East Java Tour Review: 3D2N Bromo, Ijen & Tumpak Sewu | Worth It?
Indonesia is home to more active volcanoes than any other country in the world. And if you are there, you owe it to yourself to experience them.
I was closing out 15 months of long term travel when I made a last minute decision to end it with a bang. I am so glad I did not let my nerves stop me from booking this tour.
Here is my honest East Java tour review, what the hikes are actually like, how I booked it and whether it was worth it.
At A Glance
Quick Verdict: Is the East Java 3D2N Tour Worth It?
Yes. Completely and without hesitation.
This tour is peak Indonesia. Getting out of the overcrowded chaos of Bali and spending three days taking in some of the most jaw dropping natural landscapes you will ever see in your life. It doesn’t get much better than that. The highlight for me was Mount Ijen, which ended up being one of the coolest experiences of my entire 15 months of travel. Well organised, well priced and genuinely unforgettable.
How I Booked the East Java Tour from Malang
I booked the 3D2N East Java tour with Mador Hostel in Malang and I cannot recommend them enough. They are the most popular option for young backpackers doing this tour, and at 27 I was happy to find that most people were around my age.
Mador runs the tour like clockwork, with new groups leaving each day. The drivers were incredibly kind and communicative, and I always knew exactly what was happening and when. The whole operation felt seamless.
Spots fill up fast so I would strongly recommend booking in advance through GetYourGuide.
I went at the end of March during wet season and had good weather for two out of the three days; the Bromo viewpoint was unfortunately clouded out. Weather can have a big impact on this tour, but you can still have an amazing experience even during wet season.
Where to Stay in Malang Before the Tour
You’ll need to sort your own accommodation in Malang the night before the tour, as day one starts early. I stayed at Snooze Malang and it is honestly one of the nicest hostels I stayed in during my trip.
The bunks are so huge you can stand up in them, the common areas are spacious, the bathrooms are spotless and constantly being cleaned, and the staff were so sweet and really went above and beyond. Mador arranges pickup from wherever you’re staying in Malang and brings you to the hostel for breakfast on the first morning, so I would definitely recommend Snooze.
What Is Included in the East Java 3D2N Tour?
Once the tour begins, almost everything is taken care of:
- All transportation, including the jeeps at Bromo
- Two nights of accommodation: a homestay near Bromo on night 1 and a hotel near Ijen on night 2
- Breakfast, lunch and dinners
- Local guides at each location
- A gas mask for Mount Ijen
- A ferry ticket to Bali if you’re heading there afterwards, plus drop-off to most destinations including Ubud, Canggu, and Uluwatu. If not, they return you to Malang or Surabaya.
Not included: Water shoe rental at Tumpak Sewu and headlamp/goggle rental for Ijen.
When booking, you can choose either the dorm option or the private room option. Just note that these are two completely separate groups. They follow the same itinerary but rarely cross paths.
Price-wise, I thought this tour was an incredible deal for everything that was included. You can check current pricing and availability here.
The Itinerary: Day by Day
Day 1: Tumpak Sewu Waterfall
The first day of the tour starts around 6am, the latest start of the trip. You get picked up from your accommodation, have breakfast and a briefing at Mador, then drive about 2.5 hours to Tumpak Sewu.
Tumpak Sewu literally translates to “a thousand waterfalls” and that is exactly what it looks like. Hundreds of individual streams pour down together, surrounded by jungle, birds and rainbows. You first stop at the top viewpoint, then hike down to the base which is equally stunning. From there you wind through the surrounding valley past countless smaller waterfalls.
Don’t wear a bathing suit, but wear activewear that can get wet, because you will get soaked from spray and wading through waist-deep water at parts. Rent water shoes at the entrance for around 20,000–40,000 IDR. The terrain is slippery rock and you will need them. Bring only your phone for this part. If you have a dry bag, great. If not, the guides have one and can carry your phone for you.
Your big bags stay in the trunk of the van, so pack a towel and a change of clothes in your small daypack, which stays in the front of the van. You’ll want them for the drive after.
After lunch you drive to the Bromo area and check into your homestay for the night. High up in the mountains, cosy and misty, with a little bonfire and marshmallows waiting. You have an early dinner and bedtime ahead of day 2.
What to Pack: Day 1 | Tumpak Sewu
Day 2: Mount Bromo
The next morning starts at 2am, but not with a hike. You’re driven up a winding mountain road in 4×4 jeeps in complete darkness to reach the viewpoint for sunrise over Mount Bromo. The drivers gun it up these roads to get you there early, so the ride feels fast, intense, and windy; just something to note if you get motion sickness.
