Mt Batur Sunrise Trek: 5 things that you should know before you hike Mount Batur.
Mount Batur or Kintamani volcano, as known by the locals, is an active volcano in the Kintamani area in Bali, Indonesia.
It is popular among tourists for trekking and viewing the mesmerizing sunrise from there.
The captivating Mount Batur surrounds the 13-sq-km Batur caldera lake.
I was not aware of what to expect from the hike.
In this article, I will share 5 things that you will need to know before you hike Mount Batur.
How Difficult?
If you do regular cardio and exercises, the trek is not at all challenging.
Though many websites will define it as an easy trek, you are exploring a volcano which is 1,717 meters above sea level. So, do not get confused with the word easy. It isn't easy, at least for the lazy ones like me when doing exercises. You have to determine your fitness level before deciding on the hike.
What to carry for the hike?
Carry a small backpack, a torchlight (headlamp would be best), and plenty of water.
Your guide will carry a water bottle, but I advise you to bring your own and some snacks to munch.
||Drink a lot of water to keep you hydrated, which is very important.
Clothing
The temperature varies from one night to another, wear simple leggings or shorts.
Most importantly, wear good hiking shoes, which is very, very important.
At the beginning of the hike, you may feel cold bring a sweater or hoodies, which you will remove as you trek.
If you are hiking on wetter months will suggest bringing a waterproof jacket.
I hiked in August, so that was a high season in Bali.
Who to hike with?
You can book your hike with a local company. It is Rp 800,000 (~$60) per person.
This includes everything, including pick-up and drop-off from Seminyak, local guide up the mountain, water, flashlights.
There are separate charges if you opt to do boiling egg activity.
You can boil eggs in the volcanic steam and have it.
We didn't take part in this activity but saw others doing it.
Usually, bookings take place over WhatsApp for Bali activities, so don’t find it surprising if this is how the booking is confirmed.
We received a message confirming pickup at 1:45 am the night before, and the driver was right on time. The time depends on your hotel location.
I decided to take a private hike with my husband, and of course, the guide was with us.
There are group tours, but the pricing is very similar, and it’s beneficial to have a private guide so you can go at your own pace up the volcano.
Schedule of the whole tour
The driver will pick up from your hotel location around 1:45 am to 3 am, depending on your site. More south more late pickup. You need to reach by 4 am.
Upon arrival, you will meet your hiking guide, and there you use the washroom and freshen up.
The hike starts at 4. am with your guide. The hiking time is usually 2 -2.5 hr. Again this will depend on your pace.
You will reach the top at around 5.30 am - 6 am. You can spend around an hour or more viewing and photographing the sunrise.
Then you can keep going up to ramble around the crater of the volcano, find some areas where hot smoke or volcanic steam is sneaking out of the volcano or spot monkeys playing near the temple.
Spend another hour discovering the place around before descending.
Again descending was interesting; you form a line and descend down. You may slip over the lava rocks, so were comfortable hiking shoes.
Driving back the hotel, you can discover the Kintamani area, have breakfast, or go with your next thing on the itinerary.
The Mount Batur Sunrise Trek was one of Bali's favorite experiences, and I highly recommend you do the trek on your next vacation this Indonesian island.
Check out my other articles from Bali
Mt Batur Sunrise Trek. How I climbed it.
Pandava Beach: Hidden Beach and Things to do there
If you have more queries, feel free to reach me in the comment section.