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How to Visit Mount Bromo Without a Tour

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Updated: 25th August 2015

Mount Bromo, located in Eastern Java, is one of the most famous volcanoes in Indonesia. Given its popularity as a tourist destination, you would think it pretty easy to access solo, but sadly, that isn’t the case. As with much of the country, public transport is not as easy to navigate as some of its neighbours.

At first glance, it may seem easier to jump on a tour from Bali or one of the big Java cities such as Yogyakarta or Surabaya. In reality, doing Mount Bromo without a tour is relatively easy with a little planning and the perfect stop before or after visiting Borobudur and Prambanan temples.

If you want to make it to the famed ‘viewpoint’ for the sunrise that the crowds descend on, then you need to rise early. When I woke up at 4 am, cursing at my alarm clock, I knew it was too late to reach the top.

Suddenly, rocking up late the night before to do Mount Bromo without a tour seemed a bad idea.

But as the sun crept out, lighting up the mist and clouds that were now below me, I realised perhaps this was going to work out better than planned.

BromoVillage

The Bromo Sunrise View

So, at 2:30 a.m., when I should have been up and hiking to the top of Mount Penanjakan with everyone else, I was blissfully snoozing away. By 4 a.m., I realised that the two-hour trek to the top to see the sunrise would not happen.

This is the same viewpoint all the jeeps head to on the tours, also totally doable by foot or asking a local with a bike to zip you up. I wandered as far as I could before the sun started appearing and made it to the first viewpoint of the handful that marked up the Mountain.

There were three Indonesians and two tourists to make up the crowd, which was a bit different from what I had heard the view at the top was like. Needless to say, I was pretty happy with the photos and sunrise I got and managed to avoid the battle for the best photo spot that many online reports summarise as the highest summit-like.

The Sea of Sand

To reach the crater and peek into it, you need to cross the ‘sea of sand’. After walking back down the Mountain or grabbing a bike lift, you will arrive back at the village.

From there, you can actually walk over the sea of sand in under an hour by taking the path the local horsemen use (right next to the main hotel, looking onto Bromo).

Alternatively, for 80k IDR, I grabbed a local bike driver to whizz me over there and back. There is meant to be a ticket to enter (about 300k IDR, I believe, at weekends), although I totally missed where this was meant to be paid and, as such, didn’t.  This isn’t the most organised or regulated attraction, so don’t expect any orderly queues for ticket offices.

The crowds taking the stairs to view the crater were insane. As such, others and I just climbed up the sand to get there, avoiding the stairs. Just step to the left or right of the main staircase and power through the sand to the summit. Once there, get ready to knock a year or two of your life, breathing in that stinky sulphur goodness.

MountBromo

Getting There

The train network in Java is pretty affordable and easy to master. You can book tickets online and check timetables here.

Taking the train into Probolinggo from Yogyakarta after seeing the temples there or from Surabaya is easy enough. Transferring on a bike to the bus station quickly and then grabbing a local bemo (bus) to Cemoro Lawang is simple. Ok, it may not be quite that simple when you throw in the odd scam and lack of information but trust me, it is totally doable.

Getting out can follow the same process; most buses leave the village around 9:30 am from the top of the hill near the main hotels and can take you into Probolinggo (though it might be cutting it fine for the 11 am train transfer). Alternatively, grab one of the shared buses that can take you as far as Bali and occasionally leave directly from Cemoro Lawang.

On arrival to the village, you will have to pay the 10k IDR village entrance fee which is fairly common, it was the same as when I visited Dieng Plateau in Central Java.

Getting Around

Once you are in the village, getting around is as easy as walking on foot as there is not much here. You can take some treks through the fields and explore the small plots around, but ultimately, you are coming here for Mount Bromo, and a one-night visit should be plenty.

Bromo Sunrise

Where To Stay

There is a fair bit of accommodation in Cemoro Lawang, with plenty of (slightly overpriced) homestays and guest houses, as well as a couple of larger hotels. As in much rural Indonesia, online booking has not spread to all accommodation providers. I usually recommend Hotels.com due to their loyalty scheme, though the selection does seem to be better on Agoda in this part of Java. If it is not peak season, you should be able to rock up and arrange something on arrival, but be mindful that this is an early-to-bed town.

Want a tour?

There are local operators in most big cities that can arrange this for you. Viator offers an overnight trip from Surabaya, which is overpriced but can at least be booked online.

BromoHorse

Top Tips

Don’t ride the horses: Another way of getting across the sea of sand is on a horse. However, I am very against animal tourism, especially when it involves breathing in that shit day in all day. These guys look miserable, and it’s a practice that needs to stop in Bromo.

Do visit Ijen as well: If you are also interested in visiting the famous Sulphur Mine and Blue Fire of Ijen, then my friend Liesbeth has a great guide on doing Kawah Ijen with or without a tour. Most people pick one or the other, but both are unique and well worth your time.

