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

Bali is not just known as a surfing and beach destination but a hiking paradise. A lot of people want to try something totally new, so how about hiking to the top of a volcano, walking through one of the national parks, going to a waterfall, or hiking a trail on an islet off the coast of Bali?

The popular hiking places in Bali are mainly located in the central highlands and Nusa Penida. No matter you're seniors, families with small children, or young couple, you'll find a route that best suits your interests.

Here is our list of four adventurous nature hikes in Bali as well as two routes that are also scenic and memorable, but easier and quicker.

• Mount Batur (Easy to Moderate) - the most popular
• West Bali National Park (Easy to Moderate) - less crowded
• Mount Agung (Medium to Difficult) - the highest mountain in Bali
• Nusa Penida Hiking (Easy to Moderate) - hiking along the beach
• Campuhan Ridge Walk (Easy) - family-friendly route in Ubud
• Munduk Waterfall Trek (Easy) - full of waterfalls

1. Mount Batur Volcano (Easy to Moderate Hike) - The Most Popular

Batur is the most interesting mountain hike in Bali and the most popular, because it is hot at the top, and it is inside a huge scenic caldera that has the biggest lake in Bali in it, called Lake Batur.

People can actually cook in steam vents around the top of the volcano and have meals. Shacks have been built on top for tourists to rest and eat in. You can have freshly cooked food while seeing some of the best scenery in Bali.

Mount Batur has an elevation of 1,717 meters (5,633 feet), and it rises 686 meters above the adjacent Lake Batur. The caldera it is in measures 13.5 by 11 km (8 by 7 miles). Two nearby mountains, Mount Penulisan (1,745 m) and Mount Abang (2,153 m), are part of the outer rim of the caldera.

There are two ways to hike to the top: from the base or from mid-way up.

• Shorter and easier route: From Kintamani Village, you can be driven part of the way up the mountain. From there, you need to walk about 20 minutes. At the top, there are shacks, and you might be able to buy refreshments for 2 USD.
• Longer trails: Two trails start near the lake at Purajati. Depending on how fast you can ascend and how many times you take a break or do other things, it may take 90 minutes to more than 2 hours to reach the top. Many people like to do this longer hike at about 4 am so they can be at the top when the sun rises around 6 am. If you do the night hike or want to hike down after watching the sunset, bring flashlights and/or headlamps.

You need to go with a guide: Hiking without a guide is not allowed on the mountain, but we could help arrange for a guide during your tour. Contact us to arrange private transfers and an English-speaking guide for a worry-free trip.

Suggested reading: How to Visit Mount Batur in Bali and How to Plan a 1–2-Week First Trip to Bali

2. West Bali National Park (Easy to Moderate) - Less Crowded

Most tourists do not often go to west Bali, and the national park is at the far western tip of Bali, about a mile away from the island of Java. It is a good place to get away from crowds of tourists and be surrounded by tropical nature.

Like Mount Batur, you must be accompanied by a guide to hike on its trails. The price for a two-hour hike is about 120,000 IDR (7 or 8 USD). You also need to buy a park permit for a few dollars.

There are mainly 3 hiking routes in the West Bali National Park.

• Gunung Klatakan Trail: This is the most difficult trail and may take 8 hours to finish. You walk through jungle and then ascend Mount Klatakan.
• Tegal Bunder Trail: This is easier and takes about 1 or 2 hours.
• Prapat Agung Trail: This is an 11-kilometer (7-mile) trail out and back. It takes about 2 or 3 hours to hike. It goes to Prapat Agung beach, which is a white-sand beach. From there, you can see Java across the strait.

Local resorts: Waka Shorea and Menjangan Jungle & Beach Resort are resorts near the park.

Transport: West Bali National Park is about 2 hours 20 minutes from the airport with a direct drive.

Suggested reading: How to Plan a Trip to Singapore and Bali

3. Mount Agung (Medium to Difficult) - The Highest Mountain in Bali

Mount Agung is a challenge for hikers, but a lot of people who climb to the top think it is the best hiking spot in Bali because of the difficulty, danger, solitude, and view.

It is the highest mountain in Bali with an elevation of 3,031 meters (9944 feet). The cone is very steep, but you might enjoy simply walking in the jungle at the base and walking on the lower slopes instead of going to the top.

There are three stages for the hike up. The first stage is through forest on a dirt path. It is physically demanding. The second stage is scrambling on boulders. The third stage is the most dangerous and steepest. It is so steep that people have to climb up on their hands and knees.

