: IDR. 1.687.000/pax
• 3 pax: IDR. 1.343.000/pax
• 4 pax: IDR. 1.253.000/pax
• 5 pax: IDR. 1.224.000/pax
• 6 pax: IDR. 1.200.000/pax
• 7 pax: IDR. 1.142.000/pax
• 8 pax: IDR. 1.020.000/pax
• 9 pax: IDR. 933.000/pax
• 10 pax: IDR. 848.000/pax

Include :

• Transportation from Bali to Java
• Ferry
• Entrance fee
• Trekking guide
• Gas mask

Exclude :

• Lunch and dinner
• Tipping guide and driver