Mouunt Ijen is an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia. It’s known for its turquoise-colored lake in the crater and the toxic gas that rises from it. The sulfur gas looks like blue-colored fire in the dark, which is how it comes to be called “Blue Fire” or “Blue Flame.” These stunning views attract adventurous travelers, and we are ones of them! We had a short trek to the top of the crater to witness those views.
Midnight short hike to the top for the blue fire and the sunrise
In fact, this is my 2nd visit to Mount Ijen. Since I missed out on viewing the blue fire last time, it was a must-see on this trip. We started the hike at around 3 am. After watching the blue fire in the crater, we then spent several hours until the sun rose up. (It’s strongly recommended to bring protection against the cold, such as a thick coat and globes. It was seriously very cold on the peak!)
Different mountain ridges emerging out of the pinkish morning mist.
As the sun rises, it brings an orange color to the landscape. As the view becomes clearer, you can see how the trees around the crater are short, with stunted growth, probably due to the toxic gas.
The lake view after the sunrise
After the sun has fully risen, the sunlight illuminates the turquoise-colored lake. The surface around the crater is coated in yellow by the condensed sulfur. This provides an important source of income for local workers who mine it and then carry it down to the village, putting them at risk of exposure to the toxic sulfur gas.
The view on the way back down. It made us realize that Mount Ijen is just one of the many volcanic mountains in East Java.
Getting there: For many of the tourists who visit East Java, Mount Ijen is the next destination after visiting Mount Bromo (or the other way around). It’s a 4-5 hour drive between Bromo and the base for the peak, Kawah Ijen.
How long to get to the peak: The route from the base to the peak is very steep (1,900m to 2,799m), though it’s only short distance (3km each way). It would take 40 min if you’re used to climbing. Even if not, it would be within 1-1.5 hours.
Activity keyword: Hike at easy to moderate level, active volcano