Stay Healthy

Temperatures on Mount Bromo are refreshingly cool during the day (although sunburn is still a real danger), but outright cold at night, as temperatures can drop to zero in the summer and are rarely much above 5°C in winter. Some of the cheaper places to stay may not provide adequate blankets or heating, so come prepared. If needed, you can rent jackets and hats at Cemoro Lawang and at the Penanjakan viewpoint for about Rp 10,000.

There are cases of Malaria each year in the lower foothills of the park and any visitor planning a long stay or to camp in this area should take necessary precautions. This is not though a problem for those visiting Mount Bromo or the high plateau only.

Stay Save

The “path” at the top of the steps up to Mount Bromo is only about 1 metre wide and in places the drop into the crater is sheer and considerable. Be careful, make sure you have a flashlight for any pre-dawn climb and always have your wits about you.

Bromo is an active volcano, and Semeru is a very active volcano. In June 2004, two tourists were killed at Bromo by rocks flung from a sudden explosion. The Smithsonian Institute’s Volcanic Activity Report keeps an eye on both, and is worth checking.

It gets very cold up on the high tops at night, probably colder than anywhere in Indonesia outside of the glacial highlands of Papua. Be suitably prepared for nighttimes temperatures not far above zero.

When timing any activities in the area, bear in mind that sunset is soon after 5 PM and sunrise is correspondingly early at around 5:30 AM. This means you will usually need to get up by 3:30 AM or so to get to a watch point in time for dawn.

For the keen hiker, this park is a dream come true and you can make your own schedule. There are so many possibilities once you are away from the obvious well known area at Mount Bromo.

• Mount Bromo edges tinged with sulphur and always bubbling is the main sight here and sadly, for some tourists it is the only sight. To reach it on foot, pick the left fork at Cemoro Lawang’s solitary crossing, then head down the ramp into the caldera and then across the caldera to the Hindu temple (Poten) at the foot of the mountain. From the temple a steep path of 250 concrete steps leads to the edge of the crater and a precarious meter-wide ledge from where you can gaze into the steaming crater. Local jeep-hirers will often try to persuade tourists that the journey to the mountain is not within walking distance in order to hire them jeeps or ponies, but the walk from the tourist centre to the top of the mountain should take no longer than 90 minutes and is about 3km.

• Mount Penanjakan (2,770m), located just north of the caldera, is a mountaintop viewpoint accessible by paved road from Tosari and hence popular with jeeps and even tour buses. Most of the crowd comes to see the dawn at 5 AM and you will likely have the large concrete observation post to yourself if you arrive later in the day. A steady hike from Bromo to Batok and then around the rim to Penanjakan will take about three hours and the last ascent of about 500 metres is very stiff indeed but truly worthwhile. Ancient Javanese Hindu texts tell of how Bromo-Penanjakan-Semeru (or Mahameru as it was then) was the spiritual axis of the universe and the point of all creation. The view from Penanjakan will explain why – it is truly breathtaking. This is where most of those iconic picture postcard views are taken from. After you have had your fill of the views, a hike back across the sea of sand to Cemoro Lawang will take about two hours.

• Mount Semeru can be climbed over two days but it is a venture for serious trekkers only and requires a high level of physical fitness. A permit must obtain in advance and would be climbers should be very aware that the mountain will be off-limits during periods of eruptive activity. This is a very active volcano. If you do decide you are up for this you should be able to find a guide to go at least part of the way with you at the park office in Ranupani. That office is also the best source of information for an assessment of the current state of the mountain and for hooking up with serious climbers from around the world.

