In a nutshell
- Mount Batur is one of the most iconic volcanoes on Bali — and watching the sunrise on Mount Batur is seriously one of the greatest highlights the island has to offer.
- You always hike Mount Batur as part of a guided tour. The ascent takes about 1.5 hours with around 500–600 meters of elevation gain. Our top pick: Sunrise Tour on Mount Batur.
- We did the Mount Batur sunrise trek ourselves and are sharing exactly what to expect — from the drive up to the view from the crater rim.
Mount Batur Volcano at a Glance
- Volcano: active
- Safety: Early warning systems are in place.
- Last eruption: 2000
- Elevation: 1,717 meters
- Elevation gain on the hike: approximately 500–600 meters
- Hike duration: approximately 1.5 hours one way
How Do You Hike Mount Batur?
You hike Mount Batur always with a guide — solo climbing isn’t allowed. You can have your guide entirely to yourself, or join a small group. This usually depends on whether you’re visiting during peak or off-peak season and which tour you book.
Most people tackle Mount Batur for either sunrise or sunset. The sunrise tour is by far the most popular. At sunset, the mountain is significantly less crowded.
There are countless tour operators available on GetYourGuide and on-site. If you’d rather skip the endless browsing, just book the sunrise tour we did on our road trip through Bali. We really loved it:
Book our sunrise tour to Mount Batur
You can make your own way there or arrange a pickup from your hotel in Bali. For self-drivers, the tour costs around 35 euros and kicks off at 3:30 AM at the parking lot.
With a transfer (from Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Sanur, or Ubud), it costs a bit more — around 70 euros — but also includes a visit to thermal springs and a coffee plantation. Pickups run between 1:30 and 2:30 AM depending on your location.
Whichever tour you choose, you’ll reach the summit somewhere around 4:30 to 5:30 AM. Sunrise falls between 5:30 and 6:30 AM depending on the time of year.
The one downside of sunrise tours: the Mount Batur sunrise trek is no longer an under-the-radar experience in Bali — it gets very crowded every morning. If you want to avoid that, the sunset tour is a solid alternative. It’s much quieter, though you’ll be hiking in the full heat of the day.
Book a sunset tour up Mount Batur
Our Experience with the Mount Batur Sunrise Tour
We booked our sunrise tour through GetYourGuide without a driver, which meant the hot springs weren’t included.
At the time, we were staying in Ubud at the Werkudara Guesthouse. If you’d prefer one of the coolest boutique hotels in Bali, check out The Studios or our other hotel recommendations for Ubud.
The evening before, we went to bed early to be well-rested. The next day, we were up and standing outside our accommodation at 1 AM.
Drive to Mount Batur
Right after getting up, we ordered a driver through the Grab app. It worked perfectly even at that hour, and the driver arrived around quarter past one.
On our next trip to Bali, though, we’d book the driver directly through the GetYourGuide tour. It’s much more convenient and you don’t have to stress about finding a ride in the middle of the night.
From Ubud, the drive to Mount Batur took about 2.5 hours. About half an hour before arrival, we were stopped and had to pay an additional entrance fee for the Geopark around Mount Batur (50,000 IDR, or about 3 euros per person). You skip this fee if you book a tour that includes a driver.
Hike up Mount Batur
We met our guide Wikan at the parking lot at the base of Mount Batur. He had headlamps, water, and hiking poles ready for us — that’s standard with all tours. The hiking pole was just a bamboo stick, but honestly better than nothing.
From the parking lot, it’s about a fifteen-minute walk to the trailhead, and then the ascent begins. Our guide matched our pace perfectly and never pushed us too fast.
Every ten to fifteen minutes or so, we took a short break to catch our breath and drink some water. Along the trail, there were plenty of small kiosks selling drinks and snacks. We weren’t expecting that on a mountain hike, and it did make the whole thing feel pretty touristy — just so you know what to expect.
You’ll share the trail with plenty of other hikers and their guides. On top of that, Jeep tours up Mount Batur drop visitors off at roughly the halfway point. And there are motorcycle taxis you can book online or hire spontaneously on-site — they’ll ride you up the hiking trails on motorcycles to just below the summit.
The motorcycles also frequently pass the hiking groups, which gets a bit annoying when you have to step aside in the dark. Our guide did know a few shortcuts where none of them came through, which helped.
The trails vary quite a bit. Some sections are nice, well-worn footpaths, while others have you scrambling over lava rock or trudging through a mix of sand and ash that’s pretty slippery.
Sunrise on Mount Batur
We reached the summit about 20 to 30 minutes before sunrise. Our guide Wikan then put together a complimentary breakfast for us: banana toast, mandarins, energy bars, eggs, and tea. We ate while watching the sky start to change color, with more and more people gathering around us.
After breakfast, Wikan led us a little further back to a slightly quieter spot. He showed us where hot air escapes from the volcano and took photos of us — a really nice touch.
Unfortunately, the clouds rolled in during our sunrise. Apparently that’s pretty common up there. But it still ranks as one of the most memorable experiences in Bali for us.
Afterward, we headed back down via a different trail. On the descent, we had a gorgeous view of the landscape around the Mount Batur volcano and Lake Batur.
Can You Climb Mount Batur Without a Guide?
Unfortunately, climbing Mount Batur without a guide is not allowed. This rule has been enforced by the local community for several years now.
That said, a guide is also genuinely useful on a sunrise tour — you’d have a really hard time finding your way up in the dark on your own.
Our Packing List for Mount Batur
Here’s what we’d recommend packing to stay comfortable during the cool early morning hours and the sun after sunrise:
- Long, comfortable pants
- Shorts (in case you want to change after sunrise)
- Short-sleeve top
- (Sport) vest
- Sweater or jacket
- Rain jacket if needed
- Sturdy shoes
- Headband or beanie
- Cap, sunglasses, and sunscreen
- Water
- A few snacks
- Camera
- Some cash for restrooms, drinks, and snacks (and 50,000 IDR per person for the Geopark entrance fee if you book a tour without a driver)
- Headlamp and hiking pole (your guide will usually have both for you — double-check beforehand)
Frequently Asked Questions about Mount Batur Tours
How long does it take to hike up Mount Batur?
Plan on about 1.5 hours from the parking lot to the crater rim.
That said, it can go faster or slower depending on your pace and how many breaks you take. Your guide will adapt to your speed without any problem.
How strenuous is the Mount Batur hike?
It’s a solid workout, but also very manageable for people who don’t hike regularly.
We’d recommend it wholeheartedly. The Mount Batur volcano trek is one of the most memorable things you can do in Bali — you set your own pace and take breaks whenever you need them.
Is Mount Batur still active?
Yes, it is. But there’s no need to worry — early warning systems are in place that would give plenty of advance notice of any eruption.
Is it dangerous to climb Mount Batur?
Mount Batur is an active volcano, so eruptions are possible in principle.
The last eruption was back in 2000, and even then it was only small ash eruptions — no lava flow.
With early warning systems monitoring the volcano, you really don’t need to worry about it erupting while you’re on the trail.
How tall is Mount Batur?
The summit sits at 1,717 meters. During the hike, you’ll only climb approximately 500–600 meters of elevation from the trailhead.
