Ultimate Guide: How to Visit Mount Bromo at Sunrise

Ultimate Guide: How to Visit Mount Bromo at Sunrise

Mount Bromo sunrise tour is a must-do in Indonesia, so you can’t miss it on your Java Itinerary.

It’s one of the most famous volcanoes in Indonesia, like the Kawah Ijen in East Java and the Mount Rinjani in Lombok.

Wondering how to visit Bromo Volcano? You can do the Mount Bromo hike without a guide or join an organized tour from Malang, Probolinggo, Surabaya, or Yogyakarta.

Mt Bromo is an active volcano in East Java, and on your tour, you can see the beautiful sunrise and take the epic crater rim walk.

This ultimate guide to Bromo Volcano includes the best time to visit, how to get there, what to expect on the hike, and tips for visiting.

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Where is Mount Bromo, Indonesia?

Mount Bromo is an active volcano located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park in East Java, Indonesia.

When to Hike to Mount Bromo Volcano?

Indonesia has two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season.

Java is a popular destination all year round! But the best time to visit Mt Bromo is during the dry season, from May to October.

The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for hiking and exploring the attractions of Java.

The busiest time to visit Java is between July and August. The rainy season in Java runs from November to April.

Java Island has a tropical climate, hot and humid, and the average temperature is 27°C all year round. However, we recommend you pack warm clothes for the Bromo and Kawah Ijen volcano tour.

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In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!

Read our → Ultimate Java Itinerary

How to Get to Mount Bromo

To get to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, you first need to get to Java Island, Indonesia.

The plane is the most comfortable and fastest way to get to Java! From Bali, you can fly to Java from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (airport code DPS).

Java has several airports. The flight takes just 1-1.5 hours, and plane tickets start from 30-40 USD (without luggage) per person for one way.

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Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to Java, Indonesia.

Most people come to Bromo Volcano from Malang, Probolinggo, Yogyakarta, or Surabaya City. Buy your train tickets here.

We have a detailed post on how to get to Java with all the information you need.

Mount Bromo Tour from Bali

The easiest way to get from Bali to Java is to travel from Gilimanuk Harbour to the Ketapang Ferry Port, Banyuwangi.

The ferry departs approximately every 20 minutes, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So there is no need to book in advance!

The boat ticket is only 13,000 IDR (0.85 USD) per person, and the journey takes approximately 30-60 minutes. There is a train station near the Ketapang Ferry Port, from where you can easily get to Malang or Probolinggo and visit the Bromo Volcano. Buy your train tickets here.

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Make the most of your experience by visiting the Ijen and Mt Bromo volcanoes on a 3-day tour from Bali.

Mount Bromo Opening Hours

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round.

Mount Bromo Entrance Fee

The entrance fee to Mount Bromo volcano is 220,000 IDR (14,5 USD) on weekdays and 320,000 IDR (21 USD) on weekends.

Just after the Cafe Lava Hostel, there is a ticket checkpoint where you can purchase your Mt Bromo entrance ticket.

Good to know
The Bromo Volcano tours include the entrance fee.

How to Visit Bromo Volcano

Are you looking for an unforgettable adventure in Java? Take a day trip from Malang or Probolinggo and enjoy the epic sunrise at Mt Bromo.

Group tours include hotel pick-up and drop-off, jeep ride, entrance fee, and breakfast. Pick-up time usually starts at midnight!

Depending on traffic, the journey time from Malang to the Bromo takes 2-2.5 hours. The travel time from Probolinggo is shorter, about 1.5-2 hours.

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Get the most out of your day trip and book a Mount Bromo and Madakaripura Waterfall tour HERE.

Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour

We wanted to make the most of our visit to Bromo Volcano, so we booked a sunrise tour from Malang for the next day. We checked into a hotel where we could sleep for a few hours before the hike. Then, at midnight, we started our tour.

Once you arrive at the jeep parking lot, you can walk to the Penanjakan Bromo viewpoint, where most people watch the sunrise.

But if you want to get the most epic views of Mt Bromo, we recommend hiking up King Kong Hill. It takes approximately 15-20 minutes to reach the summit, depending on your fitness level.

Good to know
If you are coming from Probolinggo, you will arrive at Seruni Point, and from there, it is much longer (30-40 minutes) and more difficult to climb to King Kong Hill.

