Bromo - Kawah Ijen: 4 Days 3 Nights for Only 1800 Baht

Note: This translation is concise and focuses on the key information, as per your instructions.

(My apologies for any mistakes in my first review.) (The photos aren't very good, but I put my heart into it. T T)

This trip was with two friends, and it was just one of my many journeys.

My main trip will be 12 days, 3 countries, 7000 baht, and it can be done.

**Food is not included in this price.**

My journey began in Bali.

This journey began on October 12, 2016.

My journey began with a bus ride from Bali Island to Gilimanuk Port. The bus departed from Terminal Bus Ubung at 8:00 AM sharp.

• This is a picture of the car we will be riding in. (The transportation here can be a bit scary. When we arrive, everyone around us will run towards us, like they are cheering for a sports team. But don't worry, just stay calm and walk inside.)

The bus fare was 60,000 IDR. The bus is an orange-colored vehicle. (Tip: You can board the bus directly without purchasing a ticket from the ticket seller. I think it might be cheaper than buying from the seller.) We will arrive at Gilimanuk Port around 12:00 PM. Upon arrival, we will purchase a ferry ticket to cross to Banyuwangi.

• A photo depicting the bustling atmosphere surrounding the Gilimanuk harbor.

The boat fare is 6000 IDR. Upon arrival in Banyuwangi, please adjust your time by 1 hour as the time difference between the two islands. The boat journey takes approximately 50-60 minutes.

Once you arrive at the Banyuwangi port, walk to the Banyuwangi Baru train station, located directly opposite the port. From there, take a train to Karangasem Station in Banyuwangi city. The train departs at 1:30 PM and costs 17,000 IDR. The journey takes approximately 15 minutes.

Upon arriving at Karangasem Train Station, exit the station and you will find motorbike rental shops directly opposite. The rental price is approximately 70,000 IDR. After renting a motorbike, proceed to Paltuding.

• A picture of a motorbike rental shop located opposite the train station.

- The surroundings of Karangasem train station

- View on the way up to Kawaikajean

The estimated driving time to Kawaeejian is 1-2 hours. However, I experienced a flat tire on the rear wheel halfway up the mountain. It was a very unfortunate situation. For those who plan to ride a motorcycle to Kawaeejian, be aware that there is a large intersection where you turn left to go up the mountain. There is a pavilion in the middle of the intersection. This is the only intersection with a pavilion. Drive up the mountain for about 500 meters and you will find a motorcycle repair shop. I had my tire replaced for approximately 10,000 IDR.

• Images of the repair shop and surrounding area.

My bad luck didn't end there. My car overheated in the middle of the road, leaving me stranded. We stopped several times to let it cool down, but eventually decided I should hitch a ride with another car while my friend slowly drove the overheated car behind.

• Parked cars (It is recommended to check the car and radiator before going up the mountain because the car we got seemed to be running low on water. We filled it up in the morning and drove down normally.)

- The person who gave me a ride is a staff member at Paltuding.

Paltuding: A Base Camp for Kawah Ijen

Paltuding serves as a base camp and starting point for treks to Kawah Ijen. Upon arrival, inquire about tent rentals. The initial price quoted may be around 150,000 IDR, but negotiation is possible. I managed to secure a tent for 100,000 IDR. Paltuding boasts a 24-hour convenience store, though mobile phone reception is unavailable. Wi-Fi access can be purchased for 5,000 IDR per hour. Notably, campers using their own tents can stay free of charge.

• A view of the surroundings of Paltuding.

Paltuding is the starting point for all trekkers attempting Mount Kawah Ijen. The trailhead opens at 1:00 AM. Before reaching Paltuding, trekkers must pay an entrance fee of 2,000-3,000 IDR at the base. Prior to commencing the ascent, trekkers must purchase an entrance ticket for 100,000 IDR. Face masks are available for rent at 50,000 IDR each, but bargaining is possible, as we were able to secure them for 40,000 IDR each.

We started our ascent of Mount Kawaikijen at 1:30 AM. The hike took 2-3 hours.

The picture of the blue fire is in my camera. It's at the store I added, so I haven't included it in this review yet.

- A view of the atmosphere after walking up from the Blue Fire viewpoint. There were a lot of tourists. The walk up was also tough, it was an uphill climb the whole time. T T

We arrived back at our accommodation around 6:30 AM and went straight to sleep, as we were incredibly exhausted. After resting, we packed our belongings and checked out of Kawah Ijen around 8:00 AM to continue our journey to our next destination, **Bromo**.

