Bromo is the most visited and photographed volcano in Indonesia, and it’s not for nothing. It is very easy to access and then the landscape is just amazing. But, beware of scams …
So how to visit and climb Bromo? How to go to Bromo? When to go to Bromo? How much does it cost? And especially how to avoid scams?
The purpose of this article is to give you all the necessary information to visit Mount Bromo and to avoid many scams.
Then, for those who do not want to have the slightest hassle and who want to delegate the organization and the logistics of the trek to Go
Finally, for the curious in mind, at the very end of the article, we will talk about Mount Bromo and Tengger caldera, the beliefs,
Looking at the video below, you will understand why Mount Bromo is Indonesia’s most visited volcano! So it would be a shame not to visit it.
Contents
- 1 5 Things You Need to Know Before Going to Bromo
- 2 Hiking and climbing Mount Bromo and Mount Penanjakan
- 3 Hiking and Bromo Trek with “Go-Volcano”
- 4 Mount Bromo
- 5 Eruptions of Mount Bromo
5 Things You Need to Know Before Going to Bromo
Avoid Bromo Scams (The Probolinggo Mafia)
The scams occur since Probolinggo. This city has a very bad reputation, and it’s international notoriety! All the paper
It is almost impossible not to get ripped off or not to be harassed and to travel serenely to Probolinggo. We are dealing with a perfectly organized tourist mafia.
So to avoid scams, there is no other way! You just have to avoid this city and not set foot in it.
Luckily, because of that, Malang (Tumpang) has become the preferred destination to go to Bromo.
How to go to Mount Bromo?
To go to Bromo volcano, you have to choose these 2 options available for you:
- From Probolinggo
- From Malang / Tumpang
Surabaya is the big city where Juanda International Airport is located. From here, you can go to almost everywhere in East Java. From this city, we can reach Malang or Probolinggo.
How to go to Probolinggo from Surabaya?
In this article, we still put the information for Probolinggo. But you have been warned! You will be scammed almost instantly
Taxi: from Surabaya airport, there will be several Taxi companies offering you some services to go to Probolinggo.
Bus: Take DAMRI bus from the airport (it costs IDR 25000) to Bungurasih Bus Station in South of Surabaya. The DAMRI bus is usually parked right in front of arrival terminals. Then, take a bus to Bayuangga bus station in Probolinggo (it will take approximately 2 hours).
Train: The journey by train takes around 2 hours from Surabaya to Probolinggo, and the service is reliable. However, you need to check available departing schedules beforehand. In Surabaya, you can take taxi to Gubeng Station in Central Surabaya which serves the route to Probolinggo Station.
How to go to Bromo (Cemoro Lawang) from Probolinggo
This is the most delicate part! The prices below are supposed to be good prices. But are you going to pay those prices?
- Public Transport (Minibus) : IDR 50000/person to the Cemoro Lawang Village.
- Taxi or Private Car : IDR 350000 max. 4 persons
- “Ojek” : IDR 250000 / person
How to go to Malang / Tumpang and how much does it cost?
Bromo is accessible from Malang / Tumpang.
This is not the most economical (compared to normal prices, but since Probolinggo is the city of the scam, it is almost certain that it can cost you more!). From Malang, you have to take a Jeep to cross the caldera and go to Bromo. But the landscapes you will cross and Tengger caldera itself are breath-taking.
You can go to Malang either by train, plane, bus and of course taxi.
From Surabaya
By taxi from Surabaya Airport to Malang is the simplest option.
- From the airport, there are shared taxis that cost about IDR 120,000/person. The disadvantage is that you have to wait for the car until it gets full and the final destination is the city center of Malang. It will take another transport or taxi to go to your hotel or Tumpang.
- Another solution is the private taxi from the airport which will cost you between IDR 550000 to IDR 600000 per car and will drop you off at Tumpang (village/small town located 20km east of Malang, where you can take a Jeep to Mount Bromo).
By Bus
- There is a bus station in the south part of Surabaya called “Bungurasih” (accessible from the airport by bus DAMRI for about IDR 25000). From Bungurasih, you can take a bus heading to Arjosari Bus Station in Malang.
- To go to Tumpang, take a white minibus from Arjosari to Tumpang (locally called Angkot) with the code “TA” (T for Tumpang and A for Arjosari). Angkot will stop at Tumpang Traditional Market (Pasar Tumpang). For accommodation and
Jeep you can sleep at Rani homestay (see booking link)
These land transports will take you about 3 hours if there is no traffic jam.
