Sunrise Was Beautiful. Not Again for a Long While. Sleep. Sleep for a While
The Mount Batur sunrise trek in Bali, Indonesia is a rewarding and magical way to start the solar day. Plus, sunrises in Bali don't get meliorate than this!
After a few weeks of beaches, palm copse and pond in Raja Ampat, Gili T and northern Bali, it was time to challenge myself.
While I wouldn't say I'm unfit, I'chiliad no gym bunny. I tried yoga once and was in hurting for a week! Oh and I'k pretty hazardous on two wheels. I'one thousand non bad at running, just frequently lack the motivation required to find my trainers, let lonely lace them upward!
So when I reached Bali, it was fourth dimension to terminate being so lazy and get the claret pumping once again.
Mt Batur (known in Indonesia as Gunung Batur) is an active volcano, and its peak is at 1717 metres. Due to high daytime temperatures the trekking tours all set off early in the morning, when y'all'll relish the added bonus of catching sunrise from the superlative.
READ MORE: Best Tours In Ubud, Bali
The Mount Batur trekking tour is offered on a few websites including GetYourGuide – a professional tour booking website, which I've used around the world. This is 1 of their nearly popular tours, and has over 1900 reviews giving it an average of 4.8 out of 5!
I knew this was the tour for me when I saw that information technology too included a relaxing stop at some hot springs later on the hike. A few other I looked at included a coffee plantation bout, merely I had a feeling my body would exist calling out for some thermal waters after what I was virtually to put it through. At that place are besides options of private tours if you lot want your own travel guide for the duration of the volcano hike.
After being picked upwards from our accommodation in Ubud at two.30am by an English language speaking driver, we travelled for effectually an hr to a hotel close to Mountain Batur, where we joined a grouping of around twenty people.
After a loving cup of coffee nosotros were given torches and started the walk to the base of the volcano. There were lots of people around, non merely from our tour group, also starting the ascent.
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Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking: The Rise
By this fourth dimension it was after 4am and we were told that sunrise would be around 6am – just ii hours to go! We realised that in order to reach the summit for the first rays we'd need to keep a pretty moderate pace.
Similar to my sunrise experience at Borobudur a few weeks earlier, it was a strange feeling starting the climb in the pitch black, non knowing what surrounded united states of america.
Local guide Adi was friendly, motivating, and stayed with us the whole way up. He was an splendid example of a responsible travel guide, and was passionate near the area he calls home. He climbs Mountain Batur every single solar day, so I figured nosotros were in pretty safe hands!
The commencement twenty minutes weren't likewise bad. The path weaved through a wood at a gentle gradient. It was nice and cool and we stopped regularly for a swig of h2o and a pep talk!
After a while the path became much steeper. Non only that, but it was slippery – the volcanic rubble hard to grip onto fifty-fifty in hiking boots.
At a whopping 5 ft 1, I'1000 not blessed with the tall gene, and at times I institute the leg extension really hard with the road beingness and then steep.
Every now and then I twisted effectually to see a beautiful deep orangish glow starting to form behind Mount Agung (another volcano nearby). There was as well a lovely lite shimmer across Lake Batur.
I knew that if I could make it to the summit, this sunrise was going to exist really special.
With each step I became more and more than incoherent. My confront reddened until it was a bright shade of beetroot (thank god information technology was still dark and no one could see me!)
'This is much harder than I expected,' I thought, legs turning to jelly. The group split into sub-groups on the ascent, some wanting to race upwardly while others took a gentler step, less bothered virtually making it for sunrise.
It became a battle of mind over thing. My body was struggling and wanted to give upwardly, but my mind was going all the way.
"X minutes to the meridian," Adi shouted.
"Come on Chloe, yous can practice this," I responded, silently.
Mountain Batur Sunrise Trekking: The Meridian
When y'all reach the summit of Mountain Batur volcano there's a strange adrenaline that kicks in. You run across THAT view and you just know it was all worth information technology. Yous feel proud. It'southward so rewarding.
It's not even 6am and expect how much you've achieved!
You don't want to sit down downwardly. You don't want to go to sleep. You desire to hug everyone at the top. You want to dance effectually like a loony!
I looked effectually and couldn't believe it. The thick blanket of darkness was being replaced by glistening orangish and gold rays, bursting from the silhouette of Mount Agung.
In that location was a low mist hanging – chilling but magical. Lake Batur had a glassy untouched sheen. The view was spectacular, and fifty-fifty more than special than expected.
I'd seen photos earlier the twenty-four hour period trip, simply they didn't practice information technology justice. To stand there and look effectually at the panorama is something I'll never forget.
Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking: The Views
As each second ticked past the calorie-free inverse, illuminating more of the cute surroundings.
