Trolley Services in Ijen Crater Climbing

The Ijen Crater climbing trolley, which is now used as a means of transportation for tourists, was not originally a means of recreation. This trolley started out as a simple means of transportation made by sulfur miners. They used it to carry sulfur chunks weighing tens to hundreds of kilograms from the bottom of the crater to the collection post.

Origin of the Trolley in Ijen Crater

Before the trolley was used, sulfur miners in Ijen Crater only relied on their own strength to carry sulfur with bamboo baskets. This journey was very difficult and risky, because they had to travel steep and rocky paths for several kilometers with loads that could reach 70-90 kg on their shoulders.

Initially, the trolley emerged as an innovation to lighten the burden of the miners. This simple trolley made of wood and iron was initially used to transport sulfur from the bottom of the crater to the weighing post. However, over time, the miners realized that the trolley could also be used as a means of transportation for tourists who had difficulty climbing.

The Evolution of Trolleys into Tourist Transportation

Seeing the large number of tourists who wanted to witness the blue fire and acid lake phenomena of the Ijen Crater but had difficulty climbing, miners began offering “ojek trolley” services. These trolleys were then modified to be more comfortable for passengers, although they still maintained a simple form like a pushcart.

Tourists who were unable to climb could use these trolley services, where one trolley was usually controlled by three people: two people pulling from the front, while one person pushed from behind. Trolley fares were quite expensive because it required a lot of energy to pull passengers through the steep uphill path.

Social and Economic Meaning

The Ijen Crater climbing trolley is not only a means of transportation, but also a source of additional income for sulfur miners. By offering trolley services to tourists, they can get additional income that is more stable than just relying on mining results.

Although it seems like a practical solution for tourists who want to reach the peak without getting tired, the use of trolleys has also drawn various views. Some consider it an exploitation of labor because pulling a trolley on an uphill path is very heavy. However, for the miners, this is their way of making a living in difficult conditions.

Now, the Ijen Crater climbing trolley is one of the unique attractions that distinguishes this destination from other tourist attractions. In addition to providing a different experience for tourists, the existence of the trolley is also a symbol of creativity and the struggle for life of the local community.

So that you don’t get tired of climbing, we can use the trolley service at a cost of 1,500,000 up and down. Just go up 1,000,000

Before we climb the Ijen Crater, the first post we will encounter is the Paltuding Post. The parking area and camping ground of the Paltuding Post is at an altitude of approximately 1,800 meters above sea level.

The climbing route from the Paltuding Post to the peak of the Ijen Crater covers a distance of about 3.4 km. Where this distance has also taken into account the bends that will be passed during the climb.

However, it should be noted that the distance does not include climbing from the peak to the crater which is about +700 meters

The average climb to the Ijen Crater takes approximately 1.5 hours, some people can even take about 1 hour to 3 hours depending on how many climbers spend time resting and speeding up their climbing path.

Why is the Ijen Crater famous and a leading tourist attraction, this is because the Ijen Crater is an acidic crater lake located at the peak of Mount Ijen with a lake depth of 200 meters and a crater area of ​​5,466 hectares.

The Ijen Crater Lake is known to be the largest strong acidic water lake in the world.

How many meters above sea level is the peak of the Ijen Crater? approximately 2,769 meters above sea level.