Explore Kawah Ijen: Discover Java’s Volcano Lake and Stunning Blue Fire

The Kawah Ijen volcano and crater lake is unequivocally one of the world’s most stunning natural phenomena. Observing it is an imperative experience when visiting Indonesia, particularly if you are already on Java or Bali.

Ijen is recognized as the largest acid lake globally and is also renowned for an extraordinary phenomenon known as the blue fire, where intense blue flames appear to burn like lava in the darkness.

Furthermore, Mount Ijen is relatively accessible from Bali and other regions of Indonesia. Many travelers opt for an overnight excursion from Bali, or they embark on a road trip that includes Mount Bromo along with other remarkable attractions in East Java.

This travel guide aims to outline the best routes to reach Kawah Ijen, provide hiking tips, discuss entrance fees, address safety precautions, and offer all essential information needed prior to your visit!

UPDATE: Kawah Ijen reopened on September 8, 2024, after being closed for two months due to seismic activity. Here is a link for the official announcement.

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Where Is Kawah Ijen?

Mount Ijen is an active volcanic crater located in East Java, Indonesia.

Kawah Ijen, translated as ‘lonely crater’, is situated near the coastal town of Banyuwangi, which is positioned at the easternmost point of the Java island.

Historically, Java was geographically connected to Bali, and even though separated by water in contemporary times, traveling between these two islands remains straightforward.

How To Get To Kawah Ijen

There are three primary methods to reach Kawah Ijen:

• Drive and take the ferry from Bali, or
• Fly to Banyuwangi and take a brief drive to Kawah Ijen, or
• Embark on a multi-day road trip across various points of interest in Java

I will elaborate on these options below before discussing the hiking experience.

• Drive To Ijen From Bali

Traveling to Mount Ijen from Bali is a viable option, given Bali’s popularity and accessibility.

Kawah Ijen and Banyuwangi are linked to Bali via a ferry service operational 24/7 (every 15 minutes). The ferries may be dated yet are comfortable enough, crossing the Bali Strait in approximately 30-45 minutes.

If you are situated in the main tourist areas of southern Bali, anticipate a 4-hour drive to the ferry port at Gilimanuk, followed by an additional 1.5-hour drive to reach Ijen after crossing.

Overall, expect about 6-7 hours of travel time in each direction, making it impractical to undertake this as a day trip from Bali. A minimum of two days and one night is advised.

Arranging this trip is straightforward through your preferred Bali driver or a guided tour online; however, I would not recommend driving a scooter from Bali to Ijen given that the road at Gilimanuk is notoriously hazardous for motorbikes.

• Fly To Banyuwangi

Banyuwangi hosts its own airport (BWX), allowing flights from Jakarta and other locations.

This can be among the fastest and most convenient approaches to reach Ijen, while remaining relatively economical. One-way ticket prices can occasionally dip as low as 1 million Rupiah (~$70 USD). You can search for flights to Banyuwangi on Skyscanner.

Upon arrival in Banyuwangi, expect a one-hour drive to Mount Ijen, which can easily be coordinated through your hotel or arranging a shared tour online for as low as 600k Rupiah ($40 USD).

• Road Trip Across Java

A thrilling approach to experience the Kawah Ijen volcano is through an extensive road trip encompassing East Java, visiting premier attractions such as Mount Bromo, the Ijen crater, and Java’s renowned waterfalls like Tumpak Sewu.

This was the method we first utilized to explore Ijen, making it a memorable experience. However, a full road trip tends to be more costly and time-consuming, considering Java is a vast island with attractions spread out.

At minimum, allow for three days, although even that may feel rushed. The advantage is that a Java road trip can start or conclude in Bali, or it can be initiated from a city such as Yogyakarta in Java.

Best Tours For Mount Ijen

Below are several recommended tour packages for visiting the Kawah Ijen volcano:

• From Banyuwangi: Kawah Ijen Cheap Shared Tour
• From Bali: Overnight Tour To Blue Fire Kawah Ijen Crater Lake
• From Bali: 3 Day Overland Tour To Mount Bromo & Ijen Crater

Kawah Ijen Hike – What To Expect

Quick Facts

• Distance: 6 kilometers (3.7 mi) return
• Elevation Gain: 435 meters (1,430 ft)
• Start Elevation: 1,865 meters (6,120 ft)
• End Elevation: 2,300 meters (7,550 ft)
• Duration: 3 – 5 hours return
• Difficulty: Moderate

• Midnight Hike

The trek to Kawah Ijen often commences with a midnight pickup from your hotel in Banyuwangi, followed by a one-hour drive to the park entrance. Subsequently, expect a congested (albeit unexciting) hike up the mountain in the dark.

