Mt Semeru (Very Hard),  Mt Batok (Moderate), Mt

Bromo (Easy) - Java Volcanoes - 4D/3N

Tue 29-May-2018

Group size: Minimum 5 pax (3 spots are confirmed)

The Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park in East-Java is an amazing

place. Not only is the Tengger caldera quite impressive with its 10

kilometers in diameter and the sea of black sand, it even has five

volcanoes located in its own caldera, four of which are still active. And

for sure Mount Bromo is the most famous one.

More to the south we will find Mt Semeru, also known as Mahameru

('The Great Mountain'), which is not only the highest volcano, but also

the highest mountain on Java, standing tall at 3,676m asl. Semeru is a

very active volcano with at least more than 50 eruptions with lava

flows and pyroclastic flows in the last 200 years.

Upon arriving in Surabaya airport we will be transferred to Ranu Pane

which is where the road ends and only hiking boots will do the job.

We will have dinner and spend the night in the homestay.

The next morning we start with our hike to the Kalimati campsite. This

is a relatively easy to moderate hike, with some splendid views of

Ranu Kumbolo, a sacred lake, so you shouldn't be exhausted when

you reach the campsite where we spend the short night in a tent.

Around midnight we start with the serious work. The trail to Arcopodo, the last campsite, is still doable, be

it that we're getting close to the 3,000m altitude mark and the treeline.

It's at least another three to five hours to the summit from this campsite, mostly steep uphill in volcanic

scree. At certain stretches there are few or no volcanic rocks, sometimes resulting in putting one step

forward and sliding back lower than where you started...

The summit area is quite big and weather permitting we will have a spectacular view of Java below us.

However since Semeru is quite active, don't come near the crater rim and watch the sporadic eruptions of

volcanic sand from a distance.

Depending on Bromo's status, we will be able to spot the volcano from the summit as well, but the crater

rim is not visible from Semeru's top.

All the hard work dragging yourself upon the slope to the summit for hours will be soon forgotten once

you start the descent to Kalimati again. The entire stretch to the treeline can be done in less than an hour,

gently running through the sand.

We will have breakfast at the campsite and prepare ourselves for the long hike back to Ranu Pane where

we will spend the night in the homestay.

Early the next morning we will board a 4x4 and head for the sea of black sand in the Tengger caldera and

then we work our way up to Mount Penanjakan. It's the most famous viewpoint, overlooking the entire

Tengger caldera with its volcanoes and Semeru in the distance. Watching the sunrise with such backdrop is

simply breathtaking.

Once the sun is lighting up the new day, we jump inside the 4x4 again which will bring us back to the

Tengger caldera from where we hike along Mount Batok to the stairs on the slope of Bromo.

Although Bromo is easy accessible, which reflects in the number of tourists making their way up, one can

follow the crater rim for a while and you will find yourself all alone pretty fast.

The climb of Batok, next to Bromo, is optional and the caldera, filled with black sand, offers a splendid

bird's-eye view of Bromo and one can spot Semeru in the distance.

On the way back we will stop for breakfast and lunch in a local restaurant on our way back to Surabaya

airport.