Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking: A Spiritual Journey
Have you been looking for the Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking? We’re Divinely Guided!
Bali has rapidly become one of the most popular destinations for travelers, holiday-makers and digital nomads alike. But there’s another name Bali is known by which is more appropriate for this article – The Island of the Gods.
Hey, we’re Sara and Ryan! We’re the full-time travelers and digital nomads that are the authors behind the travel blog Across Every Border.
Back at the end of 2021, we moved to Bali and called it our home for a full 18 months. Whilst exploring every inch of the island, we immersed ourselves in the local Balinese mythology and Hindu culture.
And it’s this unique culture that lends so much spirituality to the Island of the Gods and to places such as Mount Batur.
Ryan underwent the Mount Batur Sunrise trekking twice during our time in Bali. Now he’s going to share all of the information you’ll need to tackle the ascent yourself as well as the significance of the volcano in Balinese mythology!
What is Mount Batur?
Mount Batur is an active volcanoes, 1,717m on sea level found in a region of Bali called Kintamani. It sits inside a giant caldera that formed from a prehistoric 4,000m tall volcano.
The volcano stands proud overlooking Batur Lake and the surrounding farmlands and fishing local villages.
Batur is a stratovolcano that was formed in two major eruptions. The first eruption occurred 29,300 years ago and this giant explosion created the first caldera that the current volcanic cone sits in.
Then 20,150 years ago there was a second powerful eruption, which created the smaller caldera now seen at the peak of the cone.
The last recorded eruption of Mount Batur was only 24 years ago in the year 2000. But the last powerful eruption was in 1963, which created the surrounding black lava field you can see now.
Culturally, Mount Batur and the sacred lake beside it are significant in reference to two of the Balinese Hindu icons – Dewi Danu and Dewa Brahma.
Dewi Danu is also known as the Goddess of the Lake. In the Hindu religion, water is seen to be the purifier of sin and evil spirits. Therefore, large bodies of water like Batur Lake are paramount to a lot of Balinese ceremonies.
More noteworthy to Mt. Batur, it’s thought in Balinese mythology that the volcano is the resting place of Dewa Brahma. Brahma is the god of knowledge and is often depicted in the color red with a background of fire.
There are a few religious ceremonies that take place on Mt. Batur when local people provide lovely offerings to Dewa Brahma to aid in the balance between good and evil on the island.
Mount Batur Location
As we mentioned before, Mount Batur is found in the Kintamani department of Bali. But where is Kintamani?
The answer is in the north-east of the Island of the Gods. Besides the Mount Batur sunrise hike, Kintamani isn’t actually a particularly popular location in Bali to visit. Even trekkers only turn up at 4am to climb and leave after sunrise.
For Sara and I, this is what made Kintamani an amazing place for a weekend getaway from our home of Canggu. It offers some of the spectacular views in Bali, with Sara often stating that it reminds her of her home in Switzerland!
Due to the altitude, it’s also way cooler than the rest of the island at a healthy average of around 20°C.
The Legend of Mount Batur
There are actually two stories in Balinese mythology surrounding the formation of Mount Batur.
#A. Mount Batur: The Nail
The first starts with the Island of Bali floating around the Indian ocean of its own accord. That was until the gods on Mount Semeru (the main temple) decided to move the peak of the mountain to Bali.
To do this Dewa Benawang Nala became the peak of Semeru, Dewa Naga Tatsaka and Naga Besukih kept the mountain in one piece, while Dewa Ananta Boga carried the peak of Mt. Semeru all the way to Bali.
Upon arrival, the mountain was split into two pieces and pinned to the island. One part became Mt. Agung (the largest volcano on Bali) and the other became Mt. Batur.
Once in position, it’s these two mountains that pinned the Island of the Gods to the earth.
#B. Mount Batur: The Giant
The second folklore story is a bit less ethereal. It’s said that there was once a giant called Kebo Iwa. He was a friendly giant that shared the land with a village, helping them build houses and holy temples and helping with agriculture.
All Kebo Iwa asked for in return was food. But because he was a giant, he ate the same amount of food as 1000 people.
During a dry season, the villagers knew they wouldn’t be able to feed Kebo Iwa. And when Kebo Iwa wasn’t fed, he became angry and irate, destroying buildings and eating livestock. So the villagers formulated a plan.
One day, they asked Kebo Iwa to rebuild everything he had destroyed in return for food – and Kebo Iwa agreed.
On finishing the rebuild, Kebo Iwa started digging a well to find a water source. In the meantime, the villagers started collecting limestone under the guise that they would build a house for Kebo Iwa.
After many days the well became so deep that the people activated their plan and pushed Kebo Iwa into it. Then they tossed in the limestone mixed with water to bury the giant alive.