The primary trail consists of dirt and is notably steep, yet it is well-marked and suitable for families. A significant amount of effort will be required due to the incline, rendering it moderate for those inexperienced in hiking.

The initial 2 kilometers create the steepest incline, after which the terrain flattens as you near your destination. Reaching the peak of Kawah Ijen entails a one-way distance of 3 kilometers (1.8 mi), with an elevation gain of approximately 435 meters (1,430 ft), exclusive of the blue flame segment.

For those who feel fatigued (or pressed for time), it is possible to compensate local sulfur miners to transport you up the hill on their trolleys for roughly 400k Rupiah ($28 USD). There are numerous individuals eager to provide rides along the trail; however, their persistence can be bothersome.

On average, the hike to witness the lake at Ijen requires about 1.5 hours, contingent on your pace. Faster individuals may complete it in one hour, while slower ones will typically not take more than two hours to reach the lake.

A tour guide is not mandatory for this hike, although their assistance may enhance your experience, particularly if you intend to view the blue fire at Kawah Ijen.

For those who prefer to omit the blue fire (as we often do), starting the hike at midnight is unnecessary; nonetheless, I still recommend an early start to see the crater lake at sunrise for optimal views and photographs of Kawah Ijen.

The sunrise itself may not be particularly remarkable, as it is partially obstructed by a mountain, but the lake’s colors are captivating, imbuing it with an almost supernatural feel in the early morning hours. We initiated our hike at 3 AM, which proved to be ideal.

• Kawah Ijen Blue Fire

Upon reaching the crater lake, most tours will promptly descend into the crater to observe the blue fire at Kawah Ijen. This stunning flame is visible only during the darkest hours of the night, creating a limited window of opportunity to capture its beauty before dawn.

This electric blue flame is a rare natural occurrence caused by sulfur gas igniting at temperatures reaching up to 600 °C (1,112 °F). The only other known location globally to witness ‘blue lava’ like this is Dallol, Ethiopia.

Nevertheless, descending to view the blue flame is entirely optional. The path tends to be congested, steep, and rocky, shrouded in sulfurous clouds that can impair visibility and breathing. Capturing decent photos of the blue fire in the dark presents its challenges.

Unless you are a professional photographer, capturing exceptional images of the blue flame might prove elusive. Even for those skilled in photography, attempting to photograph it by night amid swirling smoke remains a formidable task.

If you opt to descend to see the blue fire, this segment of the hike typically takes about 45 minutes each way (with an elevation variance of approximately 150 meters), as one must retrace the path back up.

• Kawah Ijen Crater Lake

The most impressive sight at Kawah Ijen is the turquoise crater lake, which is exceptionally photogenic. The ideal times for photographs are just before sunrise or a few hours thereafter.

This 700-meter wide lake is actually the largest acid lake in existence, with numerous appealing viewpoints surrounding the Kawa Ijen crater’s rim.

The best photographic opportunity is at a ‘sunrise point’ adorned with twisted trees (GPS here), reachable with an additional 30 minutes of walking. After viewing the lake, simply veer right and continue along the crater rim in a semi-circle until you discover it.

Should you have ample time, consider lingering after sunrise to observe the sunlight illuminating the Kawah Ijen lake. Many visitors depart before this moment, but the sunlight genuinely enhances the turquoise hue, rendering it utterly surreal.

• Sulfur Mining At Kawah Ijen

A distinctive aspect of the Kawah Ijen volcano is its extraction of natural sulfur deposits from an active vent within the crater.

This profession is among the most arduous globally, as miners carry 90-kilogram (200 lb) loads of sulfur while continuously facing exposure to a toxic smoke cloud with minimal protection. We observed individuals using shirts to cover their mouths, some without masks altogether.

Continuous inhalation of sulfur in such conditions is profoundly detrimental to health; it is likely that many workers may not enjoy long lives due to their strenuous jobs.

The extracted sulfur finds applications in the cosmetic industry, with miners earning approximately $15 USD daily, which is considered reasonable wages in this region of Java relative to local living costs.

Furthermore, these miners must transport the sulfur baskets out of the steep crater and down the mountainside, making multiple trips each day.

Be courteous to the miners by giving them the right of way while they are at work. If you’d like to take photographs, you should request their permission before using your camera.

Typically, they may request a small tip in exchange for photos. We offered one miner 20k Rupiah (~$1), which was appreciated. On busy days, I can only imagine they receive numerous tips!

Is Mount Ijen Safe?

Mount Ijen is generally regarded as safe to visit; however, individuals with asthma or other respiratory or health issues should refrain from attempting to view the blue flame and should instead enjoy the lake from above.

