Trekking Mount Batur for Sunrise – A Complete Guide

A Mount Batur Sunrise Trek is an absolute must for adventure seekers visiting Bali. In this blog post, we cover everything you need to know about trekking to Mount Batur for sunrise. We include prices of the trek, tour guide information, everything else you need to prepare for the challenge ahead.

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Mount Batur Sunrise Trek FAQs

• Book accommodation in Bali with Booking.com
• Check if you need a visa with iVisa
• Stay connected in Bali with a local e-sim
• Explore Bali on a best-selling tour.
• Don’t forget travel insurance!

How Tall is Mount Batur?

Standing tall at the height of 1717 metre above sea level, Mount Batur is the 2nd tallest volcano on Bali island. The tallest volcano in Bali is the prodigious Mount Agung at 3031 metres.

When did Mount Batur last erupt?

Mount Batur is indeed an active volcano; however, there is no need to worry about safety. The volcanic activity is monitored daily by seismologists, and there hasn’t been an eruption since the year 2000.  

Is trekking Mount Batur Safe?

Taking all things into consideration, trekking Mount Batur, is very safe. If there were any risk of an eruption, trekking tours would be cancelled immediately.  

Of course, all the best adventures have an element of risk involved; but you have little to worry about when trekking Mount Batur for sunrise. Nevertheless, it’s wise to have travel insurance just incase.

Best Way to Trek Mount Batur

Mount Batur is located around the heart of Bali. It’s easiest to access from Ubud, Amed, or the North of Bali. You can also travel there from Canggu or Seminyak; however, if you want to trek Mount Batur for sunrise, it means an especially early start.

We travelled from Ubud to Mount Batur. With no traffic on the roads, the journey time was 1hr 30 minutes. It isn’t a requirement to complete the hike with a tour group or guide; however, we felt reassured in doing so. Not only that but booking with a tour company includes transport to and from your hotel.

Ubud to Mount Batur Map

Mount Batur Sunrise Trek at a Glance

Our Experience Hiking Mount Batur for Sunrise

We were picked up from our hotel in Ubud at 2am and made our way to breakfast. We were served a modest but delicious meal of Balinese pancakes and coffee before continuing on our journey to base camp.

We arrived at base camp at 3.45 am, which was perfect timing. Eagerly anticipating a clear morning, the first thing we did was look up to the sky. There was not a cloud in sight. Instead, a blanket of stars with a view of the milky way adorned the night sky.

Mount Batur Sunrise Trek – The Ascent 

Our driver introduced us to our guide, who supplied us with flashlights for the trek. It was still very dark and the trail felt eerie and mysterious.

The initial 30-minute stretch felt like a walk in the park. This part of the trek leads you through some local farmland before the dense forest swallows you up. We’d imagined the trail to be far busier than it was, and we moved at a moderate pace with no hold-ups. 

It was only as we arrived at the first checkpoint that we started to see other people. From this point, a choice of trails lead off into different directions. One of the routes is a road and those who don’t want to hike can take a motorbike taxi.  

We opted for the other route, which is a narrow trail through the forest. This route is said to be slightly harder than the road, as it’s steeper and there’s loose gravel which makes it slippery. Our pace had undoubtedly slowed down by this point, but our guide insisted we were way ahead of schedule.

Soon enough, the forest spat us out, and we were in open territory. We looked behind us to see the first glimpse of sunlight rising behind the mighty Mount Agung. There was still barely a cloud insight, and we knew we were in for a special sunrise.

Mount Batur Sunrise Trek – The Summit

We found the final 30-minutes of the trek to be the hardest, but also the most fun. The views just get better and better the higher you go. As we approached the top, the sky was already putting on quite the show.

Finally, the words we’d been waiting for escaped our guides lips. ‘We’re here’ he cried, and an overwhelming feeling of achievement washed over us. Whether you enjoy hiking or not, at this point, you know it was all worth it.

The sky continued to transform in a plethora of colour until the sun had well and truly risen. In that time we’d taken hundreds of photos and flown the drone out over the lake capturing the view.  

Soon enough, it was time for our second breakfast. Our guide cooked us eggs over a steam pocket rising up from the volcano, and served them alongside some bread, a banana & biscuits. You’ll see the steam rising everywhere at the summit, and it’s a cosy little spot to warm-up when you get cold.

Mount Batur Sunrise Trek – The Descent

We could have stayed all day marvelling the view. The golden hour glow equally as magical as the sunrise itself. But, reluctantly, we followed our guide back along the trail, where groups of monkeys helped themselves to the leftover breakfast.

By this point we were eager to get back down, so we picked up the pace. At some points we were almost running which felt easy on the dirt road – the ‘easier’ route I referenced earlier.  

As we reached base camp, the adrenaline of the experience quickly melted away, only to be replaced by exhaustion. We’d made it, and we wanted to celebrate, but, now, it was time to rest.  

What to Wear for Mount Batur Sunrise Trek

• Pair of broken-in hiking boots – or trainers with a good grip will also suffice.
• T-shirt or vest
• A thin hoodie or jumper
• Trekking pants – or comfortable leggings/trousers.
• Trekking socks
• Scarf & Gloves – You won’t need these on for long, but you’ll be grateful for them at the summit.
• Sunglasses
• Hat or Bandana
• Insect Repellent
• Fitbit – A useful piece of kit to keep track of steps, distance, and calories!  

Where to Stay for Mount Batur Sunrise Trek

Booking.com

Enjoy your Sunrise Trek of Mount Batur

Well, that concludes our guide to hiking Mount Batur for sunrise. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us in the comments below. Otherwise, we wish you safe and happy travels.

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