How to Visit Mount Bromo at Sunrise: Complete Guide

How to Visit Mount Bromo at Sunrise: Complete Guide

One of our favorite experiences in East Java was the Mount Bromo sunrise tour. Mt. Bromo is one of the most active and popular volcanoes in Indonesia. It is well known for its “Sea of Sand”, magical sunrises, spectacular volcanic landscapes, and jeep tours.

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. During your tour, you can enjoy the beautiful sunrise and take the epic crater rim walk.

This ultimate guide to Mount Bromo includes the best time to visit, how to get there, what to expect on the hike, and tips for visiting. Use the map at the bottom of this post to find the best sunrise viewpoints and hike independently.

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Where is Mount Bromo?

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

When is the Best Time to Visit Mount Bromo Volcano?

Indonesia has two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season. Mt. Bromo can be visited all year round. However, the best time to visit Java is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for sightseeing, hiking, and exploring Java’s attractions.

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

The rainy season in Java runs from November to April.

In our opinion, the best time to visit Mount Bromo is at sunrise. It is an amazingly fantastic experience that you should not miss during your visit to Java.

Read our → Ultimate Java Itinerary

How to Get to Mount Bromo

To get to the volcano, you first need to get to Java Island, Indonesia. Flying is the most convenient and fastest way to get to the island. From Bali, you can fly to Java from I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (airport code DPS).

Java has several airports. The nearest airports to Mount Bromo are Abdul Rachman Saleh Airport (Malang) and Juanda International Airport (Surabaya).

The flight from Bali to Surabaya Airport (airport code SUB) takes just 1 hour, and plane tickets start from 30 USD (without luggage) per person for one way.

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Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to Java, Indonesia.

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

The gateway to Mount Bromo is the small village of Cemoro Lawang, just a 45-minute walk from the volcano. Cemoro Lawang is easily accessible by public transport or motorbike. Most people come from the nearest cities, Malang or Probolinggo. The journey takes about 1.5-2 hours from Probolinggo and 2-2.5 hours from Malang.

Alternatively, you can join an organized group or private tour from Yogyakarta, Surabaya, or Bali.

Mount Bromo Hike on your own

You can rent a motorbike in Probolinggo and go to Cemoro Lawang. However, the journey takes 1.5-2 hours. There are paved roads between Probolinggo and Cemoro Lawang. However, a dirt road leads from the village to the foot of the volcano. We do not recommend this option for inexperienced drivers.

You can also take a public bus from Probolinggo to Cemoro Lawang for around 35,000 IDR.

If you stay a night in Cemoro Lawang, you can visit Mount Bromo without a tour. Cemoro Lawang has an entrance fee of 30,000 IDR.

We recommend starting your hike early, around 2-3 AM, and going to King Kong Hill. We really enjoyed the view from there.

In our opinion, jeep tours are the best and easiest way to explore Bromo and catch the sunrise.

Mount Bromo Tour

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

Group tours include hotel pick-up and drop-off, a jeep ride, a professional English-speaking tour guide, the Bromo National Park entry ticket, bottled water, coffee/tea, and breakfast. Pick-up time usually starts at midnight.

Mount Bromo and Ijen Tour

The best way to visit these epic places is to join a multi-day tour from Bali or Yogyakarta. The most popular option is the 3-day excursion to Bromo and Ijen Crater, which includes all transportation, an English-speaking guide, a 4×4 jeep, entrance fees, meals, and 2 nights of accommodation.

Alternatively, you can book a 3D2N tour from Surabaya or Malang that includes the impressive Tumpak Sewu Waterfall, Bromo, and Ijen.

Recommended post → Kawah Ijen Volcano

Mount Bromo Opening Hours

Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round, except for some specific days when it is closed for religious purposes.

Mount Bromo Entrance Fee

The entrance fee to Mount Bromo volcano is 220,000 IDR (13 USD) on weekdays and 320,000 IDR (19 USD) on weekends.

*Update: The entrance fee for foreigners is 255,000 IDR (15 USD) on both weekdays and weekends.

For domestic tourists, the ticket costs 54,000 IDR on weekdays and 79,000 IDR on weekends/public holidays.

Immediately after the Cafe Lava Hostel, there is a ticket checkpoint where you can buy your ticket. Alternatively, you can purchase your ticket online.

Good to know
Most tours include an entrance fee.

Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour

We wanted to make the most of our visit to Bromo Volcano, so we booked a sunrise tour from Malang. 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 see the most beautiful view of Mount Bromo, we recommend hiking up King Kong Hill. It takes about 15-20 minutes to reach the top, depending on your fitness level.

Recommended post → Malang Guide

Although not the highest volcano in Indonesia, it is one of the most famous and impressive volcanoes we have ever visited.

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, the temperature at Bromo volcano will be between 5 and 10°C, and even colder in windy weather. However, the temperature rises quickly after sunrise, so use sunscreen to avoid sunburn.

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. 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 horse riding.

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 one of the most active volcanoes in the world, located at 2,329 meters above sea level.

Because of volcanic activity, it is not always possible to hike up to the crater and walk around the crater rim. Unfortunately, during our visit, hiking was not possible for safety reasons. But if you are lucky, you will have a fantastic experience.

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After visiting the volcano, you can stop at Coban Pelangi Waterfall on the way to Malang.

See also → Things to Do in Java

Where to Stay near the Volcano

For the best experience, stay in Cemoro Lawang, the nearest village. It takes about 45 minutes to walk from Cemoro Lawang to the foot of Mount Bromo.

Alternatively, take a day trip from Malang, which is a perfect base for visiting the volcano, Jodipan Colorful Village, and Tumpak Sewu Waterfall. Here are our accommodation recommendations.

Best hotels in Malang

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

What to Pack

• Osprey Small Backpack: A very lightweight, versatile, and durable backpack, perfect for day hikes.
• Light Raincoat: Packable, lightweight, and waterproof raincoat with hood perfect for travel and hiking.
• Sunscreen: You don’t have to worry about sun damage with this reef-friendly UVA/UVB sunscreen.
• Power bank: An essential accessory for anyone who needs reliable power on the go.
• Grayl Filtered Water Bottle: The Grayl filter removes viruses and bacteria and filters microplastics, chemicals, and heavy metals. Fill up your filtered water bottle anywhere and drink crystal-clear water wherever you go.
• Camera gear
• Plenty of Water
• Snacks
• Local money
• Warm clothes
• Hiking shoes or boots & socks
• Hiking poles (If you need it!)

Tips for Visiting

• Don’t bring unnecessary things with you.
• Wear closed hiking shoes and warm clothes, as the weather is usually cold and windy in the early morning.
• As unexpected rain can happen at any time, bring a light raincoat.
• Bring enough local money! You can only pay for the entrance fee, toilets, and horse riding with cash.
• Allow enough time for hiking, as the trail is steep and slippery. We recommend using a headlamp for safer overnight hiking.
• You can rent a jacket, sweater, gloves, and scarf at your accommodation or from locals near the viewpoints.
• The most beautiful sunrise viewpoints of Mount Bromo are King Kong Hill, Penjakan Bromo, and Seruni Point. You can usually see the sunrise at 5:30 AM, depending on which month you visit.
• Combine your visit with nearby waterfalls like Coban Pelangi Waterfall, Sumber Pitu Waterfall, or Madakaripura Waterfall.

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

Mount Bromo Map

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

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

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