The sulfur cloud present within the crater is hazardous, even when wearing a gas mask, as the wind may direct it towards you at any time. Remaining outside the crater typically mitigates the risk of harmful sulfur gas exposure, although having a gas mask is still advisable.

Verify the current status of Kawah Ijen before traveling, as it is an active volcano. The Indonesian authorities may close access to the park should tremors or unusual activity occur.

Eruptions from Mount Ijen do not seem frequent, but they do occur. In 1976, 49 Indonesian sulfur workers were fatalities due to a gas explosion, and another 25 perished in 1989. More recently, in 2018, 30 local residents were hospitalized due to toxic gas associated with a smaller eruption, while a sulfur worker drowned in a 3-meter tsunami from the lake in 2020.

This information is intended not to alarm but to emphasize that absolute safety cannot be guaranteed around a volcano. However, I would assert that Ijen is generally safe. The individuals most vulnerable to risk are the locals working within the crater continuously.

If you wish to enhance your safety, it is advisable to skip the blue flame and remain outside of the crater, as these areas have historically been the sites of the most incidents. Additionally, the best photographs of the lake are generally obtained from above.

Despite this, Kawah Ijen attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually, and these incidents comprise the only reports I am aware of over the past 50 years. Hence, the safety record overall appears quite commendable.

If you plan to visit Kawah Ijen with children or elderly individuals, I recommend avoiding descent into the crater (particularly at night) and simply admiring the lake from above. This trek remains immensely rewarding, even when viewed solely from the lake’s vantage point.

Entrance Fee

• Foreigners (weekdays): 100k IDR ($7 USD) / person
• Foreigners (weekends): 150k IDR ($10 USD) / person
• Domestic: 5k IDR / person

These entrance fees are accurate as of 2024.

Typically, if you join a tour to Kawah Ijen, the entrance fees are incorporated into the total cost, thus it is prudent to verify this with your tour provider.

Weather / Climate

Despite being in Indonesia, Mount Ijen can be rather frigid before sunrise due to its elevated position.

Morning temperatures may plummet below 7 Celsius (45 F), with significant winds encountered due to its exposed setting. Nonetheless, the weather becomes warm after sunrise.

It is recommended to dress in layers, as the ascent will quickly elevate your body temperature, and you may feel the need to shed a layer once you start hiking.

Sample Itinerary For Mount Ijen

Here is a sample itinerary for your journey at Kawah Ijen.

This plan is based on the premise that you begin from Banyuwangi and intend to witness the blue fire. If that is not your intention, feel free to modify this itinerary according to your preferences.

Nonetheless, this outline is the most prevalent schedule among visitors to Kawah Ijen:

• 12:00 AM – Hotel pickup and commence the tour to Kawah Ijen.
• 1:00 AM – Arrive at Mt. Ijen and start the ascent to the volcano’s peak.
• 2:30 AM – Reach the summit and begin the descent into the crater.
• 4:00 AM – Arrive at the crater bottom to witness the electric blue fire.
• 5:30 AM – Observe the sunrise from the top of the Ijen volcano.
• 8:00 AM – Begin descending back to the main park entrance.
• 9:00 AM – Arrive at the base and return to your hotel in Banyuwangi.
• 10:00 AM – Conclude! Arrive back in Banyuwangi for brunch.

If your plans do not involve witnessing the blue fire at Kawah Ijen, then you are not bound to adhere to this itinerary; however, I would recommend at least attempting to reach the crater’s summit in time for the sunrise, if feasible.

What To Bring

• Gas Mask: If you intend to view the blue fire at Kawah Ijen, a gas mask is mandatory for this segment of the hike. These are often supplied with tours or can be rented at the entrance for 45k Rupiah. We procured ours for 85k on Shopee and had them delivered to our hotel in Bali.
• Goggles: While many individuals only bring a gas mask for the blue flame, goggles can also be beneficial as the smoke may cause eye irritation. Our goggles were included at no cost with the gas masks we purchased from Shopee.
• Jacket: Essential for the initial morning chill; you may choose to remove it once temperatures rise after sunrise.
• Footwear: While regular shoes suffice, sturdy hiking boots are recommended for the Ijen trek, given that the gravel can be somewhat slippery, particularly during the descent into the volcano crater.
• Poncho: If your visit to Mount Ijen falls within Indonesia’s rainy season (notably from December to February), a rain jacket is advisable.
• Snacks: While some tours may provide breakfast, it tends to be minimal; consider bringing additional energy snacks.
• Headlight: A flashlight is essential for hiking in the pre-dawn darkness, particularly if you plan to venture into the crater, where the path is steep and treacherous.
• Tripod: This may be needed if you aspire to capture quality images of the blue flame at night.

