Java has loads of volcanos and many of which are active. One popular one is Mt Bromo and it’s usually visited at sunrise – which actually means getting a jeep about midnight and driving two hours to line up with other jeeps to wait for a couple more hours to see it. That sort of nights’ sleep doesn’t appeal to M & N on any day but with two kids as well there was no chance. So instead we had a 6am pickup to drive out to see it in the morning. Probably not as spectacular but still pretty impressive… and kinda scary to be able to see the extremely narrow road with sheer drops on either side that you need to take to get there!

From where the jeeps park, it’s about a 45 min walk up to the crater. You can go part of this way on horseback – perhaps even on a unicorn – we but opted for our own feet.

Like most places in Java, it’s hot & humid and the sun beats down on your sweaty body with no mercy. The path was black volcanic sand, sprinkled with horse poo. Luckily, the smell of sulphur from the volcano wasn’t too bad. (all the fun things the photos don’t show you!)

The last section to the crater rim is made up of steep concrete steps. As you go up, sweaty and panting, the folks on the way down try not to look smug.

Finally at the top, there’s a narrow path where you can view the crater and give an offering.

If you’re an influencer then this is obviously where you sit on the crater edge and pose. When I grow up, maybe that’s what I can do!

Our jeep driver was pretty good with his 4WD skills and on the way out when there was a sudden heavy downpour, he had to navigate the muddy tracks carefully. All while filming the conditions. (I assume the drivers have a WhatsApp group to communicate road conditions so that’s what he was doing right?! 🤞)

We were hoping to walk down to one of the many waterfalls on the way home but the tourists coming out said the rain had made it very treacherous and they didn’t recommend it. So (much to the kids’ relief) we went back to our lovely hostel for a late lunch (& air conditioned comfort).