Bromo Volcano Travel Tips: Best Eats, Stays, Transport & What to Wear Without Tours

Group tours typically depart from Surabaya around midnight, between 12 and 1 AM, or from Malang at 2 or 3 AM, heading into the mountains to catch the sunrise. This guide focuses on entering the mountain via Probolinggo, where you can enjoy both the sunrise and sunset without having to wake up extremely early.

There will also be a separate guide for those entering from Malang. Picture the Bromo volcano and its surroundings as a vast bowl, with the Bromo volcano itself resembling a bun nestled at the bottom. You can stay on the rim of this bowl to watch the sunrise and sunset, then venture down to the bottom to explore the crater.

Duration: Two days and one night
🚗 Transportation:
Driving or renting a car: The journey from Surabaya to the two recommended hotels takes approximately 3 hours. Budget-conscious travelers can take the train from Surabaya to Probolinggo and then a taxi, or rent a motorcycle to ascend the mountain, which costs around 40-50 RMB per day, with a driving time of about an hour. It’s advisable to search for “Motorbike rent” on the map in advance and arrange it by phone.

🌅 Three sunrise viewing points: Seruni Point, where you can climb a set of stairs to reach a Hindu temple. If you’re staying at a hotel or homestay on the mountain, it’s quite convenient to get up a bit earlier and drive or ride a motorcycle for 10 minutes to catch the sunrise. The road between the first and the last two sunrise points is not connected, so you need to go down to the bottom of the bowl and then back up, or hike for about an hour on the mountain.

Getting up early and walking for an hour to the last two points is still preferable to a bumpy 3 to 5-hour ride in the middle of the night.

Entrance fee: No entrance fee is required if you are heading to Cemara Indah Hotel or Seruni Point. However, an entrance fee is needed to visit the crater, and private cars cannot go down to the crater; you must walk or take a jeep. Motorcycles can go down to the bottom of the bowl.

🌇 Sunset viewing point: Mentigen Hill. Drive further in from Lava Hotel. If you are not staying at Lava View Hotel, there will be a 220k IDR entrance fee when passing through the toll gate. Remember to keep the receipt to avoid double charging when visiting the crater the next day.

🚙 Jeep: A jeep rental costs between 650-750k IDR (about 300 RMB) and can accommodate 5-6 people. It’s highly recommended to take a jeep, as it offers great photo opportunities with the jeep and the train. Without a jeep, the walk takes about 30-40 minutes.

🐴 Horse riding: From where the jeep stops to the volcanic steps, it takes about half an hour to walk. To save your feet, you can choose to ride a horse, and you can negotiate the price, which should not exceed 100 RMB for a round trip.

Shoes, pants, clothes: For a more laid-back and comfortable look, opt for flip-flops, sandals, and shorts. Just remember to rinse your feet afterward. Be extra cautious with white shoes and pants, as they can be a real hassle to clean. The mountain can get chilly at night and in the early morning, so don’t forget to pack a jacket.

Additionally, it’s best to avoid the rainy season, as the fog can obscure the stunning views. Also, make sure to bring sunscreen, as there is little to no shade along the way.

🍚 Food: The culinary options on the mountain are fairly basic, but you’ll find a row of tent restaurants at the base that serve Indonesian fried rice, Indomie, and fried chicken legs. While not gourmet, they’re satisfying enough to keep you energized.

🛏️ Accommodation: Unfortunately, there are no luxury hotels on the mountain, and the general standard is quite basic. Here are two options that offer a convenient view of the volcano:

– **Lava View Hotel**: I’ve stayed here, and it’s a decent choice. After passing the toll gate, turn left and drive down a small slope. Mention the hotel name to avoid the toll. The rooms and meals are average, but the view of the volcano is better than what you’d get at Cemara.

– **Cemara Indah Hotel**: I haven’t stayed here, but I’ve eaten at their restaurant. Outside, there’s a row of concrete benches and tables where you can enjoy a clear view of Bromo.

Alternatively, you can choose to stay at a local homestay or guesthouse. Find the contact number on the map and book directly. The downside is that you won’t have an immediate view of the volcano from your room.