• Viewpoint #2, along the trail from Cemoro Lawang to Mount Penanjakan, is an excellent way to get a stunning view of the caldera without the crowds. To reach it, head west from Cemoro Lawang (past the Cemoro Indah hotel) for 6 km, passing Tenngerese farms and fields. The paved road eventually turns into a twisty mountain trail that ends with a flight of stairs on the right, and the viewpoint (with concrete shelter) is at the top. Allow 90 minutes hours for the climb up at a steady pace and bring along a flashlight if attempting this at night. From here, you can continue onto Mount Penanjakan by following the trail upwards, after which the trail merges onto the paved road to the viewpoint (total time about 60 minutes one way). If planning to return the same way, mark the spot where the trail emerges onto the road (if you pass a stone lantern on the way down you have gone too far!), and note that descending on this section can get slippery due to loose sand and rocks. As of September 2008, the direct route from Cemoro Lawang up to Penanjakan and Viewpoint #2 is severely damaged because of landslides. The path is still passable, but it can be tricky to spot the dangerous parts in the dark — each visitor should have their own flashlight.

Mount Bromo is one of the most famous and most beautiful volcanoes in Indonesia. It is located in Tengger, in East Java. Mount Bromo is one of two volcanoes that were created following a massive eruption which created an enormous caldera in which are the active Mount Bromo and the non-active Mount Batok. The caldera has seen been filled with grey sands, and is called Laut Pasir or Sand Sea. Trekkers walk through this expanse on their way to Mount Bromo. The scenery is reminiscent of earth in its primeval age or a moonscape. This is more so when a layer of mist carpets the caldera floor.

Standing at a height of 2392 meters, Mount Bromo isn’t the tallest mountain in Java. That title goes to 3676 meter tall Mount Semeru, located to the south of Mount Bromo and within sight. Also called Mahameru, meaning “great mountain”, Mount Semeru is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia constantly belching steam from its peak. An undulating plateau interrupted by valleys and lakes reaches right to the foot of Mount Semeru. They are all located within the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park.

There is legend related to Mount Bromo and the region of Tengger. According to this legend, there was a 15th century princess named Roro Anteng from Majapahit who started a principality with her husband Joko Seger. They named the principality Tengger, an amalgam of the last syllable of both their names. Being childless for many years, the royal couple made a trip up Mount Bromo to seek the help of the mountain gods in granting them a child. The gods agreed to their request, telling them that they would have 25 children, but demanded that they sacrifice their final child. Together, the couple had 24 children. When the last and final child was born, Roro Anteng refused to sacrifice it. The mountain gods sent fire and brimstone until she finally relented. After the child was thrown into the crater of the volcano, his voice was heard asking that an annual ceremony be performed to appease the gods. The ceremony was still being performed to this day. It takes place on the 14th day of the full moon Kesodo, according to the Tenggerese calendar. Rice, fruits, vegetables, flowers and livestock are offered to the mountain gods.

Getting there

The nearest airport to Mount Bromo is Surabaya, about 3 hours away by bus. Most visitors to Mount Bromo access it from Cemoro Lawang, at the foot of the mountain. To go there from Surabaya’s Juanda International Airport, take the Damri shuttle bus to the Bungurasih Bus Terminal. From there, take the Patas air-conditioned bus to Probolinggo. The journey takes about 2-3 hours.

At Probolinggo, it is another one hour to Ngadisari, a town about 6km northeast of Mount Bromo and the base camp for Mount Bromo trips. Another base camp is Cemoro Lawang, about half an hour from Ngadisari. You can get accommodation at Ngadisari so that you start off a little after midnight for the trip to Mount Bromo. Be sure to bring along warm clothing, and the temperature can drop to between zero and five degrees Celcius. From there, it is about half an hour to Cemoro Lawang. The foot of Mount Bromo is a 3-km hike from Cemoro Lawang. You can hire a pony for 50,000 Rupiah or a seat in a jeep for 40,000 Rupiah to take you to Mount Bromo. Private cars are not allowed.

What to see

The main sight is of course Mount Bromo. It is always bubbling, and its edges are tinged with sulphur. From Cemoro Lawang, take the path on the left fork. It leads to the Hindu temple at the foot of the mountain. From there, a steep 250-step path leads to the crater from which you can view the volcano. Be forewarned that Mount Bromo is an active volcano. As recently as 2004, two tourists were killed when the volcano spit out molten lava, reaching as far as the Hindu temple. If the mountain appears to be acting up, stay away from it for your own safety.

