16/09/25 at 10:46

Mistakes We Wouldn't Have Made If We Had Gone to Bromo with a Guide

Travelers shared with us their story of climbing Bromo and the difficulties they faced. Here's how it went:

We were convinced that guides are only for tourists. We live in Bali, we know how to organize trips ourselves. Six friends, one rented car, and a goal — to see the legendary Mount Bromo. What could possibly go wrong?

As it turned out – a lot 😅

The Road to Bromo

It took us 3.5 hours to reach Gilimanuk port, then a ferry crossing, and another 6 hours driving through Java. By the time we approached the mountain area, it was already dark.

MISTAKE 1 — We didn’t consider the mountain switchbacks.

Fog, complete darkness, no signal, cliffs on both sides of the road. The GPS cheerfully showed that we were “almost there.”

Then two men on a motorbike caught up with us, demanding $100 “for the park entrance.” No uniforms, no tickets, just boldness. Of course, we refused, but we lost time and nerves.

When we finally reached a fork in the road at 2100 meters, the way to the village was blocked by a barrier locked with a chain. We had no choice but to find a place to stay — ended up at a local man’s homestay, cold and very basic, but the only option.

Morning

In daylight, we finally saw the road we had driven at night. The switchback was so steep it was scary to think how easily we could have slipped off in the dark.

MISTAKE 2 — Only one driver for the whole trip.

Our driver James was completely exhausted after the overnight drive, so we inevitably missed the sunrise. The famous viewpoint remained unseen.

Trying to Reach the Volcano

The GPS showed only 10 km to Bromo. But once again, a barrier stopped us at the caldera entrance. Locals explained: no private cars allowed. The options — horses or walking.

MISTAKE 3 — We split up and decided to walk 20 km.

James took a horse and was led in one direction, while the rest of us crawled under the barrier and headed into the valley. The group split in two.

At first, it was easy: sunshine, clouds, Mars-like landscapes, black sand desert. But the walk took three hours. The climb to Bromo itself was short — only 300 steps — and we were standing at the edge of the crater, smoke rising from within. Truly unforgettable.

The Way Back

Getting back turned out to be much harder. We were tired, hungry, James was out of contact with a dead phone, and then it started raining.

MISTAKE 4 — We underestimated the rainy season.

Right before our eyes, a powerful mountain river appeared where in the morning there had been none. The current grew stronger every minute, tearing away the sandy banks.

It was terrifying: another half hour and we could have been washed away. There was no way around, so we had to act fast — we crossed it barefoot, knee-deep in icy, raging water. Soaked and muddy, but safe.

Then came another 7 km through the soggy valley. We walked on autopilot, legs shaking, breath short. And only when our car appeared by that same chained barrier did I finally feel relief, as if coming home.

Another Loss

MISTAKE 5 — We missed the Madakaripura Waterfall.

One of the most beautiful waterfalls in Java lies right on the way to Bromo. Guided tours include it by default. But we, exhausted and confused with the route, didn’t even realize we were passing by such a gem.

Conclusions

We aimed for “one of the easiest volcanoes,” but ended up with an extreme adventure:

mountain switchbacks in the dark,
roadside scams,
a freezing homestay,
a 20 km hike across the caldera,
a sudden river crossing after rain,
and a missed Madakaripura waterfall.

With a guide, it would have been completely different:

professional driver
entry from the right side in Cemoro Lawang,
sunrise at the famous viewpoint,
a reliable and comfortable homestay,
a jeep ride straight to the crater,
no risks or wasted kilometers,
a visit to Madakaripura included.

But now we have a story that we'll never forget. And most importantly – everyone returned safe and sound 🙏

✨ Want to see sunrise over Bromo and the Madakaripura waterfall without the risks and mishaps? Book a reliable guided tour here.

👉 By the way, ready tours usually last 3 days and include not only Bromo and Madakaripura, but also a climb to Ijen volcano with its famous 'blue fire'. Everything is clear, comfortable and safe.

With guides from MyBaliTrips, you will avoid all these mistakes, and your journey to Bromo and any other location will be top-notch.
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