Indonesia (Republic of Indonesia)

Languages: Indonesian

Currencies: IDR · Indonesian rupiah (Rp)

Capitol: Jakarta

Continents: Asia

Borders: Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste

More useful information

Area: 1,904,569km2

Population: 273,523,621

Traffic/driving side: left

Landlocked country: No

Independent country: Yes

United Nations member: Yes

IDD Prefix: +62

Timezones: UTC+07:00, UTC+08:00, UTC+09:00

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Last updated on February 27, 2024

Mount Penanjakan sunrise hike experience.

Witnessing the sunrise from Penanjakan is a truly captivating experience! Despite number of available organized tours taking you directly to the viewing point, we decided to take a night hike through the unknown jungle path 😉 One thing is sure – Penanjakan sunrise showcases the breathtaking beauty of Mount Bromo and the surrounding volcano landscapes! Here’s everything what you can expect during a sunrise hike to Penanjakan in East Java. 

Mount Penanjakan sunrise hike in East Java, Indonesia.

Solo Hiking Mount Penanjakan.

Mount Penanjakan (2700 m) is the perfect point to see Bromo sunrise and the landscape of Tengger Semeru National Park. Bromo is one of the several eruptive centres in the Tengger caldera, which means that all the craters are surrounded by one big crater. Standing in the view point you can also see the nearby village covered with clouds. The sunrise over the landscape of Tengger Semeru National Park is one of the most stunning moment in my travels. It was covered by a fog, which slowly passed off and denuded the beauty of the craters. On the left side of the view there’s Cemoro Lawang which started to be visible after the fog dispapeared.

Mount Penanjakan viewing point.

At that time I was with my friend Nati and we decided to hike to the view point on our own. It’s doable although most people take a tour guide. We decided to follow the steep path, which is not popular and it requires some climbing. This tiny path wasn’t too visible but it’s possible to figure out the way up. We did it totally alone – two girls in the middle of the night climbing a jungle trail up to the summit 🙂 On the way there was a stand with hot tea and coffee for those hiking Mount Penanjakan, where we met a local guide with few people hiking the view point. 

Mount Penanjakan sunrise hike via non-touristic trail.

The hike begins at the entrance of Cemoro Lawang village, where you can hire a jeep or take a walk to reach the starting point of the trail.

You need to start your hike before 2 am in order to have sufficient time to reach the viewpoint before sunrise. This will also allow you to secure a good spot to enjoy the panoramic view, as the crowd is huge! It takes at least two hours to reach the view point and the feeling is great you made it on foot, on your own. It’s good to have some warm clothes with you as the temperatures during night time can decrease to only few degrees. The temperature increases very quickly from the morning but remember you start the hike at night ime. Always carry a big bottle of water with you. On the way back to Cemoro Lawang you can take the asphalt road, which is a little long but easy and the views are stunning as well. The road finishes at the desert (sand sea), surrounded by huge crater. It’s a really long walk but the scenery is magnificent.

We reached the summit for 4.30 just before the sunrise (you need to be there before 5am). I wasn’t expecting to see such a huge crowd at the viewing point. I think there was about 200-300 people who just arrived in jeep tours. 

They were all oddly starring at us, we looked sweaty and tired, still wearing headlights 😉 I can’t tell you how rewarding Mount Penanjakan sunrise hike is via non-touristic trail. It’s adventurous and fun! 

Hiking Mount Penanjakan via main road.

Much easier hike leads via the main road.

It is still consodered as moderate difficulty. It involves walking uphill on a well-marked trail that can be steep at times. The hike typically takes around 1-2 hours to reach the viewpoint.
Start time – to catch the sunrise you should start the trek in the early morning hours around 3-4 am. Check the sunrise time in advance to plan your hike.

How to prepare for Mount Pananjakan sunrise hike?

  • Hiking shoes – it is essential to wear sturdy shoes for the uphill hike,
  • Dress warmly as the temperature at the peak can be quite cold, especially before sunrise,
  • Wear lightweight, comfortable clothing in layers to adjust to changing temperatures,
  • Carry 1-2 litres of water,
  • Bring head light (the hiking trail we used might be a home for wild animals),
  • Have some snacks if you plan to walk back to Cemoro Lawang through the sand desert.
  • Being camera!
Me with view on Bromo volcano
Me and my friend at the top of Penanjakan
Sassari Sardinia

Hey - I'm Eva!

Hiker, adventurous traveler and the author of this blog. My biggest joy is mountaineering and writing reportage travel stories here on this blog, to help you create a unique travel experience. Traveling is freedom, allows you seeing the world truly, meet communities, grow. Taste it!
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