Mount Bromo is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia, and it’s a holy mountain for the local Hindu people of Indonesia. Such a beautiful landscape with its huge caldera and sulfurous smoke rising from the peak, attracts many nature-lover travelers. And you can meet with those views by short pleasant hikes.
The first hike is for sunrise views of Mount Bromo
The first hike is for catching the sunrise. You’ll have to leave hotel at midnight and move to the opposite side of Mt. Bromo, such as Mt. Penanjakan. From the drop-off point, it’s a short walk of about 1 hour.
From the moment the sun pokes above the horizon, the smoke and mountain surfaces begin shining a pinkish orange color. The whole landscape keeps changing as the sun rises and the volcanic fumes shift. It’s a quiet but dynamic view.
The smoke spills over into the village.
The view when the sun is completely up.
The second hike is for the crater of Mount Bromo
The second hike is to go up to the top of the crater. As you set foot in interior of the outer crater, you are constantly surrounded by the deep sounds from the earth below. The fumes block out the long-distance view.
It’s the steep path with its 275 steps to the top of crater. As moving above the fumes, you get a view of the mountains from both within and outside the outer crater. The mountain to the right is Mount Batok, which is actually higher than Mount Bromo.
The edge of the crater from the mid point of the steps.
From the top of the crater, the huge earth sounds are even more overwhelming. The combination of the fast-rising fumes and the steep cliff made me feel I was losing my sense of balance. The yellow parts are condensed sulfur from the fumes. After enjoying the stunning view, make the way down and head to the next destination.
Getting there: It’s a a drive of 4+ hours from Surabaya to one of the base villages (such as Cemoro Lawang).
How long to spend there: A half day to see the sunrise and do the short hike to the top of crater. If you explore more, plan to stay up to 1-2 days.
Activity keywords: Active volcano, short trek, UNESCO World Heritage