East Java experience; volcano's & turtles
YBb5d4n - 5 days
Travel from Central Java to Bali, visit the stunning sights of Bromo, Meru Beteru NP & Ijen Blue Fire
Travel from Central Java to Bali, visit the stunning sights of Bromo, Meru Beteru NP & Ijen Blue Fire
This post is also available in: English
A travel day. To get from Central to East Java is quite a distance and we will use this day to pass the miles. Your driver has picked up your luggage the day before (he also brings the traintickets). You get on the train to the East of Java. In Mojokerto it is time to get off here the driver/car is waiting with your luggage. Next stop (approx. 4 hour drive) is Cemore Lawang. Depending on traffic the driver will try get you to your hotel for the sunset. From the grounds off the hotel you can see Bromo and Semeru and it is definitely worth while to go outside and enjoy this spectacle.
Train tickets eksekutive or business class are bought in advance. We need a copy of your passport to but train tickets.
Overnight: Lava View, Standard Bungalow
Before the break of dawn (03.30AM), the jeep will pick you up and take you to the Penanjakan viewpoint to watch the sun rise. The sunrise over Bromo and Semeru is Mother Nature at her best – fantastic photo opportunities! Then you drive on to the Bukit Pasir (Sea of Sand) and from here you can walk or take a horse (to be hired on the spot not included) to the foot of Mount Bromo. The stairs (243 steps) are your last obstacle to the Caldera (the crater mouth) and from there you can 'relax' with breathtaking view. Once you have gone to the crater rim you can find your way back to the jeep and it brings you to the hotel for a quick breakfast. The car is ready to drive you to Kalibaru.
Overnight: Kalibaru Cottage, AC Room
BE AWARE only bring a night bag but do take travel papers and valuables with you. The driver stays with your luggage!
At 8AM a jeep is ready to drive you to Sukamade. You’ll pass plantations for rubber, coffee and cacao and will receive some great landscapes. You stop at a plantation and can either just have a drink or receive a guided tour (not included). Then you proceed by jeep and go further into the rain forest try and be quiet and see if you can spot the sounds of the jungle. The jeep drops you of at the lodge where you can rest. The night will be short.
Overnight: Rangers Lodge, ROH Basic
Around or just after midnight a ranger picks you up and you walk to the beach. At the beach you find a spot to wait. Be as comfortable as you can (it is chilly at the beach in the dark) as it can be a long wait. Once the turtles are there all is forgotten and you can enjoy a magical moment. It is a very special experience to see the animals crawl on to the beach dig a whole and place their eggs in there. Then after this great afford crawl back into the ocean. After the turtles have gone back in to the ocean you find your jeep and drive back to the lodge from here the jeep takes you to your car. On route to Ketapang your car/driver is waiting and you switch transportation. We continue to the hotel where you can relax the rest of the day. Keep in mind your next adventure is again a night excursion!
Overnight: Ketapang Indah, Superior
At 1AM a jeep and local English speaking guide will pick you up at your hotel. In approx. 1 hour we drive you to the Ijen parking lot. Before you are rewarded with the beauty of Ijens Crater lake and Blue Fire you do need to climb the steep hill of Ijen. The moderately fit will be at the peak around 4AM (please keep in mind it is pitch black- lamps will be provided) and from the top you can usually already see Blue Fire. From the top you can descend to the sulfur mines to have a closer look at Bleu Fire. Please be aware sulfur is a hazard good and although the views are stunning it also literally takes your breath away! At first light Bleu Fire (approx. 5.30AM) is no longer seen. The sun rises and you can complete your picture set with pictures of the opal green crater lake of Ijen. It will be the icing on the cake of your Java experience. The jeep drives you back to the hotel and your driver drives you to your next destination in Bali.