Mount Bromo, East Java – Travel Guide
Mount Bromo which stands tall at 2329 m is the most iconic and the most hiked mountain in Indonesia. It beckons majestically despite having the entire top blown off and with a crater inside that keeps spewing off white sulphurous smoke. Mount Bromo is still one of the most active volcanoes in the world and there are areas that are blocked off from tourists due to its imminent danger. It sits inside the massive Tengger caldera (volcanic crater with diameter approximately 10km), surrounded by the Laut Pasir (sea of sand) of fine volcanic sand. After an easy hike, travelers are awarded a breathtaking and ethereal landscape during the sunrise.
How to get there?
Fly into Juanda international airport at Surabaya. There are direct flights from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Bali. Distance from Surabaya airport to the Mount Bromo national park is about 70km and the time it takes is around 4 hours due to heavy traffic and congestion. On the way, you would pass Probolinggo town which lies at the major highway across java. Here is where most backpackers would usually share a transport to take them up to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National park. Or get a complete overnight sunrise tour from Surabaya to Mt. Bromo and back.
Cemoro Lawang
Cemoro Lawang is principally a base for early morning climbs of Mt Bromo, an active volcano which stands in the middle of a Sand Sea. Many visitors approach the mountain from Surabaya which is about three hours drive away (take a bus from Surabaya to Probolinggo and than minivan to Cemoro Lewang); others come from Bali. From Cemoro Lawang it is possible to walk to the volcano in about 45 minutes, but it is also possible to take an organised jeep tour, which includes a stop at the viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m) (Indonesian: Gunung Penanjakan). The viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan can also be reached on foot in about two hours.
Cafe Lava Hostel is nice and the staff is friendly and helpful. The rooms are basic but clean. I recommend you book a room in advance through their email cafelavarsvn@gmail.com (mobile: 081 235 841 111).
Early morning departure to the viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m). Bring a jacket and gloves as it may get chilly up there.
The sky was full of stars. I have never seen so many stars on the nigh sky before.
Majestic Mt. Bromo and Mt. Semeru at tha back in the early morning.
At the top of Mt. Penanjakan
The view over Cemoro Lawang. See how the mist is flowing from the crater over the village. From here you start the journey at night.
Road from Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m) is crowded with jeeps as a lot of people heads to Mt. Penanjakan for sunrise.
Drive up and down this road is quite an adventure.
Climb to Mount Bromo crater rim
Mount Bromo which stands tall at 2329 m is the most iconic and the most hiked mountain in Indonesia. It beckons majestically despite having the entire top blown off and with a crater inside that keeps spewing off white sulphurous smoke. Mount Bromo is still one of the most active volcanoes in the world and there are areas that are blocked off from tourists due to its imminent danger. It sits inside the massive Tengger caldera (volcanic crater with diameter approximately 10km), surrounded by the Laut Pasir (sea of sand) of fine volcanic sand. After an easy hike, travelers are awarded a breathtaking and ethereal landscape during the sunrise.
There is a Hindu temple located at the base of volcano called “The Poten”. Temple is made of black rocks from volcanic eruptions. Bali and Tengger Hindu people visit the temple and make offerings. Especially on The Yadnya Kasada festival, when Bali and Tenggerese Hindu people climb the crater and make offerings to the volcano by throwing fruits, vegetables, money and even livestock inside the crater. The ceremony is to honour Ida Sang HyangWidi Wasa, along with the Trimurti gods, Shiva, Brahma and Vishnu.
For the end I will post one of my favourite photos from Mt. Bromo which took me 2 nights to make. Check out here how it was made.
