At Kawah Ijen, blue fire appears at night; south of Alas Purwo National Park lie the mangrove waters of Segoro Anakan. Banyuwangi offers a variety of travel experiences, from volcanic landscapes and natural areas to cultural sites and local cuisine. When choosing a hotel, it is worth planning your accommodation around the destinations you want to shape your stay.

Volcanic Landscapes and Wilderness

The Ijen Geopark spans Kabupaten Banyuwangi and Kabupaten Bondowoso in the Ijen Mountains. It brings together geological features, biological diversity and cultural richness with sustainable geotourism. Conservation, education and empowering local communities are among its development goals.

At Kawah Ijen, blue fire appears at night as a result of the sublimation of sulfur gas. The crater is in Tamansari, Licin, Kabupaten Banyuwangi. Its landscape includes crater cliffs, sulfur miners and hikers. Those interested in volcanic landscapes will find a different kind of experience here than in the coastal and forest areas of the region.

In Alas Purwo National Park, exploring wild plants and free-roaming animals is considered a special nature experience. Savana Sadengan is an approximately 84-hectare artificial pasture in the park, managed for wildlife, particularly banteng. It can be reached from Pintu Pos Rowobendo in about 15 minutes; signposts point the way. Local access conditions may change.

Activities in the national park include seasonal surfing, cycling, picnics, spiritual visits, and landscape and wildlife photography. In the south lies Segoro Anakan, an extensive mangrove waterway influenced by the tides of the Indian Ocean. The waterscape offers opportunities for water-based recreation, picnics and adventure. Four species of sea turtle come ashore at Pantai Sukamade: green turtles, hawksbill turtles, olive ridley turtles and leatherback turtles.

Another nature-based attraction is Bangsring Underwater, which is centered on coral reef conservation. The floating house, known as Rumah Apung, serves as a fish clinic and a shark nursery.

Culture and Traditions

Pura Luhur Giri Salaka in Alas Purwo National Park is a Hindu-Javanese cultural temple and visitor attraction. It is also still used as a place of worship by Hindus. Its religious character and cultural significance give it a different quality from the park’s natural attractions.

In Kemiren, Mepe Kasur takes place every year in the month of Dzulhijah, a village-cleaning ritual held along the village streets. Mattresses are laid out to dry, and the ritual lasts from morning until noon. The annual Banyuwangi Batik Festival also showcases batik motifs from Banyuwangi. The program may vary from one edition to another.

At Taman Blambangan, Banyuwangi Culture Everyday features cultural performances every evening. Since the program may change, check the dates before planning a visit. Tumpeng Sewu in Kemiren offers another cultural experience: in the evening, Pecel Pithik is served—grilled chicken with grated coconut. The annual Ngopi Sepuluh Ewu festival has also made Kemiren a popular destination for enjoying coffee.

Local Specialties

Nasi Tempong is a Banyuwangi specialty: steamed white rice with cooked vegetables and raw, spicy sambal. Nasi Cawuk is served as a typical breakfast. It includes rice, grated coconut, grilled corn, a lemongrass sauce and steamed semanggi. Both dishes give the culinary side of a trip a distinct regional character, but their ingredients differ considerably.

Planning Your Journey and Accommodation

From Surabaya, you can continue by air to Banyuwangi Airport, Blimbingsari; direct flights to Banyuwangi are available from Bali. If traveling overland from Bali, you can take the ferry between Gilimanuk and Ketapang. Flight routes and ferry services may vary, so check connections for your travel dates.

If a cultural event is important to your trip, check its date in advance; for natural attractions, consider the relevant access conditions. This will help you choose accommodation to suit your interests, without treating different places and activities as one short route.

Discover more destinations: Pesanggaran, Cluring, Sidoarjo, Ponorogo, Kota Batu, Tuban, Lamongan, Lumajang.

Back to the main travel overview: East Java.