Journey to Mount Bromo: A Train and Bemo Adventure

On the morning of October 13, 2016, my friend and I embarked on a journey to Mount Bromo. We set off at 8:00 AM, eager to catch the train from Karangasem to Probolinggo. The drive down was exhilarating, as we pushed the limits of speed to avoid missing our connection.

We arrived at Karangasem Station at 9:10 AM, just in time to purchase our tickets. The train departed promptly at 9:15 AM, promising a four-hour journey. Equipped with convenient power outlets, the train provided a comfortable ride.

We reached Probolinggo in the early afternoon, around 1:30 PM. Stepping off the train, we immediately sought out a bemo, a local shared taxi, to take us to the Probolinggo bus terminal (Terminal Bayuangga). The fare was a mere 5,000 IDR per person.

At the bus terminal, we boarded a green bemo bound for Cemoro Lawang, a village nestled near the majestic Mount Bromo. This village offered the perfect base for exploring the volcanic landscape.

• The fellow travelers I met were Malaysian and spoke Indonesian, so I asked them to help me negotiate the price. The fare was 15 people, 35,000 IDR per person. In the late afternoon and early evening, the prices are very high. At first, there were 8 of us, and we each got 50,000 IDR. A little later, 3 more people joined us, making a total of 11, and they said they would charge us 75,000 IDR each, which was very expensive. In the end, we managed to negotiate a price of 50,000 IDR per person for 11 people. We arrived at the village of Kamera Rawang at around 5:30 pm.

- The atmosphere at the Camera Rawang village at around 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

The village is shrouded in mist very quickly, around 2-3 pm. The weather up here is very cold. When we arrived at the village of Cemoro Lawang, my friends from Malaysia and I helped each other find accommodation. We found a place to stay at Yog Bromo Homestay for 150,000 IDR per night per room. The price is cheaper than booking on Agoda, almost half the price. I recommend walking around and bargaining. The rooms here are not very good, but they are okay for the price. My friends and I decided to stay here for 2 nights. So, on our first day at Bromo, we didn't rush to wake up early to watch the sunrise. There are many restaurants here, with prices ranging from 15,000-30,000 IDR per meal. Hot water costs 2,000 IDR per glass, and bottled water costs 3,000 IDR. On the first morning, we woke up around 9-10 am.

- A picture of Bromo at 10 am, please.

We then decided to travel to Mount Bromo, taking a shortcut next to the DEMARA INDAH Hotel. The road was quite rough, as the usual route was closed.

• The stairs are located next to the tree on the right side of the door.

The path may seem long, but it's not as far as you might think. Kawaii-chan is much more brutal. It takes about 2-3 hours to walk there and back.

After returning from Bromo, my friends and I stayed at our accommodation and took a walk around the town. The next morning, we woke up at 4 am to watch the sunrise and the view of Mount Bromo from various viewpoints. Then, on the morning of October 15, 2016, we found a car to take us back for 50,000 IDR each to our next destination, Yogyakarta.

This review contains errors. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

I apologize that the photos may not be of the highest quality. ><

The total cost per person, including the bus fare, is as follows:

Transportation to the port: 60k Boat fare: 6k Train fare: 17k Motorbike rental: 35k Fuel: 10k Motorcycle repair: 5k Tent rental: 50k Kawah Ijen entrance fee: 100k Internet: 5k Mask: 40k Train to Probolinggo: 80k Transportation to the bus terminal: 5k Transportation to Kampung Kramat Rawang: 50k Accommodation for 2 nights: 150k Transportation from Kampung Kramat Rawang: 50k Paltuding entrance fee: 3k

Total cost: 666,000 IDR

I exchanged money from Thailand and received a rate of 0.00272.

Converted to Thai baht, this equals 666,000 x 0.00272 = 1,812 baht.

For those who got a better exchange rate than me, or whose car didn't break down on the way, or even more extreme, didn't rent a mask to climb Khao Gajah, you might have done it cheaper than me. :)

**Food costs per meal range from approximately 10,000 to 30,000 IDR.**

**SIM cards with internet access are widely available for purchase in various cities. The cheapest option I found was 2 GB for 50,000 IDR.**