Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.09 hoursChallenging
Ijen Blue Fire Trek
The ferry to Java and a pre-dawn climb up Ijen for the blue fire and the turquoise crater lake at sunrise.
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Kawah Ijen, East Java
The crater lake and blue fire of Kawah Ijen in East Java, as an overnight trip from Bali's north-west coast by the ferry to Banyuwangi.
Blue fire before dawnAbout nine hours from Bali's north-west coastFerry via Banyuwangi
Kawah Ijen is the crater of the Ijen volcano in East Java, across the Bali Strait from West Bali National Park. It holds a turquoise acid lake a kilometre wide, a sulphur mine still worked by hand, and, before dawn, a blue flame at its vents.
From the north-west coast of Bali it is a single trip of about nine hours: the ferry from Gilimanuk to Ketapang, beside Banyuwangi, a drive to the Paltuding trailhead, the climb to the rim, and the same way back. Hotel pickup from Pemuteran and Pejarakan, the ferry, a guide, entrance fees and lunch are included.
Map of Kawah Ijen
Things to do around Kawah Ijen
- Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting to Kawah Ijen
- Hotels in Pemuteran and Pejarakan
- For the Ijen trip. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.
- Pickup at 23:00 or 03:00
- Gilimanuk to Ketapang
- Ferries run day and night. The return ferry is included on the Ijen trip, with private transport in East Java.
- About 1 hr by ferry
- Paltuding trailhead to the crater rim
- The last part is steep. Bring trekking shoes and warm clothes.
- About 3 km on foot
- Ketapang ferry terminal to the Menjangan boats
- About an hour on the ferry to Gilimanuk, then half an hour east along the park. Allow longer if the ferry queues for a berth.
- About 1 hr 45
Practical information
The trip is not advised in the rainy season.
Because of the night start, plan a night on the coast either side.
Transfers between the ferry at Gilimanuk and hotels on the north-west coast can be arranged by private car.
Where is Kawah Ijen?
Kawah Ijen is in East Java, Indonesia, inland from Banyuwangi, the town that faces Bali across the strait. Kawah is the Indonesian word for crater. The climb starts at the Paltuding trailhead.
The Menjangan coast and West Bali National Park lie on the Bali side of the same strait, and the volcanoes of East Java can be seen from there, so Ijen combines easily with a stay in the north-west.
The blue fire
Before dawn, sulphur-rich gas escaping from the vents in the crater burns with a blue flame. It is often called blue lava, but it is burning gas, and it can be seen only in the dark. The trip for the blue fire therefore leaves the hotel at 23:00.
The blue fire depends on the weather and on volcanic activity, so it cannot be guaranteed.
The crater lake at sunrise
After the blue fire, guests watch the sunrise from the rim, above the turquoise lake that fills the crater. Guests who want the lake and the sunrise without the night climb can leave at 03:00 instead.
The climb
The path from Paltuding to the rim is about three kilometres, and the last part is steep. You need reasonable fitness, trekking shoes and warm clothes.
A health certificate is required to climb; it can be arranged for a small fee. A gas mask and torch are provided by some operators and not others, and we confirm which when you book. Operators generally take guests aged twelve and over.
Banyuwangi and the ferry
Banyuwangi is the gateway to Ijen on the Java side. The ferry runs between Ketapang, beside Banyuwangi, and Gilimanuk, at the western tip of Bali. The crossing takes 45 minutes to an hour, and ferries run day and night; at busy times a ferry can wait offshore for a berth. On the Ijen trip the return ferry and private transport in East Java are included.
The same ferry serves travellers arriving from Java. From the ferry terminal at Ketapang, travellers coming overland from Ijen and Banyuwangi reach the Menjangan coast in about an hour and three quarters, and we arrange the transfer from the ferry at Gilimanuk to hotels in Pemuteran and around the national park.
Frequently asked questions about Kawah Ijen
Where is Kawah Ijen?
Kawah Ijen is the crater of the Ijen volcano in East Java, Indonesia, inland from Banyuwangi, the town that faces Bali across the Bali Strait.
How do you get to Kawah Ijen from Bali?
By the ferry from Gilimanuk, at the western tip of Bali, to Ketapang, beside Banyuwangi, then by road to the Paltuding trailhead. On our trip, hotel pickup from Pemuteran and Pejarakan, the return ferry and private transport in East Java are included.
How long is the ferry between Bali and Java?
The crossing between Gilimanuk in Bali and Ketapang, beside Banyuwangi, takes 45 minutes to an hour. Ferries run day and night. At busy times a ferry can wait offshore for a berth, so allow extra time.
Can you visit Kawah Ijen as a day trip from Bali?
Yes, from the north-west coast. The trip takes about nine hours and returns the same day, leaving at 23:00 for the blue fire or at 03:00 for sunrise at the rim.
Why is the fire at Kawah Ijen blue?
Sulphur-rich gas escaping from the vents in the crater burns with a blue flame. It is burning gas rather than lava, and it is visible only in the dark.
Will I see the blue fire?
The blue fire depends on the weather and on volcanic activity, so it cannot be guaranteed. It can be seen only before dawn, on the 23:00 departure.
Is Mount Ijen hard to climb?
The path from the Paltuding trailhead to the rim is about three kilometres, and the last part is steep. You need reasonable fitness, trekking shoes and warm clothes, and a health certificate is required.
Is Kawah Ijen suitable for children?
The trip starts at night, climbs steeply and passes through sulphur fumes, so operators generally take guests aged twelve and over.
How many nights do I need for Ijen?
Plan a night on the coast either side of the trip, because of the midnight start.
How do I get from Banyuwangi or Ijen to Menjangan Island?
Take the ferry from Ketapang to Gilimanuk, about an hour, then drive east along West Bali National Park for half an hour. Allow about an hour and three quarters from the ferry terminal to the coast opposite the island; the transfer from the ferry can be arranged.
Plan your trip with us
Send us your travel dates and requirements, and our team will reply with availability and prices. We arrange accommodation, tours and transfers as a single booking.
- No deposit to hold dates while you decide
- One enquiry covers the stay, the trips and the transfers
- Local operators and hotels, booked and confirmed for you