# How do you get from Bali to Mount Ijen? > Bali to Ijen: about 3 to 4 hours to Gilimanuk, a roughly 45-minute ferry to Ketapang (about Rp10,600), then Banyuwangi. Tours, timing and fees. - Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/bali-to-ijen-banyuwangi-ferry-transfer-guide - Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries) - Published: 2026-08-06 **Most people do Ijen from Bali as a packaged 1 or 2 day tour: a driver to Gilimanuk port at Bali's western tip (about 3 to 4 hours from the south), the ferry across to Ketapang in East Java (about 45 minutes of sailing, roughly Rp10,600 for a foot passenger), a few hours' rest in Banyuwangi, then a 1 a.m. start for the crater.** Doing it yourself by public bus and ferry is far cheaper but needs a night in Banyuwangi and a local driver for the mountain. There is no bridge, and no direct flight from Denpasar to Banyuwangi. We were in Banyuwangi on 21 to 22 May 2023 with a day trip to Ijen, between Seminyak and Munduk on our Bali route. ## 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](https://clevertourists.com/resources/nyepi-2027-bali-date-airport-closure-travel-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](https://clevertourists.com/resources/lebaran-2027-indonesia-bali-mudik-travel-guide) 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](https://clevertourists.com/resources/bali-itinerary-our-18-day-route-seminyak-munduk-ubud-sidemen) and [Indonesia guide](https://clevertourists.com/guides/indonesia). If you are driving yourself, read our [Bali scooter and licence rules](https://clevertourists.com/resources/bali-scooter-rental-rules-police-checkpoints-license-guide), and for Bali entry formalities the [e-VOA guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/indonesia-e-voa-online-bali-evisa-how-to-apply-guide). ## Frequently asked questions ### How long does it take to get from Bali to Ijen? Allow most of an afternoon and evening: about 3 to 4 hours to Gilimanuk, a ferry of about 45 minutes (longer with queues), then the drive to Banyuwangi and about 1 to 1.5 hours up to Paltuding for a 1 a.m. start. ### How much is the ferry from Bali to Java? The adult foot-passenger fare on the Gilimanuk–Ketapang ferry was Rp10,600 in the latest published tariff; check ASDP's Ferizy app for the current price. ### Can you do Ijen as a day trip from Bali? Only as a long overnight trip: tours pick up in the afternoon, hike in the night and return the next day. A two-night trip is more comfortable. ### How much is the Ijen entrance fee for foreigners? Rp150,000 per person, the same on weekdays and holidays, under the tariff in force since 30 October 2024.