Mount Batur is situated in the Bangli region on the island of Bali, Indonesia. For many years tourists have been hiking up Mount Batur (a volcano in Bali) to watch the sunrise over nearby volcanoes Mount Agung and Mount Agung, and it’s not hard to see why!
If you can manage to wake up early for the drive to the mountain, you will be treated to an adventurous hike in the dark with an amazing sunrise awaiting you at the summit. Just last week, I hiked the volcano for the first time and didn’t really know what to expect.
In this article I share 6 things you need to know before you hike Mount Batur, including what to bring and how to prepare.
1) How Hard Is The Hike Up The Mount Batur Volcano In Bali?
First things first, how hard is the hike? For most that will be the most important question that needs answering. If you are normally active and have a decent level of cardio, you shouldn’t find the hike to be too difficult.
You will read on most forums, travel advice channels and blogs that it’s easy and you can practically run up it! Well, that’s not entirely true.
The hike is about two hours (for most, quicker if you need fewer breaks) and remember you are summiting a volcano which is 1,717 meters, or 5,633 feet, above sea level.
For me personally, I found the hike pretty difficult and not the easy stroll as some described it. To be fair, I don’t do too much cardio and if I am at the gym it’s most likely for a leisurely Pilates class!
So when it comes to understanding how difficult the hike will be, honestly you have to look to your own personal fitness level and not someone else’s. You know your own body, and will be able to tell pretty early on if you are going to find the hike hard.
You definitely do not need to be training beforehand (it’s a 2-hour hike, not a marathon!), and as long as you take breaks when you need them I think anyone can get to the top.
2) What To Wear To Hike The Volcano
The temperature and climate will be different from one night to the next and also changes throughout the hike. I would recommend wearing comfortable leggings or shorts, something you would typically wear to work out.
By far the most important thing to wear is proper trainers or hiking shoes! I watched many girls in very silly stylish boots slipping as they tried to climb the last part of the hike where the rocks and gravel are loose.
Bring a sweater or hoodie for the cooler moments in the hike, probably at the beginning and at the summit. Throughout the hike itself you will probably remove these outer layers.
I also suggest bringing a waterproof jacket, especially if you are hiking in the wet season or near to it as you may get rained on!
3) What To Bring To Mount Batur
Carry a small rucksack and bring along your waterproof gear, extra water and some snacks. I also highly recommend buying a headlamp beforehand.
You are given a flashlight by your guide, but having a small headlamp made the hike much easier, especially towards the end to have your hands free when climbing up the rocky path.
Your guide will likely have a couple of small waters for you, but I think it’s best to have extra and bring your own too. At the summit your guide will have some snacks, probably some simple boiled eggs.
If you anticipate being hungry, bring along some sandwiches or biscuits. We brought these with us, but in the end waited to eat until we stopped on the return drive back to Seminyak.
4) Camera Equipment
Bringing cameras is essential! I currently use a Nikon D850 and a Sigma Art Lens, but any quality DSLR will work to capture the sunrise.
Sunrise at the peak of Mount Batur is truly stunning so make sure to bring along your cameras, Gopros, phones or whatever your preference is for photography.
Unless you are a professional, I would suggest leaving the tripod at home. Whilst you could get an awesome time-lapse shot, it’s quite busy at the peak and carrying it up the mountain would be a pain.
If you really want a tripod, I would recommend a smaller flexible tripod and not a large one. But I urge you to put down the cameras and enjoy the moment as the sun rises after snapping a few shots!
5) Who To Hike With & Tours
We booked our hike with a local company called Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking for about Rp 800,000 (~$60) per person. This includes everything, including pickup and drop off from Seminyak, local guide up the mountain, water, flashlights, simple breakfast at the top, and lunch at a nearby restaurant after the hike.
Usually, bookings take place over WhatsApp for many activities in Bali, so don’t find it unusual if this is how the booking is confirmed. We received a message confirming pickup at 1:45am the night before and the driver was right on time.
We decided to take a private hike of just my boyfriend (update: now husband!) Ryan and I with a guide. There are group tours, but the pricing is very similar and it’s very nice to have a private guide so you can go at your own pace up the volcano.
