Mount Ijen: How to Climb Kawah Ijen Volcano
Mount Ijen hike is a must-do in Indonesia, so you can’t miss it on your Java Itinerary.
Wondering how to visit Kawah Ijen Volcano? Take a day trip from Bali or Banyuwangi and enjoy the epic sunrise at Mount Ijen Crater Rim.
Although Kawah Ijen is not as popular as Mount Bromo and Mount Rinjani volcanoes, it is well worth a visit.
Kawah Ijen is an active volcano in East Java, and on your tour, you can see the world’s largest acidic lake and the famous Blue Fire.
This ultimate guide to Ijen 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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- Mount Ijen: How to Climb Kawah Ijen Volcano
- Where is Mount Ijen?
- When to Hike to Kawah Ijen Volcano?
- How to Get to Ijen Crater
- Kawah Ijen Opening Hours
- Mount Ijen Health Certificate
- Mount Ijen Entrance Fee
- How to Hike to Mount Ijen Volcano
- Mount Ijen Blue Fire
- Mount Ijen Sunrise Hike
- Where to Stay near Mount Ijen
- Where to Eat in Banyuwangi
- Mount Ijen Tour Map
- What to Pack for Hiking
- Tips for Hiking Kawah Ijen Volcano
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Ijen Volcano Tour Details
Hike Distance: 3,5 km to the crater rim
Hike Duration: 3 hours (1.5-2 hours uphill and 1 hour downhill)
Blue Fire: An additional 25 minutes downhill from the crater rim to the Blue Fire
Hike Difficulty: Moderate difficulty
Where is Mount Ijen?
Mount Ijen, also known as Kawah Ijen, is an active volcano located near Banyuwangi in East Java, Indonesia.
When to Hike to Kawah Ijen 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 Mount Ijen 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 Kawah Ijen volcano hike.
TIP
In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation and tours in advance!
Read our → Ultimate Java Itinerary
How to Get to Ijen Crater
To get to Kawah Ijen volcano, you first need to get to Java Island, Indonesia. Most people come to Mount Ijen from Bali, Banyuwangi, or Surabaya Airport.
TIP
Use Skyscanner to find cheap flights to Java, Indonesia.
If you’re already in Java, you can easily get to Banyuwangi by train from Malang, Surabaya, Probolinggo, or Yogyakarta. Buy your train tickets here.
We have a detailed post on how to get from Bali to Java with all the information you need.
From Bali to Mount Ijen Volcano
The easiest way to get from Bali to Java is to travel from Gilimanuk Harbour to the Ketapang 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.
If you don’t want to do the Kawah Ijen hike independently, we recommend booking your tour online through GetYourGuide.
From Banyuwangi to Mount Ijen
Once you arrive at Ketapang Ferry Port, you can reach Banyuwangi in about 20 minutes by taxi.
The public transport in Banyuwangi is limited, so the best way to reach the Kawah Ijen volcano is to rent a motorbike or join an organized tour.
The journey takes about 1 hour from Banyuwangi to the volcano. We recommend renting a motorbike over 110cc as there are many steep ascents.
Good to know
The best way to visit the volcano is to join a day trip from Bali.
See also → Things to Do in Java
Kawah Ijen Opening Hours
Open all year round, daily from 2 AM to 2 PM. If you want to see the natural phenomenon of electric Blue Flame, start your hike after the gates open at 2 AM.
Important note
During the rainy season, Ijen may only open at 4 AM, depending on weather conditions.
Mount Ijen Health Certificate
Since 6 January 2024, all tourists who want to hike on Mount Ijen must have a health certificate. This health certificate is required to ensure that you are in good physical condition and fit. You can obtain the health certificate at a medical center or clinic/hospital before the start of the climb.
Hiking is not allowed for those who:
- suffer from cardiovascular diseases
- have asthma
- overweight traveler with more than 100 kg
- women with pregnancy
- children under 3 years old
The health certificate is usually valid for 3 days and costs 50,000 IDR (3 USD) per person.
Mount Ijen Entrance Fee
The entrance fee to Mount Ijen volcano is 100,000 IDR (6 USD) on weekdays and 150,000 IDR (10 USD) on weekends. You can easily buy your entrance ticket after arrival.
The parking fee is 5,000 IDR (0,35 USD) for motorbikes and 10,000 IDR (0,65 USD) for cars.
How to Hike to Mount Ijen Volcano
If you have limited time in Indonesia, you can easily take a day trip from Bali to Ijen Crater. We recommend booking your tour online.
We wanted to make the most of our visit to Kawah Ijen volcano, so we traveled from Bali to Banyuwangi. After that, we rented a motorbike for the next day.
We checked into a hotel where we could sleep for a few hours before the trek. Then, at midnight, we started our tour by motorbike to Mount Ijen.
It is worth setting off with a full tank! But there is one petrol station on the road, and you can also buy petrol from the locals. Drive carefully, and always wear a helmet!
From Banyuwangi, we reached the entrance in about 1 hour.
Once you arrive, you can buy your entrance ticket and rent a headlamp, gas mask, or warm clothes.
If you want to see the Blue Fire and the world’s largest acidic lake, we recommend renting a gas mask to protect yourself from toxic gases. But do not pay more than 25,000 IDR (1,65 USD).
