EmMount Bromo is one of Indonesia’s most iconic and awe-inspiring destinations. Part of the vast Tengger Caldera, this active volcano offers dramatic landscapes, otherworldly sunrises, and a chance to peer directly into its steaming crater. You’ll embark on a thrilling jeep tour, making a trip to Mount Bromo an unforgettable adventure. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know—from the best time to visit and how to get there, to planning your ideal Mount Bromo itinerary.
Key takeaways
- You’ll start your tour to Mount Bromo around midnight and travel in car and then a jeep to reach the sunrise viewing spot.
- You’ll then cross the Sea of Sands to Mount Bromo itself, to climb up to the crater and peer into this amazing active volcano.
- Most people choose a sunrise tour for Mount Bromo. This is beautiful but very busy. If you’re not a fan of overtourism, consider a sunset tour instead.
All about Mount Bromo
There’s no doubt that Mount Bromo is a must-see destination in Java. It’s one of Indonesia’s most active volcanoes, although the last major eruption was in 2016. It’s part of the massive Tengger Caldera, a 10-kilometer-wide crater surrounded by other volcanic peaks, including Mount Batok and Mount Semeru (Java’s highest volcano).
The local Tenggerese people, descendants of the Majapahit Empire, are a small group of indigenous Hindu people living in the highlands around Mount Bromo, an unusual group on a predominantly Muslim island. They hold an annual Kasada Festival in July or August each year (depending on the lunar calendar), where they throw offerings (fruits, livestock, and money) into the crater to appease the gods.
How to organise your Mount Bromo itinerary
The easiest way to organise a tour is to talk to your hotel on arrival, which is what I did. Unlike many cities in Indonesia, I didn’t see many tour operators in Malang. This meant that the choice of local providers was more limited than in other cities. However, most hotels will be used to tourists who want to see Bromo, and have a preferred provider ready. Using your hotel also gives a level of accountability, as the hotel would switch providers if there were significant tourist complaints.
You can also source tours via GetYourGuide. This sunrise tour has good reviews.
While I obviously only took one tour, the vast majority are going to be broadly the same. The focus is on drivers who are experienced in driving jeeps, so this is prioritised over strong English or acting as a guide.
Top Tip: try to find a tour with a slightly later start time (i.e. 1am rather than midnight) as this will give you more time to nap beforehand, and limit waiting time once you get to the sunrise point (see more detail below).
Sunrise vs sunset at Mount Bromo
The vast majority of people go to Bromo for sunrise, because if you get good weather it gives you astonishing pictures. However, it is exceptionally busy – one of the most overcrowded things I’ve done on my travels, only beaten by the Royal Palace in Bangkok.
Many people don’t like this, particularly the fact that you tend to get stuck in a convoy of jeeps on the way down. Also, as I found out, with a sunrise tour there is the risk that there will be mist that will stop you getting those amazing sunrise shots.
There is also the option to do a sunset tour. While I didn’t do this, I did seriously consider it, and it’s something you should think about while planning your trip. Reviews suggest that the sunset option means that there are almost no other tourists at the volcano. It also means that you can see other sites along the way. And of course, you don’t have to get up in the middle of the night!
The Mount Bromo Itinerary Stop 1: Sunrise at Mount Bromo
Drive to Mount Bromo
The drive to the sunrise spot takes somewhere between 2-3 hours, with about 1.5h in the jeep. This drive is obviously in the dark. Consider bringing something like headphones/podcast to keep you occupied, as the drive is too jolty for most people to sleep (there’s a reason they need a jeep).
Our drive was in two parts, with a stop at a homestay in the middle where we were able to rent jackets. We did have to wait in this homestay for our jeep to turn up. I have no idea whether this is common practice across all tours, but it’s something to be prepared for.
Having crossed innumerable check points and driven across the Sea of Sands, you’ll eventually arrive at a small hillside village lined with cafes. We arrived there about 3.30am. Take a picture of the license plate of your jeep so that you can find it again.
The wait
Our guide showed us to one of the small cafes to have a coffee/tea, instant noodles for the hungry, and to keep warm. This is also a chance for a bathroom break, with almost all cafes charging for this. This is where it’s worth searching for a tour with a slightly later start time, as we then had to wait for over an hour in a cafe, and it didn’t feel like there was any reason for us to be there that early.
Top tip: there were cafes which had better facilities e.g. espresso machines, so feel free to wander around if you want a better coffee.