Mount Batok (2440m) is a dormant volcano at the northern centre of the huge caldera. It is now growing with vegetation, mostly cemara trees that can thrive in the volcanic ash.

To the north of the caldera is Mount Penanjakan (2770m). As it has a paved road, it can be reached by jeeps and even tour buses. It is crowded with tourists at around 5:00am. If you are here at a later time, you probably get the place all to yourself.

Indonesia has a many varieties scale of mountains, which offer travelers with challenge and excitement. Filled with mountains and volcanoes, they are wide spreader in Five main Island (Java, Sumatera, Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Irian Jaya), and Two major archipelagos (Nusa tenggara and Maluku), and over sixty smaller archipelagos. Indonesia is well known country for one of the world’s most exotic places for tropical mountain and volcano. With more than 17.000 islands, Indonesia also has the greatest number of Active volcanoes.

Most volcanoes belong to the Sunda Volcanic arc, amongst the volcanoes of Indonesia the highest is Mt. Kerinci at 3,805 m above sea level, Mt. Gede at 2,958 m, Mt. Pangrango 3,100 m in west Java. The most challenging volcano to climb would be Mt. Semeru at 3,676 m and Mt. Bromo at 2,200 m. while in the Eastern Indonesia is Mt. Rinjani at 3,726 m.

You will find out that Indonesia has 130 active volcanoes and they have been known more active than you can found on Earth. Merapi is the most active volcano, and had at least twelve eruption. “Mountain of Fire” is what people called it. Local tribes consider it as sacred object and priest climbs to the top to make an offering annually.

Try to discover the Indonesian Volcanoes; you will experience a physical and mental greatest challenge. Be prepared before attempt to climb a mountain.

Volcanoes are almost like beautiful mountains except for they become disastrous. Volcanoes are also mountains, but they are different in sense that the geothermal activities within them are active and are occasionally subject to destructive processes. Most volcanoes around the world are located at special zones that are strategically located around the Pacific Ocean. Thus, the areas around the Pacific are collectively known as the Pacific Ring of Fire.

We have known two kinds of volcanoes. One is dormant and inactive. Such volcanoes are like Normal Mountain and do not erupt. The other type is the destructive of the active volcanoes, which occasionally erupt.

The most destructive volcanoes are located in countries around the Pacific like Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines and New Zealand. Hawaii and other islands around the Pacific are also rich in volcanic supplies.

Here are some emergency safeties guidelines that could help you prepare for a volcanic eruption.

1. If your home is located within the few kilometers from the volcano, evacuate at once. You can opt to take your belongings with you or just leave them.
2. Earthquakes are normal occurrences when an active volcano is about to erupt so do not panic. Instead, proceed to doing the precautionary measures.
3. Sudden rains especially at the crater of the volcano would lead to an abrupt mudflow. The mud is not ordinary mud. It can contain pre-volcanic eruption debris and could be too hot that is enough to hard-boil an egg. Beware, or you may suffer from burns coming from mudflow.
4. When the volcano finally erupts, it may emit volcanic debris up in the air. Be prepared to see falling rocks and small stones coming from the crater. Thus, take a safe shelter during the eruption.
5. Prepare gas masks because the volcanic eruption may also be accompanied by foul odor coming from the release of sulfur. You may suffocate or may not be able to take normal breathing during a volcanic eruption.
6. Lava is the centerpiece of the eruption. It is also the most destructive material the volcano will produce during an eruption. It is composed of very hot mud that may instantly burn down any material. Avoid contact with the lava.
7. After the eruption, wait for volcanologists’ advice on when you can safely get back to your homes.

Volcanoes are truly one of nature’s most destructive forces. Be prepared for volcanic eruptions if you live nearby an active volcano. You do not need to change address. All you need is to take precautionary measures when the volcano produces signs of eminent eruption.

