Things To Prepare Before Hiking Kawah Ijen At Night

Hiking Kawah ijen, East Java

Kawah Ijen - become one of a must visited attraction when you travel to East Java, it has of 2,386 meters above sea level and be the most acid volcano in Indonesia. Kawah Ijen hiking level is medium, but good physical condition is really needed because of the hiking track is steep all the way. Even it is on medium level you need to prepare everything really well, here are some information about what to prepare before starting your Kawah Ijen Tour...

Pick up and drop off

We will pick you up at the hotel in Banyuwangi between 00.30 - 01.00 AM, the pick up time will depend on your hotel location. You will be informed about the exact pick up time right after your booking is finalized. You will also informed about the assign tour guide, and driver complete with his photo profile and name so that you can easily meet him. 

Where in hotel exactly you will be picked up ? Our team will meet you up at the lobby or reception area at the given time ranged.

We will drop you off back at the same hotel at around 09.00-10.00 AM

What to bring

To ensure the tour is going well and comfortable, there are some stuffs you need to bring for the hike :

• Warm clothes, jacket, and long trousers. Scarf, hat, gloves are optional
• The track is dominated by sandy and rocky trail, Trekking shoes with a good grip will be helpful
• Rain coat, it is optional when the weather is cloudy but we can buy the the nearby shop
• Proper Gas Mask,will be helpful to breath easier when the sulfur gas coming trough us (provided)
• Extra clothes to change (optional)
• Full charge smartphone or camera, extra battery for camera is optional
• Water bottle, we can buy on the road after pick up
• Small backpack for your belonging

Ok...Seems like you have already prepared all the stuffs needed for the hike but these are also some things you need to know to make sure your Kawah  Ijen tour more safe and comfortable.

A narrow path to get to the bottom of the crater, the same track to get to the blue fire spot

Image credit : https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/pictures-kawah-ijen-volcano-east-java

1. Remove Jewelry & Eye Lens
You will visit the most acid volcano in Indonesia, it produce sulfur material and gas. Sulfur will make anything contain any metal contain stuffs easily get rusted. It is also effected to any electronic device like camera and smartphone, so that bring a protector is better (like a waterproof bag for smartphone). Meanwhile the acid sulfur gas will easily cause irritation when it get into your eyes and It will cause any jewelry turn to black color.

2. Be Respectful To The Miners
The is only one way to get to Kawah Ijen, from starting point until going to the blue flame spot.There is no special track for tourists, visitors need to share the same path with the miner. Please give them more respect, by doing these simple ways :

• Stop for a while and let them go first, they are carrying 80 Kg of sulfur rocks on their shoulders. The path is narrow, it is won't fit for 2 persons passing.
• Ask for their permission before stopping them to take picture of them, remember they are not a tourist attraction. They are also human,so be more respectful to them.
• Do not disturb their work, when you are at the crater bottom give more space for the miners to do their work instead of disturbing them only for taking blue flame photos.

3. Follow Your Tour Guide Advices

For your own safety please be careful and always follow your tour guide advices because he knows very well the place like his own play yard. Most of the accident at Kawah Ijen occurred due to behaving carelessly. 

Buy a sulfur souvenir, is it worth..?

Frankly speaking, NO. It is useless. The souvenirs are made of hardened molten sulfur, it is really fragile (easily to get broken). Sulfur is considered as a dangerous chemical material, you can not take them on the flight. But if you want to contribute to local economic, you can buy one of the souvenirs. It is better way i think compare than giving money directly to the miners. Some of tourists give them a pack of cigarettes that make even worse.

Coffee,snack, and meal

Don't worry about getting hunger, at the parking area there few local shops selling for snacks, coffee,and local food for breakfast. Even there are some locals offer for renting gas mask, jacket, hiking sticks. There are also local shop selling for gloves, hat, and rain coat when needed.

Is it safe for kids..?

Yes, practically hiking to Kawah Ijen is safe for kids as long as they used to walk a lot. Another tips for your safety, do not allow your kids to get down to the bottom of the crater because it is too dangerous due to the toxic sulfur smoke. We advice to go to Kawah Ijen for the sunrise not for the blue flame, it is better option for kids.

We DO NOT RECOMMEND to hike Kawah Ijen for pregnant woman and traveler with breath difficulties. For traveler with disability, going up to Kawah Ijen is getting easier by riding a human taxi.

Also Read : Human Taxi - Made going up to the crater became easier

If you have any question, just leave a comment below. For booking a tour package or consultation, just reach us by email or WhatsApp on the Contact us section.