Semeru Mountain (3,676 m)-Bromo Mountain (2,203 m)

This is the most highest mountain in Java Island . And the most extraordinary panorama in every view of another mountains. Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National park is part of 4 regencies i.e. Probolinggo , Pasuruan, Malang, Lumajang . Mostly Mt. Bromo crater, this area very well known by tourist both foreign and domestic . There are many route leading to this place. To go to Mt. Bromo from Pasuruan , from Surabaya take the bus going to Probolinggo and get off in Pasuruan , from there take minibus to Tosari-Wonokitri. In Wonokitri , we can spend the night at hotels or inns or go directly to Mt. Pananjakan or the sandsea and climb Mt. Bromo.

Mt. Pananjakan is the best view point to look at Mt. Bromo and its surrounding. They really have a fantastic panorama with smoke blows from Mt. Bromo crater , colorful lava on the slope of the mountain and wide desert around. From here ,the sunrise looks more beautiful with Mt. Semeru as its back ground.

If we start from Probolinggo, we can go by minibus to Sukapura and Ngadisari . From Ngadisari we can reach 'cemoro lawang ' by minibus or walking (about 3km) and stay overnight there. In the next very early morning we can start our journey to Mt. Bromo crater to watch the splendors sunrise. Wd can walk or rent a horse there to reach the peak of Mt. Bromo.

People living around Mt. Bromo are called 'tengger people ' who hold an annual religious ceremony called 'KASODO' . In the summit of ceremony , which is at 12:00 p.m., people throw their sacrifices into Mt. Bromo crater. Many prominent and local goverment officers, also tens thousand Indonesian and foreign tourist always animat and attend the ceremony. The temperature in Bromo varies from 5 -14'c. We can walk through the wide desert and clim Mt. Batok , Mt. Kursi or Mt. Pananjakan . This area really promises us fantastic objects.

The easiest way to reach the peak of the highest mountain in Java , Mt. Semeru (3,676 m), is from Tumpang . From Malang, we can go to Tumpang by minibus , and then take Truck or open jeep to Ranu Pane. (it cost about Rp 30.000- Rp 50.000 ,00 each in 2007). We will pass Gubuk Klakah village and Ngadas village , on the way to Ranu Pane village.

Ranu Pane (2,100 m) is the last village where we can find a post to ask permission for climbing . A hut to spend the night or to take a rest is available also. In this village , we can also see two beautiful lakes . One called Ranu Pane ( Ranu means lake ), another one nearby called Ranu Regulo.

In the early morning, we can start the journey to Ranu Kumbolo through a path as far as 13 km. It will spend 3 or 4 hours. In Ranu Kumbolo there is a climber hut for resting and cooking . Of course , water is available in abundance here . Ranu Kumbolo is 2,400m above sea level and has beautiful scenery especially in the morning when we look at the sun rising through the chinks of the hills.

On the way to Kalimati (2,700 m) from Ranu Kumbolo , we will pass casuarina trees and grasses, which takes 2 or 3 hours (10km). Sometimes we can meet endangered animals like deer or birds . In Kalimati we can put up a tent . And if we need water, we should go west wards along the edge of Kalimati forest to Sumbermani, 1 hour needed to walk go and back . But its better to prepare water in Ranu Kumbolo. Land condition of Kalimati area up to the peak of Semeru is dangerous , as it unstable and landslide sometimes happens. Its better to put up a tent in Kalimati instead of Arcopodo (about 1 hour climbing from Kalimati towards the peak ). We can start climbing from Kalimati in very early morning , about 01:00 or 02:00 a.m. . To reach the peak of Mt. Semeru , we will climb through casuarina forest for an hour and sandy-steepy slope for 2 or 3 hours.

The mostly often climbed peak is Mahameru . From this peak , we can look at a crater called 'Jonggring Saloko', which uniquely blows volcanic stones and sands every 10 or 15 minutes, preceded by smoke rising highly. The temperature in the peak is very low about 0-4'c, sometimes foggy or stormy. We can enjoy unvorgettable and fantastic panorama towards many peaks of east Java, coasts and seas , and sunrise in the east horizon.

The best time for climbing the mountain is in most dry seasons, in the months of June until September. We may avoid most rainy season , when storm and landslide often happen.

From the peak , it will take 1 hour to return to Kalimati . It will spend another 2 hours to reach Ranu Kumbolo and another 3 hours to reach Ranu Pane. Reaching Ranu Pane in the afternoon, we can directly continue to Tumpang by open jeep and stay overnight here . In the following morning we can go straight a head to Malang.