Not long after, water flowed up in the well and became a sacred Lake Batur and the displaced earth from the digging became Mount Batur.
How do I get to Mount Batur?
There are two main ways of getting to Mount Batur from other areas of the island: by car/scooter or by booking a tour.
#1. Making your own way to Mount Batur
Mount Batur is actually accessible pretty easily from most other areas in Bali. Even though public transport is almost non-existent, there are plenty of taxis and mototaxis available to help you reach your destination.
Depending where on the island you’re based, it’ll take you different amounts of time to reach Mt. Batur. Below is a list of all the information you might need to make sure you leave early enough to reach Batur for your trek.
Just bear in mind that the return journey will likely take longer due to Bali’s horrific traffic!
- Mt. Batur from Ubud: 1h15m / 41km
- Mt. Batur from Canggu: 2h / 69km
- Mt. Batur from Seminyak: 2h / 69km
- Mt. Batur from Amed: 2h15m / 77km
- Mt. Batur from Kuta: 2h / 79km
If you plan to take a taxi to Mount Batur, then we highly recommend booking one in advance. You can use apps like Grab or Gojek from a lot of areas like Ubud and Canggu, but it would be difficult to find one in Kintamani for your return journey.
The better alternative would be to hire a car or a scooter for yourself. Rentals are super affordable and a very flexible option for you to be able to explore other areas of the island too.
#2. Booking a Tour
Both times Ryan climbed Batur, he arranged everything himself and rode his own scooter. However, a much more best way to head on the Mount Batur Sunrise Trek is to book onto a tour operators.
Tours run from every major spot in Bali, including all of those mentioned above. They come with a driver to ferry you to Kintamani and back, as well as a guide to bring you up to the summit. A guide is compulsory for trekking Mt. Batur, by the way!
In addition, a lot of tours will stop at other areas on the way back from the trek too. You can expect to visit one of the many coffee shops along the edge of the mount batur caldera which boast BREATHTAKING views over Mt. Batur.
The chances are you’ll also get breakfast and lunch too!
🤩 Book your Mt Batur Sunrise Trekking
Mount Batur Hike Difficulty and Distance
To be prepared, it’s good to know about the hike before you try to tackle it. There are a few different routes up and down Mt. Batur that are favored by different guides, but they all take around the same time with the same level of difficulty.
Mount Batur Trekking Distance
One of the best things for newbie hikers is that you don’t have to hike up the entire 1,717m. In actuality, your driver will bring you to the starting point of the trek about 1,000m up.
Then doing the math correctly, you’ll notice that you have around 700m (2300ft) of elevation gain to climb, give or take a few depending on how high you actually want to go. This climb is over around 2km (1.24 miles), so it’s quite a steep ascent!
How long does it take to hike Mount Batur?
The first time Ryan climbed Batur, he was with some fairly fitter people (Ryan was a tad unfit at the time), and wheezing and puffing they made it to the summit in less than 45-minutes.
On the second ascent, it was a much more manageable pace with a few more breaks that took the group around 1h15m.
In general, most tours and guides will make you meet at the start of the hiking trail around 2-2.5h before sunrise. This way everybody makes it to the summit before the sun rises no matter your hiking ability!
What is the terrain like during Mount Batur Sunrise trekking and is it difficult?
The question of whether the Batur trek is difficult depends on what level of hiker you are. The ascent is genuinely quite relentless and there are no areas at all where the trail flattens out until the summit.
On top of that, apart from the first small section, you’re basically climbing up volcanic rocks. Very rarely you’ll reach a section that’s more like a path, but for the most part it’s like a constant stairmaster.
However, if you’re a keen hiker, or into fitness and exercise in any avenue, then you’ll probably breeze up the 700m elevation gain. You’ll sweat, but overall the climb isn’t as high or as long as places like the European Alps or the Andes mountain range.
On the flip side, if you’re not overly active, we would recommend bringing plenty of water and taking regular breaks. There are tons of areas where you can take away from the trail and recover.
So we’d recommend tackling the trail in 10-minute bursts and then taking a few minutes break.
Weather in Bali
Weather in Bali as a whole is usually pretty predictable. You have the dry season between May and October and the rainy season running between November and April.
However, just going by our experience, the rainy season has been quite elongated. We found the rain arrived in late October and ran all the way to the end of May.
This particular trend seems to be the case for a lot of Asian countries, so just be aware!
Weather in Kintamani
Kintamani, though, seems to have a climate of its own. Due to the higher altitude, this region of Bali can experience rain almost all year round. But understandably it is worse in the rainy season and better in the dry season.
Kintamani is also quite cold. Sara and I used to escape to Mt. Batur when we needed a break from Bali’s tropical sun.
