Date: 23-24 March, 2025
While in Menjangan, Bali, I needed to take a ferry to reach West Java for a hike up Mount Ijen. Mount Ijen is another volcanic crater featuring blue water. It appears particularly stunning on sunny days, as shown in the pictures.
Guided tours depart from the hotels at around 1 AM for the sunrise trips, returning by 9 AM. Since I am not keen on waking up so early, I left my hotel at about 5:15 AM and arrived at the base camp by 6 AM. The guest house where I stayed is 17 km away, and I rode to the base camp. The route is excellent, passing through fields and dense vegetation. It was a bit cold, but the weather was generally great. The ticket costs 150K IDR (or 750 INR). As expected, tourists had already started descending, and I was the only one hiking in the opposite direction.
There are Lamborghinis (or pulleys) available to transport individuals who are unable to walk or have asthma issues. The hike is approximately 4 kilometers and takes about 60 to 90 minutes, depending on your pace and condition.
You will begin to notice sulfur deposits that resemble yellow limestone. Locals sell small sulfur sculptures as souvenirs. If you visit early in the morning, guides often ignite these sulfur stones to display blue flames in the darkness.
The initial 3 kilometers are covered with dense vegetation, followed by the dry crater area. It's another kilometer to descend into the crater to reach the lake. The lake is stunning in clear weather, but unfortunately, when I visited, it was somewhat cloudy with a lot of fog. I should have waited about 20 minutes for the skies to clear, as it became very clear later. Remember to bring a mask, as the gases can be quite intense, and also eye protection. I didn't have eye protection, but the gases can irritate your eyes, so it's better to rent some.
Upon reaching the top of the crater, I hiked an additional 2-3 kilometers around it, trying to savor the crater's beauty from various angles. I was completely alone, with no tourists around, making the photos picture-perfect.
On the way down, I encountered a local who began singing in Indonesian. It sounded a lot like the song in "Yak in the movie" - a film I loved and recommend everyone to watch.
On the way back, I noticed a few guava trees and couldn't resist the urge to pick some. The village owner gave me permission and even guided me on which ones to pick. What a delightful experience.
In total, it was a pleasant hike and workout, as I trekked approximately 14-15 kilometers. I returned to my guest house by nearly 11 AM, where my host served a delicious local breakfast. I stayed at RnJ Homestay which is super clean and budget friendly. After resting for a couple of hours, I set off for my next destination.
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