Mount Semeru
Can be climbed over 2 days but it is a venture for serious trekkers only and requires a high level of physical fitness. a permit must obtained in advance and would be climbers should be very aware that the mountain will be off-limits during periods of eruptive activity. this is a very active volcano. if you do decide you are up for this you should be able to find a guide to go at least part of the way with you at the park office in ranupani. that office is also the best source of information for an assessment of the current state of the mountain and for hooking up with serious climbers from around the world.
Viewpoint #2
Along the trail from cemoro lawang to mount penanjakan, is an excellent way to get a stunning view of the caldera without the crowds. to reach it, head west from cemoro lawang past the cemoro indah hotel for 6 km, passing tenngerese farms and fields. the paved road eventually turns into a twisty mountain trail that ends with a flight of stairs on the right, and the viewpoint with concrete shelter is at the top. allow 90 min for the climb up at a steady pace and bring along a flashlight if attempting this at night. from here, you can continue onto mount penanjakan by following the trail upwards, after which the trail merges onto the paved road to the viewpoint total time about 60 min 1 way. if planning to return the same way, mark the spot where the trail emerges onto the road (if you pass a stone lantern on the way down you have gone too far. descending on this section can get slippery due to loose sand and rocks. as of september 2008, the direct route from cemoro lawang up to penanjakan and viewpoint #2 is severely damaged because of landslides. the path is still passable, but it can be tricky to spot the dangerous parts in the dark — each vistor should have their own flashlight.
Mount Penanjakan
2,770m, its peak also called viewpoint #1, located just north of the caldera, is a mountaintop viewpoint accessible by paved road from tosari and hence popular with jeeps and even tour buses. at the peak lies an antenna array easily spotted from miles around, many shops, a mosque and several "real" buildings. it's the highest point easily accessible, so many visit here to get a good look around. the most popular sight is the sunrise: most of the crowd comes to see the dawn at 05:00 5am and you will likely have the large concrete observation post to yourself if you arrive later in the day. a steady hike from bromo to batok and then around the rim to penanjakan will take about three hours and the last ascent of about 500 m is very stiff indeed but truly worthwhile. ancient javanese hindu texts tell of how bromo-penanjakan-semeru or mahameru as it was then was the spiritual axis of the universe and the point of all creation. the view from penanjakan will explain why - it is truly breathtaking. this is where most of those iconic picture postcard views are taken from. after you have had your fill of the views, a hike back across the sea of sand to cemoro lawang will take about 2 hr.