How to Visit Mount Batur in Bali - An Active Volcano

Mount Batur is an active and beautiful volcano, 1,717 meters (5,633 feet) high, that sits next to the biggest lake in Bali. The ready access and close proximity to Ubud and Denpasar has made it a tourist highlight.

There is road access and several easy and medium difficulty trails to hike to the top. Depending on the trail, the hiking can be a little rugged, but it is doable even for people not used to hiking if they are in good shape.

There is a surprising long list of things to do at and immediately around Mount Batur because it sits inside the caldera of a very big volcano.

1. Is It Safe to Visit the Mount Batur?

The rim of the volcano has steam rising from it. It last erupted in 2000. Geologists think they can predict when it will erupt, so they have declared that hiking is safe. It has erupted periodically six times in the last century.

Visitors are not supposed to hike on the Mount Batur independently. You must be accompanied by a guide.

Contact us to arrange a guide as well as the transportation (and everything else for a Bali tour)

2. What to See and Do on Mount Batur?

1) See the Scenery and the Volcano Rim

From lookout points near Mount Batur:

Most visitors who come to the area just want to see the volcano and caldera scenery from the rim of the outer volcano. People ride to observation points where the tourists congregate.

On a clear day, the view of the night sky and the distant scenery is so clear that everything seems near. On cloudy and foggy days, you might not be able to see anything. So be aware of the weather when you are preparing to go there, and maybe build in some flexibility in your itinerary to allow you to visit in clear weather. (Best and Worst Times to Visit Bali & When is the Rainy Season)

Two excellent observation spots are on Mount Penulisan and at Penelokan Village. Mount Penulisan is one the two high mountains near Mount Batur, and at the top there is a Hindu Temple. You can see the north coast from there.

From the top of Mount Batur:

You can look down and see the huge caldera about you, Lake Batur, and the mountains of the outer volcano. The scenery is amazing, and it is especially beautiful at sunrise and sunset.

2) See the beautiful lake

Lake Batur is 7 km (4 miles) long, 2.5 km (1.5 miles) wide, and 60 meters (200 ft) deep.

At the large lake, you could fish and ride a boat, but swimming is not allowed because the people there drink the water.

3) Camp

Some guides also provide for tent camping on Mount Batur. This usually means that people hike up in the afternoon, have dinner, stay in a tent overnight, and enjoy the sunrise and have breakfast.

You could also tent camp in the caldera area.

4) Cook on Mount Batur

This may surprise you, but the mountain is actually hot! Near the crest, steam comes out of vents in some places, and guides often bring things like fish from the lake, eggs, veggies, bananas, yams, and other foods to have a unique meal.

People can dig into the ground, place the food to cook for a couple of hours, and brew tea, coffee, and native chocolate drinks.

5) Enjoy a hot spring

In the large caldera area, there are numerous hot springs. Your guide could take you to favorite ones, or you could check into a spa. There are many such springs in Kintamani.

Suggested reading: How to Plan a 1–2-Week First Trip to Bali

3. How to Get to Mount Batur?

Mount Batur is easily accessible, within about 2 hours from most of the main tourist areas of Bali.

• From beach areas: The most popular beach areas of Uluwatu, Seminyak, Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, and Canggu, are about 90 minutes away from the base of Batur.
• From Denpasar and Denpasar Airport: About 90 minutes or less.
• From Ubud: The drive takes an hour or less.

4. Recommended Hiking Routes on Mount Batur

There are several routes that guides use to take hikers to the top of Mount Batur volcano.

1) Hike from Kintamani Village: Beginners and People Not in Shape

For a short and easy route, from Kintamani Village, you can be driven up to near the top of the mountain. From there, you need to walk a bit. This is the most popular and easiest walking route.

2) Start Near the Lake at Purajati: More Strenuous Longer Routes

Hiking on this route is an adventure in itself because it is strenuous, slightly dangerous, interesting, and very scenic. But a beginner hiker who's in shape can do it. Much of the trail is on volcanic ash.

The walk on the trail takes about 2 hours including breaks. In the early mornings, people use flashlights and headlamps.

It would be dangerous to be on the trail if it rains or a storm picks up. But the guides are very careful about checking the weather to avoid this happening.

Contact us to arrange an expert local guide for you, and depending on what you want to do (stay overnight, have a fresh meal cooked on top, etc.), your guide would provide the equipment, food, and drink.

Suggested reading: The Top 6 Hiking Places in Bali & Best Time to Hike

5. When is The Best Time to Go to Mount Batur?

If you are planning a trip to Mount Batur, be aware of Bali's seasons. The rains and storms of the rainy season get heavy about the month of October and continue until about April. Sometimes, the rain and fog are so dense, you cannot see any scenery, and during a heavy downpour, you would probably not want to be hiking.

August is the best hiking month: The best time to hike is the May–September dry season. The best month is probably August since it's the driest month when Bali only gets about 4 days of rain on average with a low average rainfall of about 3 cm (1 inch). It is also the coolest month of the year, though still 23–30°C (73–86°F) on average at sea level, which makes trekking easier if you go up when the sun is shining. There is no shade on the slopes.

Tourist crowds: August and July are the two busiest months for international tourism. So, if you go in the summer, be aware there probably will be others hiking up the trails with you. There is a shack on top where you can buy refreshments for a couple of dollars. It affords some protection from the weather too. These are also the busiest months for tourism, when most tourists like to hike up.

Suggested reading: Best (and Worst) Times to Visit Bali & When is the Rainy Season

6. What to Pack Before Visiting the Mount Batur?

Clothing for warmth: It's about 10°C (18°F) cooler on the top of Batur compared to sea level. Take some warmer clothing with you especially if you hike before dawn.

Clothing for hiking: Bring good hiking shoes, long trousers, socks, a sweater, a wind jacket, and an extra T-shirt. Don't forget to also pack a flashlight, sunscreen, water, and some snacks.

Learn about weather and seasonal travel in Bali.

Visiting Mount Batur with Asia Highlights

It is easier to have everything professionally arranged for you so that you can free to enjoy Bali and explore. To arrange a hiking tour, we can provide expert help and also inform you about other hiking highlights of Bali.

Contact us to begin an inquiry with your initial questions. Or start from one of our Bali tours or our Create My Trip link below.

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