Sunrise Spot
We headed up to the sunrise spot at about 4.45pm. It was already crowded at this point, but we were able to find a good spot. We then waited for sunrise at about 5.25am – this is when you’re likely to get cold and really want that rented jacket! There is no seating, so be prepared to stand for a long time.
Unfortunately, it was foggy on the day we went. It’s worth checking this in advance with your hotel, who might be able to advise on weather – but it is a mountain, which means that weather is subject to change at short notice. This meant that we didn’t get the spectacular photos I’d hoped for, but we did get some nice photos from the village after sunrise.
Once sunrise is over, you’ll make your way back to your jeep. There should be time for another toilet break at this point if you need.
Stop 2: Climb to the crater
Once sunrise is over, you’ll drive back across the Sea of Sands to the parking area for climbing the crater. Some tours stop off in the Sea of Sands for pictures at this point – consider if this is important to you, or if you’d rather get to Mount Bromo itself earlier.
The jeep will park in an enormous parking area away from the volcano. You’ll then need to walk across a vast sandy plain to get to the climb, which takes about 15 minutes. There is also the option to ride a horse – this wouldn’t be my preference as it’s hard to be sure how well the horses are treated.
You’ll then come to a steep path followed by some steps up to the top of the crater. Once you’re at the top, you’ll get your chance to peer into an active volcano. This is a bucket list experience – it’s incredible to consider that there is lava pooling below. The top of the crater has a fence around it for safety, although it’s best to pay attention as you walk along as the path is narrow and sheer on either side.
After you’ve looked into the crater, you’ll make your way back to the jeep. There are stalls along the way – the majority offering soft drinks and a few offering food. There is also a toilet at the jeep parking area, though note that as there are only a couple of ladies cubicles, there is likely to be a queue (and no paper).
Once you’re back at the jeep, take the opportunity to hop on the front to get a great picture!
How difficult is the hike?
This was something I was really worried about before my trip – not least because I had a cold, which meant that I was getting out of breath really quickly. But even at the best of times I’m not as fit as I’d like to be!
Once you reach the volcano, there is a steep walk to the bottom of the steps. This doesn’t take too long, but is very steep in places. I took it slowly, and there were many other people doing the same. This also gives you some great photo opportunities.
The final part of the climb is about 250 steep steps. I’m not going to lie – this was a struggle. However, there were rest points built into the steps along each side, so there were plenty of opportunities to rest out of the way of other climbers. And once I got to the top it was totally worth it!
Other stops
Once you’ve returned from the crater, you’ll drive back to the pick up point for your other car. This might include a stop off e.g. at the famous Teletubby hill, or waterfall. My experience was that while Teletubbies hill was in a nice valley, it’s really not a necessary stop and we only spent a few minutes there. By this point, we were pretty exhausted and keen to have a nap!
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to visit Mount Bromo
Yes! While Mount Bromo is an active volcano, the last major eruption was in 2016. Tours run every day. If the status of the volcano changes, i.e. if there are imminent signs of eruption, this would be flagged by the Indonesian government.
When is the best time to visit Mount Bromo
The best time to visit Mount Bromo is during Indonesia’s dry season, from April to October. This gives you the best chance of those glorious sunrise views – but note that it doesn’t guarantee them, as I found out!
Where is Mount Bromo
Mount Bromo is an active volcano on the island of Java, in Indonesia, in Tengger Semeru National Park. This means that it’s not on the doorstep of any particular town – there are three main locations that tours start from, all of which have a significant drive to get to the volcano.
Timings
If you choose the sunrise tour, you will be picked up between midnight and 1am, depending on your tour company. You will join a normal car which then takes you to the meeting point for the jeep, nearer to Mount Bromo. This means that while you are going to have a 2-3 hour drive, you won’t be able to sleep through it as you’ll need to change cars.
Our tour finished around 11am, but we did get back to Malang quite fast, with only a very short stop at Teletubbies Hill. If your tour includes other stops (or your driver is not as speedy getting away from the sunrise spot) you can expect this to be later.
Clothes for sunrise at Mount Bromo
Packing list:
- Long sleeved shirt
- Long trousers
- Sunglasses
- Warm clothes (unless you plan to rent a jacket)
- Close toed shoes
- Breakfast if your tour operator doesn’t provide this
- Facemasks or bandanas for the crater
- Toilet paper
Wear layers. It gets cold before the sun comes up – when I was there, it was around 5-8c. While this isn’t freezing, you will be standing around for a while not moving, so you’re likely to get cold. It then gets warm as you’re climbing Mount Bromo later (or at least, the walk makes you warm!).
