David Junior
Are you a hiking enthusiast? If yes, have you ever done a Mount Ijen hike? Mount Ijen serves many natural attractions, one of the most famous ones is the Ijen Blue Fire.
Mount Ijen hiking can be challenging since it is one of the largest sulfuric mountains. Therefore, you must prepare for your Mount Ijen hike to enjoy this adrenaline-rush activity.
This article will give you tips for the Mount Ijen hike, including the best time to hike Mount Ijen, and many more. So, check this out!
How to Get to Mount Ijen?
Before knowing the Mount Ijen hike tips, you should know how to reach this grand mountain. Mount Ijen is located in Banyuwangi, East Java. If you drive from Banyuwangi City, you will need 1 hour to reach this mountain.
Yet, if you depart from Mount Bromo or Surabaya, the trip will take around 6 hours. You can also reach this mountain from Ketapang Harbor if you come from Bali. You will need a 40-minute ferry trip from Gilimanuk to Ketapang port, then a 3.5-hour car drive to the mountain.
Since the Mount Ijen hike can be tough for some people due to its trek and sulfuric air, it is advisable to save some energy at the guest houses nearby before hiking. Still, the 3.8-kilometer long, wide, well-traveled course offers ample rest areas.
You can also visit this mountain any time since it is situated at a high altitude. However, it is recommended to come in the dry season to prevent a slippery trek due to rain. The entrance gate opens from 2 am to 12 pm and the site will be closed every first Friday of the month due to maintenance and conservation.
What to Prepare for Mount Ijen Hike?
There are many things you should prepare and pay attention to before starting the Mount Ijen hike. Below are some equipment that you should pack for the hike:
1. Attire
It is advisable to bring many jackets or layer them to your body to keep it warm. Most of the hikes begin at dawn and the temperature can be beyond chilly, even though it will be warmer as the sun rises. If you come in the rainy season, you must bring a raincoat.
In addition, you can also equip yourself with gloves, beanies, and other complementaries to keep your body warm.
2. Gas Mask and Flashlight
As mentioned before, Mount Ijen is famous for its sulfuric mine. Therefore, the air might contain sulfur. For this reason, you must pack a gas mask in your bag. Also, if you begin the summit at night, it is important to bring a flashlight or headlight because the trek can be pitch dark at night.
3. Footwear
Last but not least, you should prepare the footwear for the Mount Ijen hike. The gravel can be a little slick at times, and the trail gets particularly rugged as one descends into the volcano crater. Therefore, it is best to wear sturdy hiking shoes.
Mount Ijen Hike Tips
Besides preparing the equipment, you should also know the tips for the Mount Ijen hike. Below are some tips you can pay attention to while hiking the mountain:
- Wear layers of clothing and heavy jackets. The temperature in the Ijen Crater atmosphere can drop as low as 2°C. Here, not only is the air quite strong, but so is the wind.
- Wear UV-protective eyewear. Wearing UV glasses will shield your eyes from the crater gas that the wind carries as you approach Blue Fire and try to capture that special moment. You'll get watery, dry eyes while close to the Blue Fire.
- Exercise a couple of days beforehand. For those of you who seldom ever work out—especially those of you who never climb mountains—this is crucial.
- Wear a gas mask. Because sulfur has an extremely strong scent and can harm respiratory health, regular masks are insufficient. Therefore, you can wear a gas mask instead.
- Use specific mountain shoes or shoes with a spiky bottom. The road up to Ijen Crater is very far and has a lot of gravel, which makes it easy to slip. As a result, make sure the shoes you wear are both supportive of your body and comfy.
- Eat only light foods as an energy source. The hike can be long, but it is not advisable to eat a heavy meal. Therefore, you can eat light foods like chocolate or boiled eggs.
- Make sure you use the restroom before beginning your hike. There are no "safe" places to urinate or public restrooms in the upper portion of Ijen Crater.
- Just bring necessities. Given how difficult the hike to the crater is, avoid bringing bulky or superfluous stuff. You can bring a bottle of water, a camera, and a phone in your bag instead.
Those are the detailed tips and tricks for the Mount Ijen hike you should pay attention to. A hike to Mount Ijen can be tough, so you must prepare all the accommodations and equipment. Yet, to make your hike convenient, you can travel with Cheap Bromo!
Cheap Bromo will set the Mount Ijen trip for you based on your desired packages. Most importantly, we will pick you up from the hotel, harbor, airport, bus terminal, and train station. What are you waiting for? Book the Mount Ijen trip with Cheap Bromo now!
