Review Author: Sarah Pratt

Review Date: 30 Dec 2019

Review Body: The trip was excellent we were picked up and taken to the volcano where an ex miner took us up to the crater. He explained various things along the way and it was very interesting to hear how he had started working as a guide from starting in the mines. He walked as fast as the slowest person as it was a long climb. He offered to take pictures of us together. I loved walking by torch into the crater and we saw the blue flames straight away. Sunrise from the top was good and a great view of the blue lake. After we went to a waterfall and had amazing local sweetcorn and banana fritters. A good day out well worth it.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Nelli Schneider

Review Date: 16 Feb 2020

Review Body: Johan picked us up at our guesthouse at 00.40 (on time!) and took us together with one other person to Ijen. He provided us with a gas mask, torch and even lend me an extra jacket (its cold up there). The guide was really nice, his english was limited but you saw that he had a lot of knowledge (20 years he was working there as a minor worker). He always waited when we needed a quick break and was always looking for us and showed us where to walk safely and so on. Hands down, a really nice experience. I can really recommend this tour. You wont regret it! Thank you Johan and Boli.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Joe Headland

Review Date: 09 Jan 2020

Review Body: Great experience at Green Ijen. Johan went above and beyond to help us out - picked us up from the station at 11pm at night and let us drop our bags off there for the night despite us not staying. He gave us a free breakfast the next morning (as well as snacks post waterfall) and even dropped us off at the harbour the next day. Outstanding service - perfect for a budget conscious traveler, and left me with one of the best travel experiences I've ever done.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ilkka Pernu

Review Date: 19 Jan 2020

Review Body: The guide — Bahri was the best! Sweet man and also very patient. You can see he has worked at the mine for 20 years. The experience oozes out of him when walking up and down on mount Ijen. The trek itself.. Blue flames were cool, but sunrise at the rim of the volcano where you can see the lake was my favorite bit. Anyhow, I am happy I did this!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Natalia Medvetchi

Review Date: 16 Mar 2020

Review Body: The trip was amazing and Johan is an amazing host! The level of professionalism is outstanding and I would definitely recommend this trip. It is once in a lifetime experience and is totally worth it!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kim fletcher and Craig Moore

Review Date: 16 Mar 2020

Review Body: Most amazing experience and doing it with our guide who use to be a miner was sure ch a privilege! Our transport was super organized and excellent. Thank you!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Calvin Zacharias

Review Date: 04 Mar 2020

Review Body: Professional Guide. All around a very good trip to Ijen.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: David Campbell

Review Date: 11 Nov 2022

Review Body: Amazing experience and superb hospitality. Met off the train by Johan with an amazing broad welcoming smile and warm handshake. He explained all the arrangements on the way to the guesthouse. The guesthouse was modern and comfortable and Ning was so very welcoming friendly and hospitable and provides a great breakfast. Barry was my guide for Ijen - a truly amazing and so very humble guy who worked in the sulphur mine for 20 years. His English is improving and good enough to understand and certainly better than my Indonesian (he taught me a little more on the excursion) He looked after me so very well ensuring to point out any trip hazards or slippy parts on the way down the crater. He took me to all the best points to view the blue flames and for photographs. After going back to the top he also took me round part of the top for viewing and picture taking. I could not have asked for a better guide or a better excursion. Johan, Barry, and Ning are all great people and made the experience so very memorable. I have travelled to many places in many countries and would not hesitate at all to totally recommend this amazing excursion with Green Ijen.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: TessaC152

Review Date: 13 Mar 2019

Review Body: We stayed at Green Ijen for one night to see the famous Kawah Ijen and we couldn’t be happier with our choice of guesthouse. As we were doing the Ijen tour with him, Johan picked us up from the ferry terminal. He was very friendly and happy and gave us great recommendations for dinner as well. The room was simple but clean and comfortable. The bathrooms were also clean. The tour was great - a real highlight of our trip. As our guide was a former miner, he was able to explain (through google translate partly) more about the life of the miners. Breakfast, on our return from Ijen at about 7am, was a delicious rice based meal. Johan and one of his staff helped us organise renting a motorbike for the next leg of our trip and took Me all over town on the back of one to find the best deal. The staff member was also super friendly and went out of his way to make us welcome and comfortable :)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tessa C

