Is hiking Mount Ijen safe for travelers with asthma, and do you need a respirator for sulfur fumes?
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 3 days ago
TL;DR
For travelers with mild asthma, the main risk at Ijen is descending to the crater lake, where sulfur fumes are strongest. At the crater rim the smell is usually faint, but the pre-dawn climb can involve thin air and dust.
What the community said
If you skip the descent to Ijen’s crater lake, strong sulfur fumes are generally not noticeable. Many visitors watch sunrise from the crater rim and then hike back.
4 days ago Ijen Crater
The strongest sulfur smell is on the route down toward Ijen’s crater lake. Travelers with asthma may prefer to avoid this descent; elsewhere, any sulfur smell is usually much lighter.
4 days ago Ijen crater lake
The night climb at Ijen can feel short of oxygen, especially before sunrise, while conditions often feel easier after dawn. Volcanic dust is another issue at the top, so a mask or respirator can still be useful even if you do not descend to the lake.
4 days ago Ijen pre-dawn hike