Banyuwangi, East Java, Indonesia08°03.5′ S · 114°14.5′ E

Ijen Crater Trip Planner
The green hillside trail down from Ijen, with Mount Raung above the clouds on the left

Getting to Ijen

One ferry from Bali, or a train across Java

Photo: Jakub Hałun / CC BY-SA 4.0

The trailhead is Paltuding, on the plateau above Banyuwangi. You first get to Banyuwangi by ferry from Bali, by train or bus across Java, or by plane, and then go up the mountain road by tour car or your own transport.

Ways to reach Banyuwangi

Ways to reach Banyuwangi
FromHowTime
Bali (Gilimanuk)Ferry to Ketapang, every 30 min, 24 hoursAbout 45 min crossing
DenpasarRoad via GilimanukAbout 4 h
Surabaya or MalangTrain, several a dayAbout 6 h
YogyakartaTrain, one a dayAbout 13 h
SurabayaBus, 285 kmAbout 6 h
Jakarta, Surabaya, Kuala LumpurFlight to Blimbingsari (BWX)Varies
Times as Wikivoyage gives them. Loading the ferry can take longer than the crossing.Checked · source

Ketapang station is about 200 m from the ferry harbour and 10 km north of the town centre. Banyuwangi Kota station is 3 km from the centre.

From Bali by ferry

Gilimanuk is at the western tip of Bali. Foot passengers load credit onto an ASDP smartcard to pass the turnstile, or buy through the Ferizy website. On the Java side you land at Ketapang, next to the station and close to the ferry-side hotels. If you would rather not drive yourself, every Bali tour includes the ferry both ways.

Up to Paltuding

From Banyuwangi the road climbs through Licin to the Paltuding gate. The national tourism site describes the other approach, from Bondowoso, as 64 km with a steep and damaged last stretch, where a 4WD car is advised. For an independent trip, hire a jeep with a driver. Night tours from Banyuwangi include the drive.

By shuttle from Bondowoso

DAMRI Ijen Geopark shuttle
ItemDetail
RouteJember (Tawang Alun) to Bondowoso and Paltuding
FareRp 27,000 flat, any distance
Departures from Jember08:00 and 20:00 WIB
BookingIn advance on the DAMRI app
Article date not shown on the page; its image path points to January 2024.Checked · source

The shuttle stops at Kampung Kopi Kluncing, Black Lava Plalangan and Kawah Wurung on the way to Paltuding. Its evening run reaches Bondowoso at 21:15. From the Java side, a Bromo and Ijen tour is the other way to go.

Questions about Ijen Crater

How do I get from Bali to Ijen?

Drive or bus to Gilimanuk on Bali's west tip, take the ferry to Ketapang, then go up from Banyuwangi. Denpasar to Banyuwangi via Gilimanuk is about 4 hours by road.

How often does the Bali to Java ferry run?

Gilimanuk to Ketapang runs 24 hours a day, about every 30 minutes, with a crossing of about 45 minutes. Tickets are sold through ASDP's Ferizy.

Is there a train to Banyuwangi?

Yes. Several trains a day run from Surabaya and Malang, about 6 hours, and one a day from Yogyakarta, about 13 hours. The Surabaya train costs Rp 290,000 in 2026.

Which airport is closest to Ijen?

Banyuwangi's Blimbingsari airport (BWX), with flights from Jakarta, Surabaya and Kuala Lumpur.

Is there public transport to Paltuding?

A DAMRI shuttle runs from Jember through Bondowoso to Paltuding for a flat Rp 27,000, booked on the DAMRI app.