There are a number of opportunities to rent a puffy coat. We were able to rent them at the transfer from the car to the jeep, and scarves, gloves and hats were available to buy as well. Once you get to the sunrise spot, most of the little cafes have a supply of coats and there are also people wandering around with coats for hire. It’s well worth considering renting a coat if, like me, you haven’t packed heavy clothes for your trip to otherwise-tropical Indonesia. Renting a coat cost about £1.50/1.80e/$2.
You’ll also want to wear closed-toed shoes. Not only will this keep your feet warm, the area around Bromo has very sandy soil and it will stop your feet getting dirty/sandy.
Finally, consider bringing a face mask or bandanna for the crater. Not only is it very dusty, there is a significant sulfur smell from the volcano itself. I saw guides handing out covid-style face masks, and used my bandanna to protect my own mouth/nose.
Food
Some tours provide breakfast as part of the trip, which will be nasi goreng (fried rice). However, this is not the case with all tours. While some of the small cafes at the sunrise spot offer instant noodle pots, this will be at 3am. There were also a few stalls near the crater offering food, but our time there was limited and we didn’t stop for breakfast.
Consider bringing your own breakfast to have at a time that suits you – the tour is anywhere between 10-12 hours.
How to get to Mount Bromo
Tours and visits to Mount Bromo can start from different locations. It’s not near a city or town so wherever you base yourself, you’ll most likely need a drive in an ordinary car before switching to the jeep that takes you across the Sea of Sands and up the volcano itself. The main destinations to start tours are Malang, Surabaya and Probolinggo. They each have their own pros and cons:
- Malang – Malang is the nearest major city to Mount Bromo. It’is a significant city within Java – I wasn’t expecting it to be so big. People often choose to stay here because there is a range of accommodation and it’s well connected to other tourist favourites, such as Yogyakarta. It also gives you the opportunity to visit the famous Rainbow Village. This is where I stayed, and I’ve based my description of the tour on leaving from Malang.
- Surabaya – Surabaya Airport is a big, modern airport and the nearest airport to Bromo. For example, after my Mount Bromo trip I flew to Bali from Surabaya Airport. I would imagine that this is the main reason people choose to visit Mount Bromo from Surabaya. Many tours offer drop off or pick up at Surabaya or Surabaya Airport.
- Probolinggo – this is technically the closest town to Mount Bromo, and is therefore popular with people doing the tour on their own. It’s possible to hire a motorbike and drive to Bromo yourself, but I would not recommend doing this for sunrise. It would be easy to get lost because the drive across the sea of sands is unlit with no marked paths. If you’re not planning to DIY, it’s still a good 1.5h drive to the mountain, so staying in Probolinggo won’t save you from having to get up in the middle of the night.
- Yogyakarta – this thriving town is a history lover’s paradise, but it’s a lot further away from Mount Bromo than the other options. Tours from Yogyakarta to Mount Bromo will involve a long drive and an overnight stay nearby
Where to stay in Malang?
I didn’t find a central core in Malang, as there is in so many other cities – whether this is a business district or a backpacker street. That makes it hard to recommend a specific part of the city to base yourself in.
I stayed at Enny’s Guest House, which felt a bit like it was in the middle of nowhere in that the area wasn’t walkable, there wasn’t much around and there weren’t people out after dark. Despite that, I cannot recommend it highly enough. When I booked it, I thought that the rooms looked dated, but that this was a good trade off for the price. But when I arrived, I realised it’s a design choice that feeds into the atmosphere they’re creating. Enny’s is like a home, with a number of sofas, a beautiful garden area and cabinets filled with knickknacks the owner has collected around the world. Despite this homey atmosphere, there was a professional front desk and excellent support!
What else is there to do in Malang?
Malang wasn’t my favourite city in Java – that honour goes to Yogyakarta – but unless you’re very short on time it’s likely you’ll be spending a bit of time there around your Bromo tour, and the Rainbow and Blue Villages are beautiful!
A visit to Mount Bromo is a journey unlike any other. From the moment you set out in the early hours of the morning to watching the first light hit the volcanic peaks, the experience is equal parts surreal and exhilarating. While the crowds can be intense, and the journey requires an early start, the sheer beauty of this landscape makes it all worthwhile. Whether you’re planning a sunrise or sunset tour, tackling the climb to the crater, or exploring nearby Malang, this guide has you covered. Have you visited Mount Bromo? Share your experience in the comments below!