By train: the train takes about 2 hours from Surabaya to Malang, and the service is reliable. Besides of that, you have to add the transport time to and from the station.
From Surabaya, you can go to Surabaya Gubeng station in the center of Surabaya City. Arriving in Malang, stop at Blimbing Station. From there, you can take a taxi to the Tumpang (from IDR 70,000 to IDR 100,000), or walk to the Blimbing intersection, and take a white angkot with the “TA” code (Angkot: Arjosari => Tumpang). You will go until the lqst stop at Tumpang Traditional Market (Tumpang Market).
From Other Cities
By Train: There are also some trains from Yogyakarta to Malang Station which takes 7 to 8 hours (better than taking a bus, because it is more reliable, safer, and more comfortable). There are also some trains that connect Malang with some other major cities in Java like Jakarta, Bandung, Solo, and Semarang. You can check www.kai.id for the schedule.
By Plane: There are several direct flights to Malang from the cities of Denpasar (Bali), Bandung, and Jakarta.
Note: If it is possible to go to Malang directly either by train or by plane, then choose the option. Flight tickets to Malang will be a little more expensive than heading to Surabaya, but you will save a lot of time on the trip instead of spending time from Surabaya to Malang using land transportation modes. Your condition will be fresher and ready to carry out climbing activities. If you have ordered a jeep before, they will be able to pick you up at Malang Abdurrahman Saleh Airport and then continue the journey to Mount Semeru or Mount Bromo.
How to get to Bromo from Tumpang / Malang and how much will it cost?
Once you arrive in Tumpang, you will have the following options :
- Jeep: IDR 650,000/jeep (6 person max) for one way
- “Ojek”: IDR 200,000/ojek (motorbike taxi)
- Sharing Jeep: Jeep sharing can take you to Jemplang at a rate of around IDR 75,000 / person. Then you have to walk approximately 10 km across the Tengger Caldera to Mount Bromo. This option is only available in the climbing season of Mount Semeru, and you must wait for the jeep to be fully loaded before leaving. Your journey will use an open cabin jeep, so beware of sunburn.
From Malang airport, the jeep can take you directly to Bromo at a rate of IDR 750,000 / jeep for one way.
When to go to Bromo?
Mount Bromo is open all year long. But the best period is the dry season between May until October. See weather in Indonesia
How much does it cost to access the national park?
For Mount Bromo, it costs IDR 230,000/day and IDR 330,000/day on weekends and holidays. These rates are for non-Indonesians, prices for Indonesians are 10 times cheaper!
Where to sleep?
In general, accommodation in Bromo (Cemoro Lawang) is of mediocre quality and expensive.
It’s very common for visitors to spend days without sleeping there. (Especially, those who come from Malang).
We already talked about how, when and how much Bromo costs. Now it’s time to talk about climbing Mount Bromo !
Hiking and climbing Mount Bromo and Mount Penanjakan
Mount Bromo is an active volcano! In the event of an increase in volcanic activity, the national park will close the access to Mount Bromo and no hiking activities will be allowed. On the other hand, it will be possible to observe an eruption of Bromo from some viewpoints.
In this chapter, we will make a narrative of the journey to Bromo and the possibilities open to you.
Departing from Tumpang
The trip starts as soon as you leave Tumpang by Jeep. After a few minutes, you will see the beautiful fields and farmland on the surrounding hills, including sugar cane, apple trees, vegetable crops, and oranges.
The higher you go, the closer you get to the jungle and the cooler climate too. In some
You can make a stop at the Coban Pelangi waterfall(IDR 15000/person) on the way to Mount Bromo. It is a waterfall that is unfortunately often ignored by tourists! It’s a marvel and it’s on your way. The return walk will take you 30 to 60 minutes but it’s worth it!
A short distance before Coban Pelangi, there is also a possibility to do rafting (IDR 250000/person). It is good for having some fun that is kids friendly. It is not a high-level river and during the dry season, there is not much water. Here is a picture that explains more about the rafting than a thousand words will.
Ngadas Village
After observing the jungle and making several sharp turns on the volcanic slopes, you will see Ngadas. It is a village of breath-taking beauty! Last but not least, these fields of potatoes, cabbages, onions, and other vegetables are on a vertiginous slope. It’s really a beautiful sight and the photos have a lot of difficulties to capture how deep and steep
However, you have to go early to have the best chance of seeing this beauty, because the mist and the fog will come as soon as it reaches afternoon!
