Mount Anak Krakatoa

288m (945ft)

Having a history of regular eruptions, Anak Krakatoa may not always be accessible. There are tour agencies though that offer a sailing trip to the island, as part of a 1-2 day trip that also includes going to smaller islands that encircle the volcano. The package includes – when allowable – a partial or full hike to the top.

Though not a very tall mountain, climbing Anak Krakatau will require disembarking on a rocky beach, and then climbing steep rock surfaces. There is always the danger of slipping and falling or sustaining minor injuries, so take care!

There are no fixed trail options to climb Anak Krakatau given its active history. Whenever the mountain is accessible, guides simply find a place to beach their boat and lead the hike to a place which is considered the “first-level”, which is a little less than halfway up.

Depending on the conditions, you may get lucky if your guide considers it safe to offer a trail to the “top”. Make sure you read up the latest status reports beforehand though so you’re comfortable with the hike.

Indonesia’s equatorial climate offers warm days throughout the year with not much difference between the warmer and colder seasons. The real differentiator is the rain, which falls heaviest in the monsoon season – between November and March. Daytime temperatures hover in the range of 27-30°C (80.6°F – 86°F) for most of the year.

The dry season is between June and August is the best season to visit.

Because the terrain is quite steep and slippery, you should have suitable hiking boots. Hiking poles are optional.

There are no rest stops or facilities. But since it’s a short hike anyway, you may not need much more than the food and potable water available from guides/porters.

Anak Krakatoa is inaccessible without a guide. Guides are available through companies or privately but can be expensive. You may be able to find good references from other travellers’ trip reports online.

The nearest international airport is Jakarta Airport (CGK). This is a 3-hour drive from the West Coast of Java, where you should be able to find a boat to Krakatoa from Anyer Beach or Carita Beach (if it isn’t off-limits during that time). Anyer can be reached from Jakarta by the public bus from the Kalideres bus station.

Another option for travelling from Jakarta is that you can hop on a silver minivan (Angkutan) from Carita to Cilegon (around 1.5-2 hours). The driver will drop you off at a junction where you can take a VIP bus (around 3 hours) back to Jakarta.

All this of course becomes much easier if you have a guide, for your guide can often just pick you up at the airport. Make sure to plan a few weeks in advance, though, to understand accessibility under the current conditions and discuss with your guide the itinerary and safety guidelines.

Anak Krakatoa is an active volcano and has erupted fairly consistently since 2020. The conditions therefore can be extremely dangerous, leading to visiting being prohibited every now and then. When it is allowed to climb, there is also the risk of injury due to the steep rocky terrain.