Mount Batur Guided Tours
If you prefer to go with a tour then there are plenty to choose from, some are just the sunrise tours and others include fun extras like a visit to natural hot springs after or stops at waterfalls. Here are some of the top-rated tours to choose from:
- Mount Batur Sunrise Trek with A Female Guide
- Mt. Batur: 2 Day Camping Trip, Summit Hike, and Hot Springs
- Mt. Batur Sunrise Hike with 1-Night Stay in Kintamani
- Mt. Batur Black Lava Cycling Tour w/ Natural Hot Spring
- 2-Day Sunset and Sunrise Camping at Mt. Batur
- Mt. Batur Sunrise Trek & Jungle Swing Private Tour
- Mount Batur Sunrise Trek and White Water Rafting
- Mount Batur Quad Bike Tour and Natural Hot Springs
- Mount Batur: Private Volkswagen Jeep Volcano Safari
- Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Adventure with Jungle Swing
- Mount Batur: Private Sunrise Jeep Tour & Natural Hot Spring
- Mount Batur Sunrise Trek With Guide and Breakfast
- Mount Batur Sunrise Hike and Natural Hot Spring
6) Schedule
The time you get picked up will depend on where you are staying on the island.
From Seminyak, you will be picked up around 1.45am, Ubud 2.15am and other locations further south will be earlier. The driver will pick you up at your chosen location and the drive will take around 2 hours (from Seminyak). Upon arrival, your hiking guide will meet you in the car park and it’s time to get started.
As I previously mentioned, you will hike somewhere between 1.5 – 2 hours depending on your own speed and that of the group you are hiking with. You will reach the peak at around 5.30am and spend around an hour or more just taking in the sunrise.
Then you can keep going up to wander around the crater of the volcano, see some monkeys playing at the temple on top of the peak and find some areas where hot smoke is creeping out of the volcano. You can spend around another hour or so wandering around before you begin your descent back down.
I expected the descent to be much less time than the way up, but in fact it still took around 2 hours, as we scrambled down the volcano. Again, time for each part of the trip will depend on your pace, and how long you stop for pictures, etc!
Finally, on the drive home your driver will stop somewhere for you to have a light breakfast and some tea and coffee before the drive back to your hotel or villa.
Where To Stay In Bali
Our Top Places To Stay In Bali, Indonesia
- 9 Epic Places To Stay In Bali
- The Best Bali Honeymoon Hotels and Resorts
- Kayon Resort
- Hotel Tugu
- Colony Hotel
- Find the best accommodation in Bali, Indonesia
WHAT TO KNOW FOR VISITING BALI
INDONESIA VISAS
The typical visa to visit Indonesia allows you a free 30 day stay depending on your country of nationality. Be sure to check the official Indonesia visa website for the latest information.
CURRENCY
The currency used in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). The current exchange rate is approximately 1 USD to 14,000 IDR. You can check the latest IDR exchange rate on Google.
While traveling, our number one tip is to use a free Charles Schwab Debit Card which gives unlimited worldwide ATM Fee Refunds and the true exchange rate.
BEST TOURS IN BALI
Some of the best tours and things to do in Bali are:
WHERE TO STAY IN BALI
Seminyak is our recommended area to stay when visiting Bali. We recommend booking your hotels on Booking.com to get the best rate and many hotels offer free cancellation in case your plans change.
Some of our favorite hotels in Seminyak are:
- The Colony Hotel: High end hotel with a colonial feel in the middle of Seminyak.
- The Legian Bali: 5 star hotel right on the beach.
- Blue Karma Oasis: Relaxing villa style hotel.
AirBnB is also a great option in Bali!
For more hotel options, be sure to read our 9 Epic Places To Stay In Bali and Best Bali Honeymoon Hotels and Resorts articles!
BEST TIME TO VISIT INDONESIA
The best time to visit Bali is during the dry season between April and October. July and August can be very crowded, so we prefer the shoulder months of April, May, September, and October.
BEST BOOKS ABOUT BALI
Read more about Indonesia before you go! Some of the best books about Bali are:
WHAT POWER ADAPTERS DO YOU NEED
Indonesia uses standard 2 prong Type C adapters also commonly used in Europe.
You can buy a universal adapter that will work in any country and has extra ports for USB cables to charge your phone and other devices.
We also always travel with a portable battery pack which is great to keep your phone charged on long journies.
TRANSPORTATION IN BALI
- Public Transportation: There is limited public transportation in Bali. You can take public ferries between islands by using a website like Bookaway.
- Rental Cars: It is possible to rent a car at the airport in Bali, though driving might be challenging due to road congestion and local rules.
