Ultimate Bali in 9 Days – Day 6 (Part 1)
Bali is an island full of adventures and one of them is hiking Mount Batur for the best sunrise experience. It is definitely a rewarding and magical way to start the day. Mount Batur is an active volcano located in the middle of two volcanic craters. It stands straight right in front of Mount Agung, another active volcano and also the highest point of Bali. Travelers also hike Mount Agung, but that needs a higher level of physical fitness and needs double the time of hiking Mount Batur. To start with, Mount Batur is a good hiking experience in Bali. I needed to challenge myself after a few days of relaxing in Bali while exploring Uluwatu, Ubud, and North Bali.
Highlights of the Day (Part 1)
- Mount Batur Sunrise Hiking
Getting to Mount Batur
You can reach Mount Batur by many three different ways:
- The most cheapest way is to rent a motorbike and ride yourself to the base of Mount Batur. However, when you reach, you cannot really hike the mountain independently. You have to take a guide along with you, otherwise the locals will highly discourage you during your hike. Hence, you have to get one from the Association of Mount Batur Trekking Guides office at the mountain-base. Also, consider you have to ride in the dark weaving your way through narrow villages. I will personally advice against this option.
- The safe way is to hire a taxi from your hotel to the base of the mountain. Then you have to hire a guide as suggested above, and hike the mountain. This is not a very economical option to consider.
- The most common, sensible and also the safest, easiest way is to book a sunrise trekking trip that includes hotel pick-up and drop. The tours are not very costly, though the price varies depending on your pick-up location. The price usually includes transportation, flashlights, light breakfast, and a guide who will accompany you during the whole hike. We booked one tour for Rp 600,000 per person.
Please note, that in any case, you have to get up in an ungodly hour. You need time to reach the base and then hike up the mountain before the sun rises. We checked out from Firefly Eco-Lodge in Ubud and the driver picked us up along with our luggage at around 2.30 AM. I know it’s crazy, but trust me, you will feel the worth once you reach the top of Mount Batur.
Is the Hike Easy or Difficult?
We reached a hotel at the base of Mount Batur at around 4 AM, where we freshened up a bit. We were offered hot beverages, which I refused to have – it was just too early for me. Our driver introduced our guide to us. He gave us flashlights and few instructions, and finally we were ready to hike!
We started at around 4.20 AM in the darkness of a dense forest. Any average fit person can hike the mountain without much of difficulty. Whatsoever, I even though I work out 5 days a week, I found the hike pretty difficult. It was not an easy stroll as I had imagined of. At times, every single bit of my body started hurting. My chest was hurting, and I was ragging to breathe. Sometimes, I looked at the looming blackness of the hill above me, and realized it to be impossibly far. I admitted out loud that I would not be able to make it to the top. Remember it is a 2-h trek, not a marathon. So as long as we took multiple breaks on the way, we managed to reach the top.
Honestly, you have to look at your own personal fitness level and not someone else’s. You know your own body, and you can realize it pretty early if you can do the hike or not.
Sunrise from Mount Batur
When you arrive at the summit of Mount Batur, you will know how worthy this strenuous trek is! Spend a good amount of time on the top and admire the beauty of the nature, the sunrise, and more. We had the best time!
What If You Find It Difficult in the Middle of the Hike?
If you find it super difficult to hike but still not want to miss the sunrise, there is still a way. There are many dirt-bikes going up and down the way taking visitors close to the top. You will find the bike noise very often during your hike – there are so many taking tourists to the top. Your guide must be having contact with some of them. One of them will come to your rescue and take you to a break-point very close to the top.
You may wait for your guide and others from your group to meet at the break-point. Otherwise, you can just hike for another 15 min from that point to finally reach the top of Mount Batur. Your guide will see you there when he/she reaches there with other group members. Once you finish seeing the sunrise and come back to the same break-point, your guide will call the same dirt-bike rider to take you to the base of the mountain. You will your guide and others from your group there. One-way ride costs around Rp 300,000.
10 Tips for Hiking Mount Batur
- Go to bed early to be fit in the morning of your hike. Do not dare to skip sleep and do the hike.
- The hike is not easy. I struggled and thought of giving up at many instances. I am not perfectly fit, but I am surely not unfit. So, be warned. Training yourself a bit before taking the hike is a good idea.
- Comfortable hiking shoes are recommended. You need decent foot support, so say no to sandals or flip-flops.
- Take plenty of water. Our tour company gave us one bottle of water but I preferred carrying one more. It was useful.
- Wear layers of cloths. It was chilly in the beginning, but gradually, I had to shed them as I felt sweaty while hiking.