At the top, you wait in small open huts while locals sell hot coffee and tea. This is where you’ll be coldest on the entire tour. You’re sitting still (sometimes at near freezing temperatures) waiting for sunrise, so layer up more than you think. Bring small bills for toilets here too.
My group unfortunately had zero visibility at the viewpoint as a cloud never cleared. It does happen sometimes, especially in rainy season. That said, the rest of the day cleared up and made up for it.
After sunrise, you drive down and head to Mount Bromo itself to hike up to the crater. You first walk across the “Sea of Sand,” the flat volcanic ash plain surrounding Bromo. From there, you climb a staircase with 250 steps to the crater rim. Peering into the massive active crater was still incredible, even with some lingering cloud and smoke. The jeeps also take you to a few other viewpoints around the volcanic plain.
You head back to the homestay for breakfast, to pack up, and drive toward Ijen. You arrive at your next hotel around 3pm to rest and reset before the final day of the tour.
What to Pack: Day 2 | Mount Bromo
Day 3: Mount Ijen – What’s the Gas Mask Situation?
The day most people are waiting for: hiking Mount Ijen to see the blue fire, one of only two places in the world where it occurs naturally. To see it, you need to be inside the crater while it’s still completely dark, which is why this day starts with a midnight wake-up call.
I was genuinely terrified for this hike. TikTok makes it look brutal, and I had worked myself into a state of nerves the night before. So here’s what it’s actually like:
At basecamp, you get your gas mask (included in the tour) and can rent a headlamp and goggles if you want them. I found the headlamp essential as it’s pitch black the entire way up, but the goggles optional.
The hike up is about 3km, with 600m of elevation gain, and takes around 1.5 hours. Yes, it’s steep in sections, but the path is fully paved, which makes a huge difference. Your guide stops regularly and the pace is very manageable. I actually found Mount Batur in Bali harder. Don’t let the internet scare you out of this hike.
From the top, you descend about 200m into the crater on unpaved, rocky terrain, which takes around 45 minutes. Your guide takes you down carefully and I found it very manageable.
Now, the gas mask situation, because this was one of my biggest unknowns going in. I assumed you needed it on for the entire descent into the crater, but that wasn’t the case. The sulphur gas clouds are concentrated around the blue fire at the bottom of the crater. Away from the flames you can remove your mask for breaks, though always defer to your guide on when it is safe to do so.
The blue fire is incredible in real life. Bright blue flames rising from dark rock in the middle of the night under the stars. When you get close, have your mask at the ready as sulphur can gust suddenly and you can find yourself in a cloud for a few seconds. If that happens, mask on, eyes closed, stay still, and breathe normally. It clears quickly, but don’t try to walk through it blindly.
We stayed inside the crater for sunrise, which was my favourite part of the whole tour. Watching the sky turn pink over the bright turquoise sulphur lake from inside an active volcano felt like being on another planet.
Once the sun is up, you hike back out and down and get your boxed breakfast at base camp. From there, Mador takes care of your onward travel.
What to Pack: Day 3 | Mount Ijen
Is the East Java Tour Worth It as a Solo Female Traveller?
Yes, and it’s a great option for solo female travellers. You’re with a group and guides the entire time, and everything is very well organised. The social element with Mador Hostel is also a big plus. You meet people on day one, and by day three you’ve shared some pretty intense and beautiful experiences together.
Who This Tour Is Perfect For
This tour is for adventurers who love mountains, hiking, waterfalls, and raw natural beauty. It’s active and thrilling with early mornings, and three pretty intense days, but absolutely worth it.
The tour with Mador Hostel is perfect for:
- Young solo travellers looking to meet people their own age
- Young couples or groups wanting a shared adventure
- People who are nervous but want to push themselves (it’s 100% worth it)
Who Should Skip This Tour
If you truly cannot hike at all, this tour will be challenging. That said, I’m not a regular hiker and I completed it without too much suffering. The Ijen hike is steep, but very doable with a reasonable base level of fitness.
If you hate early mornings, this one will also be tough. You’re waking up at 2am on day two and midnight on day three.
But if you’re on the fence, do it. I almost let my nerves talk me out of it, and I would have seriously regretted it.
Final Verdict: Would I Recommend Mador’s East Java Tour?
The East Java 3D2N tour was one of the best decisions I made in 15 months of travel. Three days, three breathtaking natural wonders, a great group of people, and an experience inside Mount Ijen I’ll never forget.
If you’re in Indonesia and even slightly considering this tour, do it. Book in advance, pack layers, and don’t let the internet scare you out of it.
Additional Details:
Do you enjoy organized group travel in Asia? Check out my firsthand Eternal India Contiki Tour Review to discover if it’s the right fit for your next trip.
