So you want to do the Mt. Batur hike in Bali? I can whole-heartedly recommend the experience! This blog post shares my personal experience, as well as some helpful information about the hike (including what to expect, what to bring, what to wear etc).
The Mt. Batur Hike Experience
It’s 3:00am and I’m standing at the edge of my street, waiting to be picked up by my guide to hike Bali’s active volcano. We head Northeast from Ubud under the cover of darkness and arrive to the base of the hike before sunrise. I meet Made, a young Balinese guide who will accompany me to the top. We strap on headlamps to illuminate the trail and set off into the darkness.
At an elevation of 1717 meters, the Mt. Batur hike is not an easy climb, especially in my sleep deprived state. Crushed volcanic stones the consistency of gravel covers the trail in a fine layer, making it slippery. An old woman with a walking stick up ahead loses her footing and slides, but her guide catches her before she falls.
My breathing is laboured now, but I’m determined to continue without stopping. It feels good to move my body and focus on a task so tangible and predictable: if I simply continue, with one foot in front of the other, we will make it to the top.
We pass older hikers and groups who stop for water breaks and fifty minutes later, Made and I arrive at the top of Mt. Batur. It’s still dark so there’s no view, a rather anticlimactic finish to summiting a volcano. My sweat turns cold in the frigid breeze, and I huddle for warmth around a cup of coffee. I sit in silence, looking into the vast blackness.
Cheeky monkeys conveniently appear just in time for breakfast. Hikers admire the view while grazing on banana sandwiches and hard-boiled eggs. Some toss bits to the more patient apes, while more aggressive tiny beasts steal food straight from unsuspecting hiker’s hands.
I have. second mug of coffee as I watch the sky streak with hues of vibrant tangerine, gold and mandarin. Sunbeams warm my face and I close my eyes, feeling immensely gratified.
Read the full story in my debut travel memoir, ‘With Love from Bali’.
Hiking Logistics
Do I need a tour guide?
The tours typically depart around 3:00am, picking you up from your hotel to take you to the base of the hike. They will provide water, flashlights and a hiking guide. It is possible to hike independently, if you have your own car or bike to get there, but I personally would not have wanted to drive myself in the dark and it was nice to have a guide lead us. For that reason, I recommend doing a Mt. Batur hiking tour. As part of a tour, you will also be served a simple breakfast at the top of coffee or tea, hard boiled eggs and banana sandwich. There are also vendors up there to buy cold bottled drinks if you want something else.
How difficult is the hike?
The hike itself is said to take approximately 2-3 hours (though as a Canadian mountain girl, I personally did it in 50 minutes). There are people of all ages and fitness levels on the Mt. Batur hike, from older adults and kids, so it’s definitely possible to do if you are not an experienced hiker—just take your time and plenty of breaks for water along the way. The hike itself is not technical, meaning that aside from the incline and the somewhat slippery trail, you will not have to scramble up or over jagged rocks or stumps.
What should I wear/bring?
Most people that I saw were wearing running shoes and had on regular fitness or gym attire. I highly recommend wearing layers and bringing a jacket or sweater for the top, as it is quite windy and chilly up there at sunrise. You will want your phone or camera to take pictures at the top for sunrise. Drones are allowed, but be mindful of other people around you, as no one appreciates a drone hovering right over them.
What if it rains?
It is possible to do the hike in the rain, but I imagine the path could be slippery and the view from the top might be obstructed by clouds. I personally recommend doing this hike during the dry season. I did the hike in November and we had no rain with very clear visibility from the top.
Mt. Batur Hike
In summary, I really recommend this experience for those wanting to try something more adventurous and active on their Bali vacation. I think the hike is accessible for all fitness levels and ages (but the time to the top will range depending on these factors). You can definitely do the Mt. Batur hike in sneakers and gym clothes, bearing in mind there are some slippery sections of the trail with gravel. Your tour guide might provide a walking stick if you have any concerns. You can skip monkey forrest if you plan to do the Mt. Batur hike, as there are plenty of monkeys at the top (mind your breakfast, they are cheeky).
If you have more time on the island, find more ideas for fun activities in my other post on things to do in Bali (as recommended by an expat that lives here).
Have fun and happy travels!
Read more in my ebook With Love from Bali.
The post Mt. Batur Hike: Sunrise Volcano Trekking in Bali appeared first on .
