Mt Batur sunrise trek

Are you visiting Bali for a few days? Do you love trekking, outdoor activities and adventures overall? But at the same time, do you want to do something enjoyable and not so difficult? Well, if your answer to all these questions was yes, then Mt. Batur Sunrise trek definitely shouldn´t be missing from your Bali- itinerary list.

What is Mt Batur

Mt Batur is an active volcano in the northeastern part of Bali, within the Batur caldera, which is a massive crater-like depression formed by volcanic activity. Even though it is not the highest volcano on Bali (that is Agung, 3031m), with its height of 1717m (5633 feet) it still belongs to one of the best view points on the whole island. These days is the volcano most popular for sunrise and sunset trekking trips and absolutely stunning views. So of course I couldn´t miss out on that- and here are my rewievs and tips.

Definitely not for night owls

For this trip you have to wake up pretty early- depends on which area you are staying at. Most of the travel agencies include a hotel pickup in their packages- it was like this for me. So I had to wake up at 2 am and at 2.10 I was already getting into my taxi. There I met another two travellers- a couple from germany and then the driver took us to the base camp. I was staying at Ubud at that time and the journey took something about an hour.

When we arrived, we met the last two members of our group- two ladies from the USA. That was one of the things I really liked- the groups were really small like this, so that was really nice. We got coffee/ tea, then we met our guide- young Indonesian woman, who gave us flashlights, water and bamboo sticks. Then, and it was about 3:45, we took off.

The rise to the top

The guide informed us, that the journey to the top usually takes around two hours and that we still have about two and half hours till the sunrise, so plenty of time. We started of on a small path through the local vegetable fields and then entered the jungle. The start wasn´t very difficult, the route was not really steep, however it was really strange experience, since it was still a complete darkness and you really couldn´t see your surroundings propertly, just hear the sounds of nature around you. After a few minutes of walking, we reached a small , from which was . since there wan no light pollution, the sky abowe us was just full of stars and this was just so magnificent scenery.

As we continued on walking the route slowly got more steeper and rockier- even though there aren´t really any big blocks of stone, mostly just the volcanic ash. The last few hundret metres- and the last fifteen munites were the most difficult and the teepest, but we manage to reach the top.

The sunrise

As we reached the top, we sat on a bench, rested, and slowly watched the sunrise. At night- the sky was completely clear- but as the morning grew closer, a few clouds appeared. Then I slowly got the chance to experience the most beautiful sunrise of my whole life. Firstly, red light appeared on the east. The stars started slowly disappearing. It was just us above the sea of the clouds. It was quiet and the only thing you could hear was the wind blowing. And then, the moment came. The sun slowly arised from the clouds. The whole world just bathed in the golden light and I just felt like I am on the top of the world at that moment. It was truly magnificent.

Breakfast and our way back

After the sunrise, we got a little coaster with breakfast each. There was a sweet toast with jam, a tangerine, biscuit and a fresh banana. But most importantly, we also got the once in a lifetime chance to cook an egg in the volcano steam. Honestly, I can´t tell if it's because of that, or I was just hungry, but that was one of the most delicious eggs I ever ate. After we finished eating, we slowly got ready to head back. The way down was quicker. Moreover, while on our way to the top, everyone was enjoying the silence and peacefulness of the night and we were lost in our own thoughts, but on our descend, we were all full of energy, so we chatted and exchanged our life stories. That is definitely one of the things I love about solo travelling – you get to know so many cool people from different parts of the world with different background and cultures. It definitely broadened my horizons.

After options

After we returned down to the base, we thanked our guide, returned all the borrowed things and waited for our taxi. When it arrived, we said goodbye to the other travellers and then it drove us back to our accommodations. Even though every company offers pick up and drop off options, many of them include in the package some additional trips or excursions as well. Here are some examples:

• Spa- on of the most popular option is definitely the visit of spa, hot springs or traditional Balinese purification temple. I mean, is there something better than to relax your muscles and enjoy the wellness after such an exercise?
• Coffee plantation- another great option, you get to see how coffee is planted and harvested and you get to taste different coffee breeds. And then you have of course the option to purchase one yourself- which is by the way a great gift idea in my opinion.

Here are some options:

Overall practical info

Difficulty

Personally, I don´t find myself really athletic so of course I was a bit worried that this trek will be too difficult for me, however, I didn´t need to worry. The way to the top wasn´t that easy, but I wouldn´t say it was difficult either, like I never experienced the moment where I would be like: "I can´t do this." For me was more exhausting the way back, since most of the path tend to be covered with volcano ash thus very slippery, it was really difficult for my knees. But do not worry too much, all of the guides there are locals and they are all very friendly and caring, they always asked as if we are alright and we made frequent breaks, so it was really okay. Overall, I would say it's a nice trek- not too difficult but not too easy, plus with an amazing reward, so I would say it's definitely worth it. And of course, there are options such as being taken up by a scooter or jeep trips (but in both cases you still have to climb the last part of the journey by yourself).

How to book this trip

The base (and I believe there are more than one) aren´t really close to any city, so I don´t think it would be really easy for one to go there just by themselves, rather I would recommend using an agency. How I already mentioned, most of them include hotel pick up and drop off, guide, all the equipment and breakfast, so I think it is definitely worth it. I would recommend booking through websites like GetYourGuide or Tripadvisor. And for those who prefer buying things in person, in all of the bigger cities in Bali are many tourists info stand, where you can purchase it as well. The prices can vary from 460,000 Rp to 2,000,000 Rp (= 31$ to 150$ = 29€ to 124€), based on the add on.

For those interested, here is the trip I got- it's the one with just breakfast, but Ï truly enjoyed it and 100% recommend it (and it's one of the cheapest).

What to take with you & wear

This is quite a tricky question, because at night and especially during the sunrise can be really cold (I was freezing even in my jacket), but as the sun goes up, it tends to get hot very quickly. Personally I would recommend wearing something sporty and comfortable (I know it may seem obvious, but I saw a girl there wearing a mini dress) – I wore a hiking shoes,legging with T-shirt and hoodie, plus I had a jacket inside my bag and I did not regret this choice. Just please remember, it is a volcano, therefore it's very dusty and your clothes will likely get dirty from it. And what to pack- don´t take too many stuff- you don´t want to carry a heavy bag, so just the essentials- camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, repellent and maybe some additional snacks.

Conclusion

This was truly a beautiful experience and I 100% recommend it. Really, there is something so magical on walking with just the sounds of nature all around you and with the sea of stars above your head, to get rewarded with the breathtaking sight of sun rising from behind the clouds.

anyway here is the 

So hopefully I mentioned all the important thing that are useful to know. In case I forgot anything, or you have any questions, don´t hesitate to send me an email.