Indonesia / Java / Ijen (Banyuwangi)Ijen (Banyuwangi)
Blue Fire and the Turquoise Acid Lake
The Ijen crater at Java's eastern tip, reached from Banyuwangi: a 1 a.m. start and a two-hour climb to see the blue flames of burning sulphur, sunrise over the world's largest acid lake, and the miners carrying sulphur out by hand. A gas mask is essential and is lent by guides. Banyuwangi is an hour from Bali by the Ketapang ferry, so Ijen often opens or closes a Bali trip. The park shut in September 2026 for forest fires and reopened on 28 September; it also closes in bad weather.
Highlights
- Blue fire before dawn
- Sunrise over the turquoise acid lake
- Sulphur miners at work
- Baluran savanna "Africa of Java"
- Jagir waterfall
- Red Island beach sunset
Things to do
- Ijen blue fire and sunrise trekMorning · 7h
- Baluran National Park savannaAfternoon · 4h
- Jagir waterfallAfternoon · 2h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – October
Worth knowing
Ijen Can Close at Short Notice
The Ijen crater trail closes for toxic gas, bad weather and fires: it was shut in February 2026 during a search for a missing hiker and from 4 to 28 September 2026 for forest fires. Check the park's notice the day before, book the blue-fire trek with a guide who lends a gas mask, and keep a spare night in Banyuwangi if you can.
Worth knowing
Lebaran Travel Rush
Idul Fitri falls on 10-11 March 2027, with national holidays from 9 to 15 March. Java's trains and flights sell out weeks ahead, fares hit the legal cap, toll roads and the Ketapang–Gilimanuk ferry jam, and Jakarta empties. Book every Java leg early or avoid that week.
- Idul Fitri (Lebaran) homecoming — The end of Ramadan, when tens of millions travel home (mudik). Trains, flights and the Java–Bali and Bali–Lombok ferries sell out a month ahead and fares hit the legal cap; Jakarta empties and some restaurants close. In 2027 it falls two days after Nyepi, so the second week of March is the hardest of the year to travel in Indonesia. During Ramadan before it, Lombok and Java restaurants may be screened off by day.
Part of a longer route
Ijen (Banyuwangi) is a stop on a curated circuit through Indonesia.