Although it is a very popular tourist attraction, Mount Bromo is one stop you must not miss while on your Indonesian tour .
I woke up very early to watch the sunrise and admire the exceptional panorama before my eyes, the sky suffusing with shades of colour going from very light blue to scarlet red, the national park and its many volcanoes in the foreground.
At the break of dawn, I caught a minibus that dropped me a few hundred yards from Mount Bromo, on the sand plain. To reach the summit of the volcano and contemplate the 2624 feet across and 656 feet deep crater, the climb can be quite arduous, especially for the first, very sandy part. You can also ride up on a horse or donkey if you wish.
A little ritual to do when going to visit Mount Bromo is to start the day with a spectacular sunrise from the summit of Mount Penanjakan. If for some it is difficult to get up at 4am, tell yourself that it's worth the trip and you can also always make yourself feel better with a good cup of coffee made in Indonesia and banana fritters from nearby. The trip continues towards the volcano in a 4x4.
The particularity of this volcano which is over 2300 metres tall, is that it's located near a grey sand plain which gives the impression of being in another world. Having arrived on this plain, you have two choices: a short 'hike' to the peak or, for the less sporty, going directly to the foot of the volcano via horseback. I made my choice quickly: the horse!
From the summit here you can then enjoy an amazing view. But before that, you'll have to climb up the few steps that separate you from the final goal and at that altitude you'll quickly get out of breath.
Mount Bromo frequently erupts, meaning ash covers part of the landscape, giving it a lunar appearance. And that was certainly the impression I got when the sun rose and exposed Bromo's vast caldera.
A devasted yet beautiful scene. It's grey but with touches of green on the sides. This blend of colours combined with the smoke that continually spouts from the volcano is surrealist. I was itching to climb the volcano, which had been officially closed off for safety reasons...
I wasn't the only one tempted and it was simply something I had to do. In addition to the adrenalin rush, the main thrill was being so close to one of nature's monsters; the noise that came from its bowels sounded like the Earth taking deep breaths. Touring Indonesia without seeing Bromo is unthinkable, as far as I'm concerned.
The view on Mount Bromo, the surrounding massif and the sea of sand in which it stands, is at sunrise no doubt one of the best experiences that you can live through while on your trip to Indonesia .
I woke up very early that morning and it is in the dark that on foot and with a frontal torch, I crossed Cemoro Lawang village, the fields behind the village and started my climb to reach an interesting viewpoint with an unobstructed view on Mount Bromo. The walk takes roughly one hour and it is very easy to find the path by following other travellers. Once you get to the intermediate platform, the only thing left for you to do is enjoy a hot cup of chocolate and contemplate the incredible sunrise. I stayed there for a few hours, in admiration before the volcano, it's smoke and its surrounding landscape.