Semeru, Bromo & Kawah Ijen: The Summits of the Gods

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Yogyakarta – Sukuh Temple – Tawangmangu – Tumpang

  Morning transfer to the Sukuh temple, the last bastion of Hinduism in central Java in the face of the spread of Islam. This temple features original iconography, such as phallic figures and large turtle-shaped tables, which would reveal the existence of initiatory, even orgiastic, rituals. Then, we begin a walk towards the village of Tawangmangu, on the slopes of Mount Lawu. This walk is an opportunity to discover some plant species present in this region, but also to admire superb panoramas of the pine forest and the surrounding high-altitude plantations. We end our walk by crossing the Tawangmangu park. Our first steps in the park lead us to a beautiful waterfall (Grojogan Sewu) in the middle of a tropical forest inhabited by a large community of monkeys. In the afternoon, transfer to Tumpang, near Malang. Night in a homestay. 10 hours of transfer – 4 hours of walking Positive elevation gain: 400m / Negative elevation gain: 300m Meals: Dinner

• day 2

  Tumpang – Ranupani – Kalimati

  In the early morning, 4x4 vehicles take us to the Tengger region, where the famous Mt Bromo (2329 m) is located. Our journey goes through the forests of the Tengger-Bromo-Semeru National Park, skirts the ridges of the caldera before heading up to Ranupani, the last inhabited outpost on the edge of the Semeru volcano massif. This epic journey is just a small glimpse of the landscape that awaits us in a few days. We cross hills and forests to reach a small plateau, Kalimati, located at the foot of the highest volcano in Java: Mount Semeru (3676 m). A very active volcano, it is not uncommon for its eruptions to cover its slopes with lava flows, which then reach the ocean, covering the beaches with black sand and sparkling crystals. Pleasant picnic by the shore of Lake Kumbolo. Night in a tent. 2 hours of transfer – 6 hours of walking Positive elevation gain: 600 m Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• day 3

  Kalimati – Semeru Volcano – Kalimati – Ranupani

  At night, we adjust our headlamps to climb the steep slopes of Semeru. We first cross a relatively dense forest. Around 3000 meters, the greenery gives way to a spartan landscape of volcanic rocks: we begin the final ascent of Semeru. At the summit, a grand spectacle of sunrise and successive eruptions... About a hundred meters from us, the crater of Semeru occasionally releases plumes of ash and dust. Depending on the intensity of the volcanic activity, a plume of ash can indeed be projected into the air, accompanied by a rumbling from the crater. This feeling of witnessing the manifestations of the earth's depths live will remain one of the highlights of our journey... With our heads full of images, we then descend back to the camp and resume the path to Ranupani. Night in dormitories. 9 hours of walking Positive elevation gain = 1000 m / Negative elevation gain = 1600 m Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

• day 4

  Ranupani – Mount Bromo – Cemorolawang

  Morning transfer to Cemorolawang, a village located on the edge of the caldera of the famous Bromo volcano (2329 m). Mount Bromo is the most revered by the Hindu Tengger people who live in the region. Ascent of Mount Bromo in the afternoon, with the possibility to hike around the crater. We can thus admire its crater, resembling a smoking cauldron. It is then easy to understand why the Javanese once considered this place as the entrance to purgatory. Night at the hotel. 1 hour 30 minutes transfer – 4 hours walking Elevation gain (positive & negative): 250 m Meals: Breakfast

• day 5

  Cemorolawang – Mount Pananjakan – Ketapang

  In a 4×4, we reach the summit of Mt Pananjakan (2775 m) very early to witness a fabulous spectacle. We watch the world awaken in a lunar landscape, with a breathtaking view of Mount Bromo, its sea of sand, and the Semeru volcano, both releasing thick fumaroles. Unique! Transfer at the end of the morning to Ketapang, at the foot of Kawah Ijen. Overnight at the hotel. 7 hours of transfer Elevation gain (positive & negative): 375 m Meals: Breakfast

• day 6

  Ketapang – Kawah Ijen Volcano – Bali

  At the end of the night, we set off again by 4x4 towards the slopes of Kawah Ijen. In the early morning, we walk towards the edges of Kawah Ijen (literally meaning "green crater"), where men extract sulfur at the edge of the largest acid lake in the world. Very powerful and striking images from our "discovery" tour in Indonesia. These true sulfur laborers carry nearly 100 kg of ore on their backs for about 15 km to the processing plant! We then witness the weighing and the various work contracts. Transfer to Bali at the end of the morning. 5 hours of transfer – 4 hours of walking Elevation gain (positive & negative): 350 m Meals: Breakfast Note: At the end of your stay, our team can, at your convenience, drop you off wherever you wish on Bali, at no extra cost.