Friday, August 10, 2018

Visit Mount Bromo Tips #WonderfulIndonesia

Ovina Pattari 10:14 PM No comments

source : Tribun Timur - Tribunnews.com

Are you planning to visit Mount Bromo? I will share my experience when I visited Mount Bromo on July 2018.

Actually I joined a event at Tumpang, Malang for 5 days and I've decided to extend my trip in Malang all by my self, I mean solo traveling. It was my first solo traveling in Indonesia.

In short story, I planned to visit Mount Bromo (Indonesian : Gunung Bromo) is one of an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif in East Java Indonesia. Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a plain called the "Sea of Sand" (Javanese: Segara Wedi or Indonesian: Lautan Pasir), a protected nature reserve since 1919.

At 2,329 meters (7,641 ft) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but is the most well known. The massif area is one of the most visited tourist attraction in East Java, Indonesia. The volcano belongs to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.

How to Get There

You can have Bromo trip from Surabaya or Malang, for me, I departed from Malang City. Actually, you can visit Bromo by all your self by your own car or motorcycle, but for safety reason, I suggest you to take the local tour. Why?

If you are planning to watch sunrise at Bromo, you need to depart at midnight and then you still need to sit in the 'normal car' for about 2 hours in the darkness and super extreme track. You can experience the winding road with sharp turn (about 90 degree) and sudden incline (over than 45 degree) for multiple times. The 'good news' is either your right side or left side is a cliff.

I thought that I can a quick nap for the 2 hours trip, but I was wrong. I couldn't sleep and got motion sickness every time I close my eyes.

After 2 hours trip, the 'normal car' driver dropped me in a meeting point so I could ride a 4WD car aka Jeep car. The driver told me that the track will be more extreme :') So I prepared my self for next 1 hour trip.

That's why I suggest you to take local tour. Because of the extreme track and ride a 4WD car is a must! With the trip you will get picked up at your hotel/hostel/place; professional driver that will guide you well because they know about the road conditions; you don't need to drive your own car or rent 4WD car (+ driver); all you need just sit tight and enjoy the trip.

I took the Open Trip Tour for IDR 350.000 / person include snack, mask, drink, lunch, car rent (for normal car and Jeep car), all site entrance fee (exclude horse ride), driver fee (exclude driver tip), beanie hat, gloves. In Open Trip Tour you will arranged to have a trip with other persons (up to 5 people). It's good for you who have smaller group.

or if you are planning to have a trip with large amount of people, you can get private tour and get lower price :D

What You Should Prepare

1. Make sure you are in good health

I recommend to take vitamin and got good sleep a day before because you will stay awake from midnight to mid day, feel different temperature (from cold to hot temperature) and experience the 'fun' road trip.

2. Cash (small cash)

You will need cash for toilet! I spent about IDR 15.000 for 3 times toilet. Every time you use toilet in Bromo, you will be charged IDR 5.000 (that was I hate! IDR 5.000 for toilet is expensive -_-). Oh, there are some street vendor who sell souvenirs and food (like instant noodle, tea, coffee, milk, rice with side dish), also you can ride a horse with extra cash, rent a mat, jacket.

3. Dress smartly

The temperature is about 7°C in early morning while in midday the temperature raise to 16°C (It will be colder and hotter when you visit Bromo on August), so you must wear right clothes when you are visiting Bromo. Windbreaker jacket / down jacket is recommended in early morning and light clothes in midday. If you are planning to wear long john, please remember there aren't many toilet and all the place in Bromo is open field. Beanie, socks, gloves is a must due the strong-cold wind in early morning when you watch sunrise in top hill.

4. Camera & Powerbank

It's a must! Who doesn't want to capture the moment in superb beautiful Bromo (especially after extreme trip to reach Bromo haha). Don't forget to bring your power

bank to make sure your phone have enough batteries.

5. Personal medicine

Bring your own personal medicine or first aid.

Bonus : Photos from me