Avoiding Bromo Volcano: Why You Should Skip This Trip and Stay Safe

I have never experienced such a physically and mentally exhausting trip! I felt utterly drained, both body and soul. It took me two full days and nights of deep sleep to even begin to recover.

We touched down in Surabaya by plane at 11 PM that night. After meeting our driver, we embarked on a four-hour journey along a relatively smooth road, arriving at the jeep transfer point around 4 AM. The next leg, which was supposed to be a one-hour drive up the mountain, turned into a grueling six-hour ordeal due to heavy traffic.

We finally reached our destination at 6 AM.
The entire route was a winding, steep ascent, with the constant smell of engine oil and the rumbling noise of motorcycles. At one point, I was ready to throw in the towel, so before we even made it to the sunrise viewing platform, we decided to stop. Seeing the sunrise just wasn’t worth the effort anymore.

After snapping a few photos, we cut our visit short and asked the driver to take us to the crater. This meant another half-hour of spiraling down the mountain, followed by a hike up to the crater. Breathing in volcanic ash, we opted to ride horses back down, but it turned out to be even more tiring.

The poor horses were clearly struggling, bumping their heads against their owners, begging for a break. Once again, we ended the trip early and returned at 8:30 AM.
By noon, we were back at Surabaya airport, where we grabbed a bite to eat at a few different restaurants, charged our devices, and waited for a delayed flight back to Bali, which finally departed at 8 PM.

The next day, I had no energy left for relaxation. I hastily packed my luggage and headed home.

Before setting off, I was prepared for a challenging night climb, but I didn’t expect it to completely overwhelm me. To avoid too much hardship, I specifically chose only the Bromo itinerary. So, I really admire those people online who tackle both Bromo and Ijen in one night and rave about how beautiful and worthwhile it is. I think they must be superhuman or, perhaps, a bit dishonest.

I was also puzzled by the sight of people standing on top of jeeps and taking pictures. It reminded me of the group in Chiang Mai’s Tha Phae Gate, scaring pigeons for photo ops. It seemed exactly the same, and I was filled with question marks. Maybe those who enjoy Chiang Mai would find this place appealing as well.

If I had to rate this trip out of 10, I can only give it a 5.
Four points come from the InterContinental Resort in Bali, where all my good experiences in Bali were centered.
Another point is for the luck of the volcano; it started to fog up as soon as we came down from the crater, and we couldn’t see anything, making it somewhat worth 1/10 of the effort but definitely not worth the overall experience.

In summary, the environment here is terrible, the roads are crowded, the air is pungent, there’s a lack of good food, and the strange looks from passersby. In just six days, it drained all my energy. I don’t like it here and will never return.

However, these grievances do not signify a failed journey. In fact, I’ve reaped numerous benefits from this experience. For instance, I now have a clearer understanding of the types of destinations and travel styles that truly resonate with me. I’ve learned that waking up at the crack of dawn, staying out until the wee hours, or trekking through rugged terrains for so-called breathtaking views are not my cup of tea.

The challenging latter part of the trip, in particular, provided profound insights into my own preferences and, more importantly, helped me discover my authentic self.