HomeAsiaSouth East AsiaIndonesiaMount Bromo Solo Hike – The Savanna & Sea of Sand in East Java, Indonesia By Marcos Detourist on June 13, 2013A solo traveler’s day hike from Ngadas to Cemoro Lawang village in East Java, Indonesia: Magnificent views of the Savanna and Sea of Sand at the caldera of Mount Bromo Volcano.I wanted to say that this solo hike was one of the “craziest” things I had ever done, but after knowing about even crazier things other travelers do while they’re on the road, I’ve developed a higher standard for things that deserve the adjective “crazy.” At the time, however, I did find the word fitting for what I was attempting to do.Seeing the savanna at the backside of Mount Bromo volcano’s caldera was one of the major things I wanted to do on my trip to Java Island in Indonesia.The savanna of Mount Bromo Volcano in East Java, IndonesiaI could hire an ojek (motorcycle with driver) to take through the 10-km journey from Ngadas to Cemoro Lawang. Easy! But I chose to give in to my pseudo-masochistic urges by doing it on foot.I was not a stranger to long walks (2) or hiking through steep-ish mountains. A 10-km hike was doable and the terrain did not seem too challenging.Even, my homestay hosts in Ngadas were not alarmed when I told them what I planned to do. For assurance, I asked them if other solo backpackers have done it before. They said “yes,” which built up my confidence.HesitationThe sound of rain woke me up the morning I was set to go on my hike. Rain and thick mist covered the mountaintops. I couldn’t see anything further than a couple of meters. It was definitely not the most cheerful way to start my day.I was considering hiring an ojek, which wasn’t too expensive, actually.Ngadas village covered in mist and rainMy mind was already fixated on doing the hike, however. I listened to my gut, which told me that I should go for it. If I didn’t, it would be one of those things I knew I would regret later on.I asked myself, “When will be the next time that I would be able to do something potentially epic like hike through the caldera of an active volcano?”I only had to go out the door, wear a rain jacket to protect my backpack, then start walking. Simple! If I did not enjoy it, I could always find an ojek and resolve my fixation knowing that, at least I tried.HitchhikeI bid goodbye to my homestay hosts and started my journey. The rain stopped shortly after. It was a good sign but I still had to deal with the thick mist and wet blanket of puddles covering the road.Just about one kilometer away from town. An ojek driver passed and stopped for a quick chat. The guy asked me, in broken English, where I was going and offered to take me to Cemoro Lawang for a fee (I forgot how much).Since the rain stopped and the mist was already starting to go away, I told him I planned on walking and didn’t have money for the ojek hire. He drove away, for maybe 20 meters, stopped again, and signaled at me to come.The guy offered a free ride! yeah!!Ngadas to The SavannahThe ride to the savanna took around 20 minutes. The road went uphill and downhill too many times for comfort. I was so glad I didn’t have to go through all that walking, especially, because the views weren’t remarkably worth the effort.Sagada-ish viewsThe magnificent views started to appear when we reached the savanna. I could have ridden the ojek all the way to Cemoro Lawang but I really wanted to take my time to enjoy the view.So, I dropped off and started walking.The SavannahMount Bromo’s savanna was more beautiful than I imagined. It was basically vast grasslands bordered by steep mountains. One side just happens to be the crater of an active volcano.I didn’t grow up with these kinds of sights, so, I enjoyed taking photos, a lot of photos, and soaking in not only the view but the whole feel of the place. I loved the empty desolate views, the cool howling winds, and the sun peeking one in a while.I listened to my favorite alternative music on my iPod, which set up the perfect mood.Selfie with a view of the savanna and carrying my backpackTrail downhill, where the concrete road stopped, leading to the savannahOjek driver pointed these hills before I dropped off and described it as “Teletubby land.”Bright yellow and purple flowers along the dirt trailDramatizing my long walkThis rock in the distance caught my attention because the view (minus the tall mountain and clouds) looked like it could be in the African savanna. I sooo wanted to go nearer but the thick bushes were