Overview Compare Train Bus Flight
Ijen volcano is a popular hiking spot in East Java and is an ideal destination to add to your itinerary when travelling from Yogyakarta to Bali. Ijen is famous for having the world’s largest acidic volcanic lake, which glows a beautiful turquoise emitting electric blue flames. These flames are an incredible sight — particularly at night.
For the best experience, start your tour early and witness the magical sunrise, with the changing hues of the sky as a backdrop. Note that you will need a gas mask as you near the crater because the high level of sulfur can be toxic (and very smelly).
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!).
How to get from Yogyakarta to Ijen
When travelling the 605 km from Yogyakarta to Ijen via Banyuwangi, you have 3 options: taking the train (11-13 hours), the bus (14-19.5 hours) or an indirect flight (13hr 40m incl. transfers).
Travelling by train from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi is the most convenient option. You can choose between a morning and a night trip with a travel time of 11 to 13 hours. Train tickets start from 95,000 IDR ($6) for economy seats.
Buses are also available, but they have the longest travel time. It takes 14-19.5 hours by bus, but it may still take longer because of traffic and delays at rest stops. The drop-off point is also outside Banyuwangi city centre.
There are no direct flights from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi. All flights include one or two layovers, so travel time takes at least 13 hours. Fares start from 2,080,000 IDR ($135), including the transfers to and from the airports.
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 a good 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 because this gives you a good 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 ($22.50) on weekdays and 50,000 IDR ($3.20) more during weekends. This includes the entrance fee to the crater: 100,000 IDR ($6.50) on weekdays and 150,000 IDR ($9.50) during weekends. For private tours, expect to pay around 400,000 IDR ($26).
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 an 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.
Itinerary from Yogyakarta to Ijen
Train
- Tugu or Lempuyangan Station
- 11-13 hours
- Kota Banyuwangi Station
Flight
- Yogyakarta City Centre
- 40 minutes
- Yogyakarta International Airport
- 12.5 hours
- Blimbingsari Airport
- 30 minutes
- Banyuwangi City Centre
Yogyakarta to Ijen by Train to Banyuwangi
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 11-13 hours. Tickets start from 95,000 IDR ($6) for economy seats and 530,000 IDR ($34) 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.
Train schedule from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi
From the train station, it’s a 15-minute taxi ride to the city centre. Fares start from 20,000 IDR ($1.30) with Grab. Motorcycle taxis are also available outside the train station.
Yogyakarta to Ijen by Bus to Banyuwangi
There are long-distance bus services from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi daily. Bus tickets start from 295,000 IDR ($19).
The bus ride takes 14 to 19.5 hours, 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.
Bus schedule from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi
There are also buses departing from Terminal Giwangan, about 6 km from Malioboro in the city centre. Mila Sejahtera offers several bus trips from 11:00 to 19:00. Tickets cost 200,000 IDR ($13) per person, and you can only buy your tickets at the station.
Yogyakarta to Ijen by Flight to Blimbingsari
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 would rather recommend taking the train, which is a more interesting experience and produces far fewer emissions than a flight.
Step 1: Yogyakarta city centre to Yogyakarta International Airport
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 ($1.30). 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 ($4.50). 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 ($13).
Step 2: Yogyakarta Airport to Blimbingsari Airport by Flight
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 (1hr 15m)
- Layover at Jakarta (9.5 hours)
- Jakarta to Blimbingsari (1hr 50m)
Airfares start from 2,000,000 IDR ($130) from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi.
Step: 3 Blimbingsari Airport to Banyuwangi city centre by Taxi
From Blimbingsari Airport to Banyuwangi city centre, you can hail a taxi outside the airport building. Fares start from 1800,000 IDR ($115).
Grab offers cheaper rates for about 60,000 IDR ($3.90). 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 ($1.60).
More routes to Ijen
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About the author(s)
Ela is a storyteller, content producer, solo traveller and a mermaid-in-training. When she’s not in front of her laptop, you will find her barefoot and living her best tan on some island in the Philippines… Or exploring the depths of its seas as a budding freediver. An island girl at heart, she’ll be happy anywhere there is sea, sand, sun and coffee.
Based in Bali, Maarten’s passion for travel is undeniable. In 2016, he decided to quit his job as a stock analyst and started doing what he always dreamed of: travelling through South East Asia and helping other people plan their trips. When he is not working on Gecko Routes, you’ll find him surfing in the ocean or exploring the best gems of Indonesia.