Review Date: 10 Mar 2019

Review Body: We stayed at Green Ijen for one night to see the famous Kawah Ijen and we couldn’t be happier with our choice of guesthouse. As we were doing the Ijen tour with him, Johan picked us up from the ferry terminal. He was very friendly and happy and gave us great recommendations for dinner as well. The room was simple but clean and comfortable. The bathrooms were also clean. The tour was great - a real highlight of our trip. As our guide was a former miner, he was able to explain (through google translate partly) more about the life of the miners. Breakfast, on our return from Ijen at about 7am, was a delicious rice based meal. Johan and one of his staff helped us organise renting a motorbike for the next leg of our trip and took Me all over town on the back of one to find the best deal. The staff member was also super friendly and went out of his way to make us welcome and comfortable :)

Review rating: 5

Review Author: traveller81

Review Date: 10 Apr 2019

Review Body: We booked a tour with Johan over a recommendation of a French girl. First of all does he reply very fast and quick and answers any questions you have which is just great! He picked us up from the train station and we decided to stay at the guesthouse Green Ijen too. It was a very pleasant stay - very central - and good breakfast with very tasty coffee. But the best thing were Johan and the workers at the guesthouse. Very friendly and you can talk with Johan about everything and he is a very communicative and funny guy. We did the tour with an ex mine worker who worked for 20 years and he was also great. Showed us the hidden gems and all in one did we have a great experience for a great price! There are tours which are around 25k less but those are big groups and definitely weren't that fun as we could see. If anyone would ask me, I'd give Johan's number!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Camper818866

Review Date: 06 Apr 2019

Review Body: We booked a tour with Johan over a recommendation of a French girl. First of all does he reply very fast and quick and answers any questions you have which is just great! He picked us up from the train station and we decided to stay at the guesthouse Green Ijen too. It was a very pleasant stay - very central - and good breakfast with very tasty coffee. But the best thing were Johan and the workers at the guesthouse. Very friendly and you can talk with Johan about everything and he is a very communicative and funny guy. We did the tour with an ex mine worker who worked for 20 years and he was also great. Showed us the hidden gems and all in one did we have a great experience for a great price! There are tours which are around 25k less but those are big groups and definitely weren't that fun as we could see. If anyone would ask me, I'd give Johan's number!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: nomadofthecentury, Makati, Philippines

Review Date: 19 Sep 2018

Review Body: If you want the best climbing experience in Kawah Ijen, book your stay and tour with Green Ijen Bed and Breakfast. The accommodation is pretty basic but owner Johan more than makes up for it with his hospitality, humor, and professionalism. He picked me up from the train station free of charge and also drove me to the Ketapang ferry terminal on my way to Bali. He takes time to sit down with his guests and get to know them one by one. It was a truly personalized and genuine experience that you don’t get anymore these days. After the climb, Johan brought us to a waterfall and also treated us to some tasty local delicacies on his tab. When we arrived at the hotel, a great breakfast awaited us. For the price that I paid, I got so much more. Thank you, Johan!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: nomadofthecentury, Philippines

Review Date: 10 Sep 2018

Review Body: If you want the best climbing experience in Kawah Ijen, book your stay and tour with Green Ijen Bed and Breakfast. The accommodation is pretty basic but owner Johan more than makes up for it with his hospitality, humor, and professionalism. He picked me up from the train station free of charge and also drove me to the Ketapang ferry terminal on my way to Bali. He takes time to sit down with his guests and get to know them one by one. It was a truly personalized and genuine experience that you don’t get anymore these days. After the climb, Johan brought us to a waterfall and also treated us to some tasty local delicacies on his tab. When we arrived at the hotel, a great breakfast awaited us. For the price that I paid, I got so much more. Thank you, Johan!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: rachm2125, Australia

