Bromo, Ijen & Sukamade - 3D

Turtles come ashore at the Sukamade beach almost 365 days a year. The beach is situated in Meru Betiri National Park. Ijen is home to the most acidic lake in the world while Mt. Bromo is situated in one of Indonesia's most spectacular sites.

Sulphur miner at work - Ijen crater lake Smoking Mt. Bromo in the black sea of sand - East Java, Indonesia The Jeep for the tour to Sukamade turtle beach

 

Itinerary: Bromo, Ijen, and Java turtle conservation - 3 days & 2 nights

Four kinds of turtles lay their eggs on the beach of Sukamade. Green turtles are the most common, but the giant leatherbacks come in the wet season from December to February. The other two kinds are Olive ridley and hawksbill turtles.
Mt. Bromo is one of East Java's landmarks that you shouldn't miss when you visit Java. Mt. Bromo's landscape is almost outer space. Mt. Ijen houses the biggest blue fire area in the world, while you are also standing just next to the most acidic lake in the world with a pH less than 0,5.

Click on one of the headings to read the extensive itinerary.

 

Surabaya - Mt. Bromo sunrise tour Day 1; symbol. Mt. Bromo and Mt. Ijen combined in one tour - East Java

Day 1; symbol. Mt. Bromo and Mt. Ijen combined in one tour - East JavaSurabaya - Mt. Bromo sunrise tour

Be ready at midnight. Your driver will pick you up at your hotel in Surabaya or at Juanda International Airport Surabaya.
You will drive in approximately 3 hours to Cemara Lawang village. From this village, one can see Mount Bromo. Here you will change cars. A local old timer 4wd Toyota Landcruiser (Jeep) will bring you to Mount Pananjakan, one of the highest viewpoints near Mt. Bromo. This viewpoint can be very crowded during weekends and public holidays. If you then wish to see the sunrise from another viewpoint, such as King Kong Hill or Seruni Hill, that will be possible.
After the sun warmed you up, you can get back to your Jeep and prepare to cross the black volcanic ashen sea of sand to get near Mt. Bromo. The Jeep will stop near Luhur Poten temple, from which it is a 45 minutes walk one way to the top of Mt. Bromo. If you wish to walk in the Sea of Sand, just ask the driver to stop.
Take a look back every now and then, when walking to the top of Mount Bromo. The landscape seems to change quickly. Take your time.
Then slowly walk back to your Jeep. The driver will bring you back to Cemara Lawang village.
Change cars again and continue to Bondowoso city via the winding road over Arak-Arak hill.
Hotel: Ijen View

 

The biggest blue fire area in the world & Sukamade turtle beach in Meru Betiri National Park Symbol day 2 - hiking to Ijen crater lake - kawah Ijen

Symbol day 2 - hiking to Ijen crater lake - kawah IjenThe biggest blue fire area in the world - Meru Betiri NP

The blue fire can only be seen when it is dark, which doesn't mean that 'it' isn't there during the day. If you wish to see this spectacular event, you will have to depart at midnight. It is a two hours drive from Bondowoso to Paltuding, from where your hike to the Ijen crater lake - also called kawah Ijen - starts. A local guide, obligatory, will lead you in the dark up the mountain and into Ijen's crater. In the crater, you can see the blue fire from nearby.
When the sun is about to rise, you can make your way up to the crater rim to see the landscape changing faces in the early morning light.
If you wish to skip the trip to see the blue fire, 05.00 is a good time to depart to Paltuding. You will arrive around 07.30 at the top of Mt. Ijen from where you will have colorful views over the most acidic lake in the world, while sulphur miners are at work, carrying baskets of about 80 to 100 kg out of the crater. Once at the crater rim, the sulphur is reloaded on trolleys that are wheeled down Ijen's slopes to the sulphur weighing area just behind the parking lot. 
When ready, meet your driver to continue to the Meru Betiri National Park.
You will change cars in Jajag, as once again you will need a 4wd. The route to the park is scenic. You will see some beaches and plantations and some rivers will have to be crossed as well. You will arrive late afternoon. Heading to Sukamade turtle beach is certainly off the beaten track and it requires some effort to reach the National Park and the beach, but it is very worthwhile indeed!
The turtles come ashore during the evening starting from 19:00 and depart again around midnight. A ranger will guide you to the beach and together you will wait for the turtles. Seeing a turtle coming ashore is a special moment. Watching these impressive creatures emerge from the surf and struggle-up the beach to lay their eggs on a moonlit night is an unforgettable experience. After the turtle found its spot on the beach, the turtle will dig a hole for her eggs. Some rangers will take the eggs and bring it to the hatchery as part of the conservation program, carried out since 1972. 
Although the turtles come ashore almost every night, it isn't a guarantee that you will meet the turtles.
Accommodation: Ranger's Lodge - basic homestay and electricity till 21:00

Note: please understand that hiking down into Ijen's crater is officially forbidden at any time. Therefore hiking down into the crater will be at your own risk.

 

Sukamade turtle beach - releasing baby turtles into the seaSymbol day 3 - At Sukamade turtle beach - tour: Mt. Bromo, Mt. Ijen & Sukamade - East Java

Symbol day 3 - At Sukamade turtle beach - tour: Mt. Bromo, Mt. Ijen & Sukamade - East JavaMorning adventure: releasing baby turtles

After your evening adventure, this morning it will be a special moment when you will release baby turtles from the hatchery at the beach. 
Hereafter it is time to depart to Ketapang harbour. You can take the ferry to Bali.

Java turtle conservation program

Sukamade turtle beach is situated in Meru Betiri National Park. A national park of about 50,000 hectares in East Java.
All seven species of marine turtles are now considered endangered. To prevent the sea turtles from getting extinct, the Java turtle conservation at Meru Betiri National Park has already been active for about half a century.
An egg takes about 46 days to hatch. After two weeks the baby turtles are released.
Four different species of sea turtle lay their eggs on Sukamade beach. And, since 1972 about 3000 turtles have been tagged.

Records show that the Dutch first found Sukamade beach as recently as the 1920s.

 


 

 

Tour info - Mt. Bromo, Mt. Ijen & Sukamade

DURATION: 3 days
TRAVELERS: no min. or max.

PRICE IN USD PER PERSON

2 travelers: 269
3 travelers:  
4-5 travelers:  

Price includes: private transport, 4WD Jeep at Mt. Bromo, 4WD to Meru Betiri NP, entrance fee to the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park, entrance fee to Ijen crater lake, entrance fee Meru Betiri National Park, 2 nights accommodation, meals: 3x breakfast and 1x dinner (local food at Sukamade), mineral water in reasonable amounts, seasonal fruit, ticket for the ferry to Bali
Price excludes: travel insurance, personal expenses, all lunches, and dinners (except in Sukamade), optional tours

Reservation - tour start Surabaya