bmtrips

As part of our month long trip to Indonesia in April, we are thinking of hiking up Mt. Bromo. Has anyone done this hike? Should we fly into an airport close by or book a tour from Yogyakarta? So far our itinerary is:
3 days Ubud
6 days Sulawesi (Tanah Toraja)
5 days Yogyakarta and area(Borobodour)
2 days Mt Bromo
4 days Lombok
8 days Gili Islands
2 days Bali beach-not sure which one yet
Any suggestions on itinerary is also appreciated.

marmot

bmtrips, Bromo is a good 12 hour drive from Yogya. To hike Bromo people either stay at one of the nearer cities like Malang or Surabaya or right on the mountain itself.

The only time I did Bromo I stayed in Malang. We had to leave up at 2:00 a.m. to get to the summit by sunrise. I think the timing is similar from Surabaya. This is really tiring and demanding and if I were to do it again, I would stay in the mountain area.

My son was there about a year ago and stayed at the Lava View Lodge, Cemoro Lawang, on the rim of the volcano. Accommodations are very basic, but the people are friendly and the scenery is breathtaking.

If you decide to stay in the mountain area, the best approach is to fly into Surabaya which is a major hub from just about anywhere in Indonesia and arrange for your resort to pick you up. They will also arrange a car with guide for the actual climb.

Wikipedia has a pretty good uptodate overview of the options available.

On your overall itinerary, I think you're a little heavy on Lombok and the Gilis. Lombok itself is an okay destination -- some nice beaches, some big mountains, but no where near as scenic or culture-laden as Bali, Java or Sulawesi.

The last time I was in the Gilis was some 10 years ago and I really didn't like them AT ALL so I'll defer on that destination to someone with more recent experience.

If you're interested in snorkling or SCUBA I'd strongly suggest including the Manado/Bunaken/Lembeh area of North Sulawesi. It's worldclass, lightyears beyond anything in Lombok. There are also some fine nature preserves in the area.

Sound like a wonderful trip!

ekscrunchy

I have been to Mt. Bromo twice, once from Malang and once en route through Java, at which time I stayed right on the mountain in a place that gives "basic" a new name. I agree with Marmot that staying on the mountain is the way to go. Both of my visits were more than 20 years ago and they remain among my most thrilling travel memories. I wonder why more people here do not add it to a Java itinerary..

Suelynne

bmtrips - I posted a reply on the US board when you posted your question there, though the others have said similar things, but more, here. What sort of beach experience do you want in Bali?

bmtrips

Thanks so much for great advice on Mt. Bromo. We are definitely going to stay on mountain. We love hiking and challenges. Sorry so late on reply, my computer was acting up.
As to question on what sort of beach holiday we are looking for on Bali-we are interested in a less busy area, love beach seafood BBQs and because that section of our holiday is nearing the end; we would like to be within an hour of the airport by car.We don't need luxury. Usually, we stay at smaller places, that offer a bit of local flair. Budget is not as important as the experience.

TravelDude77

I would like to echo Marmot's comment about Manado/Bunaken, on the northern tip of Sulawesi. It's one of the bests places in all of southeast Asia for snorkeling and diving. Even in the off-season (around Jan, when there are more waves) it is definitely worth visiting.

deasy

The best start is from Jogja, then you can overland by car to Bromo (it's adventurous) then you can continue to Bali by car or by flight by driving to Surabaya for the flight (3-4 hours from Bromo) then fly to Bali. Lombok has beautiful beaches (than bali) many resorts and hotel along the beaches and Senggigi beach resort is one of the best...Enjoy the trip