You might choose just to stop midway and enjoy the hike back down through the jungle. There are 3 points of entry, and depending on where you enter, the walk could take from 3 to 10 hours.

• Shortest route: 3 to 5 hours from Pasar Agung Temple. This route ends about 100 meters from the summit on a lower summit.
• Longest route: From the base, if you go all the way from Basakih Temple, walk through the jungle, walk and then scramble on all fours on hands and knees, the climb up might take you 7 hours. The trek starts at 1,700 meters above sea level. Beware of bad weather. The walk down is difficult as well because of the steepness and from being tired and may take about 5 hours. If you do this at night, people usually start this at about 11:00 pm or 12 pm to see the sunrise.

Caution: Be aware that the mountain might be officially closed to hiking because it erupted in 2019. It is a volcano that explodes during an eruption. It would also be dangerous to be on wet slopes. The best time to go is during the driest and warmest months such as July and August. Many people have altitude sickness too if they are not used to the altitude.

Transport: Road travel from Denpasar Airport to Mount Agung takes approximately 75 to 90 minutes. From Sanur, the ride is about 2 hours.

Guide: Unlike Mount Batur, you are not required to have a guide accompany you on your hike. The route is well marked. However, for safety, and for help in case of an emergency, you can hire a guide. We can arrange for a guide for you.

With Asia Highlights, you enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure (detail⇒).

4. Nusa Penida Hiking (Easy to Moderate) - Hiking along the Beach

Nusa Penida is one of the three little islands southwest of Bali that are tourist highlights. It is bigger than Nusa Lembongan and receives less tourists.

What makes it good for hiking is that the island is a wildlife refuge on land and in the sea. From some vantage points, such as Manta Point on the trail, you might see amazing sea creatures such as manta rays.

Nusa Penida is also known as one of the best diving areas in Indonesia, partly because you can get close to mantas and turtles. It has beaches, and you could also surf there, though the other two Nusa islets nearby provide better surfing. In short, Nusa Penida is great as a novel place to hike, with less tourism, and outdoor adventure all around you.

Transportation: Speedboats ferry travelers from Bali in about 30 or 40 minutes.

Suggested reading: Bali Honeymoon Trip Plan: Sample Itinerary, Romantic Experiences

5. Campuhan Ridge Walk (Easy) - Family-Friendly Route in Ubud

What has made this walk so popular is that it is a few minutes' walk from a main tourist street in Ubud that is the main tourist town of central Bali. It takes an hour and a half to walk the 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) up the ridge and back.

This is one of the most popular things for travellers to do while staying in Ubud. It is a path overlooking rice fields. The starting point is next to the Gunung Lebah Temple in Ubud.

When you arrive back, you get the added benefit of being close to Suweta Street where you can have street food and meals in restaurants.

Location: It is about 10 km (6 miles) south of the Tegalalang Rice Terraces and 10 km east of the Sangeh Monkey Forest.

Transport: The walking path is about half an hour away from Denpasar Airport.

6. Munduk Waterfall Trek (Easy) - Full of Waterfalls

This walk is a little more difficult than the Campuhan Ridge Walk. It is a 6-kilometer (4-mile) walk that can take three or four hours to get to the waterfall and return.

It is listed for people who want an easy and scenic walk through fields and to see nature. Munduk is on the north side of Bali, so fewer travellers go to this area, which is about 90 minutes from Denpasar and all the beaches near it. Munduk is also known for its big terraced fields and lakes.

It is called Red Coral Waterfall Trail. It goes between the Laangan Melanting Waterfall and Munduk Waterfall. Munduk is one of the top hiking areas in Bali, and this trail is one of the most popular ones. You can take a swimsuit and dip in and out of the multiple waterfalls on the way if going gets too hot.

The trek runs between the Laangan Melanting waterfall and Munduk Waterfall. You can walk the trail either way. The entrance fee is about 1 USD.

Transport: The waterfall is about 90 minutes from Denpasar Airport.

The Best Time to Hike in Bali

For all the hiking trails, it is best to go between May and early September before the rains of the rainy season pick up. Dry weather is especially important for the longer and more difficult trails. In July and August, there are only about 4 days of rain in the month, so those months are best for longer mountain hikes.

For more about Bali seasons, the weather in each month, and what is best to do in the wet season and the dry season, read: Best and Worst Times to Visit Bali.

Make Hiking Part of Your Bali Holiday with Asia Highlights!

We can help you design a wonderful tour in Bali and in parts of Asia doing what you want, provide a private driver, and make suitable arrangements for the conditions at the beaches and resorts.

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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