Indonesia is located on the famous Ring of Fire and the archipelago is home to 127 active volcanoes. I’m a passionate hiker and living in Bali, I can’t resist climbing the island’s stunning volcanoes every once in a while. This time I decided to conquer new territory and head for a day trip to the Kawah Ijen complex, better known as the Blue Fire Volcano.
Introducing Mount Ijen
Mount Ijen, or Kawah Ijen, is located in the Banyuwangi region in Java, the neighbouring island of Bali and the most populous island in Indonesia. Mount Ijen is one of the three stratovolcanoes which together with Gunung Merapi and Gunung Raung form the Ijen complex.
Mount Ijen is most famous for its bright blue crater lake, which has a diameter of 722 metres and is around 200 meters deep. The crater of Ijen has extremely high levels of sulfur and it’s also the largest acid lake in the world. Ijen’s famous blue flames form when sulfur gas comes in contact with oxygen and gets ignited by molten hot lava. You can only see Ijen’s blue flames in the middle of the night and very early in the morning.
The Journey
You don’t need to be an experienced climber or a hiker to climb Mount Ijen. People who are in okay physical shape and exercise occasionally will be able to hike Ijen. We met our guide at the basecamp which is located at an altitude of some 1850 metres. From here, it’s about three kilometres to reach the crater.
The first 500 meters of the hike are relatively flat and easy to do. The next one and a half kilometres require more energy, as you’re faced with a 45% incline. I would suggest pausing and catching your breath every 200 metres or so. The last kilometre of the walk is much easier. The climb to the top takes around two hours, followed by a 45-minute descent down to the actual crater where you can see the blue flames.
When you’re climbing down to the crater lake, it’s recommended that you wear a gas mask to protect yourself against the winds that blow sulfur gas from the crater. The sulfur can make you short of breath. This might sound daunting, but the reward is more than worth it. Once you arrive at the lake, you will see one of nature’s most beautiful and unique phenomenons.
Seeing the blue flames is an extortionary and unique experience. But it’s not just the blue fire which made our trip so special. When you climb back up to the volcano at dawn, the views are quite simply spectacular. As the sun gets closer to its summit, the blue lake seems to turn an even brighter shade of blue. As the day breaks, the crater of Ijen turns turquoise and a yellow Sulfur cloud surrounds the crater. This was one of the most beautiful sunrises I have ever seen.
When to Go
The best time to visit Kawah Ijen is between March and October, as this is the dry season. The drive from South Bali to Mount Ijen takes around six hours with a private driver. The journey includes a 45-minute ferry ride from Bali to Java.
You should start your drive from South Bali around 7pm, arriving at your destination around 1am. Try to get some sleep in the car, so you have enough energy for the hike ahead. You should begin the climb around 2am to make sure you reach the summit in time to see the blue flames.
You have until sunrise to see the flames, but to make sure you really see the flames you should arrive no later than 5am. As soon as the sun starts coming up, the blue flames will not be visible anymore.
What to Bring
As it gets very cold during the night and you are on top of the volcano, you need to wear warm clothes. On the night I was hiking Ijen, the temperature was around 10 degrees Celsius, which is extremely cold for tropical Indonesia. Don’t forget to bring along water and snacks as during the hike, you will have very limited opportunities for buying food or water. That being said, it’s also important not to bring too much as you don’t want all that extra weight bringing you down during the climb.
Here’s what you should bring for the climb:
- Warm sweater or jacket
- Beanie
- Gloves
- Hiking or running shoes
- Backpack with water and food
- Torch, preferably a head torch (can also be rented at the basecamp)
- Mask to protect against sulfur gas (can also be rented at the basecamp)
- Portable oxygen can (only for emergencies)
The Workers of Mount Ijen
As Mount Ijen is one of the biggest sulfur mines in the world, you will see many local miners working and carrying sulfur down to the bottom of the volcano during your hike.
Please respect the local workers as they only make IDR 1,000 for every kilogram they carry. This means each miner carries around 70kg on their shoulders to make a small income for their family. So when you come across a miner carrying baskets full of sulfur, always make space, let them pass first and allow them to continue on with their work.
The local miners make little statues and souvenirs from the leftover sulfur, so it’s a nice gesture to bring along some small change to buy some souvenirs. You should also take a local guide to bring you up the mountain. Most of the guides are old miners who spend their last working years as tour guides. These guides are a well of information and they will look after your safety during the trip.
Final Words on This Amazing Day Trip
Climbing Mount Ijen was a great experience and I feel blessed to have witnessed the rare phenomenon of blue fire. During my trip I learned a lot about the volcano, the people who work there – and just how magical our planet really is.
Visiting Mount Ijen on a day trip from Bali is great way to spice up your trip to the Island of the Gods and it’s also accessible for those on limited time. If you have booked your accommodation through Ministry of Villas and would like to visit the Kawah Ijen complex, our concierge team can help organise a day trip to Mount Ijen with a personal driver.
