The Ijen Plateau is a stunning region of East Java that features a large number of high volcanoes and good trekking. It is in the east of East Java, to the south of Bondowoso.
The main peaks on the Ijen Plateau include those of Gunung Ijen, Gunung Suket, and Gunung Merapi - all of which are around 3,000m. The lofty 3,332-meter Gunung Raung is the highest mountain here. Coffee plantations are all around and human habitation is widely dispersed which adds to the appeal of the place.
One of the highlights of Ijen Plateau is the sulphurous Kawah Ijen Lake; a large crater lake atop a dormant volcano. Sulphur is dug by hand from here. To get here, visitors need to hike for around three kilometers from Pal Tuding. It’s located in a national park where there are camping facilities.
Getting There & Away
The nearest airport is in Denpasar, Bali, around 120kms east of the Ijen Plateau. Buses run to the ferry terminal in Gilimanuk and through to Banyuwangi, from where public transport goes to Pal Tuding on the plateau. The entire trip takes around 4 or 5 hours.