Read our → Malang Guide

At sunrise, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the 5 volcanoes: Gunung Bromo, Gunung Batok, Gunung Kursi, Gunung Watangan, and Gunung Widodaren. In the background, you can also see the highest peak in Java, Mount Semeru.

Unfortunately, the weather was foggy when we visited! But it was still a fantastic experience to see the beautiful view.

At sunrise at Bromo Volcano, the temperature will be between 5 to 10 °C, and in windy weather, it will be even colder. But the weather gets warm quickly after sunrise, so use sunscreen to avoid sunburn.

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Use our map to find the best sunrise viewpoints.

Mt Bromo Crater Rim Hike

After watching the sunrise, we hiked back to the parking lot. Then we went by jeep to the Pura Luhur Poten temple at the foot of Mount Bromo. Although tourists are not allowed inside the temple, you can take some pictures from outside.

The jeeps, sand sea, and horse riders offer fantastic photo opportunities.

Then, after you’ve taken enough photos, walk to the crater entrance through the sea of sand, which is about 20-30 minutes away! We do not recommend riding horses!

As small sand storms may happen, you should wear sunglasses and a light scarf to protect your eyes and mouth.

The last part of the hike is a 10-minute climb up the steep concrete stairs to the top of the crater. You can do a crater rim walk, but it’s good to know there are few railings, so be careful and stay within the safety area!

Mount Bromo is not the highest peak in Indonesia, but it is an active volcano at 2329 meters above sea level.

Sometimes, it is not allowed to do crater rim walk due to volcanic activity. Unfortunately, it was forbidden at the time of our visit!

You can also visit the Coban Pelangi waterfall on the way to Malang after Mount Bromo. The entrance fee to Coban Pelangi waterfall is 15,000 IDR (1 USD).

Air Terjun Coban Pelangi can be visited daily from 8 AM to 4 PM.

See also → Things to Do in Java

Mount Bromo vs Mount Ijen

One of the most frequently asked questions is which should I visit: Mount Bromo or Mount Ijen? Both volcanoes are located in East Java, Indonesia.

The Bromo volcano tour is more popular than the Kawah Ijen. But make the most of your visit and see the volcanoes on a 3-day tour of Bromo and Ijen.

If you have limited time in Indonesia or are looking for a less challenging hike in Java, we recommend Bromo Volcano.

We think both volcanoes are worth a visit, and you can easily book an organized tour from Bali, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Malang, or Probolinggo that visits both places.

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Make the most of your experience by visiting the Ijen and Bromo volcanoes on a 3-day tour from Bali.

Recommended post → Kawah Ijen Volcano Guide

Where to Stay near Mount Bromo

Malang is a city in East Java and the perfect base for visiting Mt Bromo. You can spend 2-3 days in Malang, these are our accommodation recommendations.

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Alternatively, stay in Cemoro Lawang, the nearest village to Bromo. It takes about 45 minutes to walk from Cemoro Lawang to the foot of Mt Bromo.

Best hotels in Malang, Java

• Luxury: The Shalimar Boutique Hotel
• Mid-Range: Harris Hotel or Hotel Tugu Malang
• Budget: Ibis Styles Malang

Mount Bromo Tour Map

What to Pack for Hiking

• Small backpack
• Light raincoat
• Warm clothes
• Hiking shoes or boots & socks
• Hat or cap
• Camera gear
• Water
• Snacks
• Sunscreen
• Personal medication
• Local money
• Hiking poles (If you need it!)

Tips for Visiting

• Don’t bring unnecessary things with you!
• You can rent a motorbike in Probolinggo and get to the volcano. But this option is not recommended as the roads are unpaved and slippery!
• Bring enough local money! You can only pay for the entrance fee, toilets, and horse rides with cash!
• Wear closed hiking shoes and warm clothes, as the weather is usually cold and windy.
• As unexpected rain can happen at any time, bring a light raincoat.
• Allow enough time for hiking, as the trail is steep and slippery. We recommend using a headlamp for safer overnight hiking.
• The most beautiful sunrise viewpoints of Mount Bromo are King Kong Hill, Penjakan, and Seruni Point.
• You can rent a jacket, sweater, gloves, and scarf at your accommodation or from locals near the viewpoints.

Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.

We hope you found our guide to Mount Bromo Volcano useful and will inspire you to visit. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Ferry/Transfer – 12Go

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