Then, you will continue to Jemplang, from which you will have a magnificent view of Tengger Caldera.
Jemplang is the gateway to the Tengger caldera, and several walks and routes are possible from this point. Some are not at all frequented!
Walking Route of Bromo
Hiking from Jemplang to Bromo from the north (inside the caldera)
This is by far the wildest and the least traveled route. Existing hiking trails disappeared under the vegetation and makes this hike can quickly become extremely difficult.
FromJemplang, do not go down into the caldera but turn on a small road on the left (this road quickly becomes a track and an unpaved path!).
The hike on the edge of the caldera (south side) and the highest peak on the B29
This route is rarely frequented, sometimes villagers ride on their motorbikes to access their farm land.
The path is perfectly defined, however, the good entrance is difficult to find. When the vegetation becomes sparse, we realize that we walk on the edge of the cliff that descends into the caldera. Continue on this path for several kilometers. You will find yourself on the highest peak of the southern rim of the caldera called the B29. It is also a great point of view on the Bromo and is less used. From there, you can continue to the village of Cemoro Lawang, or you can descend into the cliff-top caldera on a very steep path.
There are 2 or 3 ways to go down in the caldera (or climb).
The classic jeep road to admire the sunrise and the summit of Penanjakan
This road is always used by Jeeps and motorcycles. The hike is not very pleasant especially in high season.
One of the classic routes is to enjoy Bromo from the top of Mount Penanjakan (accessible by jeep). It is clear that this is the best viewpoint with a 360 ° view. But, there are so many people that you will only see the backs of people! So frankly speaking, avoid this place except during the rainy season or from 7 am. People come down soon enough once they have seen the sunrise (In the rainy season the view may be spoiled by the clouds and fog!).
The classic walking route to admire the sunrise and the summit of Penanjakan
The other solution, which is the most economical since its entry point is outside of the national park (you do not have to pay the entrance fee to the park to go to the viewpoint), is to go to the village of Cemoro Lawang and climb the highest possible to the north towards Penanjakan Mountain.
We will not be alone but the groups will be small. And the more you climb, the fewer people will be there. You will have several lookouts on the way to the top of Mount Penanjakan. At least you can admire and enjoy Bromo with Semeru in the background, with the splendid colors of the early morning.
The path to Mount Penanjakan is simple and its ascent does not require too much physical effort.
Take the road along the cliff (north). The road passes between fields of onions, cabbage, and potatoes. You will then pass by the parking of the jeeps then by a barrier which blocks the passage of the vehicles. Then the path becomes a pedestrian path with stairs. You will find the first point of view with a kind of concrete structure.
From there you will look for a small path that goes up steep, here you will find many small places where the view is very good. But you can continue even higher towards the king kong hill.
The sun rises from 5 am. An hour later, the visitors start leaving, you could even find yourself alone at the top with the magnificent caldera of Bromo.
Higher is the Penanjakan. But as it is accessible to the jeep by another way, it is not very interesting because of the crowd that there is, but it empties towards the 6h-7h
Here is a map of the climb to Mount Penanjakan
Now that you know the practicalities of doing Bromo. You probably want to do this hike but without the hassle! Below you will find all the information and all the corresponding prices.
Hiking and Bromo Trek with “Go-Volcano”
Duration: 1 day
Price: from € 38
Level: 1/5
Your hiking and trekking options
For Bromo, there is no real program. It’s a very easy climb that you can do by yourself.
However, we alsoe offer tours on East Java (Semeru – Bromo – Kawah Ijen – Pemuteran (Bali) – Batur …)
If you come from Probolinggo, you can walk from the village of Cemerolawang to the crater of Mount Bromo and also climb to the sunrise viewpoint to see Mount Bromo and Tengger caldera with Mount Semeru in the background.
If you come from Malang, you will need a Jeep. You can call us or write us to reserve you a Jeep from Malang or its airport or from Tumpang.
It is also possible to hike in the caldera (the path have not been used by Jeep or motorbikes and almost never attended) and horseback riding. The starting point will be from Jemplang to Bromo (more than 10 km). For more information, contact us.
Detailed Program and Itinerary
Day 1: Pick up from Tumpang or Malang- Bromo – Tumpang or Malang
You will leave your hotel at 2:00 am until the viewpoint for the sunrise, about 2h drive by Jeep. Then, the Jeep will drop you off at the foot of Bromo where you will climb the steps to the edge of the crater (about 1 hour). Take away breakfasts will be provided and you will have your breakfast after the visit of the crater or after the point of view. Then return to Tumpang or Malang with a stop at Coban Pelangi waterfall. End of service
Meals included: Breakfast.
