Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Park in East Java has been closed until further notice from 4 September 2026 after a wildfire spread near the Paltuding post and Pondok Bunder route.
Cover image: the turquoise crater lake of Kawah Ijen with sulphur smoke rising from the caldera — photo by Sémhur (talk), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Ijen Crater is closed to visitors after a forest fire reached the edge of the hiking trail. The East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) suspended all entry to Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Park from 4 September 2026 until further notice, after a blaze spread near the Pondok Bunder route by the Paltuding monitoring post. The order was signed by BBKSDA Head Nur Patria Kurniawan and announced on 4 September at 17:06 GMT+7.
The closure is a precaution as crews battle fire on steep, difficult ground above Banyuwangi and Bondowoso. Banyuwangi disaster agency BPBD said about 15 jet pumps, fire trucks and ground teams are working the block, but vehicle access is limited by drop-offs and narrow paths. The park will stay shut to visitors while the risk from flames and smoke continues.
Where is Ijen Crater and where is the fire?
Kawah Ijen sits on the border of Banyuwangi and Bondowoso in East Java, famous for its turquoise crater lake and blue-flame sulphur phenomenon. The fire was reported inside the Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Park, encroaching on the Pondok Bunder section of the trek and threatening the Paltuding post where hikers check in before the climb.
BBKSDA said the blaze is expanding toward the trail, which is why entry was halted. The park covers forest and savanna around the volcano, and dry-season fires can move quickly on slopes. Visitors who planned to combine Ijen with Bali itineraries via Banyuwangi ferry will need to re-route until the agency lifts the order.
What does the closure mean for tourists?
All visiting activities in the Ijen Crater TWA area are suspended, to quote the letter: "To minimize the risk to visitors, visiting activities in the Ijen Crater TWA area are being closed until further notice." That covers sunrise treks, crater-lake viewpoints and sulphur-mining visits. Rangers at Paltuding are turning back arrivals, and tour operators are cancelling or shifting dates.
The closure mirrors other dry-season suspensions in 2026. Mount Tambora was closed for fire risk in West Nusa Tenggara on 1 September, and Mount Rinjani ran limited tourism while fires threatened trails. As with those parks, Ijen will reopen only when BBKSDA judges the perimeter secure.
How are crews fighting the fire?
Banyuwangi BPBD Head Partana said crews have deployed about 15 jet pumps and fire trucks to the Ijen block, with teams working on foot where trucks cannot pass. The terrain is described as steep with sharp drops, which slows heavy equipment and makes water supply the critical constraint. Officials said coordination is underway for possible air support if the fire reaches the upper crater rim.
Fire risk is high across East Java in early September, with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warning of prolonged dry spells and El Nino-linked conditions. The Ijen closure is part of a province-wide effort to keep hikers out of the danger zone while crews damp down hot spots, similar to thermal-drone patrols in UB Forest that scan for hidden heat.
What should you do if you had Ijen booked?
If you hold a tour for 5 to 10 September, contact your operator for a date change or credit. Most Banyuwangi operators will offer to rebook for late September or switch to alternatives such as Baluran National Park, Sukamade turtle beach or a delayed Nusa Penida extension from Bali. Do not try to enter via informal trails, BBKSDA rangers are enforcing the closure and smoke can be hazardous.
Keep an eye on BBKSDA East Java notices and your airline or ferry operator if you planned to cross from Bali to Banyuwangi. Smoke from regional fires has already pushed air quality to emergency levels in Sarawak further north, so haze can affect visibility even away from the crater.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kawah Ijen open to tourists now?
No. The East Java Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BBKSDA) closed Ijen Crater Nature Tourism Park from 4 September 2026 until further notice after a land and forest fire spread near the hiking trail. Visitor entry is suspended.
Where is the fire burning near Ijen?
Near the Pondok Bunder route and the Paltuding monitoring post that guards the trail to the crater, inside the park that covers Banyuwangi and Bondowoso in East Java. Officials said the blaze was expanding toward the trail.
When will Ijen Crater reopen?
No reopening date has been set. BBKSDA said the closure stays in place until conditions are safe and the fire is controlled, with teams monitoring the difficult, steep terrain.
Can I get a refund if I booked an Ijen tour?
Contact your tour operator directly. Most operators offer rebooking to later dates or alternative East Java itineraries when BBKSDA suspends entry for safety.
