With its last eruption in 2007, Mount Bromo is an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia. Bromo isn’t the highest mountain in Java — that honor goes to nearby Mount Semeru at 3,676m — but it’s probably the most famous one. Bromo is in fact only one of many peaks inside the massive Tengger Caldera, but it’s easily recognized as the entire top has been blown off and the crater inside constantly belches white sulphurous smoke. The picturesque vision of a mountain with white sulphurous smoke is simply breathtaking. The inside of the caldera, aptly dubbed the Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand) is coated with fine volcanic sand and the overall effect is unsettlingly unearthly, especially when compared to the lush green valleys all around the caldera.
The uniqueness of the area is said to be the characteristics reminiscent of a moonscape. The legend behind Mount Bromo is also to be one of the reasons as to why this eruptive mountain seems to be more famous than others. The legend goes that the mountain gods who were denied the sacrificial 25th child of the 15th century princess named Roro Anteng and her husband Joko Seger, sent fire and brimstone to consume the child while demanding an annual ceremony to be performed to pacify the gods. The performance of the ceremony can be seen up to date.
Apart from the main sight, Mount Bromo itself, Mount Semeru, the tallest mountain in Java and one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia is a must-see when visiting Tengger Caldera. At the foot of the mountain is a Hindu temple that also attracts many visitors. Mount Batok, situated at the northern centre of the caldera is yet another sight that is worth a visit. Its growing vegetation such as the cemara trees that thrive in volcanic ash is of particular interest to most.
TRAVEL TIPS
Getting There
To reach Mount Bromo, you can fly to Juanda international airport in Surabaya. There are direct flights to Surabaya from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hongkong, Jakarta and Bali. Another option is to reach Bromo via Malang, East Java. Sriwijaya Air flies twice daily from Jakarta to Malang.
To reach Mount Bromo, you can fly to Juanda international airport in Surabaya. There are direct flights to Surabaya from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hongkong, Jakarta and Bali. Another option is to reach Bromo via Malang, East Java. Sriwijaya Air flies twice daily from Jakarta to Malang.
From Surabaya/Malang, continue your journey to Mount Bromo by booking with a travel agent, or driving the Surabaya-Pasuruan-Wonokitri-Mount Bromo route. The journey will take 2-3 hours. It is best for you to leave Surabaya at 23:00-24:00 in order to arrive in time for sunrise. Or you can stay overnight at one of the hotels at Prigen, Tretes, to make sure that you are on the crater rim before sunrise.
Ponies can take you across the sand sea to the bottom of the steep stairs that leads to the crater.
Ponies can take you across the sand sea to the bottom of the steep stairs that leads to the crater.
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| Bromo map taken from here |
Where To Stay
There are a number of guesthouses and basic hotels located around Mt Bromo. The Bromo Guest House is located at Ngadisari that lies 3 km from the crater rim. Or you can choose other hotels at Cemoro Lawang because it this situated at the crater rim.
Visitors can also stay at Tretes, Pasuruan or in Malang, the nearest towns to Bromo, and cool mountain resorts, where there are a number of good hotels with spectacular views on Mt. Semeru and Mt. Arjuna.
There are a number of guesthouses and basic hotels located around Mt Bromo. The Bromo Guest House is located at Ngadisari that lies 3 km from the crater rim. Or you can choose other hotels at Cemoro Lawang because it this situated at the crater rim.
Visitors can also stay at Tretes, Pasuruan or in Malang, the nearest towns to Bromo, and cool mountain resorts, where there are a number of good hotels with spectacular views on Mt. Semeru and Mt. Arjuna.
What To Do
Watching the sun rises spectacularly over Mt Bromo is the highlight of any trip here. Visit in the month of Kasada (usually in September-November) and witness the annual Kasada festival where the local Tenggerese come to Bromo to throw offerings of vegetables, chickens and money into the crater of the volcano.
Watching the sun rises spectacularly over Mt Bromo is the highlight of any trip here. Visit in the month of Kasada (usually in September-November) and witness the annual Kasada festival where the local Tenggerese come to Bromo to throw offerings of vegetables, chickens and money into the crater of the volcano.
When timing any activities in the area, bear in mind that sunset is soon after 5 PM and sunrise is correspondingly early at around 5:30 AM. This means you’ll usually need to get up by 3:30 AM or so to get there in time for dawn.
- Mount Batok (2440m) is a brown volcanic cone at the north center of the caldera. Unlike the other nearby peaks it is no longer active and actually has some vegetation growing on it, mostly the local cemara tree that somehow manages to survive even on volcanic ash.
- Mount Bromo, edges tinged with white sulphur and always bubbling, is the main sight. To reach it on foot, pick the left fork at Cemoro Lawang’s solitary crossing, then head down the ramp into the caldera and then across the caldera to the Hindu temple at the foot of the mountain. From the temple a steep path of 250 steps leads to the edge of the crater and a precarious meter-wide ledge from where to gaze into the volcano. Beware of local jeep-hirers, who often try to persuade tourists the journey to the mountain is not walking distance (in order to hire them jeeps, or horses). The walk from the tourist centre to the top of the mountain should take no longer than 1.5 hours by foot, and is about 3km.
- Mount Penanjakan (2770m), located just north of the caldera, is a mountaintop viewpoint accessible by paved road from Tosari and hence popular with jeeps and even tour buses. Most of the crowd comes to see the dawn at 5 AM, and you’ll likely have the large concrete observation post to yourself if you arrive later in the day.
- Viewpoint #2, along the trail from Cemoro Lawang to Mt. Penanjakan, is anexcellent way to get a stunning view of the caldera without the crowds. To reach it, head west from Cemoro Lawang (past Cemero Indah) for 6 km, past farms and fields. The paved road eventually turns into a twisty mountain trail that ends with a flight of stairs on the right, and the viewpoint (with concrete shelter) is at the top. Allow 1.5 hours for the climb up at a steady pace, and bring along a torch if attempting this at night.
- From here, you can continue onto Mt. Penanjakan by following the trail upward, after which the trail merges onto the paved road to the viewpoint (total time about 60 minutes one way). If planning to return the same way, mark the spot where the trail emerges onto the road (if you pass a stone lantern on the way down, you’ve gone too far!), and note that descending on this section can get slippery due to loose sand and rocks.
What To Eat
The restaurants near Mount Bromo open from 3 am. They generally provide various types of Indonesian traditional dishes such as Ketoprak, fried rice, Rujak Cingur, Bandrek, etc.
The restaurants near Mount Bromo open from 3 am. They generally provide various types of Indonesian traditional dishes such as Ketoprak, fried rice, Rujak Cingur, Bandrek, etc.
What To Wear
The temperature at Mt Bromo ranges from 3 to 20 degrees Celsius. The temperature may even be several degrees below zero during the dry season. If you can’t stand cold weather, you should bring a jacket, gloves and a head cover or cap. After the sun rises, the weather becomes hot pretty fast.
The temperature at Mt Bromo ranges from 3 to 20 degrees Celsius. The temperature may even be several degrees below zero during the dry season. If you can’t stand cold weather, you should bring a jacket, gloves and a head cover or cap. After the sun rises, the weather becomes hot pretty fast.