Visit Ijen National Park, Indonesia

Ijen plateau is part of the larger Baluran National Park and is home to one of many peaceful but active volcanoes in the area.

Kawah Ijen crater lake

This is an unspoilt area with coffee plantations covering much of the plateau, but the main draw to Ijen is the stunning Kawah Ijen, a beautiful crater lake with glistening turquoise waters. From the lake wafts multicolored smoke and all along the shore are bright yellow sulfur deposits creating a barren but beautiful landscape.

Miners hike up to the crater in the early hours of the morning and descend down into it via a steep gravelly path, returning with up to 80 kilograms of heavy sulfur loads.