How to get from Yogyakarta to Ijen

Why visit Ijen?

Mt. Bromo and Mt. Ijen are two popular volcanoes in East Java. Both have their own charm – Bromo with its stunning views and Ijen with its blue fire. If you get the chance, we definitely recommend visiting both of these highlights in Java.

With a distance of 140 km between Bromo and Ijen, you can fit climbing both peaks in just 2 days. That’s if you’re in a hurry and don’t get tired easily. If you have more time, you may want to include a visit to the nearby Sewu Waterfalls as well.

Note that to climb Mt. Ijen, you first have to get to Banyuwangi. Located 35 km away, it is the usual base camp for the so-called “mountain of fire” of Mount Ijen.

Starting point

First things first. There are four common base camps for hiking Mt Bromo: Cemoro Lawang (next to the Bromo), Probolinggo (50 km northeast), Malang (55 km west), and Surabaya (125 km northwest). In short, if you’re thinking of exploring Bromo and Ijen along with Sewu Waterfalls, Malang is your best bet. If you’re only planning on visiting the volcanoes, we recommend that you stay in Cemoro Lawang.

Where to stay when visiting Ijen?

There are almost no accommodations around the Ijen Volcano, and that’s why it’s best to stay in Java’s far eastern city, Banyuwangi. This city is about 35 km away from Ijen and has numerous guesthouses and Airbnbs, as well as a couple of restaurants (but don’t expect Western food!).

PRO TIP: Instead of travelling straight from Yogyakarta to Ijen, we recommend making one stop at Bromo Volcano on the way and possibly also at Sewu waterfall.

Organizing a tour from Banyuwangi

If you want to get the full experience and get close to the crater’s sulphuric blue flames, you’ll need a guide. Also, note that the most popular time to visit Ijen is at night as this gives you a magnificent view of the blue fire. Hiking this mountain in total darkness without a guide is not recommended.

Tours normally cost around 350,000 IDR ($21) on weekdays and 50,000 IDR ($3) more during weekends. This includes the entrance fee to the crater: 100,000 IDR ($6) on weekdays and 150,000 IDR ($9.10) during weekends. For private tours, expect to pay around 400,000 IDR ($24).

Almost any guesthouse in Banyuwangi will be able to book a tour for you, which includes pick-up and drop-off from your hotel in Banyuwangi, a gas mask for the tour, as well the entrance fee.

Maarten’s insider tip: When I hiked Ijen in November 2022, we stayed at Betah Homestay, which I can highly recommend. The guesthouse looks fabulous and the owner is very knowledgeable about the area. If you book a tour with him, he will find you the best guide and provide you with new gas masks.

PRO TIP: If you are wearing silver jewellery like a necklace, better leave it at the homestay. The sulfur gases can discolour the silver and darken your jewellery.

There are 3 ways to travel the 605 kilometers (376 miles) from Yogyakarta to Ijen. You can choose between the bus to Banyuwangi, train to Banyuwangi and flight to Blimbingsari. The journey takes 11 hours to 19 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by train to banyuwangi. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by train to banyuwangi with tickets starting at 95,000 IDR ($5.70).

A direct way to travel from Yogyakarta to Ijen is by train. There are only two train departures daily, at 07:00 and 18:20.

This journey takes 11 to 13 hours. Tickets start from 95,000 IDR ($5.70) for economy seats and 530,000 IDR ($32) for executive seats.

Departure and arrival station

The trains depart from two stations in Yogyakarta city centre. Tugu Station and Lempuyangan Station are about 2 km apart in the city centre. Only economy seats are available at Lempuyangan, while you can book economy, executive and business classes from Tugu Station. We would recommend booking a business or executive class for this +10-hour trip.

In Banyuwangi, the trains arrive at Kota Banyuwangi Station, previously named Karangasem Station. You can already find several accommodations right outside the train station.

There are long-distance bus services from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi daily. Bus tickets start from 295,000 IDR ($17.80).

The bus ride takes 13 hours to 19 hours 30 minutes, which is a few hours longer than the train. However, keep in mind that the bus may take longer due to traffic and delays at scheduled rest stops.

Departure and arrival station

Safari Dharma Raya and Kramat Djati Jakarta buses both depart from Yogyakarta city centre. For the specific pick-up point, you can choose the closest one from you when you book your tickets on 12GoAsia.

The buses arrive at Ketapang Bus Station, located 10 km away from Banyuwangi city centre. You can try to ask the driver to drop you off in the city centre. Otherwise, you have to take a taxi back to Banyuwangi.

It’s also possible to take a flight from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi, but note that there are no direct flights on this route. All flights make one or two stopovers, making the flight time at least 13 hours.

Flights to Banyuwangi are available only at the new Yogyakarta International Airport. In Banyuwangi, you’ll arrive at Blimbingsari Airport (BWX), located about 20 km away from Banyuwangi city centre.

Considering the travel time and the airfares, we recommend taking the train, which is a more interesting experience and produces far fewer emissions than a flight.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

Yogyakarta International Airport in Kulon Progo is located 42 km away from Yogyakarta city centre.

The easiest way to travel from Yogyakarta city centre to this airport is by train. It takes 40 minutes from Tugu Station near Malioboro and tickets are as cheap as 20,000 IDR ($1.20). The train station is conveniently connected to the airport building.

If your hotel in Yogyakarta is far from the train station, you can also take the DAMRI bus to the airport for about 70,000 IDR ($4.20). The bus has several pick-up points within and outside the city centre. Travel time is about 1.5-2 hours, depending on the traffic.

By taxi, it takes about 1.5 hours to Yogyakarta Airport with fares from 205,000 IDR ($12.40).

There is no direct flight from Yogyakarta to Blimbingsari Airport. All flights include one or two stopovers in Jakarta, Makassar, or Medan.

Including the layover, the quickest flight takes 12.5 hours, while some flights with two layovers take up to 21 hours. See here a sample flight itinerary:

• Yogyakarta to Jakarta (1h 15m)
• Layover at Jakarta (9.5 hours)
• Jakarta to Blimbingsari (1h 50m)

Airfares start from 2,000,000 IDR ($120) from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi.

From Blimbingsari Airport to Banyuwangi city centre, you can hail a taxi outside the airport building. Fares start from 1,800,000 IDR ($110).

Grab offers cheaper rates for about 60,000 IDR ($3.60). Note that Grab taxis are not allowed inside the airport terminal, so you need to exit the gate to reach the pick-up point.

There were also DAMRI buses connecting Blimbingsari Airport with the ferry port and the city centre. However, the last time we checked (February 2023), we couldn’t confirm the availability of these buses. A ticket used to cost 25,000 IDR ($1.50).

TIP: Relax and unwind at Sumberkima Hill Retreat

If you’ve just completed your overland journey through East Java, you’re likely in need of some relaxation time. Rather than hurrying off to one of Bali’s popular tourist spots, why not spend a few nights in the north of Bali and truly feel like you’re on vacation after a week of intense travel through Java?

Sumberkima Hill Retreat is the perfect place to experience real peace and enjoy stunning views of Ijen (and perhaps Bromo Volcano) simultaneously. In our Java to Bali itinerary, I’ve provided additional tips on how to kick off your adventure upon arrival in the north of Bali via ferry from Java.

If you already know where to go, don’t miss the chance to at least check out the Sumberkima Hill retreat on booking.com.