in the way.Trusty lightweight breathable Merrel barefoot shoesHumans, finally!The terrain started to become more dry and arid as I walked closer to the “sea of sand.”The Sea of SandMount Bromo’s crater was surrounded by a vast plain called the “sea of sand.” Looking from afar, I was definitely intimidated. Am I really gonna cross that swirling dustbowl on foot?Dust clouds at Mount Bromo’s sea of sandThere were frequent hirable ojeks passing the area at that point.I saw a local carrying two big baskets full of long grass-looking plants on his shoulder. He was about to cross the sea of sand too. The baskets he carried were suspended by a long pole. He looked funny walking on the trail almost totally surrounded by big bouncing baskets.If that guy can do it, I could do it too. He probably does it every day! I had to do it, even just to finish what I started.A part of me also wanted to do it because I was attracted by the name “Sea of Sand.” It sounds so “Prince of Persia”-ish and exotic. I know it’s lame that I did it so, later on … I can tell my grandkids (or even just grand nephews) that I crossed the “Sea of Sand” on my way to a volcano in an island in the Pacific :DSouvenir photo of my first glimpse of Mount Batok’s summit. Mount Bromo is hiding there somewhere.Mysterious desert circles :|Tranquil arid viewNot so peaceful view. These are incoming dust clouds, which hurt my skin. They hurt more when riding a speeding motorcycle. Best to cover up.Cemoro LawangThe hardest part was hiking up the steep road from the end of the sea of sand, up to the main village of Cemoro Lawang.Catching up with the guy carrying the bouncing basketsView of Mount Bromo and Mount Batok on my rest stopAfter getting a cheap room at a guest house in Cemoro Lawang, I walked around the village and found a small charming eatery.Food … finally! I was famished.They served excellent Javanese coffee and delicious Mee Goreng (fried noodles). The perfect way to end my long hike.Hot Javanese coffeeFried noodles with eggs, the freshest vegetables, and topped generously with peanut bitsThe next morning, I planned on visiting Mount Pananjakan, famous for its godly sunrise view of all three volcanoes: Mount Batok, Semeru, and Bromo.You can find more details of my 4-day trip to Ngadas, Cemoro Lawang, Mount Bromo, and Probolinggo on my Mount Bromo Itinerary.Don’t leave yet. There’s more!Two Weeks Java, Indonesia Itinerary — Jakarta, Yogyagarta,…4 Days Mount Bromo Itinerary — Mount Bromo, Ngadas, Cemoro…2 Weeks Java, Indonesia Itinerary - Solo DIY Travel Tips3 Weeks Sabah (Borneo), Brunei & Indonesia Itinerary - Solo…3 Weeks Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia ItineraryNgadas Homestay & Offbeat Hike Near Mount BromoComments The Soul Explorer saysJune 14, 2013 at 1:16 pmI was amazed of the place! How I wish I can visit there too! Maybe, next time. :D Gaye @ Pinay Travel Junkie saysJune 14, 2013 at 3:44 pmWow, Marcos! I’d still describe that as crazy! The sea of sand looks eerily beautiful. Worth the hike, for sure. Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:08 pmYour photo was one of the big reasons why I went to Mount Bromo in the first place! I’d do it again if I had the chance :D Febry Fawzi saysJune 14, 2013 at 4:15 pmwow.. did you find some crowd there? very impressive photos and story (y) Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:09 pmNo crowds in Ngadas and the Savannah, though there were a LOT of tourists in Cemoro Lawang and when I went to the summit. Kim saysJune 14, 2013 at 4:41 pmThat sure looks fun! You photos are refreshing. At + points for the selfie effort hehe Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:09 pmHehe, thanks :D Mary Jane saysJune 14, 2013 at 11:13 pmYou hiked on your own naman Marc? Bilib na guid kami sa imo ya! Idol! hehe :D Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:09 pmPod ta next time! paul | walkflypinoy saysJune 16, 2013 at 10:33 pmDefinitely doing this hike. Most definitely. I have a few logistics questions (since I’m heading there in about a month). How long did you take the ojek for and how long was the walk from end of highway to Cemoro Lawang? How much would the ojek ride be from Ngadas to Cemoro Lawang? Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:34 pmThe motorcycle ride from Ngadas to the Savannah should take 20-30 minutes. The road went uphill and down a lot of times, I think this would be the most difficult part of the trek, considering the Savannah and sea of sand was mostly flat land.I trekked from the Savannah to CL for 4 hours, which is too long, I think. I walked 500 meters only during my first hour because I was taking to many photo stops (selfy stops, hehe). Then one more hour until I reached the sea of sand, then an hour and a half crossing the sea of sand, and half an hour climbing the torturously steep uphill road to CL.Without the selfy stops, I think I could have finished the trek in under 2 hours. Didn’t ask how much the ojek cost from Ngadas-CL … I’m guessing around Rp50,000 + Rp100,000+. Taking the ojek should take 30 minutes to an hour. paul | walkflypinoy saysJune 29, 2013 at 4:11 amThanks, Marcos. Super helpful. You’re the best! Haha. Marcos saysAugust 13, 2013 at 3:21 pmNo sweat, paul :) James Shaw saysJune 18, 2013 at 2:23 pmWow! what a cool location, loved all the photos you have shared here. Makes me wanna go to Bromo Volcano as well and I must commend you for your guts to go hiking on your own. Thanks for sharing your experience! Walter Bailey saysJune 18, 2013 at 4:54 pmGreat to know that an Ilonggo is reaching far places. Kudos to you my friend and keep your Ilonggo brothers proud! All the best to you! Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:38 pmThanks Walter! Arlyne/arlynemeetsworld saysJune 19, 2013 at 6:46 amYou are so brave and at the same time insane to do this solo hiking! BTW, stunning photos you have here! Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:38 pmThanks Arlyne! Jeff saysJune 20, 2013 at 5:38 pmI’m loving your photos! Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:40 pmThanks Jeff! Love your blog, BTW! JhaypeeG. saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:31 pmYour photos are just amazing! Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:47 pmThanks JhaypeeG :D Dennis saysJuly 3, 2013 at 8:00 amYou’ve got to be so happy listening to your gut instinct pushing on with this awesome hike! The beautiful photos alone are all so worth it. Marcos saysAugust 13, 2013 at 3:33 pmThanks Dennis :) Harold saysJuly 9, 2013 at 1:50 pmWow! What a great experience for you.. I like also to have a solo hiking. :) Nice photos and adventure.. Thanks for sharing it to us. God bless! Marcos saysAugust 13, 2013 at 3:39 pmThanks Harold. Just remember to keep safe when you do :) lyn saysJuly 14, 2013 at 12:18 amSuch an amazing feat!!! Marcos saysAugust 13, 2013 at 3:44 pmThanks Lyn :D Nathan saysJuly 15, 2013 at 4:28 pmWow, this is really an awesome hike. I love the contrast between the expansive lush-green savannah and the empty, barren scenery at the ‘sea of sand’. Nonetheless, these views are really breathtaking and very inspiring. After reading this post, Mount Bromo is definitely on my list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing your adventure and the lovely pictures. Marcos saysAugust 13, 2013 at 3:55 pmYes, I liked the contrast too. It’s very arid on one side and lushly vegatated on the other. Jane Lagdameo saysJuly 20, 2013 at 12:59 amFantastic pics, even more so your adventure. I can’t imagine solo backpacking in such remote places. You’re one brave guy. :) Marcos saysAugust 13, 2013 at 4:01 pmThanks for dropping by Jane :D leslie saysAugust 12, 2013 at 11:51 am… food there are so interesting to taste. It will definitely quenched my hunger :) Gino saysJanuary 9, 2017 at 11:27 amHi Marcos,Na huisa kmi sang trek! I hope we could do it the way you did. Me and my wife are planning the same itinerary. Would you recommend going through with the whole trek (without hitch hiking) even though we are just novice trekkers? We could go along our own pace right? Sandra saysMarch 24, 2017 at 5:40 pmHi Marcos, when are u guys going? Me and my boyfriend are planning the same thing but we will be there beginning of june. I heard that they try to stop people to hike or ojek through the savannah, do you know anything about that? Posting of new comments is disabled temporarily.Connect with Marcos on:Detourista.comMarcosDetourist.comFacebookInstagramTwitterDetourista.comDiscover more travel guides and blogs about the Philippines and beyond by Marcos DetouristChoose your next destination: Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
The Soul Explorer saysJune 14, 2013 at 1:16 pmI was amazed of the place! How I wish I can visit there too! Maybe, next time. :D
Gaye @ Pinay Travel Junkie saysJune 14, 2013 at 3:44 pmWow, Marcos! I’d still describe that as crazy! The sea of sand looks eerily beautiful. Worth the hike, for sure.
Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:08 pmYour photo was one of the big reasons why I went to Mount Bromo in the first place! I’d do it again if I had the chance :D
Febry Fawzi saysJune 14, 2013 at 4:15 pmwow.. did you find some crowd there? very impressive photos and story (y)
Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:09 pmNo crowds in Ngadas and the Savannah, though there were a LOT of tourists in Cemoro Lawang and when I went to the summit.
Kim saysJune 14, 2013 at 4:41 pmThat sure looks fun! You photos are refreshing. At + points for the selfie effort hehe
Mary Jane saysJune 14, 2013 at 11:13 pmYou hiked on your own naman Marc? Bilib na guid kami sa imo ya! Idol! hehe :D
paul | walkflypinoy saysJune 16, 2013 at 10:33 pmDefinitely doing this hike. Most definitely. I have a few logistics questions (since I’m heading there in about a month). How long did you take the ojek for and how long was the walk from end of highway to Cemoro Lawang? How much would the ojek ride be from Ngadas to Cemoro Lawang?
Marcos saysJune 26, 2013 at 1:34 pmThe motorcycle ride from Ngadas to the Savannah should take 20-30 minutes. The road went uphill and down a lot of times, I think this would be the most difficult part of the trek, considering the Savannah and sea of sand was mostly flat land.I trekked from the Savannah to CL for 4 hours, which is too long, I think. I walked 500 meters only during my first hour because I was taking to many photo stops (selfy stops, hehe). Then one more hour until I reached the sea of sand, then an hour and a half crossing the sea of sand, and half an hour climbing the torturously steep uphill road to CL.Without the selfy stops, I think I could have finished the trek in under 2 hours. Didn’t ask how much the ojek cost from Ngadas-CL … I’m guessing around Rp50,000 + Rp100,000+. Taking the ojek should take 30 minutes to an hour.
paul | walkflypinoy saysJune 29, 2013 at 4:11 amThanks, Marcos. Super helpful. You’re the best! Haha.
James Shaw saysJune 18, 2013 at 2:23 pmWow! what a cool location, loved all the photos you have shared here. Makes me wanna go to Bromo Volcano as well and I must commend you for your guts to go hiking on your own. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Walter Bailey saysJune 18, 2013 at 4:54 pmGreat to know that an Ilonggo is reaching far places. Kudos to you my friend and keep your Ilonggo brothers proud! All the best to you!
Arlyne/arlynemeetsworld saysJune 19, 2013 at 6:46 amYou are so brave and at the same time insane to do this solo hiking! BTW, stunning photos you have here!
Dennis saysJuly 3, 2013 at 8:00 amYou’ve got to be so happy listening to your gut instinct pushing on with this awesome hike! The beautiful photos alone are all so worth it.
Harold saysJuly 9, 2013 at 1:50 pmWow! What a great experience for you.. I like also to have a solo hiking. :) Nice photos and adventure.. Thanks for sharing it to us. God bless!
Nathan saysJuly 15, 2013 at 4:28 pmWow, this is really an awesome hike. I love the contrast between the expansive lush-green savannah and the empty, barren scenery at the ‘sea of sand’. Nonetheless, these views are really breathtaking and very inspiring. After reading this post, Mount Bromo is definitely on my list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing your adventure and the lovely pictures.
Marcos saysAugust 13, 2013 at 3:55 pmYes, I liked the contrast too. It’s very arid on one side and lushly vegatated on the other.
Jane Lagdameo saysJuly 20, 2013 at 12:59 amFantastic pics, even more so your adventure. I can’t imagine solo backpacking in such remote places. You’re one brave guy. :)
leslie saysAugust 12, 2013 at 11:51 am… food there are so interesting to taste. It will definitely quenched my hunger :)
Gino saysJanuary 9, 2017 at 11:27 amHi Marcos,Na huisa kmi sang trek! I hope we could do it the way you did. Me and my wife are planning the same itinerary. Would you recommend going through with the whole trek (without hitch hiking) even though we are just novice trekkers? We could go along our own pace right?
Sandra saysMarch 24, 2017 at 5:40 pmHi Marcos, when are u guys going? Me and my boyfriend are planning the same thing but we will be there beginning of june. I heard that they try to stop people to hike or ojek through the savannah, do you know anything about that?