My partner and I took the 4D3N Tumpak/bromo/ijen tour with a private driver and could not recommend this enough.
Over the course of the 4 days, we were driven by Achmad (Azim) - who was extremely accommodating with our requests throughout and forthcoming with any information we required. Specifically, on the first evening Achmad agreed to eat with us at our request and provided a comprehensive run through of the days ahead as well as talking to us about his own life in Indonesia and window into the local way of life.
Each tour had its own benefits, in each case accompanied by very knowledgeable English speaking guides. Particularly during the Ijen tour where our guide went above and beyond in difficult conditions to ensure we were one of the first to summit the mountain and see the blue flame - which many other groups subsequently missed out on.
For future guests, my only advice would be to ensure you’re fully aware of the physical demands of the activities you’re signing up for prior to booking.
Tumpak sewu required a steep climb out of the waterfall valley, whilst Bromo also required a reasoned degree of fitness to first climb the viewpoint and then later the crater itself. However, by far the most challenging activity is the final Ijen climb - particularly after three days of long drives and little sleep.
With regards to Boyo tours, I don’t believe there could be a better alternative available should you want to do this style of tour. Every effort was made to accommodate our travel arrangements; requests were actioned promptly and communication was strong throughout.
Prior to attending the tour some previous reviews I read referenced the standard of accommodations. For me, the three seperate home stays we used were more than suitable - clean beds, hot showers and plenty of room - far exceeding previous such tours we have taken in Vietnam or the Philippines.
NB - on first evening in Tumpak Sewu, ensure to eat at Resto Sambas a short walk/drive from the Homestay. This was genuinely one of the best meals we ate in Indonesia to date and the family running the business were fantastic.
