Bali by itself, without sunrises or sunsets, is undoubtedly a unique paradise. Jungles, rice fields, hidden beaches, happy people. You simply feel at home.
Tips for a trekking tour to Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) in Bali
But would you like to add a bit of adventure to your stay? How about one of the most spectacular sunrises you have ever seen? Even better, what if you could see it from the top of an active volcano? Sounds exciting? It is!
How to get to Bali
To travel to
Bali, there are basically only two options: by boat and by plane. Flights operate from many cities in Indonesia to Bali, but there are also many international flights. These include, for example, Emirates from Dubai, Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong, Thai Airways from Bangkok, and many more.
To find the best and cheapest flights for your trip to Bali, we suggest checking Skyscanner. There you can get all the information about prices, departure times, flight durations, and different airlines to find the best deal for you. This way you can get a good overview.
There are boats to Bali from Lombok, the Gili Islands, or Nusa Penida / Nusa Lembongan. You can choose between simple local ferries or speedboats. Not only are the prices different, but the duration of the boat trip largely depends on the boat you choose. You can find a summary of schedules, prices, and boats at 12go.asia.
Accommodation in Ubud - our hotel recommendation
A great place to stay in Ubud is Sapodilla Ubud, which offers a good location. If you want to stay in the middle of a green and well-maintained resort, then you are in the right place. There is also a pool and it’s worth mentioning the excellent service from the staff and the delicious breakfast.
Mount Batur is an active volcano, surrounded by a lake and several mountains. Lake Batur is the largest lake in Bali. The landscape itself is simply stunning and if you manage to climb up here early in the morning, you will be rewarded in every sense. The sun rises in the early hours of the morning and offers an incredible display of colors that you should not miss.
Some key facts: the volcano has a height of 1717 meters and the last eruption occurred in 2000, not so long ago. Additionally: the volcano erupted for the first time 30,000 years ago and is still known as one of the largest eruptions on earth.
How do I get to Mount Batur?
The volcano is located in the north of Bali and tours are offered from most places on the island.
In any case, a tour is recommended because you do not want to climb the volcano alone. On average, you should expect to pay between 15 and 20 € per person. The price usually includes transportation, flashlights, breakfast, and a guide who accompanies you.
How does the sunrise tour to Mount Batur work?
In the
early hours of the morning (between 2 and 3 a.m.) you will be picked up from your accommodation and taken to the foot of the volcano. Some tours also offer a stop for breakfast, which is not a bad idea, as you should not hike on an empty stomach.
So, in my case, we had pancakes to recharge our batteries. Then you will be equipped with a flashlight and ready! At first, you might think it would be an easy walk, but be careful! It climbs steeply and feels like there are a thousand steps. There are rocks and pebbles everywhere, so you need to be careful and watch your steps. From a distance, you can see other tourists with their flashlights on. Well, you are not alone.
After about
1 to 1.5 hours you made it! Completely sweaty, you are standing on the volcano. First, you have to process what you just did.
Even if you associate Bali with tropical temperatures, the opposite is true at the top of Mount Batur. It is very cold! So make sure to bring a
sweater and a warm jacket. Since you sweat during the strenuous hike, it is even more important to keep warm at the top.
When you reach the top, the sky is still dark and you can only see a few lights in the surrounding villages. It may be cloudy, and you will be above the clouds! Then the unique color show begins. First in dark red tones, then orange, pink, yellow, a mix that only nature can create.
Tip: it is very unlikely that you will be alone at the top and can enjoy the view by yourself. On average, 200 tourists climb with a tour like this every morning to admire the sunrise. If possible, avoid the months of December, July, and August. Otherwise, just try to get a good spot as high as possible so you can take selfies without any photobombing.
When you can turn off the flashlights and the sun shines bright enough, breakfast begins. Your guide prepares some snacks and you sit down and process the natural spectacle. There is also a small "kiosk" at the top where you can buy water and snacks. The vendors are undoubtedly the fittest people in Bali as they walk up there every day.
Then we start the descent from Mount Batur, where the guide will give you more information about the volcano. You will pass some very cute monkeys and probably get stuck taking photos! Towards the end, you will pass through several fields and the path ends on a paved road. How good it feels to walk back on a normal road!
The descent is not as easy as it seems, you can really start to slip. That’s why it’s a good idea to wear really solid shoes. Don’t let the locals confuse you, they run up and down in flip-flops.
If you are as scared as I am, you can let your guide take your hand, but that’s up to you.
The whole experience takes up the entire morning. But you will no longer think about the restless night, the ascent, and any effort. After all, you just witnessed the most beautiful sunrise in Bali!
General tips for trekking to Mount Batur:
- Book a tour with pickup from your accommodation.
- Bring warm and thick clothing with you
- Wear solid shoes
- Bring water with you
- Have enough memory on your camera + fully charged battery
- Go to bed early to be fit on the morning of the ascent.
