Cloud hunting at Mount Bromo

Sunrise at the foot of Mount Bromo

Among the more than 18,000 islands of Indonesia, Java is one of the most special and a standout destination in the archipelago . When visiting Java, tourists should never miss Bromo – the most famous volcano there. Although not the highest in the Tengger mountain range, many visitors still describe it as "special" because it is an active volcano. Watching the first rays of sunlight here was one of my most memorable experiences on Java Island.

Cloud hunting on Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo, a volcano 2,392 meters high, is located within the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park.

In the hearts of the Indonesian people, Bromo is a sacred volcano. The name Bromo is derived from the pronunciation of the name of the god Brahma in Javanese, meaning the creator in Hinduism.

I started my cloud-hunting trip on Mount Bromo at 1:30 AM. We had to travel by specialized jeep to the mountain and then hike a considerable distance to reach the viewpoint. At times, I even had to crawl and cling to trees to climb a steep, sandy slope. From the viewpoint, I gazed out at the vast expanse, with the Tengger mountain range shrouded in mist, occasionally punctuated by columns of gray smoke rising into the sky. Indonesia has two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. The rainy season, with its heavy rainfall lasting for months, can be quite uncomfortable. The dry season, suitable for tourism, lasts from May to October and is quite sunny. The intense, scorching sun is a challenge in exploring this region. Although it's sunny during the day, the temperature drops significantly at night, sometimes even quite cold.

Bromo awakens

Luckily, I arrived during the dry season and on a moonlit night. The bright moonlight illuminated the entire space. The starry night sky gave me a feeling of a mysterious and ethereal universe. I was even luckier when, on that very day, low clouds suddenly gathered, forming a swirling stream flowing down the valley at the foot of the mountains, with the distant peaks rising up in a mystical way. Jeeps began taking tourists up to the viewpoint, creating streaks of light across the frame. I set up my camera in the biting cold, my hands and feet still trembling. Very quickly, I seemed to forget the cold and became engrossed in taking pictures, savoring that golden moment at the start of the day.

A new and unfamiliar sight on the way back.

When the sun rises, Bromo takes on a different beauty than at night. Bright rays of sunlight filter through the fluffy white clouds. Behind the trees in the foreground, the mountain appears like something out of a fairy tale. One could say that enjoying the image with your own eyes is the most delightful experience, something no camera can replicate. I lingered, captivated by this beautiful scenery, before finally turning back.

The car rolled through pine forests on either side of the road, each bend revealing a new and unfamiliar landscape. As the sun rose and the mist began to dissipate, the surrounding scenery gradually became clearer. From the valley below, looking up, one could see the towering, challenging mountains. Driving through the desert, the dust swirling in the scorching, dry sun was also a strange experience.

A starry night over the Tengger Mountains

The routes to the mountains in the Tengger Range, or even Mount Bromo itself, are always challenging, but during the tourist season, it attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. If you are a nature lover and enjoy adventure, this is a worthwhile destination to experience this summer and autumn.

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