Mount Batur Sunrise Hike vs Jeep Tour (We Tried Both!)

Mount Batur may not be Bali's tallest volcano, but it's certainly the most famous. The huge mountain is one of the best sunrise spots on the island and a worthwhile addition to any Bali itinerary.

There are two main ways to experience sunrise from Mount Batur: hiking to the top or taking a jeep tour. We've done both, and in this guide, we'll share our experiences and photos that capture both the photogenic side and the 'real' experience.

Quick Summary

To be honest, we loved the Mount Batur sunrise hike and the jeep tour equally. We don't think you're missing out by choosing one over the other. But they are two very different experiences, so which one you'll enjoy most is a matter of personal preference.

The hiking trail runs up the southeast side of Batur, all the way to the summit, where you get to enjoy a panoramic sunrise view. It’s a moderate hike, taking us around 2 hours to reach the top. In some areas, the rocky terrain is a little loose, but anyone with moderate mobility and fitness should manage.

Meanwhile, the jeep paths run up the northern side of Batur to a completely different location. The jeeps don’t go right to the summit, but to one of the dedicated parking areas around halfway up the volcano.

While you don't get a panoramic view, it's still a beautiful sunrise spot, and you get to enjoy it while tucked up under a cosy blanket in a comfortable jeep.

In both cases, the photos can make it seem more secluded than reality. Sunrise from Mount Batur is one of the top things to do in Bali, so be prepared to share the experience with hundreds of other tourists. But as long as you know what to expect, both are still worth doing.

Whichever you do, be prepared for an early start. For trekking, you usually meet at the start point around 3am, whereas the jeep tours tend to meet at 4am. If you're staying in Ubud or the south, this could mean leaving your hotel as early as 1:30am. We've shared time estimates for each experience below.

Many packages include a hot springs visit as an optional add-on, which is the perfect way to relax after an early morning. The included springs are usually Toka Bungka, but we much prefer the newer Cinze Hot Springs - ask your driver if you'd like to change.

Most people visit Mount Batur as a day trip, but the area around the volcano (called Kintamani) is worth exploring. If you have time in your itinerary, we really recommend staying here for 1-2 nights.

We've tried several hotels around Kintamai, but our favourite is easily the gorgeous Desa Oculus. We've also listed our favourite things to do in our Kintamani guide.

Mount Batur Sunrise Hike

What To Expect

For our Mount Batur hike, we met our guide just before 3:00am at the start point near Toya Bungkah Village - although we spent at least half an hour drinking coffee and having a pre-hike snack before actually setting off.

With hundreds of hikers each day, the trail is well-trodden and easy to follow. Mount Batur has a 700m elevation gain from bottom to top, which took us just under 2 hours at a leisurely pace.

It's dark on the ascent, but we had headlamps and torches between the group, and the trail of other hikers in front helped guide us.

While most of the path is a dirt trail, some sections are loose gravel, which is a little unsteady on the way back down. We never felt like we were struggling, and we're not particularly fit people, so anyone with moderate mobility and fitness should be capable of doing the hike.

If you are finding it difficult, there are a few opportunities to hop on the back of a dirt bike with a local and ride to the summit for a small fee. One person from our group chose to do this, and we met her at the top.

We reached the summit with plenty of time to spare before sunset, leaving time to enjoy the classic Mount Batur breakfast of Bali coffee, a banana sandwich, and a boiled egg.

Around the top of the crater were several areas where we could feel the heat of the volcano through the surface. Our guide also showed us some fumaroles (natural vents) where hot gases were emitted through small openings - a great photo op!

During the trek, you follow a long trail of other hikers up the designated path. But once you reach the top, everyone spreads out fairly well, so it doesn't feel too overcrowded. If you're a keen hiker and would prefer to avoid the crowds, consider nearby Mount Abang or the more challenging Mount Agung.

How To Book

You should always do the Batur hike with a guide. Although it’s an easy trail and difficult to get lost, locals will charge you an “entrance fee” for visiting without a guide or force you to hire one on the spot; this costs far more than just booking a guide in advance.

If you have a private driver, they can organise everything for you. Alternatively, you can book a Mount Batur trekking package including hotel pick-up/drop-off from anywhere on the island, along with optional add-ons such as the hot springs.

If you have your own scooter or motorbike, book 'trekking-only' and you can meet them near the trail start point.

Hiking FAQs

Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour

What To Expect

Jeep tours take you up the northern side of Mount Batur to dedicated parking areas around halfway up. Although the view wasn't panoramic like the summit, the sunrise over Lake Batur with Mount Abang just behind and clouds rolling through the valley was just as stunning.

The jeep ride only takes around 20-30 minutes from the meeting point, but you still need to go early to secure a good parking spot. We met promptly at 4am as agreed with our guide, but the parking area was already getting full by the time we reached it, so don't be too late.

Each jeep can hold 2-3 people, depending on the size. Larger groups will need to travel in a convoy. Make sure you book together, as there are six identical parking areas across the volcano, and you can't be sure which one your guide will use.

The journey up is pretty bumpy with lots of sudden jolts and steep inclines. For us, it was a fun experience. But if you have back/neck problems, suffer from motion sickness, or are pregnant, it might be better to skip this activity.

Before setting off, we hired warm jackets for 50,000 IDR each at the meeting point. It's an open-top jeep, so we were grateful for these. We also hired a blanket, which isn't a must, but did make the experience more cosy.

After reaching the parking area, we still had an hour to spare before sunrise. This was a great chance to do some stargazing (we were lucky to have a clear morning) and get a head start on our included Mount Batur brekkie of coffee and banana sandwiches.

Don't be afraid to ask your guide to take photos. They do it every day, so they know all the good angles and camera tricks. Ours even had his own tripod to take some awesome long exposure shots of us in the dark.

After sunrise, you head back down to the main road, then around the black lava fields near the start of the trail on the southeast slope. With so many jeeps making the same journey, it takes around 40 minutes to get there.

The black lava fields are large sections of solidified lava from eruptions in the 60s and 70s, accessible only by 4x4.

Once you arrive, you can spend time enjoying the surreal landscape that feels like an alien planet and snap some cool photos with the jeep. We spent around 30 minutes there before heading back to the meeting point.

If you're an adrenaline seeker, a more exciting way to enjoy the black lava fields is by joining a black lava fields ATV tour or dirt bike experience.

How To Book

All jeep tours follow similar routes and itineraries, so it doesn't make much difference which company you use. We recommend comparing the prices and availability of jeep tours on Get Your Guide and seeing which works best for your pick-up location.

Every Batur jeep tour includes the black lava fields, but look for other inclusions/add-ons such as the hot springs.

Jeep Tour FAQs

Wet Season vs Dry Season

Whether you choose to hike or take a jeep tour, be mindful that you're never guaranteed a clear view from the top of Batur. That being said, it's less likely to be cloudy at the summit during the dry season (May - October) than in the wet season (November - April).

We’ve climbed Mount Batur a couple of times in the wet season and had completely different experiences. Below are two photos taken around the same time in the morning, in the same location, both during the wet season.

One day, we had perfect visibility, whereas the other was the complete opposite, where we couldn’t see further than a few metres. This did eventually improve a little, but it was nothing in comparison to the clear day

Unfortunately, there is no way of predicting the weather or cloud coverage ahead of time. You just have to take the gamble and hope for the best!