If you think that climbing a mountain has to break a sweat, perhaps a trip to Mount Bromo will give you a different opinion. Mount Bromo, an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia is one of the most magnificent panoramas in the world and is relatively accessible. Located in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, the journey to the volcano site offers a thrilling, awesome and fun escapade. It only takes 45-minutes walking distance from the nearby village of Cemoro Lawang that make it a very popular destinations in Indonesia.

Catching the Sunrise View
If you want to catch the sunrise you need to start very early in the morning at about 3 a.m. The best way to explore Bromo is by renting a four-wheel-jeep drive from local people to Bromo crater for around Rp. 500,000 depending on the length of the journey. It is really a stimulating and bumpy journey in the dark. When you arrive in the park, you should buy an entrance fee ticket to the peak viewing point. You can easily hike up Mount Bromo from the village of Cemoro Lawang or you can hire a horseback ride to the top of the mountain. Along the trail from Cemoro Lawang to Mount Penanjakan is the best way to get spectacular view of the caldera with fewer crowds. From 2,392 meters above sea level you can witness the stunning sunrise appears behind the live smoking volcano crater, surrounding desert and savanna.

Whispering Sand
From here, you can continue the adventure to the valley inside the volcanic ring by following the trail upwards. The viewpoint from Penanjakan is truly breathtaking. Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a vast surrounding Sea of Sands and the area is called “The Whispering Sand”. When the winds blow the ash desert and lightly break the silence, you can feel and listen to the wind breeze. Horse riding on the crater and on a desert of ash is an unforgettable experience you should not miss. To climb up to the sulfuric crater there are 253 steps you must pass, but hiking is not allowed if the volcanic activity is considered too dangerous for tourists.

Tenggerese, the native people
In front of Mount Bromo, a temple called Pura Luhur Poten is standing majestically. It is a Hindu temple used by the native people, Tenggerese, who inhabit the villages around Bromo. Once a year, they have an important offering ceremony at the crater called Kasada held on the full moon of the 12th month of the Tenggerese calendar. In this ceremony, they are throwing sacrifices such as rice, vegetables, fruits, flowers and livestock into the Bromo crater to ask for blessings from their gods.

Climate
The temperatures around Bromo can drop down to two degrees Celsius in the morning and around low teens during daytime, therefore, please prepare your extra warm clothing with good shoes. However, for those who are not prepared, you can find jackets for rent around the area. Many parts of the area are inaccessible during the periods of heavy rain in December until February due to flooding and landslides.