34 replies
  1. robert says:

    Mount Bromo Tour so really nice, until right now a lot of place for sunrise :
    1. View Poin1 (penanjakan 1)
    2. Perahu Hill
    3. Kingkong Hill
    4. Love Hill
    5. Seruni Point

  2. Ilham Agus says:

    Thank you so much! It’s really great article about Ijen. Anyway, I would like to welcome anyone who wants to visit Ijen at my homestay, I have special deals for it. I can also provide you an up-to-date informations about Ijen. My place is suitable for solo traveller, couple or even a family. Having the entire house for yourself will ensure the privacy you have. The place where you can feel like home & take a break before you continue your journey to Ijen. Immerse in our culture, connect with the people, and enjoy living like locals.

    I’m also offering:
    1. Bike to rent if you plan to go to Ijen by yourself (It’s the cheapest option).
    2. Sharing tours if you want to go to Ijen by car and don’t mind sharing the tour with other people.
    3. Private tour if you plan to go to Ijen by car and want to have the entire tour just for you (The car, the tour guide and etc).

    If you guys are interested you can book my homestay on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/agushiddenhomestay/ or http://bit.ly/Agushiddenhomestay

    However, if you want to book a personal & independent tour guide, I recommended you to book Pak Hamid on ijenwithhamid.com, He isn’t a licensed tour guide, but he’s working like a professional.

    Thank you & see you guys!

  3. Travel Jember Malang says:

    Unique experience and highlight of our tour. Got up early (around 3 am) then transferred by jeep, followed by 45-minute hiking to the volcano crater. This is a place which looks something out of the world. Stunning.

  4. Zarut Suriyaarunroj says:

    Hey Dan,
    I want to explore Mt. Bromo, but I have limited time as I will be flying from Jakarta and reach to Surabaya almost midnight. Then, I may have to leave Surabaya back home on Sunday at 15:00 or even 13:00! I would like to maximize my time around Mt. Bromo and explore the area as much as possible on Saturday, so I don’t know if it is possible to do the tour on my own as I am travelling with luggage due to the fact that I have business trip in Jakarta before arriving in Mt. Bromo.

    At this point in time, I don’t know if I should the following;
    1. Traveling directly to Malang or Mt. Bromo after arriving at Surabaya on Friday night or Saturday at midnight (Depending on how you look at it.) Then, go back to Surabaya on Saturday night.
    2. Because I don’t know if there is train or a bus coming to Mt. Bromo from Surabaya at that late evening, I may have to travel to Mt. Bromo on Satuday morning and come back on Sunday morninjg, but I don’t want to miss flight, so I don’t know if there is a public transportation that I can take from either Malang or Mt. Bromo back directly to Surabaya airport before noon.

    • Daniel James (Dan Flying Solo) says:

      Hi Zarut,

      When I went, nothing seemed that organised or sticking to a schedule. You would certainly be able to find someone at accommodation there to store your luggage I’m sure for a price, and some of the cafes and hotels have 24hour staff on. I was last there two years ago so I’m really not sure if the buses and public transport options have improved, you might want to look at hiring a driver for a day to be safe or asking with someone who has been more recently.

      Have an amazing time!

  5. Kanika Bakshi says:

    Thank you so much for this informative post. Actually, I am planning a trip to Mount Bromo, I have no any Idea about Bromo but after reading this post I feel Bromo is the amazing place and I will definitely go there in these places.thanks for sharing such informative post.good luck.

  6. Brendan says:

    Hi, I just wanted to say that I found this blog entry SO HELPFUL in planning my travels to Cemoro Lawang. I literally just finished the Bromo sunrise and crater visit and both were amazing! Thank you so much for putting such a detailed helpful guide together, without it I might have been too uncertain to go it alone but it gave me the self assurance I needed and it was defintely worth skipping the jeep tour.

  7. Bine says:

    Thx a lot for sharing your experience! My boyfriend and me wanna see Mt. Bromo as well but I’m not sure if everything will work out for us… we’re arriving Surabaya on a Tuesday afternoon and I thought of doing the trip on our own, starting the morning after. Like taking publics to Cemoro Lawang (or somewhere close as possible) to the sea of sand, walk up Bromo and head back to Surabaya after, on the same day. Do you think this might be possible or too much on just 1 day self organized?
    And how long would be the actual walking from Cemoro Lawang up to the crate?
    Thx for any help :)

  8. Michelle says:

    Hi Dan,
    So glad I found this blog! I’m heading to Indonesia this August and was planning to hike Bromo without a tour. How easy was it to navigate the way up to the top from Cemoro Lawang? Were there signs at all?

  9. Tonkin-Travel Vietnam says:

    Oh my god, your photos in this post are so stunning and inspiring. They make me desired to conquer Mt. Bromo immediately. You think DIY travel (I mean to this mount) is quite easy, all right? Thanks for the great post!

  10. Alex says:

    Hi dan!!

    Thanks for the great tips!

    I’ll be visiting Bromo end July 2018. Just wanna see what you think about my plan, since you’ve been there before!

    26 July Thursday
    4am train from Surabaya to probolinggo
    Reach Probolinggo around 6.30-7am

    Do angkots or minivans operate this early?

