Jan 11, 2026
Incredible Tour & Unbelievable Views - This tour was absolute perfection from start to finish!! While it was a long journey from Ubud, it was genuinely one of the most incredible experiences of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat. It is absolutely worth the trip from Bali.
Things I loved about this tour:
1. Great communication from tour company and driver — driver picked us up at our homestay in Ubud at 11am, drove us north to visit a Temple, stopped for lunch and picked up some tropical fruit. Smooth and easy ride.
2. Java homestay — lovely homestay with dinner and breakfast included. We snuck in a few hours of sleep from about 10pm-1am and this made a huge difference in giving us energy for the hike (you start hiking at 2am). The dinner and the breakfast they prepared for us after the hike in the morning were both fabulous.
3. Hiking guide — Great guide who took us up the mountain. He took awesome photos of us throughout the hike and even made a video slideshow for us at the end.
4. Mt Ijen! — It's hard to describe how beautiful this spot is. We came for the blue lava and saw a little bit, but it was the volcano, lake, and sunrise that actually ended up being the absolute show-stoppers. It was like nothing I had ever seen!
If you're considering this tour, absolutely go for it!! It was an experience I will never forget—you won't regret it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dec 23, 2025
Crater Ijen Night Tour - Gusti came to pick us up at the airport and from there we headed to the first stop, Twin Lake, where he was taking pictures of us. After that we went straight to the ferry. We dined in a very cozy homestay with typical homemade food. We woke up at 1am and from there we made the excursion with a local guide, Pak Sherly who was also very nice and although it was not better time to watch the blue fire, he was looking for a corner so we could enjoy it. After that at the homestay we were served breakfast, shower and back at our hotel. Recommended 100%
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 9, 2025
From Bali to the Ijen volcano - I truly recommend the private trip from Bali to the Ijen and Bromo volcanoes with Gusti.
He is an experienced guide and driver who prepared everything perfectly. We felt very comfortable with him, and the itinerary was well planned and organized.
The Ijen hike may be a bit challenging for those who haven’t hiked before, but the views and the Blue Fire are absolutely worth all the effort. The local guide took great care of us, gave us enough time to rest, and even acted as our photographer.
It was an amazing and unforgettable journey!
Driving manners and traffic in Indonesia are very different from those in Europe, and some tourists might feel a bit nervous — but with Gusti there’s nothing to worry about. He’s a great driver and a genuinely kind person.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nov 5, 2025
The best experiencie ever ! - The best experience ever!!!! The guide was the best! He took great care of us and held my hand on the slippery descents at all times.Thank you for everything!!! Amazing
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 5, 2025
An experience - The tour to Mount Ijen was an incredible experience for us. The drive from Ubud, it has been pleasant due to the distance, about 7 hours drive and an additional 1.5 hours on the ferry both there and back, something in itself, but by the entertainment and explanations of our driver Gusti, nevertheless.
The ascent is not a problem for experienced mountain hikers, the descent to the blue flames a little more challenging. We had the guide Sherly, who was a highlight in itself, as he was incredibly funny, informative and attentive. With us there were about 1,500 people on the mountain that day, but we were also able to leave them largely behind because of our guide. On full days, even up to 3,000 people are supposed to be out at night.
Let's get to the actual destination of the trip, the blue flames and the sunrise. Since the sunrise is only visible from the crater rim in the months of June, July and August, it was not an issue and the priority for us in the flames... and they were a breathtaking experience for us. The glow of the blue flames in the darkness are indescribable and worth any effort.
However, we must also point out that the biting gases sometimes make it difficult to see and breathe, despite the mask.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 30, 2025
We really enjoyed it. Our driver, Gede, and our guide, Sherly, went above and beyond - The drive to Kawah Ijen was very long, but our driver, Gede, did a great job. We mentioned that we wanted to try some of the local fruits, so he took us to a market and showed us how to pick out the good ones. There were 3 stops in total, the first one was at a coffee plantation where they gave us free samples of the coffee and tea. The second stop was at Ulun Danu, a beautiful temple, and is super calm and peaceful inside. Its a great place to have lunch and just relax. The third stop was at the Twin Lakes vantage point where you could see both of the lakes from very high up in the mountains.
We were scheduled to start heading over to base camp by 1am. When we got there, we were greeted by our guide, Sherly. The hike up the mountain was a lot more tiring than we had expected, but it was worth it. Sherly was very funny, cracking jokes the whole time, and he also told us about how he used to be a sulfur miner for 2 years, and then became a guide for 12 years. We were able to see the blue flame, it was very surreal looking. When we were done looking at the flame, Sherly brought us to a vantage point for viewing the sunrise. We didnt really see the sun because of the fog, but the view of the lake was incredible as the sunlight slowly illuminated our surroundings. Sherly helped us take photos and videos this whole time, and even put together a cinematic video that he quickly edited.
Overall really great experience, our guide, Sherly, did an excellent job. Our driver, Gede, was super accomodating, and did an excellent job as well. Gas masks and headlamps were provided. I would recommend bringing a small backpack with a few bottles of water. It can also get quite chilly so make sure to bring a thin jacket that you can store in your backpack. Dinner and breakfast was also provided at the homestay.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 29, 2025
AMAZING EXPERIENCE👍 - The landscapes you see during this trip are unmatchable, just pure beauty.
Gusti is just the best driver ever, so flexible with stops and so skilled with van.
Loved the meal stops we had.
The mount Ijen part is very challenging but the reward you have at the end with THAT view is just crazy.
Sherly is such a good and pure person, felt very safe even in the sulfur smoke.
The homestay was also incredibly good, amazing food and rooms.
If you want to experience something unique, you can definitely trust these people!
Already missing Gusti and Sherly’s “don’t panic just close your eyes”
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 22, 2025
Great experience - We had an amazing Ijen trek with Fatah as our guide! He was super positive, always helpful, kept everyone motivated, and made sure we had the best experience. He even took great photos for us, which we’ll always cherish. Highly recommend him as a guide!
Review provided by Viator
Sep 18, 2025
Best!!! - I was solo. I stayed in the homestay which was very pretty. Mr. Gusti had managed everything. He had taken care of my stay, trek, food, everything. Everything was very well executed. I did not need any one else. He had provided with a guide also. Really good experience. I could see blue flames at ijen. Food as per my request was also served. He had made all the arrangements for the trek. I need not worry about anything at all. I highly recommend.
He himself is also very sweet, kind and helpful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 17, 2025
ljen from Bali: a must-see! - Perfect organization of the tour, starting from ubud with a stop at the rice fields of Jatiluwih and Ulun Danu temple. Stop at Homestay Kawah ljen Hadi , with great dinner nice and clean rooms. Upon returning from the hike to the crater ljen, we returned to the homestay for a shower and a hearty breakfast. We could have rested until 3 pm but we preferred to return to Bali. Bravo Gusti! We will no doubt recommend you to friends traveling to Indonesia soon!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
