Mount Bromo Hike Guide: How to Visit Bromo Crater from Cemoro Lawang

Overview

Distance: 3 km
Average Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty Level: Easy
Total Elevation Gain: 567 m
Start/Finish: Cemoro Lawang – Cemoro Lawang

Mount Bromo, located in East Java, Indonesia, is one of the most famous and active volcanoes in the country. The hike from Cemoro Lawang offers an unforgettable close-up look at Bromo’s smoking crater and vast Sea of Sand. Despite its popularity and accessibility, this short trek delivers an awe-inspiring experience that feels like stepping into another world.

Planning Your Hike to Mount Bromo

Getting There

My journey to Bromo didn’t start well. From Probolinggo train station, I took a bus to the Probolinggo bus station for 5,000 IDR. This is where a common Mount Bromo transport scam tends to unfold—drivers often stop early and claim you’ve arrived, while someone tries to sell you a tour. I had already heard of this, so I insisted the driver take us to the real bus station as agreed (this happened to nearly every traveller I met).

From there, we joined a group of tourists and headed to Cemoro Lawang after agreeing on a rate of 35,000 IDR. Just before reaching town, the bus stopped and asked for an additional 10,000 IDR entrance fee, which we all paid. However, once we arrived, security informed us we still had to pay the official entrance fee of 220,000 IDR.

To be clear — you are only required to pay this official fee at the security office located just after Café Lava. You’ll receive a ticket with a stamp confirming your payment.

We stayed at Yoschi’s Hotel Bromo, which was perfectly fine for a short stay and convenient for the hike.

The Mount Bromo Sunrise Experience

My girlfriend and I joined the Mount Bromo sunrise tour, but to be honest, it felt a little overrated. It was the end of the monsoon season, so the morning was extremely misty. The viewpoint offers a panoramic view of Bromo and its surrounding landscape, not the volcano itself.

The area was crowded—hundreds of tourists squeezed into a relatively small space. The sunrise was decent, but the clouds definitely took away from the moment. If you’re after peace and solitude, the viewpoint might not be ideal. Still, watching the mist shift over the volcano’s silhouette was a surreal experience in its own right.

Hiking Mount Bromo from Cemoro Lawang

Later that day, we decided to hike directly to Mount Bromo’s crater for a closer look. The route is straightforward and easy to follow—Bromo dominates the landscape, so navigation isn’t an issue. We simply followed a dirt path leading toward the volcano.

The only challenging section is the Sea of Sand at the base of the mountain. Walking on sand can be tiring, but it’s manageable. Along the way, you’ll pass locals selling drinks and snacks, and there are usually motorbikes and off-road vehicles buzzing around. There aren’t any toilets, but there are a few quiet spots if you need to improvise.

At the base of Mount Bromo, a long flight of steps leads to the crater rim. We paused to catch our breath before beginning the climb. Halfway up, my girlfriend pointed out a deep rumbling noise and asked if it was the volcano. I laughed it off, assuming it was distant vehicles. But as we climbed higher, the sound grew louder—an unmistakable, thunderous growl coming from within the earth.

Reaching the Bromo Crater

At the top, there was no mistaking it—Mount Bromo was alive. Thick white clouds of sulfurous smoke poured from the crater, and the deep rumbling and crackling sounds were both terrifying and mesmerizing.

All the travel hassles, scams, and misty mornings were instantly forgotten. Standing there, peering into the smoking heart of an active volcano, was one of the most surreal moments of my life.

We stayed for a few minutes, taking photos and absorbing the moment. It’s hard to describe the feeling—like looking straight into the Earth’s core. A fellow traveller mentioned that Bromo had erupted just two weeks earlier, which made us a little uneasy since we couldn’t check for updates (there’s no signal at the crater).

After circling part of the rim and taking more photos, we decided to make our way down. The descent was much easier, and we took our time crossing the Sea of Sand back toward Cemoro Lawang.

Final Thoughts: Why Visit Mount Bromo

Despite the tourist crowds and travel scams, Mount Bromo is absolutely worth visiting. The experience of standing on the rim of an active volcano, hearing it roar beneath your feet, is unforgettable.

Although there are about 250 steps to the crater, the elevation gain is minimal, making this a relatively easy and accessible hike for most visitors. The peak stands at 2,329 meters, but much of that altitude is already gained on the drive to Cemoro Lawang.

The area is well-equipped for tourism, with plenty of hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants catering to hikers and sightseers.

If you’re planning a trip to East Java, don’t miss the opportunity to experience Mount Bromo up close—it’s one of Indonesia’s most iconic and otherworldly landscapes.