Jeep Price for Bromo
The prices below are for Jeep transport from Tumpang / Malang.
- Tumpang – Jemplang: IDR 600,000 / Jeep / One way (about € 38)
- Tumpang – Cemoro Lawang, Ngadisari (Bromo) (Not going to the viewpoint): IDR 650,000 / Jeep / One way (around € 41)
- Tumpang – Sunrise (viewpoint) + Bromo – Tumpang: 900,000 IDR / Jeep / Round trip (around € 56)
- Malang – Cemoro Lawang, Ngadisari (Bromo) (Not going to the viewpoint): IDR 750,000 / Jeep / One way (around € 47)
- Tumpang – Sunrise (viewpoint) + Bromo – Tumpang: IDR 1,000,000/Jeep / Round trip (around € 62,50)
A jeep can accommodate up to 6 people (you’ll be squeezed in at 6!). It sits 5 people comfortably. So the price will start from 110,000 IDR / person.
Note: when you take a Jeep, you privatize it, so you can stop wherever you want and visit Coban Pelangi Waterfall, on the way to or from Bromo.
Go-Volcano Circuits Tour Including Bromo
Surabaya / Malang – Bromo – Ijen Crater – Banyuwangi / Bali => Start from € 105, duration 3 days, difficulty 1/5.
Surabaya / Malang – Semeru – Bromo – Ijen Crater – Banyuwangi / Bali => Start from € 214, duration 4 to 5 days, Difficulty: 4/5.
Other East Java Circuits
Bali / Banyuwangi – Ijen – Raung
Special Requests for Event in Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
For all inquiries regarding the activities you would like to organize in the Tengger Caldera and Bromo (i.e. TV shoot, race, trail, and all other unusual requests) do not hesitate to contact us! organized: the shooting of the Indonesian film 5 cm in 2012 – Les Volcans de L’extreme, an ultra trail on the 7 peaks of East Java in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 – the shooting of a French travel channel in 2016 – and others being organized for the year 2018. We will inform you as best as possible and we will contact the authorities of Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.
Mount Bromo
- Altitude: 2329 m
- Crater diameter at the ridges: 480 m
- Bottom crater diameter: 230 m
- Depth: 247 m
Located in the same region as Semeru, the Tengger Caldera was formed 265,000 years ago after a titanic volcanic eruption that partially emptied the magma reservoir. It followed a gigantic collapse which gave birth to this caldera of 11 kilometers by 8 kilometers. During the centuries that followed, the pressure went up inside the magma tank, fracturing its floor and giving birth to volcanoes: Widodaren, Kursi, Batok, then Bromo. All located inside this huge caldera.
Legend of Bromo
Bromo owes its name to Brahma, the Hindu god of creation, and of fire and volcanoes. The legend tells that one day a prince, whose wife could not have children, asked Brahma to grant him some children. This wish was responded favorably on condition that the prince must sacrifice the last child. But this child was so beautiful, so clever that the prince forgot his promise. Then Brahma unleashed a terrible eruption that annihilates all surrounding life. Since this terrible anger, every year, the Tenggerese and other Hindu people come on the night of the full moon, according to the Tenggerese calendar, on a pilgrimage where throw innumerable offerings in the crater of Bromo. It is called the Kasodo Ceremony.
Eruptions of Mount Bromo
Since 1804, 60 eruptions have been recorded (the cycle between two eruptions ranging from 1 to 12 years). Despite its many eruptions, Mount Bromo does not present acute danger for those around it. The caldera is uninhabited.
These eruptions are usually characterized by vertical explosions, with projections of ash and blocks at 2 or 3000 meters altitude (Strombolian activity). The last eruptions were in 1980, 1983-84, 1995, 2000-01, 2004, 2010-11 and 2015. Between eruptive periods, Mount Bromo has a significant fumarolic activity (the plume, a mixture of water vapor and sulfur
A monitoring station of the volcano with some measurement instruments is installed in the village of Cemerolawang-Ngadisari.
During the eruption from November 2000 to January 2001, an ash plume rose to more than 700 meters, and deposited to a thickness of 1 to 3 cm within a radius of 40 km. There were numerous explosions and ejections of bombs (block of several tens of kilograms to several tons still incandescent) until the sea of sand.
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