About Mount Ijen
Mount Ijen is a stratovolcano located in the Banyuwangi Regency of East Java, Indonesia. It is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, known for its blue fire, acidic crater lake, and labor-intensive sulfur mining.
The blue fire of Mount Ijen is caused by the combustion of sulfurous gases that are emitted from the volcano’s crater. The sulfurous gases ignite when they come into contact with the cool air, producing a bright blue flame.
The crater lake of Mount Ijen is one of the most acidic lakes in the world – so much so that it can dissolve human flesh. The lake is also a source of sulfur, mined by workers who carry heavy loads of sulfur from the crater to the surface.
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The Experience
Getting to the Trailhead
You’ll be picked up around 12:30 and arrive to the bottom of the trail around 1:30, where you’ll have some coffee (and maybe some ramen if you’re hungry!) before starting the hike. The trail opens at 2:00 AM, and I highly recommend starting as early as possible. This ensures that you’ll get to the blue flames before sunrise, and if you move fast enough there may not be a ton of people there when you arrive.
The Hike
The first 3 kilometers of the hike get you up to the rim of the crater; this part is fairly easy as the road is wide and well kept, but there is a bit of an incline. Once you reach the rim, you’ll put on your gas mask (which should be provided by your tour guide – you cannot do this hike without one) and begin a 1 kilometer decent into the crater until you reach the blue flames. This part of the hike is more difficult – you’ll want good footwear to keep your footing as this trail is very rocky and skinny. Prepare to have lots of other people around, as this is a very popular activity.
Along the way, you’ll see miners and their baskets of sulfur that they gather overnight. Each miner carries about 70-80 kilograms (equal to 154-176 lbs) of sulfur out of the crater each night.
After some time at the blue flames, you’ll hike back up to the ridge of the crater. At this point, the sun will be starting to rise. From the ridge, you’ll watch the sun fully rise and the clouds clear to reveal the beautiful blue lake below. This was probably my favorite part of this experience; the crater looks absolutely stunning from above. You can take some pictures up here before beginning your decent.
Now that the sun is up, the walk back down is absolutely beautiful. Take your time walking down and enjoy the views!
What to Bring & What to Wear
- Good Hiking Shoes: You’ll definitely need shoes with good traction, especially for hiking into and out of the crater. For women we recommend this pair of Jack Wolfskins and for men we recommend this pair of Salomons.
- Water & Snacks: You can choose to bring these with you or you can buy stuff at the base of the hike, but we definitely recommend at least having water!
- Money: Bring some cash in case you decide to buy food/water at the base camp!
- Warm Clothes: It’s pretty cold at night during this hike, so layers will be necessary. I personally did this hike wearing a longsleeve shirt under a sweater and two pairs of leggings and I was completely fine!
- Headlamp/Flashlight: Your tour guide will likely provide you with a headlamp or flashlight, but if the batteries run low your phone flashlight is a good backup, so make sure it’s charged! It’s very dark when you’re hiking up and into the crater, so you’ll definitely need a light to make sure you have solid footholds.
Tip: If you wear jewelry, leave it at home for this experience. I wore a silver necklace that tarnished because of all the sulfur in the air.
Mount Ijen Tour Options
Visiting Mount Ijen is easiest with a tour, so here are some options! You will also likely be able to book tours/transportation through your hostel, which may be cheaper.
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