So you’re in ok shape and you think doing the Mount Batur sunrise hike is no biggie, right?
Nope.
I’m not gonna lie – I do zero physical activity aside from taking the stairs at work and in my condo building. But I eat healthy and consider myself to be in relatively good shape.
Anyone who knows me knows I don’t like running, walking for long periods of time, or hiking.
But when I travel abroad, I make an effort to leave my lazy habits behind.
I walk. For hours. I’m up for any activity, even when it’s 40 degrees out. And I hike.
My husband and I decided to do the Mount Batur sunrise hike in Bali because it promised to offer one of the best sunrises we’ll likely ever experience. I honestly thought I could handle it with minor discomfort, but the 1717-meter volcano really kicked my ass.
I made it all the way up, though. I had to stop several times along the way to catch my breath, to regret my decision as well as my existence, but I made it in time for the sunrise.
And boy was it worth it.
Here’s everything you need to know before you sign up for the Mount Batur sunrise hike in Bali.
Who to book the Mount Batur sunrise hike with
There are a bunch of trekking agencies in Bali you can choose from.
We went with Bali Eco Trekking and it cost us USD $68 per person. We were very happy with our choice.
They picked us up from our hotel in Ubud at around 2:15am.
Once we arrived at the base of the volcano, they offered us a light breakfast at around 3am. Do NOT skip the breakfast – you need enough energy to climb the monster that is Mount Batur.
We also got a package that includes a visit to the natural hot springs + foot massage after the climb, and I highly recommend it.
The whole day, including trekking and relaxing at the hot springs, lasts about 12 hours.
What to bring
Climbing a volcano in the pitch-black at 4am requires some prepping.
Here’s what you need to bring with you to make your Mount Batur sunrise hike more enjoyable:
- Proper hiking shoes
- Hoodie
- T-shirt
- Pants/leggings
- Headlamp (if you don’t have this, they’ll give you a handheld flashlight)
- Bathing suit & towel (for the hot springs)
The ascent
You’ll start climbing the volcano at 4:00am and it takes about two hours to get to the top. Don’t be fooled by how short that sounds – you’ll be hiking uphill most of the way.
The reason why I recommend a headlamp instead of a handheld flashlight is because it is so much easier not to have to make an effort to illuminate your path the whole time. Trust me, it’s better just to concentrate on climbing.
Your guides will assist you the entire way up. There will be one at the front of the group and one at the back in case anyone falls behind.
The first part of the hike isn’t bad. You’re excited and you’re full of energy and the path isn’t sloped – yet.
We stopped every now and then to drink some water, but overall we were keeping up with the group and we were on track.
After about 30 minutes or so, the steep incline begins.
The volcanic rubble under your feet doesn’t help the cause, either. It gets slippery, and remember, you’re climbing in complete darkness, which isn’t ideal to say the least.
After about an hour or so, I started getting worried. My husband was doing ok – he trains at the gym three days a week.
The only things that kept me going were a) seeing that sunrise and b) not embarrassing myself in front of the rest of the group.
So we marched on, stopping for a quick rest and a swig of water every six minutes. Until we made it to the top.
The summit & sunrise
Reaching the summit of Mount Batur will make you forget about what you endured on the way up (sort of like childbirth!).
We reached the top minutes before sunrise. The horizon was a fiery orange, and we could see the rays of sunlight emerging from the distance.
I propped my iPhone on a rock and captured the sunrise using the timelapse feature. I can’t even describe how spectacular it was in real life.
There was a silence all around us as everyone gawked at what was unfolding before us.
We were all sweaty, out of breath, and pretty much looked like garbage – but the prize made it all worthwhile.
The descent
Once the sun had fully risen and we had finished eating the eggs we had cooked underground using the heat from the volcano (yep – that’s included in your package), we began the descent.
I know what you’re thinking – going down Mount Batur will be easier than climbing.
Yes and no.
It’ll be easier on your cardio, but it will be agonizing for your knees.
You can’t go too fast otherwise you’ll tumble down the volcano and die. So you need to go steady, using your feet and your knees to soften the descent whenever it gets too steep or too slippery.
But at least you’ll be descending when the sun’s out so you can see what’s ahead of you!
The hot springs
The hot springs are not too far from the base of the volcano. Your guides will drive you there.
And this is where you can just unwind and let the healing powers of the springs take care of you. You can also get a foot massage, which is exactly what you need after your climb.
Be prepared to be in total agony the next couple of days, especially if you don’t normally hike.
I could barely feel my legs.
But. It. Was. Worth. It. I promise.
