Bali: Climbing Mount Batur – Review & Guide

We were picked up at our hostel in Ubud around 2am. At around 4 a.m., after a small breakfast, we started. It is definitely advisable to take enough to drink and, above all, warm clothing, because there is a breeze or two up there.

It also doesn’t hurt to be able to change your sweaty clothes. Many ignored the warning about the warm clothes and got pretty cold up there. Sturdy shoes, at least running shoes, are a must. While there were a few tourists walking up there in flip flops, I would strongly advise against it. Simply because large parts of the path are on scree. At the beginning you walk on a fairly wide and paved path. But this gets narrower and narrower, at the end you have to climb up some small rocks.

The volcano is even still active. If you look closely at nature, you can also see very well where the lava flowed during the last eruption.

On the volcano you can cook your breakfast eggs in the steam of the volcano, which escapes from some places.

There are three tours of different lengths. We chose the middle one. In general, the ascent should not be underestimated. We were a group of four people and a very nice guide. Since we were all young, he set quite a pace. For people with a lack of fitness, the ascent is not recommended. And if you’re too slow, you’ll miss the sunrise.

If you look into the distance in the dark, you will first see what altitude meters are still “flowering” for you, as the other tourists are already climbing the volcano in single file. Anyone who has dreamed of a lonely trip will be quite disappointed at the parking lot at the latest.

However, the visitors are divided into really small groups, which was very good. At the first stop the view was awesome. There was a small wooden hut where everyone got a hot tea.

Unfortunately, it was quite cloudy when we climbed up, so we only saw the sun for a very short time after we had reached the top. But the ascent and the hardships were definitely worth it, the view was breathtaking.

After taking some photos and recovering, it was all downhill again. The further we went down, the warmer it got and the vegetation also became greener again.

On the way home we could have made a stop to try and buy the most expensive coffee in the world, coffee Luwak (coffee for cats). However, we were all so tired that we just wanted to go back to the hostel.

What to take with you if you want to make the climb:

• Solid Shoes
• Camera (a good camera is recommended due to the difficult lighting conditions)
• Change of Clothes
• Jacket
• Long Clothes
• Beverages
• Food (but you usually get eggs and bananas too)
• Flashlight (which you can also get, but it doesn’t hurt to be on the safe side)
• Tip

The trip can be booked from many places in Bali. We opted for the all-around carefree package with a guide and transport. This is recommended in my opinion, since the volcano is a bit remote and difficult to find in the dark. There are also no public buses going there.

The tour can also be booked online.

Finally, a few quick tips for your stay in Bali.

Our tour tips for Bali