For travelers who are looking for an adventure or a challenge in Balinese nature, hiking in Bali is the answer. Mount Batur is a 1,717 m high active volcano in the north of Bali that’s popular among tourists for its magnificent sunrise trek. So, if you’re an adventure traveler who’s into hiking and you happen to be in Ubud or nearby, you’d probably be interested in including that hike in your itinerary. However, before heading there you’ll definitely have a set of questions in mind. Don’t worry, I’ve gathered them and decided to answer them for you.
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Mount Batur Hiking in Bali – FAQs Answered
What to Expect?
Well, for starters, this is a sunrise trek. So, when you book, expect that your driver will come to pick you up at 1:30 or 2 AM, depending on where you’re staying. The mountain is an hour to one and a half hour ride from central Ubud. Your driver will drop you off near Lake Batur which is the assembly point for all groups and their guides. The local guides are very professional and do this hike every day. So, no need to worry about anything – you’ll be in safe hands.
The hike will start at around 4 AM and it should take you around 2 hours to reach the summit. Then, you’ll have some time to enjoy the beautiful sunset up there while having breakfast. On your way down, you should be able to see all the beautiful views you missed the night before in the dark.
How Difficult is the Mount Batur Hike?
For me, I think it was of average difficulty at the time. I couldn’t understand why a mountain only 1,717 m high would take two whole hours. When I went, I understood; it was the massive crowds! Towards the end of the hike, I literally stood in a queue to be able to reach the summit, and honestly, I found this to be pretty disappointing and frustrating. I wanted to rest when I felt like I needed to, not when I was forced to stop every couple of steps.
Other than that, I finally found the hike easier than other ones I’ve done. However, this really varies from one person to another. For instance, I didn’t take breaks as much as my group did and was ahead of them. I’m used to hiking every now and then, but I wouldn’t say that I’m physically fit. I walk a lot, I’m energetic, but I don’t exercise that often. So, at least for beginners, I’d say it’s doable even if they find it difficult.
Finding the trail was super easy as well, it looked like a staircase of big rocks most of the time and lined with grass. I believe that the only two challenging aspects of the hike were that the mountain was pretty steep – expect an intense workout for your quads, and that it was quite slippery. Other than that, you shouldn’t really worry. Just stay hydrated, take breaks when you need to, and keep a steady pace.
What to Wear?
The most important thing is wearing suitable shoes. Don’t wear something fashionable – you need something with a strong grip and something that won’t get worn out easily.
As for clothing, you can wear shorts if you want or a pair of comfy yoga pants. Also, have layers on you – you’ll lose one after another. I hiked during the dry season (in September) and I wore yoga pants, a tank top, and I wore an extra t-shirt I had with me in my backpack as it was a bit chilly down there, as well as a hoodie. As we got up and started warming up, I lost some layers and took off my hoodie. If you’re doing this in the rainy season, then better pack a waterproof windbreaker.
What to bring?
The tour company I went with provided me with a flashlight, a bottle of water, and breakfast for the summit. The breakfast was a boiled egg, a banana, bread, and jam. I had my own snacks and water, so if you’re picky when it comes to food, then, always know you can pack your own snacks. Anyhow, double-check with the company you book to see what they’re providing so you wouldn’t overpack.
Other than food and clothing, you must not forget your camera! Whether it’s a DSLR, a GoPro (and whatever needed kit), or even your iPhone, and of course, your drone if you’re lucky to own one. It’s really important to document the moment. I had with me my Canon 600D and my GoPro Hero 5 that I recently bought off of Amazon, along with its accessories kit. For the hike, the octopus tripod, the head strap, and the monopod came in handy.
How to Book?
You can book online, through your hotel, or walk into one of those tourism booths scattered around the center; I booked via Tunjungsuci Trekking which my driver recommended. I also recommend you check out Viator or Klook.
What’s the Cost?
It would normally cost from $40-something to $70+ for the guide, transportation, and breakfast. I remember paying IDR 700,000 which was around $47.
Please note that prices are subject to change due to inflation and other economic factors.
How About the View?
The view was spectacular! As I previously mentioned, I was ahead of my group and I lost them. When I reached the summit it was pretty crowded and I couldn’t enjoy the view nor set up my camera anywhere. However, my guide came and found me, and turned out that they hiked to the other side of the summit. It wasn’t blocked by any hills or people and had the best views. You will literally be over the clouds and you’ll definitely witness a breathtaking sunrise.
Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance!
Travel (solo or not) isn’t always rainbows and butterflies – things might go down south sometimes. You might fall ill or lose your luggage, and that’s when you’ll thank me for having your back covered with travel insurance.
SafetyWing offers different travel insurance packages, tailored to your needs, but their Nomad Insurance is my favorite option.
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Booking a trip soon? Here are some useful travel resources:
- Book your flight with Skyscanner, Kiwi, CheapOair, or WayAway.
- Book your hostel with Hostelworld.
- Book your hotel with Booking.com or Agoda.
- Get your travel insurance with SafetyWing.
- Hire a car with Skyscanner, Discover Cars, Rentalcars, or AutoEurope.
- Book your tours with Viator or Klook.
- Download an eSIM from Airalo or Jetpac.
- Check out my trip planning tools for more travel resources.
You might also like:
- Mount Sinai, Egypt: A Complete Guide to an Epic Hike
- Hiking Jabal Umm Ad Dami, the Highest Mountain in Jordan
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Nadine is an Egyptian curly-head who decided to quit the norm because it just doesn’t suit her. She ditched her 9-5 as a magazine editor to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time digital nomad and to inspire aspiring travelers to embark on their own solo adventures.
Thank you so much for your information. I
was wondering if there is a place in UBUD
to purchase hiking boots? (Inexpensive
ones that I can just leave in Bali when I’m
done)
Not that I know of tbh, I always travel with my own pair.