How do you get from Bali to Mount Ijen?

Bali to Banyuwangi (Ijen) at a glance

Last checked 27 October 2026. Fares are approximate; dollar figures convert at our committed exchange-rate snapshot.

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The route in one line

South Bali or Ubud → Gilimanuk (west Bali) → ferry across the Bali Strait → Ketapang port, just north of Banyuwangi town → Banyuwangi hotel → Paltuding, the trailhead at the foot of Ijen, about 1 to 1.5 hours' drive uphill → crater. Ijen itself is a protected nature park (TWA Kawah Ijen) on the border of Banyuwangi and Bondowoso regencies, run by the East Java nature conservation agency BBKSDA Jawa Timur.

Option 1: tour from Bali (best for most)

Tour operators in Seminyak, Kuta and Ubud sell Ijen as a 1-night or 2-night trip: hotel pick-up in the afternoon, the drive and ferry, a few hours' sleep in Banyuwangi, the night hike with a guide, breakfast, then the ferry back to Bali the same day. Two-night versions add a proper sleep, and some add Bromo. Check what is included: the ferry, the park entry fee, the gas mask (needed near the crater because of sulphur fumes), a guide and the Banyuwangi room. The tour suits anyone short on time, because it handles the hardest part, getting to Paltuding at 1 a.m.

Ask how the tour handles a closure. In 2026 the park was shut from 4 September to 28 September because of forest fires, and it also closes when volcanic gas levels are high. A good operator will refund or reroute.

Option 2: on your own by bus and ferry

Public buses run from Ubung and Mengwi terminals near Denpasar to Gilimanuk; an aggregator lists about 4 hours and around Rp56,000, departing every few hours. That is not an official timetable, so confirm at the terminal. A private car from Seminyak or Ubud to Gilimanuk is about 3 to 4 hours depending on traffic on the Tabanan road.

At Gilimanuk, walk on as a foot passenger. ASDP Indonesia Ferry runs the Gilimanuk–Ketapang crossing 24 hours a day, with ferries roughly every hour or more often; the sailing is about 45 minutes, though berth queues can turn it into 2 hours or more. Tickets are sold through ASDP's Ferizy app and site; the adult foot-passenger fare was Rp10,600 (well under $1) in the most recent published tariff, but check Ferizy for the current price. Buy it yourself: touts at Gilimanuk have charged travellers extra commission for the same ticket.

From Ketapang, a car or ojek takes you to a Banyuwangi hotel. Then arrange a driver to Paltuding for around midnight; most Banyuwangi hotels do this and can supply masks and a guide.

Option 3: fly to Banyuwangi

Banyuwangi has its own airport (BWX) south of town, but it is served from Java rather than Bali. It only makes sense if you are travelling east through Java to Bali; from Bali itself, the ferry is faster than any connecting flight.

The Ijen hike and fees

The trail from Paltuding to the crater rim is about 3 km, steep in the middle. Hikers start in the dark to see the blue fire, the burning sulphur gas inside the crater, which is only visible before dawn, then watch sunrise on the rim. Foreign visitors pay Rp150,000 entry, the same on weekdays and holidays, under the tariff that took effect on 30 October 2024; take cash. Visitors with heart or breathing conditions should talk to their doctor first, given the altitude and fumes.

Rules on going down into the crater itself change with gas levels and are set by the park, so follow your guide and the rangers on the night.

Timing, holidays and the return

• Avoid Nyepi. Crossings at Gilimanuk–Ketapang stop for Bali's Day of Silence (in 2026 they were halted 18 to 20 March). See our Nyepi 2027 guide.

• Avoid Lebaran week. In March 2026 queues at Gilimanuk reached up to 40 km and ASDP put about 40 ferries on the route to clear them. Check Lebaran 2027 dates before choosing your dates.

• Dry season (roughly May to October) gives the best chance of clear skies at sunrise.

• Coming back, most people take the morning ferry and continue to north or west Bali. Our own route went from Banyuwangi on to Munduk in Bali's highlands, which is a sensible next stop; see our 18-day Bali itinerary and Indonesia guide.

If you are driving yourself, read our Bali scooter and licence rules, and for Bali entry formalities the e-VOA guide.

Frequently asked questions