- Make sure your camera batteries are charged or if it’s your phone, don’t forget to carry power bank with you.
- Light breakfast is included in the tour, for example bananas and sandwich. However, you can carry some fruits and energy bars.
- Carry some cash with you in case you want to buy some hot beverages and/or snacks that are sold on the top by local vendors.
- There are no toilets in the volcano, so use the washroom at the base before you start hiking.
- It is a good idea to stay in a hotel at the base of Mount Batur if you want to bargain with the sleep time. In that case, you can just wake up much later, like you can save 1.5 h of sleep. Then you can join the tour and start hiking.
NET EXPENSE FOR 1 PERSON (IN IDR)
Let us have a look at the expenses of Day 6 (Part 1) in Indonesia – Mount Batur, Bali.
- Mount Batur Sunrise Hiking: 600,000
Total expense: 600,000 IDR
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I love a good hike and this one looks like one to add to my list. Love love the the views from your pictures. You can almost smell the fresh air in your pictures.
True that Bianca.
Looks beautiful. Sort of reminds me of Hawaii. Although I’ve been to Kuta, I never explored the rest of the island.
There are more than Kuta, you would love to see them.
I love the pictures you’ve captured of the sunrise, Shreya! I was supposed to make it to Mount Batur’s sunrise hike but I am not a morning person and I could not do it! Waking up early and starting a hike at 4 am is a painful thought for me. You’ve given great tips about staying hydrated and wearing good hiking shoes. I have to say, I missed a really good experience, I wish I had just gone through the hard part of waking up early and doing this 2-hr hike, it would have been totally worth it!
Medha, we had to wake up at 2 AM. Just imagine! It was painful, but trust me, when I reached the top, I was pretty speechless!
Bali is an exotic and beautiful place. But the hike to Mount Batur presents a different aspect of the place. Would love to do this hike as it gives such an immersive experience of the beautiful natural landscapes of the region. The sunrise is a reward that must have surely banished all the tiredness of the hike. The kaleidoscopic colors look so surreal
I am sure you would like it, Sandy.
The Mount Batur hike early in the morning to catch the sunrise is so worth it. The views from up there are absolutely spectacular! I know it gets a bit crowded nowadays but it’s still a must visit.
It actually is, even it gets a bit crowded.
The pictures of the sunrises are really breathtaking. I am ready to wake up at an ungodly hour to see such a beautiful sunrise! 🙂 A hike to Mt. Batur looks like an interesting activity to do. I would definitely keep this in mind when I visit Bali.
Sure Amrita.
I have never thought of Bali as s destination to hike I must say but then you have just shown me a face of the island I would not have seen. Thanks to your post I would now look to add this hike on my itenary and watch those beautiful sunrises. It’s a commitment to wake up early but then the rewards are absolutely stunning. The colours of the sky just look amazing and you have captured it very well. Thanks for sharing a new Bali.
Yes Amar, Bali apparently has all what a traveler seeks for.
What an amazing and rewarding experience! I would love to do this and think I’m fairly fit but wonder whether I would struggle? I think the motivation to reach to top to see the sunrise would keep me going. The photos from the top you took are so beautiful and I liked the monkeys. I imagine they are quite friendly with the amount of people they meet. I have just done a similar early morning sunrise trip and although it was difficult to wake up early the reward was far greater, thank you for such an interesting post.
Yes, the monkeys were friendly and the view at the top is totally worth the hike.
Wow! It must have been an amazing experience to climb Mount Batur at sunrise. Pictures are magical! I felt like I was there too.
Thanks for your lovely words.
Bali is just wonderful. We couldn’t do the hike because the locals advised not to take our baby on the hike. However we saw Mt Batur in the morning from the viewpoint and it was magical. Your post and pictures brought back some very beautiful memories from our Bali trip. Happy travels!
Ya I understand. Taking a baby wont be a great idea.
What a phenomal hike! I don’t know what would be harder – the hike or getting up so early to make it up the mountain for sunrise! Totally worth getting up early for. That view is stunning. Can’t wait to visit Bali some day! Gorgeous photos.
Thanks Juliette!
Sunrise is always my favorite and I always love to see how golden rays captures the sky and all darkness is gone. Never knew that hiking up to Mount Batur and seeing this splendid sunrise would be so much beautiful thing to do in Bali. I can wake up early many times if the sight is so much beautiful. Monkeys are looking very cute and it is good that you offered them bananas. Thanks for all the tips.
I hated waking up so early, Yukti. If you consider doing this, try staying close to the mountain, probably at a hotel at the base.