Other Tips For Ijen

• Clothing: The sulfur odor is unpleasant and tends to cling to clothing, especially if you approach the blue flame. Avoid wearing nice clothing or jewelry, as silver may tarnish due to sulfur exposure. The scent will dissipate once laundered, yet it is best to dress down for this excursion.
• Bathrooms: The last accessible restroom is at the entrance gate. Ensure to utilize it before commencing the hike, as proper facilities are lacking along the trail; however, there are ample tree cover options available.
• Cell Service: We maintained good reception with Telkomsel throughout most of the hike, including sufficient service at the crater’s summit.
• Drones: Currently, drones are allowed at Mount Ijen, and no restrictions exist concerning their usage. There is considerable open space to fly without inconveniencing other visitors, especially if you continue along the rim, away from major crowds.
• Restaurants: Should you seek dining options in Banyuwangi, consider establishments like Kedai Panorama, Srengenge Wetan, or Company Man Angkringan for quality meals at reasonable prices!

Where To Stay

The primary hub for exploring Kawah Ijen is the town of Banyuwangi, where most visitors stay at least one night given the timing of the Ijen trip.

Banyuwangi offers a variety of suitable accommodations, including homestays and hotels, with options continuously expanding as tourism grows.

If you prefer to stay directly at Ijen, consider Avrila Guesthouse, featuring basic accommodations just a three-minute walk from the Ijen entrance!

Banyuwangi Hotels

Best Time To Visit

Identifying a singular optimal month to visit Banyuwangi or the Kawah Ijen volcano is challenging, although periods within the dry season tend to be preferable.

The dry season in Indonesia spans from April to November, during which rainfall is minimal and visibility is optimal for mountain viewing, a principle applicable to East Java as well.

Visiting Ijen is possible during the rainy season (December to March), with mornings generally presenting clear skies. Even on overcast days, crater lake views remain accessible.

Avoid weekends and public holidays in Indonesia, as the park frequently experiences overcrowding during those times.

Is Mount Ijen Open / Closed?

Kawah Ijen has reopened to tourists as of September 8, 2024! Here is a link for the official announcement.

The site was temporarily closed from July 12 to September 7, 2024, due to heightened seismic activity. However, the alert level was downgraded to Level 1 (‘Normal’) on August 13, 2024, and operations have resumed.

This travel guide will be updated as circumstances evolve. You can also find status updates regarding all volcanoes in Indonesia at Magma Indonesia.

Wishing you safe and enjoyable travels!

Health Certificate Requirement For Kawah Ijen (2024)

Effective January 6, 2024, a health certificate verification has been established for all hikers wishing to access Kawah Ijen.

This regulation mandates that tourists be in good health, devoid of asthma or heart disease, and must present a health certificate issued by a medical professional.

This initiative was instigated by the passing of a 64-year-old tourist from Jakarta on December 30, 2023, believed to be related to exhaustion and heart conditions.

Interestingly, the deceased was utilizing a trolley service rather than hiking, signifying that the higher altitude and reduced oxygen levels can pose a challenge for individuals lacking adequate health.

Health certificates can be obtained from any clinic or hospital within the Banyuwangi region. The process typically takes around 15 minutes, with costs ranging from 30k to 100k Rupiah.

This is a relatively recent requirement, and circumstances may change. As reported by Detik (Indonesian news), there has been some dissent among the public concerning this new rule, which may result in a temporary implementation period, as has been seen before.

More Things To See Near Ijen

The area surrounding Kawah Ijen and Banyuwangi offers numerous attractions, with two notable highlights being Red Island Beach (Pulau Merah) and Djawatan Forest, an ancient canopy reminiscent of Fangorn Forest from the Lord of the Rings saga.

A variety of tour packages for Ijen often include a brief stop at Jagir Waterfall, with an abundance of additional beautiful waterfalls available, such as Belawan Waterfall.

The Ijen caldera is rich in waterfalls, as is the broader Banyuwangi region. Close to the park entrance lies a distinctive acid waterfall known as the Kalipait Waterfall, which originates from the sulfur lake at Ijen.

For greater inspiration regarding activities in East Java and Central Java, please consult my 1-Week Java itinerary.

More Indonesia Travel Guides

Thank you for visiting! I hope this travel guide for Kawah Ijen has proven helpful.

Experiencing the blue fire and volcanic lake at Mt Ijen was a highlight of our journey to East Java, Indonesia.

Be sure to explore my additional travel guides for further tips, information, and photographs!