The towering volcano of Mount Batur soars above the villages in Northern Bali. At over 5,600 feet in elevation, Mount Batur is the second-highest peak on the island. This active volcano last erupted in 2000, but it’s safe to reach the summit, so if hiking a volcano is on your bucket list, plan a day trip to Mount Batur.
The hike up Mount Batur takes about 1-2 hours each way depending on your fitness level and the path you choose. Our guide took us up a more challenging 3-mile route, but there are easier trails that will take you to the summit.
Most people hike Mount Batur at sunrise for the views. If waking up at 3 a.m. isn’t your idea of a vacation, you can hike it at sunset like I did. Most drivers and tour companies will be baffled that you want to hike it at sunset because it’s so popular at sunrise. Hiking at sunset means you’ll enjoy the summit all to yourself, free of crowds, and you won’t have to hike up in the dark.
So why do people hike it at sunrise? Well, at sunrise there’s an 80% chance you’ll have a clear, cloudless view of the sunrise. At sunset, there’s only a 20% chance of a clear view. So, if you’re just hiking for the view at the top, you might want to brave the 3 a.m. wake-up call, but if you’re a nature lover who enjoys hiking (like me), you’re better off going at sunset.
This guide will let you know what to expect when hiking Mount Batur at sunset.
Let’s get into it.
Planning your trip
I coordinated my tour with Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking. Yes, “sunrise” is in their name but they will also take you on a sunset hike. Everything in this guide is included in the tour fee of $65 per person unless stated otherwise.
Where is Mount Batur?
Mount Batur is about a one-hour drive from Ubud, making Ubud the best place to stay and book a tour from. A driver will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel or villa.
Before the hike
First, coffee
We started our journey to Mount Batur with a pit stop at a coffee plantation in the jungle around 11 a.m.
Bali is famous for its luwak coffee, a smooth coffee roasted from beans that have been ingested and digested by a wild cat. How do they get it? Well…they collect cat poop from the jungle floor and roast it, which is what makes it such a delicacy — you literally can’t make this shit up.
Feces aside, the coffee is in fact smooth and delicious. Most places that call themselves a coffee plantation in Bali don’t actually grow their beans on-site; it’s more of a taproom. They’ll bring you a wide range of coffee and tea samples for free but if you want to try the prized Luwak coffee, you’ll need to purchase a cup.
We asked to go to a coffee plantation as a part of our tour but I wouldn’t say it’s a must-do. You can try luwak coffee at plenty of places in Ubud.
Lunch with a view
After coffee and tea, we stopped for lunch at Okuta. Lunch is included with your tour. The food was delicious and it had a great view of Mount Batur in the distance. Don’t skip on the fresh fruit juice.
Hot springs
Relax in hot springs before going on your hike. We stopped at Toya Devasya Geopark Resort and Villas to spend an hour in the hot springs. Although it’s called “hot springs,” it feels more like a heated resort pool.
The magma below Mount Batur heats the spring water that is pumped into a big pool overlooking Lake Batur. Visiting the resort is an extra fee of 300,000 rupiah (about $18 USD). Your entry includes towels and access to a locker room with showers. It’s a bit pricier than most attractions in Bali but I think it’s worth it for the view of Mount Batur and the lake.
Driving through the lava field
On your way to Mount Batur, you’ll drive through a barren lava field. There are a few campgrounds in the area that Balinese families stay at. The lava field features giant boulders that were left after the last big eruption.
The hike
When you reach the Mount Batur trailhead, your driver will drop you off and introduce you to your guide. Our guide was Wayan (a common name in Bali, but you should ask for him —he’s great!). The guide will take you on your adventure to the summit.
Along the way up you’ll see pretty views that you can stop to take photos of and catch your breath. The trail itself is a bit dusty with rocks that can make the path a bit precarious but your guide will lead the way. There are also areas that are a bit buggy but once you get to the top the breeze is refreshing and free of bugs. Near the summit, you might even see monkeys.
On the way down, it will get dark, so your guide will have headlamps for you to use. Your guide will choose the appropriate trail for you based on your hiking experience. We did the more challenging 3-mile route.
The summit
The climb to the top will take an avid hiker about an hour. So, if you’re a fast hiker, you’ll need to wait for the sun to set. Luckily, the views from the top are gorgeous, making you wish you never had to come down.
When you reach the top, your guide will show you the steam coming out of the volcano. They will also cook an egg or banana with the steam for you to eat as a snack.
We hiked up on a cloudy day so we didn’t stick around at the top for the sunset but it was still an incredible experience.
What to bring
When packing for your trip to Bali, make sure you bring athletic wear to hike in and sneakers with good traction. (You don’t need fancy hiking shoes.) You should apply sunscreen and bug spray before the hike.
Don’t forget to bring a bathing suit for the hot springs.
I also took a small sling back with me with essentials like my camera, a water bottle, and hand sanitizer.
Alternative ways to reach the summit
If you aren’t a hiker, you can ATV up Mount Batur, go on the back of a motorbike, or go on a Jeep tour. These two alternatives of course come at a cost, but Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking can help you coordinate. Even if you take the shortcut, you’ll still need to hike the last 10 minutes of the journey since motor vehicles can’t reach the actual summit.
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