A few hundred people climb Mt Batur (Gunung Batur) each day, but different bout companies take dissimilar routes up (turns out our route was the hardest…!) and end at different parts of the summit. A friend of mine did the tour a few months afterwards and had a unlike experience, getting a motorbike upwardly some of the way – I was shocked!
Thankfully, information technology meant that our spot wasn't overrun with people and felt strangely calm. Everyone was only staring out, taking it all in.
Before long enough, the sun was high in the heaven and our English-speaking guide Adi was helping prep breakfast – boiled eggs cooked in the steam from the volcano!
They were served in a breakfast box with breadstuff and fruit. They were the nigh delicious boiled eggs I'd ever tasted – sprinkled with the sweet season of victory!
Joining us for breakfast, a few monkeys who were playing around the summit, no incertitude well fed on leftover breakfasts!
READ More: Ubud, Bali: The Ultimate Travel Guide
Mount Batur Sunrise Hike: The Descent
After several photos, we started the descent, following a completely different path to the way upwards.
The first half was on steep, slippery rubble. After bracing my legs for part of the route, I discovered it was much easier to run downwardly. The path continued dorsum through the forest and soon enough, nosotros were dorsum at our starting betoken.
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Mount Batur – Bali Trekking Bout: The Reward
Equally a treat, we rewarded ourselves with a soak at Toya Devasya hot springs. Located right on the lake, it was a spectacular spot to reverberate on our adventurous morn.
I'm and then glad I pushed myself to climb Mount Batur. It wasn't easy but it reminded me how important it is to challenge yourself every at present and so.
Despite the struggles on the way up, this Bali trekking tour was one of the highlights of my month in Indonesia, even more and so as I got to share it with 2 of my favourite people in the world. So what are you waiting for? Sign yourself up and become for it!
What a fizz it was to complete the Mount Batur Sunrise Trek . I hope you've plant this travel guide helpful. Yous can find out more virtually the bout, check prices and book here .
If yous'd rather skip the hot springs, yous could become for this option which includes a java plantation tour, or this selection which includes an incredible white h2o rafting trip too – perfect for run a risk lovers!
Tips For Climbing Mountain Batur At Sunrise
Wearable: Before the sun rises it's a bit chilly. I wore leggings, a sports vest and a zip upwards hoody, which was perfect for the conditions.
Footwear: I wore hiking shoes but proper trainers would too have been fine. You need decent foot support and grip so definitely no flip-flops or sandals.
Water: Our bout company gave us one bottle of water, merely I'd recommend taking 1 more.
Food: Breakfast was included with our tour, but conduct in mind this isn't until y'all accomplish the summit.
I ate a chocolate bar for energy on the style upward. I also took a few sweets to suck on. Whatsoever alibi for some sugar!
Toilets: Nope, they don't be on volcanoes then go before you lot kickoff the climb. You lot'll probably be pretty dehydrated so won't need it until yous get back after.
If not, then at least it's dark most of the way upwardly!
Fitness: I would honestly say that anyone could practice this if they really wanted to. Equally mentioned, our tour split into groups and so people could have it at their own stride.
Don't forget to bank check out all of my Bali travel blogs, which are packed full of travel tips to make the most of your time on the isle, including the best things to do, where to stay, as well as what to pack for your trip.
Best Hotels Nearly Mount Batur
Hotel pickups from Ubud and other towns in Bali happen very early in the morn, so if you want a niggling more than sleep, you lot may adopt to stay nearby.
Here are a few peachy options I establish that are all very close to Mountain Batur.
Volcano Terrace Bali – A small family run villa with breathtaking views, located simply nether 2 miles from Mount Batur. The gardens look cute overlooking Lake Batur beneath.
Rooms commencement at £21, a full bargain for how lovely it looks! Check latest prices hither.
Lakeview Hotel – 15 minutes drive from Mount Batur and with scenic views over Lake Batur, this is a great place to stay if you're planning to hike Mount Batur at sunrise.
I spotted double rooms for around £60, so it'south a good mid-range option. Check latest prices here.
Toya Devasya Hot Spring Health Resort – The smartest hotel in the region, this is where nosotros relaxed in the hot springs and pools after our sunrise hike. It really is a stunning place!
The accommodation is in private villas which have their own pools. It'southward a gorgeous place to stay if you're celebrating something special or want to splash the cash.
Rates start effectually £129 per night for a deluxe pool villa. Bank check latest prices here.
Batur Volcano Guesthouse – Simple guesthouse accommodation, simply over a mile from Mount Batur, with a small hot spring pool and mountain views. Very reasonable also, with a double starting around £27 per night.
In that location's also a 4-bed dorm which could exist a good option for solo travellers or groups of friends. Bank check latest prices here.
Still not found the right hotel for y'all? Search for other hotels near Mt Batur using the map below…
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Source: https://www.wanderlustchloe.com/mount-batur-sunrise-hike-bali/
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