Located in the north east part of Bali, Mount Batur is an active volcano popular among tourists for its breathtaking sunrise view over Mount Abang and Mount Agung.
Its pick culminates at 1,717m high and the volcano last erupted in the year 2000.
Exploring Mount Batur
Getting there
You will need a vehicle to get to Mount Batur. From the southern part of the island (Kuta / Seminyak / Canggu) it will take you about 2 to 2.5 hours to reach the place - and no you will not find Grab or Gojek to drive you all the way up there; or if by any chance you find one to take you there; you will not be able to find one to come back down south. It is a bit closer from Ubud, only about 1 to 1,5 hours.
There are also plenty of accommodation options surrounding the mountain, so you can also opt for a stay up in the elevated part of Bali, with a cooler weather, especially at night.
Hiking Mount Batur
What to pack
- Enough water to stay hydrated, once the sun is up, it can get hot.
- While you can definitely complete the hike using regular trainers, it is advisable to pack shoes that are fit for hiking.
- Some snacks: the summit has a few huts selling hot beverages and light snack, but do bring your some of your own to be sure you have plenty of energy to complete the journey.
- The temperature at night in the area can go down to between 10°C and 15°C so make sure to bring some warm clothes. Additionally the summit can get pretty windy, so don't forget a wind breaker to remain comfortable.
Tourists favorite activities is an early morning hike (starts 2am - 3am) to watch the sunrise over the mountains of East Bali. The hike takes about 2 hours to reach the summit, more or less depending on how experienced you are with mountain hiking. After that, count another 1.5 hours to come down.
Typically, people start the hike from either of those 2 locations:
- Toya Bungkah Village : elevation gain ~680m, total length: ~9km.
- Pura Jati: : elevation gain ~625m, total length: ~8km.
The later is a bit shorter than the first one, but steeper and potentially more difficult.
While it is technically possible to hike on your own, we recommend you get a guide as the path is not always clearly indicated and it is very easy to miss a turn. Every year, intrepid adventurer go missing because of their recklessness.
Once the sun up, and you had the chance to take a break and have some breakfast with a view; typically people will trek the loop path around the crater to enjoy the sights from different sides of the volcano. You will also, most likely catch a few fumarole (similar to steam vents) along the way as the volcano is still technically active.
Last but not least, the top of Mount Batur is inhabited by a colony of monkeys waiting for visitors to leave food behind to snack on; be aware of the cheeky ones that might try to snatch your foods.
Mount Batur hike prices with hotel transfert
Typical tour packages for Mount Batur include a guide, the park entrance fee (of 100,000 IDR) and a light breakfast on top of the mountain. Prices vary mostly depending on where you start:
- From a hotel surrounding the volcano: ~300,000 IDR - 350,000 IDR per person
- From Ubud: 500,000 IDR to 700,000 IDR per person
- From south Bali (Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu): 600,000 IDR to 800,000 IDR per person
Tour packages typically may also include a stop by the local hot springs on your way back. For those count extra 200,000 IDR per person.
Mount Batur by Jeep / ATV
If hiking is not your thing; or you feel like the hike might be too complicated for you, there are plenty of options for you enjoy that sunrise view by Jeep. They will not take you all the way to the summit of the mountain, but high enough to get a breathtaking view and unforgettable memories.
By jeep you will be able to reach the altitude of 1,350m above sea level and will have the option to trek another 45mins to reach the summit.
Prices
Jeep tour typically go for between 300,000 and 500,000 IDR per person, depending on how much you want to see, price will include everything from driver, to entrance tickets. If you are staying out of the Batur area, cout an extra 300,000 IDR to 500,000 IDR for the transfert.
Enjoying the hot spring
After an early morning hike, you will be delighted to hear that the bottom of mount Batur features natural hot springs in which you will be able to get, a much deserved, relaxing bathing time after hiking in the middle of the night.
If you are one the lucky one, your accommodation may even have a private hot spring for you to enjoy.
The 2 most famous (and large) hot springs are:
- Toya Devasya - entrance fee: 270,000 IDR per person for international tourists
- Batur public Hot spring - we recommend you buy the tickets online for s cheaper price. Walk in would be about 190,000 IDR per person while online booking would be 120,000 IDR per person