Review Date: 10 Mar 2018

Review Body: Green Ijen may not be the cheapest place to stay in Banyuwangi (was about 20,000 RP higher than another hostel I was looking at), but it is absolutely worth it! Johan is really just the nicest, most accommodating person. He even picked me up from the bus stop when I arrived and dropped me off at the ferry on my way out. The staff was very kind as well, frequently checking if I needed anything. He even remembered how I liked my coffee! The room was clean, and the bed was the most comfortable one I had throughout my trip. The breakfast provided was a lovely local breakfast Johan picked up that morning. The day I was there we had eggs over rice, much more filling than some fruit or a small pancake. Absolutely can recommend and would stay again!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: rachm2125, Sydney, Australia

Review Date: 25 Mar 2018

Review Body: Green Ijen may not be the cheapest place to stay in Banyuwangi (was about 20,000 RP higher than another hostel I was looking at), but it is absolutely worth it! Johan is really just the nicest, most accommodating person. He even picked me up from the bus stop when I arrived and dropped me off at the ferry on my way out. The staff was very kind as well, frequently checking if I needed anything. He even remembered how I liked my coffee! The room was clean, and the bed was the most comfortable one I had throughout my trip. The breakfast provided was a lovely local breakfast Johan picked up that morning. The day I was there we had eggs over rice, much more filling than some fruit or a small pancake. Absolutely can recommend and would stay again!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Julien R

Review Date: 10 Apr 2017

Review Body: Although we did not sleep much in the room, the place was clean and tidy. Indeed that night Johan took us to Ijen Volcano, nice experience even though the blue flames were difficult to encounter that night. Johan is a really cool guy, always smiley and here to help! I'll recommend to stay with Johan, his homestay is a good budget option and the transportation to the Ijen was really affordable. Johan does understand tourism and try his best to give you an enjoyable experience of his hometown :) He offered to pick us up from the Ferry, dropping us off from one bus station to the other and giving me a ride on his motorcycle to buy something before going off to the volcano.. All of this out of sympathy and for free!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gtirman, Brisbane

Review Date: 19 Aug 2018

Review Body: Johan is a great host and can help you out on everything such as a restaurant that has a buffet meal, great food for only $3. Mini mart just around the cnr for snacks and rail tkts. Rooms are basic but clean. Air con is good. There was no hot water but you dont really need it. Johan will organise your trip to Ijen with his guide Barry [ex-miner] who is a top person for a decent price of 200k rp. Most probably there will be other travellers there too. From the ferry port get a mini van that is waiting there to this hostel for 50k rp as they know it well but wait till all tourists have gone and you will get the best price.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Gtirman

Review Date: 10 Aug 2018

Review Body: Johan is a great host and can help you out on everything such as a restaurant that has a buffet meal, great food for only $3. Mini mart just around the cnr for snacks and rail tkts. Rooms are basic but clean. Air con is good. There was no hot water but you dont really need it. Johan will organise your trip to Ijen with his guide Barry [ex-miner] who is a top person for a decent price of 200k rp. Most probably there will be other travellers there too. From the ferry port get a mini van that is waiting there to this hostel for 50k rp as they know it well but wait till all tourists have gone and you will get the best price.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sarah H

Review Date: 18 Mar 2018

Review Body: Great, simple, comfortable accommodation with really helpful staff, comfy beds, AC in room and a lovely breakfast. Booked the trip 5 days before for a one night escape from Jakarta. We just wanted to do the blue fire night hike. Johan was great and organised not only the hike but also airport transfers, recommendations for nearby places to eat, a post hike massage place AND took us to a beautiful waterfall the day before so we could make the most of our short time. Really helpful and friendly!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: You'll hike to the top of Ijen Crater after midnight - catch sight of the blue flames, and if you're lucky, a beautiful sunrise

Itinerary Description: 12:30 am - Leave your hotel in Banyuwangi 1:30 am - Get to the start of the hike. Begin the 2.5 hour trek down into the Ijen Crater along a yellow sulphuric hiking track. 5:00 am - Climb back up to the top to catch the sunrise as the stunning panorama is unveiled at an altitude of 2380m above sea level. 6:30 am - Arrive back at the entrance. After the descent, Green Ijen will typically take their guests to a nearby waterfall for a short trek.