Sunrise Hike Up Mount Batur, Bali
Mount Batur, located in Bali’s central highlands, is one of the island’s most iconic hiking treks. It features a 700m elevation gain along a volcanic ash and gravel trail. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a first-timer, this active volcano offers breathtaking sunrise and sunset views, volcanic landscapes, and a great cardio workout.
Hiking Mount Batur was on my bucket list when visiting Bali, and it ended up being one of my favourite parts of my trip! How many opportunities do you get to hike an active volcano? If you are in Bali, we highly encourage you to book a guide and do this trek. Before you lace up your hiking boots, there are a few things you should know to ensure a smooth, safe, and memorable hike.
Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 11 km (7 miles) round-trip
Suggested Duration: 5-8 hours including driving time
Signage: None
Facilities: Parking lot
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How Difficult Is The Mount Batur Hike?
Hiking Mount Batur is easier than you think. Compared to scrambling up mountains and bushwalking trails, this hike is straightforward to navigate and more approachable for hikers with different experience levels if you go with a guide. While you do not need to be a seasoned hiker, a basic level of fitness is encouraged, as parts of the trails are steep and rocky.
If you choose to go with a guide, they will provide headlamps to help light up your every step and make it easier to avoid any larger rocks. We found that the sunrise hike was quite popular and the pace was rather slow, which made it easier to keep our footing and have a controlled breath while hiking areas with a steeper incline.
When Is The Best Time To Hike Mount Batur?
The best time to visit Bali is during the dry season which spans from April to October. During these months the weather will mostly be clear and you will have a less likely chance of rain, giving you clear skies and better visibility at the top of Mount Batur.
As for the time of day, Mount Batur is most popular at sunrise and sunset – and for good reason! We can’t speak much about the sunset as we did the sunrise hike, but the panoramic views as the sun rises over Lake Batur and Mount Agung are well worth the early wake-up call.
Can You Hike Mount Batur Without A Guide?
While technically you can hike Mount Batur without a guide, it is strongly discouraged. There are some locals who patrol the main entrance point to the trailhead which will make it challenging for you to get through without a guide. You may have locals demand a 100k IDR entrance fee to pass.
How To Book A Guide
There are many different guides available that can be booked ahead of time online or through your hostel or hotel. Many of the treks will give you the option of sunrise or sunset and include transportation to and from your accommodations, a local guide, a headlamp and breakfast at the summit. You can also add on extras such as visiting a coffee plantation or hot springs after you finish the hike.
Taking a guide also helps to eliminate any hassles you may have when trying to hike solo (such as locals patrolling the entrance as mentioned above). They will also monitor the volcano activities and cancel if there are any increased risks of an eruption.
Do your research, read reviews, and choose a reputable company to ensure you have a safe and enjoyable experience. We went with a hassle-free guided tour and had an incredible time!
Our Experience Hiking Mount Batur
As we decided to do the sunrise hike, our pick-up time was 2:00 AM at our villa in Ubud. After we picked up all the other hikers, we made a quick stop for some complimentary coffee and fruit before making our way to the trailhead.
By 4:00 AM we arrived at the trailhead where there was a villa lounge for us to use the washroom before we began our hike. Our guide handed us our headlamps and we set out. Most of the ascend was dark so we spent a lot of time looking down at our feet to make sure we had our footing. For those who needed it, there were breaks offered throughout the trek for water, snacks and to catch your breath.
The last stretch of the hike was a bit more strenuous as it involved navigating loose volcanic ash and gravel. Once we reached the top, there was ample space to enjoy the views, have a snack and wait for the sunrise.
This sunrise will go down in our books as one of the top sunrises we’ve ever seen (Patagonia and the Grand Canyon are our top two spots for the best sunrises/sunsets we’ve seen).
In the distance, you can see smoke coming off Mount Agung. Back when we hiked Mount Batur in 2017, there was a volcano warning and the surrounding town was evacuated in case Mount Agung were to erupt.
After we enjoyed the sunrise, we went off to explore the volcano’s ridge. Here, we saw into the crater where steam was coming out of the ground. Along the Ridgeline we also encounter some eager monkeys. They were not shy at all and quickly approached us. They likely are used to hikers coming through and feeding them, making them not timid around humans.
Once we were done exploring the top of the volcano, we began our descent at 7:50 AM. Instead of going down the way we can, we circled around Mount Batur and had a much more gradual decline. While this was a longer way to get down, it was much easier on the knees. By 8:40 AM we were already back at the villa lounge and got ready to make our way to our next stop, a coffee plantation!
Visiting A Coffee Plantation
Most of the Mount Batur guided hikes include the option to add an additional adventure. We choose to see the Segara Wind Coffee Plantation. This was an incredible experience after a morning of hiking and we would highly encourage you to try it if you like coffee and have free time.
When we arrived, we were politely greeted by the hosts who took us through a beautiful garden full of coffee trees, fruit trees and shrubs that are used to make their coffees and teas. We even had the opportunity to roast the coffee beans ourselves to experience part of the process.
After this, we got to meet some Asian palm civets, which are adorable creatures that help produce the most expensive coffee in the world, Kopi Luwak. Wonder how? Well, the civets eat coffee fruit and naturally digest the fruit with the beans still intact. The beans are then cleaned and roasted, creating an aromatic and delicious-tasting coffee. And yes, we did try it! How could we not?
Checklist And Recommended Gear
Here is our recommended gear list for hiking Mount Batur.
- Supportive and comfortable hiking shoes (Julia’s / Arthur’s)
- Water bottle
- Hiking poles
- Snacks
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Layers (light windbreaker jacket, long sleeve shirt, t-shirt)
- Cash for tipping your hiking guide
- Hat
Related Hikes
Other hikes in Bali, Indonesia
- Mount Agung