- Uber: Uber is sometimes available in Bali, though it depends on the area. Many local drivers do not like Uber so you may want to use the licensed Blue Bird Taxis or hire a private driver for the day instead.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
Our top recommended travel insurance companies for Bali are:
- World Nomads: Comprehensive coverage for medical, travel delays, and electronics.
- SafetyWing: Cheaper monthly coverage primarily for medical.
For more information, read our article on why you need to book travel insurance for your next trip!
MORE ARTICLES ABOUT BALI
The Mount Batur Sunrise Hike was one of my favorite experiences in Bali, and I highly recommend you do the trek on your next vacation to the Indonesian island!
I hope this article helps you to plan your own visit to Mount Batur in Bali. If you have questions, tips or updated information about hiking Mount Batur, please share them with readers in the comments.
We Are Travel Girls Founder Becky van Dijk of BeckyvanDijk.com
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Monica Houghton says
Omg just watched the engagement video!!!! So happy for you guys!! ???
We Are Travel Girls says
Thank you so much Monica! It was a really special moment and as you know, totally unexpected by me! Becky x
Definealpha says
Hi there,
I have an instagram account and would like to share some of your pics from this Mount Batur trip on one of my post.
Need your consent before i do so.
Wawi Joseph says
Thank you for sharing. Beautiful to read.
I am Indonesian live in Bali. I am 61 years old. Planning to climb mount Batur in 2020 (will be 62 in 2020). I hope I can do it. Plan to go with my wife (53 in 2020 and around 15 staffs of our cafe, the staffs are very young, vary from 18 to 30)..
Thanks again
Enrico says
Thanks for sharing dear! It’s always nice to have good info on these things, instead of just cold articles that are not really honest about it :D
Genny says
Thanks for the awesome sharing for the trip to Mt Batur. It is very helpful for my upcoming trip in May. Xx
Venus says
Hey! Congratulations on your engagement! Just wanna check if you have the link or name of the tour guide for Mount Batur? Many thanks!! :)
Gozde says
Such a great informations and congrats for engagement!
I was wondering, We will have a drive to take us there, then do we really need guide to walk with us? Can we climb without a guide and not get lost.
Tanisha says
those pictures are extremely nice.
thanks for your article. that was really helpful?????
Joyce says
Hi by the way I’m planning this June going on Mount Batur.You have their contact number?
Nazia says
Se question as the one before..is guide required?
We Are Travel Girls says
Hi Nazia-
I strongly recommend going with a guide or tour company for safety and to support the local economy. The hike begins before sunrise in the dark so it would be easy to get lost. The guide can also take you different routes depending on your fitness level and show you some great spots at the top you might not otherwise find on your own. Have fun, it’s one of my favorite activities in Bali!
-Becky, Founder of We Are Travel Girls
Megan says
Hi there, thanks for the article. I am wondering if you have any insight on how busy the trek was and about the motorbikes that go up and down. Were these bad and did this bother you at all?
Thanks!
We Are Travel Girls says
Hi Megan,
The hike was reasonably busy when we did it but it was not too bad. We were able to walk by ourselves or with another small group during the majority of the hike because everyone is spread out and goes up the mountain at different speeds. It does get fairly crowded at the top though. There were only 2-3 motorbikes that went past us during the entire hike so this didn’t bother us at all. Thanks for reading!
– Becky, Founder of WATG
Mahima says
I am loving this post. I went tired searching for such detailed information on Mount Batur. A well written, detail oriented and very helpful write-up. Thanks a lot.
Prats says
Hi, I am going in November first week…I am worried if it rains in Bali..what do you suggest that shall I think of climbing Mt batur or not..will it be risky considering rain?
Diane S says
Great writeup! My husband and I just climbed Mt Batur yesterday, and you do NOT need to hire a guide. We stayed in the local town, and did the hike ourselves, with the help of the well-marked maps.me.
Saying that – we knew the sunrise hikes tend to be crowded, so we decided to start at 7:30 am. We were at the top by 10 am, and had it all to ourselves.
I’m all for supporting the local economy- we just choose to do that in other ways (staying in a local guest house, eating meals locally, etc).
For someone asking about the rainy season – this is Jan 2020, meant to be the rainy season – but it happens to be an extra dry year (due to climate change). The whole day we hiked was clear and sunny, with a bit of drizzle in the evening – one advantage of staying locally: we soaked in the local hot springs after – lovely!
Anonymous says
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