Purwa Ijen

The trip there was incredibly beautiful, and everyone was so kind. Irna and Supandi made us feel at home. Our bungalow was clean, tidy, cosy and spacious, with an incredible view, and breakfast was tasty too. I'm pretty sure the porch is my happy place now, especially when their kitty comes meowing over for cuddles 🥹. They helped us figure out where to eat and what to do. The Kawah Ijen trip was well organised, and our guide Ravi (junior) explained the hows and whys, kept things jolly, and took great pictures. It was sensational 🥰

Getting to Ijen is handy from here, about a 30-minute drive to the hike starting point. The tricky bit is the last 200-300 meters from the main road: it's a narrow, uphill path, which could be hard if you're on a motorbike and aren't an experienced rider. The cottages are cozy, clean and well-kept, and we had a really pleasant stay. The hosts were so hospitable and went out of their way for us. They didn't have jam when I asked at breakfast, so they made some fresh with local fruit. It was delicious. Bring mosquito spray, though, since there are lots of mosquitoes and other insects around. We also saw a small group of monkeys pass by the cottages. These ones were shy and ran off when they heard a voice, unlike the aggressive monkeys in Ubud. I'd recommend staying here.

Our hosts arranged the Ijen hike with transport from the accommodation and a guide, which made it a great and convenient experience. The bungalow and surrounding area were lovely, and the hosts were great, always ready to answer questions. They also gave us kind recommendations for visiting the village and finding dinner.

Mr. Wisnu, the hotel supervisor, was really friendly. He even took us on a short morning walk through nearby villages and rice fields, with breathtaking views, and took photos and videos of our family along the way. Later he put them together in a beautifully edited collection. Breakfast was lovely, with choices including fried noodles, fried rice, bread and eggs. During my 2-day stay I was thoroughly satisfied and will definitely return. I found the hotel on Booking.com when it was quite new there and had no reviews yet. The beautiful photos on its website and Instagram drew me in, so I booked a room with a jungle view. It lived up to my expectations: clean, spacious, with a comfortable king-size bed, handy work desk and spotless bathroom with the amenities I needed. I enjoyed the view and the fresh, cool air of Licin, Banyuwangi.