    Say if they do, I may reach Cemoro Lawang at 12pm, and I plan to start trekking Bromo after checking in at a hotel. I plan to see Bromo in the afternoon and then wait for sunset at about 5.15pm.

    Next day I’ll wake up at 3am to see the sunrise and then leave Cemoro Lawang before 11am.

    Does this plan sound feasible to you?

    Thanks a heaps

    Alex

  11. Marie-William says:

    Hey Dan!
    As I am a woman traveling alone, I am a bit scared of doing this alone without a tour… But I took a look at the price with Viator and it is almost $500 US. That is incredibly expensive!!! How much did the whole thing cost for you (transport, accommodation and all)? Like a $100 US? I really don’t want to spend $500 on a tour it’s just ridiculous… Do you think it’s safe for me to do it alone?

    • Daniel James (Dan Flying Solo) says:

      Hi Marie-William.
      I’m also wary of answering this question as a man as I know it is sadly different but I know a few female friends who did it solo and had no troubles. Generally, Indonesia and Indonesians are a really friendly bunch, the most hassle you will likely have here is the same as most places, scams for tickets and people harassing you to buy things. I think all in with the buses/trains and hostel it was likely more $60 but that obviously depends where you are coming to and from. Regardless, that tour price is insane, that’s more than my monthly rent was in Bali. I don’t really know any local tour operators in that area but do Google and get some other quotes. Generally most of these things are arranged through Whatsapp in Indonesia, even with some of the bigger tour companies, so don’t feel like it’s a scam because you communicate in that way, usually you won’t pay until they meet you anyway. Another option would be to try and meet up with other travellers nearby and share driver costs etc which again, would come no-where near the $500 cost. If you are in Banyuwangi, Malang or Surabaya, chances are most other travellers you will meet there will also be going to Bromo so a fair few people to share the costs with and then you don’t need to go solo. Have an awesome time when you make it there!

    • Orhan says:

      Hi,

      I will be in Bromo 20th August. I will be visit without tour as well. I think can be done easily.

    • Mary Liem says:

      Hey Marie,

      I am not sure if you have went on the tour. There is actually a tour agency called http://www.tourmountbromo.com that does female only public tour. I went on the top and it was quite nice. It ‘s only females so it is pretty safe. Thought you might want to check it out.

  12. Kawah Ijen Tour says:

    hi Dan, nice tips and info. i am Harys from Kawah Ijen Tour Service, here i would to bridge your friend or all people who to visit bromo or ijen, we have special package, we hope we could help to make your ijen bromo tour easier, just email me or visit our web. do not hesitate if you need more information or any assistance,,
    thanks Dan

    • CH Tan says:

      Hi Harys,

      I am a solo male traveler from Singapore who will be traveling to Surabaya fro 13Aug to 18Aug. Will like to join the tour to mt bromo n Ijen crater.

      Mind to send your quotation?

  13. mdmila says:

    You like surfing is not fun if you have not tried to surf in Indonesia.Before surfing, you can visit the site g-land.

  14. Laura @ Design Think Travel says:

    Wow, great photos and great job of seeing Bromo without using the tour mafia. We skipped Bromo because we were so put off by all the scams and overpricing. It’s almost like there’s a conspiracy to prevent independent tourism.

    We did get an aerial view of Bromo on our flight from Yogya to Bali, so we can kind of say that we’ve seen it!

    • danflyingsolo says:

      Haha. Yeah, the tourist mafia makes everything a bit harder in Indonesia – but well worth it in the end. Thanks for reading :)

  15. Shaun Lee says:

    Hi, its really great that youade it up there without tour! May i know how to book hostel online? And im going there on august, do you think walk in and bargaining for hostel is bit risky?

    • danflyingsolo says:

      Accomodation options are pretty limited, I also went in August and booked online the morning before – I have no idea which website it was on but it was certainly not one of the usual ones, maybe Travel Zoo? There was only two places with rooms still left when I checked so you might be able to get a room walkin but there is a risk you won’t (and it is freezing up there at night!) Good luck and have a great time!

  16. Justine of Travel Lush says:

    I’m really not a huge fan of tours but for some reason I still signed up for the tour when I visited Bromo in February 2014. Worst mistake ever! I took a Jeep up to the viewpoint, waiting with what seemed like a billion other tourists for a good 40 minutes in the cold, rainy darkness. When the sun did finally rise we were shrouded in a thick cloud. I never even glimpsed Bromo from the viewpoint. Visibility was at about 15 feet. It was really sad. All the Jeeps then went down to the crater. And come 9am I looked up at the viewpoint and realized the fog had burned off. Lesson learned in not doing that tour during the rainy season! Next time I’ll do it independently to avoid the crowds and the fog :)

    • danflyingsolo says:

      Oh no! that’s worse than many of the other stories I read! How unfortunate about the cloud, we didn’t even get the fog around the Cauldra! Luckily it’s a lot easier than I thought to do independently. Did you also visit Ijen?

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