Mount Bromo: Day Trips and Tours from Surabaya

Mount Bromo is one of Indonesia's most popular and active volcanoes. It is located in the middle of a vast sea of sand known as the Tengger Desert and has erupted over 50 times since 1804.

You don't need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy a Mount Bromo day trip from Surabaya, as the trek itself is short. You'll have to travel through the night to reach the volcano, but the other-worldly view of the sunrise is worth it.

You will find below all about Mount Bromo one of the most fascinating destinations for day trips from Surabaya.

How to get to Mount Bromo from Surabaya?

Mount Bromo is situated in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park, approximately 120 kilometers south of Surabaya city. You can make your jaunt to Mount Bromo by car or guided tour.

From Surabaya to Mount Bromo by car

The journey to Mount Bromo by car takes approximately 2.5 hours to drive. You'll leave the city heading south and take Jl. Raya Pantura for around 50 kilometers. You'll keep right to merge onto Jl. Tol Pandaan-Malang and take exit 93 towards Pakis, which takes you close to Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.

Guided tour to Mount Bromo from Surabaya

The easiest way to visit the volcano if you don't have a car is to arrange a Mount Bromo day trip. You'll be picked up from your hotel around 12 AM to reach the volcano by sunrise, and you'll return to Surabaya approximately 12 hours later.

How much does the entrance ticket to Mount Bromo cost?

There is an entrance fee for visiting the national park that Mount Bromo sits in —Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.

• Weekdays: IDR220,000 (US$15)
• Weekends: IDR320,000 (US$21)

What is the typical itinerary of a day tour to Mount Bromo from Surabaya?

Once you've been collected from your hotel, you'll travel the great distance to Mount Bromo in complete darkness. You'll drive to Mount Penanjakan, which has a viewpoint named for its perfect position, to watch the sunrise. From this higher point, you'll gain a remarkable view of the iconic volcano.

While you wait for the sun to inch its way over the horizon, you'll sit in the stillness of the mount and enjoy its tranquility, with a hot drink to keep you warm. Once the sun has risen, you'll make your way to Mount Bromo itself, where you'll participate in a short hike to the caldera. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history and legends surrounding the volcano.

Some tours also give you the opportunity to take a horseback ride to the rim of Bromo. When you've worked up an appetite, you'll stop for breakfast in a local restaurant, before returning to Surabaya.

Some tours also enable you to see additional sights nearby, such as Madakaripura Waterfall, which reaches heights of over 200 meters. You'll end your Mount Bromo day trip with a drop-off service back to your accommodation in Surabaya.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Mount Bromo?

You can take a one-day or multi-day trip to Mount Bromo, depending on the time you have available.

Sunrise tour to Mount Bromo from Surabaya

Sunrise excursions to Mount Bromo begin early and head towards Mount Penanjakan under cover of darkness. You'll see the sunrise from the peak of the mountain, with a steaming cup of coffee in hand.

You'll continue on to Mount Bromo to participate in a short hike to the rim of the volcano. You'll have the opportunity to see what an active caldera looks like before visiting Luhur Poten Temple.

Day tour to Mount Bromo plus Madakaripura Waterfall from Surabaya

This day tour to Mount Bromo also allows you to catch the sunrise over the impressive volcano, at the aptly-named Sunrise View Point. You'll have the opportunity to take a horseback ride up to the crater of Mount Bromo, before enjoying a local breakfast in Sukapura. You'll also visit Madakaripura, which is the highest waterfall on Java.

3-Day tour to Mount Bromo plus Ijen and Blue Flames from Surabaya

This three-day Mount Bromo tour enables you to see many natural wonders of the Indonesian Island of Java. You'll see the sunrise over Mount Bromo from the neighboring Mount Penanjakan before exploring the crater of Bromo itself.

You'll also tour Mount Ijen, which has uniquely blue lava that flames inside the caldera. No visit to Ijen is complete without marveling at its turquoise lake, and you'll end your excursion by catching the sunrise before your descent.

How much does a tour to Mount Bromo from Surabaya cost?

Sunrise tours of Mount Bromo range from US$110 to US$150. Excursions on the higher end of this range tend to be private.

If you wish to visit Madakaripura Waterfall alongside Mount Bromo, you can expect to pay approximately US$140.

Multi-day tours to Mount Bromo and Ijen cost around US$430, and include your accommodation, as well as meals.

What will you see and do on a Mount Bromo day trip from Surabaya?

Mount Bromo is an active volcano in East Java, Indonesia. It is part of the Tengger massif, and last erupted in 2016. The massif includes five volcanoes, the tallest of which is Mount Semeru. While Mount Bromo may not be the tallest volcano in the group, at just over 2,300 meters, it's the most famous one.

The mount sits in the middle of a vast plain called the Sea of Sand — a sheet of white sand that is surrounded by barren volcanic peaks. The panoramic views from the mountaintop over Java are especially spectacular at sunrise when the sky turns a bright red and orange over the horizon.

While the mountain is undoubtedly picturesque, it also has a long and fascinating history. For centuries, the Tengger people have considered Mount Bromo to be a sacred site, and it plays an important role in their religious beliefs.

According to legend, a Javanese princess came to the area in the 15th century, alongside her husband, struggling to conceive. They prayed to the gods from the edge of Mount Bromo, who promised the couple fertility in exchange for their last child. 25 children later, the couple were forced to sacrifice their youngest kin, in order to avoid a deathly spew of volcanic ash over the land.

Today, the Tengger people perform an annual ceremonial offering at the mountaintop, in hopes of appeasing the spirit of the volcano. They throw fruit baskets, animals and flowers into the crater to preserve peace in the area surrounding Mount Bromo.

You can learn all about the history of the volcano, including the Tengger people on a Mount Bromo day tour.

When is the best time to visit Mount Bromo?

The best time to plan a day trip to Mount Bromo is during the dry season — from April to October. The ground temperature hovers around 30 degrees Celsius all year, but you can expect it to be considerably cooler as you ascend the volcano.

You can climb Mount Bromo at any time of day, but the sunrise from its peak is truly magnificent and well worth the early start.

Travel tips

• Wear layered clothing on your Mount Bromo day trip. The peak drops to lows of 13 degrees Celsius and can often be covered in a thick layer of cloud.
• Wear comfortable hiking shoes on your excursion, especially if you will be visiting Madakaripura Waterfall.
• Bring your camera with you to capture the colorful sunrise from Mount Penanjakan.
• Bring cash with you to grab a snack at one of the volcano's food outlets.