If you’re planning the sunrise trek, then prepare for all weather conditions. Both times Ryan summited Mt. Batur it rained at least on the hike up. So sturdy boots for the rocky terrain, long pants and a waterproof jacket would be ideal!
But if you’re lucky, you could be gifted one of the best sunrise cloud inversions you’ll ever see in your life!
Oh, one last thing. If you plan to stay in Kintamani for a few nights, then prepare for the flies. They’re absolutely relentless!
What is the View Like from Mount Batur?
The view from the summit of Mount Batur is one of the best on the entire island. The only place you’re likely to find a better view is from the top of Mount Agung. But climbing Mount Agung is currently not allowed due to its volcanic activity.
From the top of the mountain, with clear weather, you’ll be treated to unobstructed views across all of Kintamani.
You can see Batur Lake in its entirety, spot Mount Agung and Mount Abang (Bali’s third tallest mountain) off in the distance and even see all the way to the ocean!
Not only that, but you can get an amazing look down into the second crater of Mount Batur. Don’t expect to see lava – it’s all mud and grass – but regardless, it’s cool to look at!
Where to Stay near Mount Batur
As we mentioned frequently, Mt. Batur is slap bang in the center of Kintamani. The best place to stay, especially if you plan on tackling the sunrise trek, is as close to the volcano as possible.
Luckily, we’ve stayed in Kintamani a handful of times now, as we love to visit even without climbing Batur.
Budget Hotel Options near Mount Batur
After so many stays, there’s an area with a cluster of guesthouses that we personally think work the best. As a bonus, due to the volcanic activity around, all of these hotels offer a hot spring too!
- Batur Volcano Guesthouse: $37/night
- Batur Pyramid Guesthouse: $41/night
- Bali Astetic Villa and Hot Spring: $48/night
All of the above are pretty standard guest houses offering a fair sized room with breakfast and hot spring. They’re all clustered in the same area – around a 10-minute drive from the trailhead – and we’ve stayed at them all!
Luxury Hotel Options near Mount Batur
If you’re looking for more “higher class” accommodation options in Kintamani, you’re most likely going to be looking for areas that are 20-minutes or more from the trailhead.
These options include hotels like:
- Lake Batur Cottage: $38/night
- Villa Lembah Damai by Pramana Villas: $73/night
- Volcano Terrace Bali: $95/night
Personal Experience on the Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking
Like we said, Ryan’s climbed Batur twice now. Both times have been pretty different lifetime experiences but overall the process of summiting Batur always offers a unique experience that’s difficult to find elsewhere.
The early morning start, the hike up in the dark and the subsequent sunrise all lend to an incredible memory that’s not soon to be forgotten.
In terms of additional tips, it’s good to pack water and light snacks but there are also some small shops at the summit offering reasonably priced noodles and drinks.
You will encounter wild dogs and monkeys on the mountain, but most are friendly… it’s just some of the monkeys you might have to keep an eye on!
Make sure that your guide takes you to a specific spot in the crater where it’s hot and steamy. At this point your tour guide can give you incense to blow into this pocket of steam which increases the amount of steam ten fold.
And finally, the route back down begins with a black sand section. At this point it’s kind of fun to run down and get a good chunk of the descent done quickly. Ryan certainly had a good time!
FAQs: Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking
What Else is There to Do Around Mt Batur?
Some of our favorite things to do around Mt. Batur were the jeep tour in the lava field, bathing in the locals natural hot springs around the surrounding area and visiting Pura Segara Ulun Danu Batur temple on the lake.
If you’re up for it, one super unique transformative experience is to either take a boat across Lake Batur or scooter around it to visit Trunyan Village. From the village we took a local boat around to Trunyan Cemetery. Here the locals don’t cremate their dead like most of Bali. Instead they cover them in blankets and leave them overground in bamboo cages to decompose. It’s said the scent from the local Banyan tree covers the smell of the rotting corpses.
It’s definitely an off the beaten path experience, but also one you won’t find in many places of the world. Just be prepared for mosquitos!
Finally, if you have access to your own transport, there’s an amazing viewpoint in Pinggan Village. It sits on the edge of the larger crater and offers a crazy view over Kintamani and Mount Batur.
Can I See Mount Batur Without the Crowds?
The short answer to this is no. Ryan was lucky to summit Mount Batur during COVID and managed to have the summit pretty much to himself.
These days, however, hundreds of people scale the sides of Mount Batur daily, making it pretty difficult to get any space for yourself for sunrise.
What Are the Spiritual Mountains in Bali?
The spiritual Bali’s mountains are Mount Batur and Mount Agung. It’s said that they were brought over from the peak Mount Semeru by the old gods.
