‘Let’s Go to Banyuwangi
Mount Ijen—The Most Ravishing Crater in the World

At the end of last October, Bali Travel News had an opportunity to visit Ijen Crater tourist object together with 20 prominent travel agents in Bali. The Familiarization Trip that particularly packed with the theme ‘Let’s Go Banyuwangi 2’ was organized by Alfa Arian Tour & Travel. The trip was specially intended to see spectacular panorama owned by Banyuwangi (East Java), namely Mount Ijen along with its crater.

Ijen Crater is situated at Taman Sari Village, Licin District. It took four and half an hours from Denpasar (Bali) by bus and then crossed by ferry from Gilimanuk to Ketapang, Banyuwangi. “The crossing of Gilimanuk to Ketapang will take us 30 minutes. However, when huge waves occur the estimation time above can fall short,” said Suyanto, cabin crew of Nusantara IV ferry that held the group of the Familiarization Trip from Bali.
Entering the harbour, thought-provoking ‘attraction’ will draw the attention of visitors, namely children that are struggling for coins thrown by passengers from aboard of the ferry. Having arrived in Banyuwangi city, you will find many fascinating places to visit like Banyuwangi traditional market, Buddhist Temple and Batik Factory of distinctive Banyuwangi style at Temenggungan Village.

Leaving for Ijen Crater
After looking around Banyuwangi city, the group proceeded to their hotel to take a rest while preparing the journey to the peak of Ijen in the next morning. Accommodation reserved for the group was Ijen Resort & Villas located at Randuagung, Licin District. “This is the only hotel that is close to Ijen Crater,” said Nyoman Kerti, a freelance tour guide who often escortes guests to Ijen Crater National Park.
From the city to Ijen Resort & Villa took us an hour. Facilities and services provided by hotel were almost complete and perfect that made the overnight really convenient and lulled into winsome dream. Ijen Crater has been known as tourist object since 1980s, while this hotel operated in 1994 and marketed through Alfa Arian Tour & Travel that has its office in Bali.
At 04:30 Local Time, you would be woken up to have breakfast and departing to the peak of Ijen. Distance from hotel to Paltuding (foothill of Ijen) is 30 km or 1.5 hours drive by Land Rover belonging to hotel. Alluring panorama at all times will accompany and pamper your journey, like clove plantation with the extent of 4,000 hectares of PT Gudang Garam (a prominent cigarette company). There is also an activity of local inhabitants that has implement modern technology.
Having passed through sneaky roads and steep grade, the Fam Trip group arrived at the foothills of Ijen Crater National Park, Paltuding. There, we took a rest for a while. While the tour guide was paying the entrance fee, the attendant of the object gave information around the journey to the peak of Ijen Crater. Here, you will also be provided with walking stick to help the climbing.
There are no alternatives to reach the peak of Ijen, but on foot. The distance leading to the peak is approximately 3,000 meters or 2 hours walk. No smooth road during the passage and entirely is sneaky steep grade till the peak.
Along the climbing, you will meet workers who shoulder sulphur of minimally 60 kg in passing on the path. “This has not been so much, Sir!” My friend can do it as much as 80-90 kg,” said Saiful to Bali Travel News when he put down the sulphuric rock for a short break due to tiredness.
The man of 36 years old, from Taman Sari Village told that he has deeply involved in the job since he was 15 years. Manual sulphur exploration on the crater bed has become the daily livelihood of his and other the local inhabitants. “I do this work through generations,” uttered Saiful while adding that,” everyday, my friends and I can only do this work twice.”

Unique and Appealing
In general, Banyuwangi, chiefly in the vicinity of Ijen Crater National Park, has potential of stunning panoramas so it’s worth categorizing into tourist object. In addition, Banyuwangi is considered a buffer zone of Bali due to its hugely close distance.
As a tourist destination, Ijen Crater constitutes an extremely appealing crater. “ It’s the most ravishing in the world,” uttered Djoko Wahjuto, General Manager of Ijen Resort & Villas quoting the comment of tourists that frequently visit the crater
According to Djoko, it rarely occurs that a mountain has such extensive crater as that of Ijen that reaches 5,000 square meters. View of the lake’s crater with blue water and its exploration activity are so greatly surprising. “It’s a genuinely spectacular in this modern century,” Made Suryaatmaja from Asia Link Holiday Tour & Travel said abruptly.
Without being aware, sulphuric smoke covers the entire surface of crater so the sight range to the lake comes to be hindered. Manual exploration of the sulphur since the morning up to the afternoon and the use of traditional tools also become an interesting attraction of this area. “One day, there was a French tourist who was very much entertained by the activity of this exploration,” said Djoko.
Such tourists are greatly surprised because in the era of modern and sophisticated technology there is still a mine exploration is manually done by prying off the sulphuric chunk. Then, the chunk is shouldered from the fringes of the crater with the altitude of 700 m leading to foothill (Paltuding) for two-hour journey. Such sulphur is then purchased by PT Candi Ngerimbi Surabaya at IDR 345 (three hundred and forty-five rupiahs) per kg. (BTN/poll)