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Climb Mount Batur and Watch the Sun Rise
Published by Tammy Burns, Writer
Country: Indonesia 
The Experience
Far removed from the bustle of Denpasar and the beach parties of Kuta, the volcano Mount Batur sits in northern Bali, large and looming, and tempting travelers to conquer its steep slopes. Mount Batur is home to the popular “sunrise climb” – an early morning trek that brings you to the volcano’s summit just in time to watch the first few rays of sunshine slip over the horizon. It’s an intermediate-level hike, and doesn’t require anything more than some decent stamina and a pair of sturdy hiking boots.
The Mount Batur sunrise climb to the top starts at 3:30 am when, in the darkness of night, guided only by flashlight, you begin the ascent. It starts easy enough along a dirt path, but quickly turns steep, as you pick your way over slippery sand and loose rocks, the chill of early morning draped over you.
Climbing Mount Batur takes about two hours and once at the top, you’re greeted at a small hut, where tour guides offer coffee and pastries for breakfast (to be followed later by eggs cooked in the volcano’s steam vents). You pick a spot along the mountain’s edge, and settle in for your bird’s eye view of a Balinese sunrise.
The sky slowly shifts from black to deep blue, to pink and orange, as the sun rises up over the valley and reveals Lake Batur and the villages below, and the towering Mount Agung next to you. Once the sun is fully raised in the sky, the tour guides begin the second portion of the Mount Batur hike, taking you along ridges where you can get up close and personal with the volcano’s craters.
Mount Batur last erupted in 2000, with eruptions averaging every 10 to 20 years (although there were a few periods where eruptions came almost annually). It is considered Bali’s most active volcano, and one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. While its eruptions are frequent, they’re generally classified as mildly explosive, and only occasionally emit lava. Mount Batur is what volcanologists refer to as a “double caldera”, meaning it is one crater inside another crater. From atop the mountain, you can see the walls of the larger caldera spanning all around, 14 km across and 7.5 km wide. It looks like Mount Batur rises up from a valley, when really it is a volcano rising up from the crater of another, prehistoric volcano. It is considered to be one of the best examples of a caldera volcano in the world.
Guides will take you across the top of Batur volcano, where you can peer into some of the safer craters. No, you won’t see bubbling lava or billows of dark smoke, but rather, chunks of black rock and puffs of steam that look harmless and make it easy to forget that you’re standing on an explosive piece of land. To witness Mount Batur at sunrise is to experience one of the most endearing displays of the earths eternal awakening.
The Mount Batur sunrise climb to the top starts at 3:30 am when, in the darkness of night, guided only by flashlight, you begin the ascent. It starts easy enough along a dirt path, but quickly turns steep, as you pick your way over slippery sand and loose rocks, the chill of early morning draped over you.
Climbing Mount Batur takes about two hours and once at the top, you’re greeted at a small hut, where tour guides offer coffee and pastries for breakfast (to be followed later by eggs cooked in the volcano’s steam vents). You pick a spot along the mountain’s edge, and settle in for your bird’s eye view of a Balinese sunrise.
The sky slowly shifts from black to deep blue, to pink and orange, as the sun rises up over the valley and reveals Lake Batur and the villages below, and the towering Mount Agung next to you. Once the sun is fully raised in the sky, the tour guides begin the second portion of the Mount Batur hike, taking you along ridges where you can get up close and personal with the volcano’s craters.
Mount Batur last erupted in 2000, with eruptions averaging every 10 to 20 years (although there were a few periods where eruptions came almost annually). It is considered Bali’s most active volcano, and one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. While its eruptions are frequent, they’re generally classified as mildly explosive, and only occasionally emit lava. Mount Batur is what volcanologists refer to as a “double caldera”, meaning it is one crater inside another crater. From atop the mountain, you can see the walls of the larger caldera spanning all around, 14 km across and 7.5 km wide. It looks like Mount Batur rises up from a valley, when really it is a volcano rising up from the crater of another, prehistoric volcano. It is considered to be one of the best examples of a caldera volcano in the world.
Guides will take you across the top of Batur volcano, where you can peer into some of the safer craters. No, you won’t see bubbling lava or billows of dark smoke, but rather, chunks of black rock and puffs of steam that look harmless and make it easy to forget that you’re standing on an explosive piece of land. To witness Mount Batur at sunrise is to experience one of the most endearing displays of the earths eternal awakening.
When to Go to Mount Batur Sunrise
The best time for a Mount Batur sunrise climb is during Bali's dry season, from April to September. While the temperature stays warm year-round, it can get quite humid during the wet season. Note that peak tourist season generally runs from July to early September, as well as from late December to mid-January. Prices are usually much higher at these times of year, and accommodations book up fast.
Do not attempt to climb Mount Batur during the wet season, as the trails will be particularly muddy and slippery.
Do not attempt to climb Mount Batur during the wet season, as the trails will be particularly muddy and slippery.
Odds n' Ends
Mount Batur is an active volcano, which means it is prone to frequent earthquakes and tremors. Some areas of the volcano are more explosive than others, and even if the volcano is not erupting, pockets of steam, lava, and sulphurous gases can be released at any time. Tourists should be aware of this and make sure they know the status of the volcano before climbing. Hiking with a registered tour guide will help ensure you stay in the safe zones.
Mount Batur tours run from pretty much anywhere in Bali, even from as far as Nusa Dua in the south. Expect to pay anywhere from 400,000 to 1,300,000 rupiah (approximately US$ 40 to US$ 150) per person, depending on how far your hotel is from Batur, for transportation to the volcano and a guided tour.
Mount Batur tours run from pretty much anywhere in Bali, even from as far as Nusa Dua in the south. Expect to pay anywhere from 400,000 to 1,300,000 rupiah (approximately US$ 40 to US$ 150) per person, depending on how far your hotel is from Batur, for transportation to the volcano and a guided tour.
Want a Guide?
- Alliance Indonesia
- Offers the option to include a stop at nearby hot springs and/or an overnight camping trip. Prices range from $139 to $178 USD per person, depending on add-ons and number of people in your party (the price per person decreases with each additional person).
- Baliwww.com
- Includes breakfast, lunch, and a stop at the Tirta Sanjiwani hot springs in Toya Bungkah. Price is $70 USD per person.
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- Taking a break in Bali - Thestar.com.my (newspaper)
- 36 Hours in Bali - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
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