Now they act as nails to keep the island of Bali from free floating around in the ocean.
What is the Spiritual Vortex in Bali?
A spiritual vortex is a place on earth where it’s believed that energy is either leaking out of the earth or being absorbed into it. Bali is widely considered to be one of these spiritual vortices.
This is likely due to the high levels of spirituality in the Balinese culture and that foreign tourists feel when visiting.
In addition, there are a total of six ley lines that pass through sacred sites in Bali.
What are Spiritual Places in Indonesia?
Indonesian mythology and folklore is deeply rooted in nature. Therefore most spiritual areas in the country are located at significant natural landmarks.
These could be volcanos, like Mount Batur, or large bodies of water such as lakes.
For example, Besakih Temple in Bali is known as the Mother Temple – it’s the largest Hindu temple on the island. Besakih Temple is actually located on the slopes of Mount Agung, the most sacred mountain in Bali.
Where Should You Go in Bali for Spirituality?
There are many best spots in Bali that people flock to to nurture their spirituality. A general location that those seeking spiritual experiences base in tends to be Ubud.
It’s the cultural center of Bali in the middle of a rainforest and offers tons of yoga and spiritual retreats.
Specifically, there are a few good places that are known to be spiritual locations to visit:
– Besakih Temple (the Mother Temple) – the largest Hindu temple in Bali.
– Tirta Empul – a temple where you can bath in the water and use the water to wash away any evils.
– Uluwatu Temple – a stunning cliffside temple and also an awesome place to catch the sunset and watch the traditional Kecak dance. It’s said that it’s here that the earth’s energy gets purified.
– Goa Gajah (the Elephant Cave) – a cave built into a rock on the slopes of Mount Agung.
Is There a Ban on Hiking in Bali?
No, not at all. You just need to be careful where you decide to hike. A lot of Bali is raw nature and jungle and getting lost wouldn’t be ideal.
Where main trails aren’t as easy to follow, we fully recommend hiring a local guide who knows the area better than you.
Wrap-Up: Is Mount Batur Worth Visiting?
If you’re planning a trip to Bali then we highly suggest visiting Mount Batur. It’s one of the most sacred places in Bali, in one of the most beautiful regions of the island.
The Batur sunrise trek can be a bit arduous, but people of all skill levels should be able to conquer it… even Ryan’s 55-year-old mom made it to the top!
Then once you’ve completed the trek, we really think it’s a great idea to stick around Kintamani and explore the area. The local communities are super welcoming, the drive around the lake is stunning and there are hidden temples to find.
Authors: Sara and Ryan
Hey, we’re Sara and Ryan, adventure travelers from Europe! We’ve been traveling together now for almost two years, and each of us started solo traveling many years before we met.
Sara is a vagabond from Switzerland that has covered most of south-east Asia and a good chunk of Central Asia too. Ryan grew up with the travel bug thanks to traveling with his school and family. He ventured into solo travel when he moved to Australia in 2018!
Together, we now run the travel blog and brand Across Every Border. This is a place that we love to share in depth travel guides and tips to the places we visit.
After 7 months of traveling through Latin America, we’re currently working on comprehensive Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, and Mexico guides. Soon we’ll be heading back to our favorite place in the world – south-east Asia – to start creating the best travel experience guides and budget travel tips we can!
So why follow along with us on the blog, or even better, catch realtime updates of our travels over on Instagram!
Sabiduri Planning Guide
🧘🏽♀️Where to find spiritual retreats around the World?
The good news is that they can be found in various locations, from secluded places in nature to bustling cities. Find your ideal retreat here!
🚑 Should you buy a travel insurance?
100% YES! — With basic coverage averaging just $50 for your stay, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from Travel SafetyWing, one of the biggest names in travel insurance.
🚗 Is it safe to rent a car around the World?
Yes — Renting a car is one of the best ways to see the country you find yourself in because public transportation cannot reach everywhere! I always rent with Discover Cars, which checks both international companies and local companies, so you get the best rates.
📴 Will my phone work abroad?
Maybe — It depends on your company, so check with your provider. If you don’t have a free service, buy a SIM Card once landed in the country.
🛌🏼 What’s the best way to book my accommodations?
For hotels, Booking is the best site, but for hostels, use Hostel World. If you’re considering Flats, don’t forget to also check Couchsurfing, which is free and you stay with locals.
🛩️ What’s the best site to buy flights?
For finding cheap flights, I recommend Kayak.
🛂 Do I need a visa for these destinations?
Likely Not — U.S., Canadian, and most European Passport holders don’t need a visa for most of destination around the World. BUT check here for more travel requirements. The majority of travelers will receive a 90-Day stamp Tourist Visa upon arrival.