Wish climbs up to lock-up to mountaineers can come any time, and it sometimes doesn’t see season. Whether that dry season or notwithstanding rainy season, wish to visit mountain peak always is at hearts mountaineers, this can’t be disowned by mountaineer whichever. Climbing up mountain at while rain, clear for one is not mountaineer even if will can imagine situation who will be faced, rainy season at lowland city just rain high enough even less at mountain , must you can imagine incline trip will at splash by rain. Tips umpteen following tip that can be followed that your incline trip feels more agreeable despite when rain.

• Take Umbrella so practical once; take in bordering umbrella that pocket edition and demulcent and brief. With take in this umbrella you sometimes not necessarily have to use slicker or rain coat. One that clear walking being taken in rain with umbrella will more comfortable than if you use rain coat or slicker who must will evoke condensate factor that makes to warm up you wet by sweat.
• Place bottle Drinks Place bottle drinks besides be used to keep drinking water, can also be used as media of sock drain nabs you. Its trick one time you have are at your place location will lodge, fill your bottle with hot water, then blackjacks your wet sock until dumped obstetric its water (until damp) then rolls that sock on bottle already being filled by hot water. Really will evoke odor but next day sock you can be used again. Magnificent bottle for it is made from bottle aluminum, but plastic bottle can also function properly.
• Take newsprint Take in newsprint at sufficiently, paper is this newspaper can be utilized for horribly inner its shoed by fill newsprint hanks, if your shoe interior its condition dripping wet once therefore don’t forget to substitute newspaper hank several times that that newsprint not as crush and dirties your shoe interior.
• Rain Cover Even its material knapsack made from material which waterproof, but then water will make a abode can come in through stitching gap, don’t forget to ever be take in rain cover to backpack you, take in that close-fitting with measure backpacks you. Rain cover that magnitude will make collected water at down section it and will soak underside of your knapsack.
• Plastic bag before input your goods into backpack to coat your knapsack interior beforehand with big plastic (as size as waste plastic) and new your goods entry afterwards. That more safe be goods who will take in case even with plastic bag. This will prevent your goods becomes wet.
• Tent having vestibule (get terrace) There is it is better you take in tent that have vestibule or that terrace you are constant can cook comfortably condition despite while that it is raining. And your tent interior that contamination won’t by resulting condensate yawn by your stove while cook food.

Hopefully umpteen tips upon utilitarian can make you who will climb up at rainy season. Rain is not balk for constant adventure at free nature, so let’s takes your knapsack let to climb up mountain.

Map. A map not only tells you where you are and how far you have to go, it can help you find campsites, water, and an emergency exit route in case of an accident.

Compass. A compass can help you find your way through unfamiliar terrain—especially in bad weather where you can’t see the landmarks.

Water and a way to purify it. Without enough water, your body’s muscles and organs simply can’t perform as well: You’ll be susceptible to hypothermia and altitude sickness. not to mention the abject misery of raging thirst.

Extra Food. Any number of things could keep you out longer than expected: a lengthy detour, getting lost, an injury, difficult terrain. A few ounces of extra food will help keep up energy and morale.

Rain Gear and extra clothing. Because the weatherman is not always right. Especially above tree line, bring along extra layers. Two rules: Avoid cotton (it keeps moisture close to your skin), and always carry a hat.

Fire starter and matches. The warmth of a fire and a hot drink can help prevent an encounter with hypothermia. And fires are a great way to signal for help if you get lost.

First aid kit. Prepackaged first aid kits for hikers are available at outfitters. Double your effectiveness with knowledge: Take a basic first aid class with the American Red Cross or a Wilderness First Aid class, offered by many hiking organizations.

Army knife or multi-purpose tool. These enable you to cut strips of cloth into bandages, remove splinters, fix broken eyeglasses, and perform a whole host of repairs on malfunctioning gear—not to mention cut cheese and open cans.

Flashlight and extra bulbs. For finding your way in the dark and signaling for help.

Sun screen and sun glasses. Especially above tree line when there is a skin-scorching combination of sun and snow, you’ll need sunglasses to prevent snow blindness, and sunscreen to prevent sunburn.

