Ijen blue fire in East Java island is a must-do when you travel to Indonesia. If you are someone who seeks adventure in your travels, then this place is for you. How often do you get to walk down to a crater and watch a blue fire? Yes, on this trek you will witness some of the natural wonders of the world. So, let us get started!
Basic Information
Ijen Crater Trek
Highest Altitude: 2799m (9085ft)
Location: Ijen UNESCO Global Geopark
State/Country: East Java Island, Indonesia
Nearest Town: Banyuwangi (35KM)
Trek Open: Year Round
Total Distance: 10km
Time: 3-4 Hour Total.
Number of Days: Half a day
Difficulty Level: Easy - Easy -moderate
What is Blue flame/fire?
The Ijen crater is the world's largest blue flame area. The crater has a large amount of sulphur deposition and fumaroles (Vents that release steams and gases). As the sulphur gases escape through the vents, the high temperatures from the underground volcanic heat combusts them, producing the blue fires. This magical sight can be witnessed during the night. Therefore, this trek is popular during the night.
Devil’s Gold
The solidified sulphur is also referred to as "Devil's Gold". A labour-intensive sulphur mining happens in Mt.Ijen.
The escaping volcanic gases are routed through a network of ceramic pipes, which results in condensation of molten sulphur. The sulphur which is red in its molten form, pours slowly from the ends of the pipes and pools on to the ground, turning yellow as it cools.
Miners chip away the solid sulphur or Devil's gold with their hands and fill them into their baskets. They are then manually carried to the base of the mountain. Without any protection or safety measures and exposed to the toxic fumes, these local miners carry the heavy load of Devil’s gold to the base.
Starting at night, the miners make two to three trips before sunrise. Overtime, these miners are known to experience respiratory issues and other health problems as they are constantly exposed to toxic fumes. All this risk is taken for just 1500 IDR (Rs 8) per kilogram of sulphur.
Best Time to trek -
Except for the months where it rains heavily (August, September), the trek is enjoyable at all other times of the year. The trail may get slippery and extremely dangerous during rainy season. April is a good time to trek.
What time of the day should you trek?
You can do a midnight trek or a sunset trek. If you wish to see the blue flames (Which I think you must), you will have to do the midnight trek followed with sunrise view.
Where do we start from?
To visit Ijen, you will have to stay at Ketapang (1 hour 45 mins drive to Ijen Geopark) or Banyuwangi (1.5 hour drive to Ijen Geopark). In these places you will find enough home stays and hostels that arrange this trek. I would however recommend staying in Ketapang. If you are crossing over from Bali or heading there after the trek, then it is comfortable to stay here. There are some hostels very close to the harbour from where you will take a ferry to hop between islands. Moreover, there isn't much to do around Banyuwangi if you are tight on your schedule.
Stay Options in Ketapang - Ijen backpackers. I stayed here and it was a great stay with friendly staff. It is situated at a walkable distance from the harbour where you get off the ferry while arriving from Bali.
There are many stay options in Banyuwangi as well. Apps like Hostleworld or Booking.com would help you locate a few good ones.
Arranging your trek
You can do the Ijen crater trek on your own or through an organiser. To do it by yourself, you can hire a scooter and drive to the Ijen Geopark at midnight. But make sure to get all the documents before heading there.
- Entry ticket - You need to book this in advance on the official site. The price is 100K IDR on weekdays and 150K IDR on weekends. In case of doubt, check with the place of stay.
- Medical certificate - Visit the nearest medical clinic and get a certificate for 50K IDR. This is a standard report generated at the Government hospitals. The process is basic and will not even take you more than 5 minutes.
- Copy of your ID proof.
Once these documents are received and booking has been made, you can reach the Ijen trek starting point and begin your trek around 2AM. I am sure there would be enough crowd on any given day and it should not be difficult to find your way up to the crater rim and then to the location where you spot the blue flames.
However, if you wish not to be adventurous and would like to do this trek with a group from the hostel or a trekking group then you have to make the necessary payments and they will take care of the rest. They will direct you to the nearest clinic for the medical certificate. The fee of 350K (2025) includes entry fee, trekking gears and transport with breakfast. I think this is a reasonable price.
Gears required
- Trekking shoes (Must) - The descent to the crater is filled with loose rocks and it is important to wear a shoe with proper grip.
- Gas mask (Must) - It is very difficult to trek without a mask here. You will find shops at the trek start point that rent out masks.
- Head torch (Must) - It is dark and you need to see the trail.
- Eye glasses (Optional) - When you get to the bleu frame, the area is filled with fumes that often cause burning sensation in the eyes. It is better to have a glass. This too can be rented at the base.
- Light Jacket - During the night, the temperatures drop. You may not need it during the walk but you will need a light jacket when you are watching the sunrise.
The Trail
The night trek normally begins around 2AM from the base because you need to get to the blue fire when it is still dark and then manage to reach the crater rim to view the sunrise. So, plan to be at the entry point of the trek before 2AM. The total distance covered by this trek is 10KM (5KM one-way). The entire trek can be divided into to two stages -
Stretch 1: Up to the crater rim (4KM)
This trail is mostly a muddy trail that can be slippery during the rainy season. The trail is wide enough to accommodate hand-pulled rickshaw carrying tourists, of which there are many. You can avail this service up to the crater rim if you are not able to walk. The climb is moderate due to some steep portions. However, the trail is straightforward and passes through dense vegetation growing along the slopes of the mountain.
Stretch 2: Descent to Kawah (lake) Ijen (1KM)
This stretch is challenging as it is filled with loose rocks and it is easy to stumble upon them. One needs to be extra cautious here as the route can get crowded during weekends. Along with trekkers, there are also local miners who carry solidified sulphur. The distance is short and will take you about 30 minutes to reach the blue flame area.
The Trail back (5KM)
Once you are done watching the blue flames, head to the Lake Ijen. Observe the highly acidic crater lake. Needless to say that you should not be touching the water.
Once that is done, head back to the crater rim to watch the sunrise. You can walk along the ridges and pick a place to relax and view the sky colours change over this turquoise lake and steam vents.
As you return back to the base, you will find local farmers selling the frehsily harvested fruits from the area. Due to the highly feritle volcanic soil the fruits are extremely delicious. Make sure to pack some for your journey.
My Experience
This was an incredible trek for me. I had never witnessed something like this in my life before. I booked this trek with Ijen backpackers. We left the hostel at around 1AM and reached the base around 2AM. Our trek organisers gave us the gas masks and head torch. The trek up to the crater rim was steep and tiring. It was also slightly slippery due the light showers the previous evening. Since it was a weekend there were hundreds of people there. Though it was cold, it was bearable. As we began walking, the body felt warmer and the light jacket I was wearing had to be removed.
The descent to the crater was challenging as there was a crowd. At the crater, the fumes filled up my lungs when I removed the mask at times. A burning sensation ran through my windpipe. It was a bit scary to be honest but I must admit, also exciting. The blue fire, resembling a waterfall, looked marvellous. All the effort was worth taken for this one magical sight.
After stopping by the lake for some time, we headed back to the crater rim to watch the sunrise. Be prepared to tolerate the pungent smell of sulphur not just while trekking but also for days after you return. The clothes will need a good wash. But this journey is worth all these minor inconveniences.
My Film on Ijen Crater Trek
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