Late in the evening, we arrived at the famous Mount Bromo volcano on the island of Java, Indonesia. We would be watching the sunrise at Bromo early the next morning. The weather was still wonderful with lovely temperatures! I couldn’t have suspected that the next day would be quite different.
Hiking Mount Bromo Volcano – Java
It was my first trip to Indonesia, and I was completely hyped because I thought it was so amazing. We came from Jakarta and had spent a few days in Yogyakarta, visiting the Dieng Plateau. I really loved it there too. I enjoyed the weather, the food, and the people. Read more about the Java route I traveled.
Where is Mount Bromo Located?
You’ll find the Mount Bromo volcano on the island of Java in Indonesia. The volcano is easily accessible by jeep, and from that point, you can also climb Mount Bromo fairly easily.
Is Mount Bromo Worth Visiting?
I found the landscape and the volcano very impressive to visit. It was a kind of lunar landscape, which I hadn’t expected. If you book the trip where you also see the Mount Bromo sunrise, it’s naturally doubly worthwhile, that is, if you actually get a beautiful sunrise to see.
Is Mount Bromo Volcano Still Active?
Yes, Mount Bromo is still an active volcano and last erupted in 2004. The volcano is well monitored, and you don’t need to be afraid of an eruption happening during your visit, as everything gets canceled in time.
Prepare for a Chilly Morning
The next morning we had an early start. Well before sunrise, it was cold and yes, we were allowed to rent a jacket 🙂 I love that, don’t I? In Asia, they’re always prepared for everything or have a solution, and this was no exception. For one euro, you could rent an old jacket that keeps you warm during the Mount Bromo sunrise.
We would still climb a bit before we had the beautiful view of the sunrise at Mount Bromo volcano.
Mount Bromo Sunrise – Indonesia
Most tourists obviously don’t walk around with a thick winter jacket in their suitcase in a summer country 🙂 I initially thought I wouldn’t need one… I don’t get cold that quickly. But in hindsight, I’m very glad I accepted it. On the plain, it can get quite cold, and in the morning, believe me, it was really cold!
Hiking and Sunrise at Mount Bromo
Well… this was the amazing view we were promised 🙂
As you can see, it was unfortunately very cloudy. We could hardly see anything. However, we could buy a nice hot cup of coffee here 🙂 And that was really quite nice… A good warm-up! And still enjoying the unique moment of standing there. Standing with so many tourists in one spot, waiting for that sun to finally break through.
This is really the most we saw of the sunrise at Mount Bromo volcano.
Well… you can’t have everything, right? After that, we climbed Mount Bromo with full optimism!
The Mount Bromo sunrise that disappeared into the fog for us…
Visiting Mount Bromo Volcano
What a strange volcanic landscape, very unusual to see! It really looked like some sort of lunar landscape, a sea of sand I also read somewhere. Everything in the surrounding area was ‘dead,’ and little to nothing grew there.
I naturally bought an offering for the volcano. They were everywhere, so it seemed like a nice gesture to me.
From the parking lot to the beginning of the stairs is a pleasant walk. You walk through a desolate landscape, and I looked around with wondering eyes. I had never been in a desert before. I felt like I was there now… Although that’s not what it is. It looked like a kind of lunar landscape. Not much to nothing grows anymore, and it was gray and dreary.
Hiking up Mount Bromo, Java, Indonesia
And then up Mount Bromo. There are quite a few steps. That was somewhat harder than it initially seemed. This will be due to the thinner air at over 2,300 meters altitude because it wasn’t such a massive climb. But by walking slowly, you’ll get there. At the top, a beautiful view into the Bromo crater awaits you, as well as the surrounding area!
I shared the offering with my travel buddy so we could both offer something to Mount Bromo volcano, of course.
On the way back, you can also see that everything in the area was destroyed, burned, or starting to grow anew.
It gives the whole thing a very surreal appearance. I thought it was a wonderful experience to be here and make the climb to the top. Even though the sunrise was a bit of a letdown, the rest of the day was really great! Would you also want to walk up Mount Bromo?
Where to Stay During Your Visit to Mount Bromo Volcano?
We, like most people, stayed in the city of Malang. This is just over an hour’s drive from Mount Bromo.
The luxury option with a lovely swimming pool is Hotel Tugu Malang. They have good food, it’s beautifully and authentically decorated, and it has a great location in the center of Malang.
Or are you looking for a hostel? Then Snooze Malang is the place for you!
Book Your Day Trip from Malang to Mount Bromo with Sunrise
Want to Read More About Indonesia?
- Visit Samosir Island – Swimming in Lake Toba Crater Lake, Sumatra
- Visiting the Shaman – Mentawai Islands, Sumatra
- Adventurous Travel – Sleeping in a Cave in Harau Valley, Sumatra
Or Visit Malaysia