Ijen Crater
Ijen Volcano Crater in the Banyuwangi Regency of East Java, Indonesia, is one of the most attractive and dangerous places in the world. Mount Ijen is an active volcano, constantly spewing sulphur smoke clouds and incredibly fascinating blue fire. The crater contains a kilometer-wide turquoise-colored lake filled with highly acidic water; the world’s largest acid lake Kawah Ijen.
The lake is the site of a labour-intensive and extremely dangerous sulphur mining operation, in which sulphur-laden baskets are carried by hand from the crater floor by the many times unprotected miners.
How to get there
It’s not difficult to go to Ijen volcano from Villa Arun Bali. Please inform Sumberkima Hill Retreat for an arrangement to visit the site.
Should you go by yourself, then take the ferry to Java Island from Gilimanuk. It’s better to start climbing at night, so plan to spend a night nearby the volcano. Prepare about 2 hours drive to the foot of the volcano due to the road condition.
You will find beautiful mountain peaks of volcanic complex, fog and clouds shrouding slopes, scorched trees and dense vegetation of forests and fields on the way back to car/hotel.
What you need
- Protective (breathing) mask. Acrid sulphur gas (sulphur dioxide) is very dangerous to health.
- Hiking shoes
- Torch/flash light
- Water