TIP
Make the most of your experience by visiting the Ijen and Bromo volcanoes on a 3-day tour from Bali.
Mount Ijen Blue Fire
It’s time to start the Ijen volcano tour. It takes 1.5-2 hours to get from the parking lot to the Mount Ijen Crater Rim.
From the crater rim of Kawah Ijen, it takes about 25 minutes to get down to the beautiful turquoise lake, the largest acidic lake in the world. Put on your mask and enjoy the famous Blue Fire view!
The route was crowded, and the hike was dangerous in low-light situations. The path was steep and slippery in some parts, and you had to climb without a handrail.
Blue Fire is not actually a fire but the result of a chemical reaction. The sulfuric acid gas comes into contact with oxygen and leads to the combustion of the gas.
Good to know
The Blue Fire burns day and night but is only visible from 2 AM to 5 AM.
Kawah Ijen has been mined since 1968. Did you know that the miners work in dangerous and exhausting conditions for low wages?
The miners carry large pieces of sulfur (around 70-90 kg) in baskets on their shoulders, climbing the Ijen volcano route several times.
The crater air is thick with toxic volcanic gas, and many miners work without a gas mask. If you can, support them with donations or buy handicraft figurines made from sulfur.
See also → Mount Bromo vs Mount Ijen
Mount Ijen Sunrise Hike
After you take enough photos at the Blue Fire, hike back to the crater rim and enjoy the beautiful sunrise. Use our map to find the best sunrise spots.
Unfortunately, the weather was foggy, but it was still a fantastic experience to hike to Mount Ijen. At sunrise in Kawah Ijen, the temperature will be around 8 to 12 °C, and in windy weather, it will be even colder.
After watching the sunrise, walk along the crater rim and then hike down, which takes about 1 hour.
Another way to get down is to pay for a human-powered cart (“Gojek”) ride. The ride down costs around 200,000 IDR (13 USD) per person.
We think this is one of the best hikes in Java that you shouldn’t miss.
Keep reading → Java Itinerary for 7 Days
Where to Stay near Mount Ijen
Banyuwangi is a town in East Java and the gateway to the Ijen volcano for hikers.
If you want to make the most of your trek, you can camp at the Kawah Ijen. The camping fee is just 5,000 IDR (0,35 USD).
You can spend 1-2 days in Banyuwangi, these are our accommodation recommendations.
Best hotels in Banyuwangi, Java
- Mid-Range: Aston Banyuwangi Hotel or eL Hotel Banyuwangi
- Budget: Banana Homestay
Where to Eat in Banyuwangi
Most people take a day trip from Bali to the Mount Ijen volcano, and the tour includes meals. But if you plan to stay in Banyuwangi, these restaurants are recommended.
Best restaurants in Banyuwangi, Java
- Srengenge Wetan (A popular restaurant with delicious food)
- Warung Biru (Tasty seafood)
- Nasi Tempong Mbok Nah (Cheap local dishes)
- Kedai Panorama Banyuwangi (A perfect place for lunch or dinner)
- Osing Deles Cafe & Resto (Best coffee and delicious food)
- Seafood Sobo (Fresh seafood)
Mount Ijen Tour Map
What to Pack for Hiking
- Small backpack
- Light raincoat
- Warm clothes
- Hiking shoes or boots & socks
- Hat or cap
- Camera gear
- Plenty of Water
- Snacks
- Personal medication
- Local money
- Headlamp
- Hiking poles (If you need it!)
Tips for Hiking Kawah Ijen Volcano
- There is no need to hire a local guide at the entrance, as you can do the Ijen volcano tour yourself. But for safe hiking, we recommend it!
- Don’t bring unnecessary things with you!
- Bring enough local money! You can only pay for entrance fees, toilets, human-powered carts, and gas masks with cash!
- As unexpected rain can happen at any time, bring a light raincoat.
- Wear closed hiking shoes and warm clothes, as the weather is usually cold and windy.
- Allow enough time for hiking, as the trail is steep and slippery. We recommend using a headlamp for safer overnight hiking.
- Before you start the hike, use the toilet! But take toilet paper and hand sanitizer with you.
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! We always choose SafetyWing for our travels.
We hope you found our guide to Mount Ijen Volcano useful and will inspire you to visit. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Ferry/Transfer – 12Go
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If you just want to go to the top of Mt Ijen (not looking for blue fire).
Do we need to use the gas mask? or the normal mask N99 is sufficient enough? Please share. Thank you
Hi! If you are not visiting Blue Fire, you do not necessarily need to wear a mask. Otherwise, most people don’t wear a mask just for the photo.
Take care and enjoy your visit!
You mentioned that hiking can now only start at 4am due to volcanic activity. May I know if there is a website or somewhere where we can get the latest status as we are planning to go in a few months?
Hi! Previously, you could only start the hike at 4 AM. But fortunately, this has changed. We have updated our post with the latest information. Enjoy your trip!
Hi! Could you tell me where to get a health certificate? Is it possible to obtain one from any clinic? Thank you!
Hi Jee!
You can usually obtain it from any hospital/clinic. But we recommend you ask the locals for up-to-date information or contact your accommodation in advance. Have a good trip!