Recently location tracking is easier to do, not on those years when investigators have to questioning dozen people to gather information. This took a valuable hours to search somebody, a lost people mostly don’t have much time. Today, the GPS products have made it much easier to locate the missing people. GPS works by satellite to track the position and determines where the GPS receiver is. The hope is that the person that it lost has a GPS receiver on them so their location can be tracked.

Don’t forget to carry the GPS every time, hiking, skiing, surfing, or even driving. It will be convenience to have one in your bag.

Mountain biking is an exciting sport that can be enjoyed by anyone who knows how to ride a bike. Compared to the average bike ride, it does present some danger. Therefore, you should master these basic skills before you hit the trails or the dirt. You can practice these beginning skills at a local park, school, bike path, or simply around your house. If you can, try to find a location with a steep hill.

• Get a feel for your pedals Practice moving your foot away from the pedal, first while sitting on your bike with one foot on the ground. Next, move on to releasing and replacing your foot while pedaling around for a bit. Those with toe clip and clip less type foot pedals will want to spend a bit more time practicing.
• Sit and spin for position Simply sit on your bike and pedal around. You should keep your arms slightly bent. You should also adjust your seat height so your leg is 70 to 90 percent extended at the bottom of every stroke on the pedal. Keep your body relaxed, as there will never be a position where you should have either your knees or your elbows locked.
• Shifting gears Get a feel for shifting gears with your bike. The higher gears are harder to pedal and will go faster while the lower gears are easier to pedal and will help you ascend hills. As you get to steeper hills, its best to shift before you get to the hill rather than while your on it.
• Coasting You should spend a bit of time coasting while standing on your pedals, without actually sitting on the seat. Keep your arms bent but don’t lock your knees. Now, try experimenting with shifting your body towards the rear end of the bike.
• Pedal while standing You should get as comfortable as you can with pedaling while standing on your bike. Try lifting yourself off the seat while standing on the pedals, then crank them around. You should try this in higher gears on flat ground then again in lower gears while on a hill.
• Dropping down a curb Try finding a curb where you can easily get to the upper portion of it. Practice at a moderate speed, standing and coasting right off the curb from the upper level to the lower level. Try this at different speeds until it becomes second nature.

Once you practice these techniques and get the hang of them, you’ll be able to hit the trails feeling comfortable on your mountain bike. Even though it may take some getting used to, it’ll become second nature before you know it.

Mountain Bromo is an active volcano and the most famous tourism spot on East Java. The name Bromo itself was came from Sansekerta or Ancient Javanese language, from one of Hindus’ Eldest God, Brahma. Bromo is 2.392 meter above sea water, and covered four areas, Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Lumajang and Malang.

Bromo has a big crater, est 800 meter of diameter (north – south) and 600 meter (east – west). The red zone is circle shape between 4 km from the crater middle point. It also has a 10 kilometer wide sand desert around the mountain.

The journey starts from the west gate, Pasuruan through Tosari village to reach the main area. The sand desert is a tough one to beat, we can’t use ordinary vehicle unless we rent some jeep from local tourism services. Most of tourists take a hard step by foot, they said to climb the mountain and gain best experience, and we must use our own foot. This is the best way to witness the beautiful sunrise from the top of penanjakan. If your adventurous spirit is raging wildly within you can take a route from Malang city. You will pass small town Tumpang then Pronojiwo city and reach a conservative area. You will face an intersection which south path will leads you to ranu pane (Semeru Mountain) and north path will leads you to sand desert of Bromo. The intersection itself called Jemplang. This route is highly recommended for those who love climbing like they love themselves. The estimated time to reach the bromo is 3 hours as you will take the detour around Bromo. The Grand prizes will wait upon you and most tourists missed this one, the breath taking sabana and flower meadow behind the Bromo. Please take a note; never take this route on night or in a middle of thick mist, Very Dangerous.

For local tribe, Tengger, Bromo is sacred mountain. Every year, they held Yadnya Kasada or Kasodo ceremony. Take places on every full moon between 14 or 15 in Kasodo month (tenth month) according Javanese calendar.