Explore Mount Bromo Independently: Essential Tips for a Guide-Free Adventure!

After four intense days of planning from the comfort of my room, I finally cracked the code! There’s only one main route to Mount Bromo, and with its soaring popularity in recent years, the paths are well-trodden. I reached out to five or six guides, and their quotes varied wildly, with differences of several hundred yuan.

Let me share my experience: my family of three is staying for just two days and one night. After much deliberation, I concluded that hiring a guide isn’t really necessary; they mainly offer convenience in transportation. Trust me, any guide you can add on WeChat is making a hefty profit from Chinese tourists!

They quoted me 4000-7000k for two days and one night, which averages to over 1000-2000 RMB per person. What kind of place demands such a high price? Do I look like a fool? Eventually, I found a guide on WhatsApp who charged around 700 RMB per person. The WeChat guides wouldn’t budge on their prices, and one even tried to deceive me.

It’s truly disheartening how some people take advantage of their own. If they won’t give me a fair deal, I won’t be a fool. For my situation, this WhatsApp guide was the most cost-effective, and it turned out to be a great choice. Next, let me tell you how to get the best deal for your group! If you can access Google, open it (if not, find a car rental service; trust me, renting a car for a group is the most cost-effective).

Open Google Maps and search for Gubuk ndeso homestay, a hotel near the volcano, which costs just over 100 RMB. The hotels there include breakfast, and it’s about an hour away from the volcano. If you don’t like this option, copy the name and search on Agoda. I recommend Agoda because it allows you to compare nearby accommodations easily.

Choose according to your budget, then open the map and search for the hotel address. Contact the hotel owner via WhatsApp; he offers airport pick-up and drop-off services as well as volcano tour services. I’ve uploaded the price list, and it’s even cheaper by 100-200 RMB than the previous quote from the WhatsApp guide.

So, I really feel this guide didn’t rip me off. If you have a large group, follow my method, and you’ll save a lot. Comparing prices is crucial, so don’t skip this step.