Our 13 Favourite Things to Do in Kintamani, Bali [2026]

Kintamani is one of the most underrated regions in Bali. Like most people, we only knew it as the home of Mount Batur, the island's second-largest volcano. But after numerous visits, we realised there's so much more to do in Kintamani than just the iconic sunrise hike.

From soaking in natural hot springs and sipping local coffee in crater-edge cafes to adrenaline-fuelled jeep adventures and canoeing on Lake Batur, Kintamani has become one of our favourite areas of Bali for a scenic mountainous escape.

Based on our own stays, we've put together this ultimate guide to the top experiences and attractions in Kintamani you absolutely can't miss.

Map of Kintamani

Things To Do In Kintamani

1. Watch sunrise from the top of Mount Batur

Mount Batur, also known as Kintamani Volcano by some, is a large active volcano located at the centre of two calderas (large depressions caused by past eruptions) that make up much of the Kintamani region.

Watching the sunrise from the summit of Mount Batur is one of the most popular things to do in Kintamani, if not the whole of Bali, and the reason most people choose to visit the area.

There are two main ways to visit Mount Batur at sunrise: by hiking or by jeep. We've done both experiences and enjoyed them both in their own unique way.

The sunrise trek to the summit was more physically demanding, but also more rewarding. We did the trek with friends and a local guide (a guide is compulsory), and it took us roughly 2 hours to reach the summit.

Our hike started at 3am, allowing us to reach the summit around 5am, which was just in time to enjoy the entire sunrise with a breakfast egg sandwich and a coffee (supplied by the guide).

Standing on the volcano's peak, watching the fog roll across, and the sea of oranges and reds appear from the east, slowly revealing the views of Lake Batur and the landscape below, was truly an experience we'll never forget.

We're not the fittest of people, and we managed to complete the hike just fine - you only need a moderate level of fitness. But if hiking isn't for you, there's also the option to head up Mount Batur in a 4WD Jeep.

We recently tried the jeep tour too and found it very different from the trek, but it was a fantastic experience regardless. We still had to leave early (around 4am) to take the short ride halfway up the volcano, where our driver found a spot among a sea of other colourful jeeps.

We cosied up on the jeep's roof with a blanket and a coffee to watch the sun rise in front of us, and couldn’t help laughing at the endless stream of creative photo poses from our many neighbours.

2. Visit Kintamani's cafes with epic volcano views

You don’t have to climb the volcano to find epic views in Kintamani. Penelokan Main Road sits on the ridge of the steep crater overlooking Mount Batur and is packed with photogenic cafes, most of which have huge terraces and offer amazing views that span for miles on a clear day.

Sitting in a pretty crater-top cafe enjoying a coffee with views of the volcano is one of our absolute favourite things to do in Kintamani, and one of the main reasons we keep coming back. We end up discovering beautiful new cafes every time we visit.

Most cafes serve coffee made from locally grown Kintamani beans, often roasted right at the cafe, as well as juices, fresh pastries, and cakes. Some spots also have a more substantial all-day menu of Western and Indonesian dishes.

The majority of cafes open early in the morning for sunrise, but shut around 6:30-8pm when the evening chill sets in - it's in the mountains after all! We prefer to visit the cafes in the morning when the views are usually best.

Some of our favourite cafes in Kintamani are;

3. Spend an afternoon at O-Club

O-Club by Oculus is a new rooftop pool club in Kintamani with a large infinity pool and sweeping panoramic views across both Mount Batur and Lake Batur.

The modern pool club is part of Desa Oculus (our favourite hotel in Kintamani), but outside guests are also welcome to visit, with no minimum spend and towels provided free of charge.

We spent a full afternoon here relaxing on a daybed, enjoying drinks in the pool, and soaking in the incredible volcano views. The pool was slightly heated, which was nice with the cooler highland temperatures.

It wasn't busy when we visited, but there are only a handful of tables and daybeds, so you might want to book ahead just in case. They have a simple online booking system here.

4. Go canoeing on Batur Lake

Lake Batur is a volcanic crater lake sitting within the caldera of Mount Batur. The crescent-shaped lake is famous for its bright turquoise blue waters and is a popular fishing spot amongst local villagers.

While you can enjoy bird-eye views of the lake from the many surrounding vistas and villages, one of our favourite experiences was heading out onto the lake in a canoe to enjoy its natural beauty from up close.

We hired a two-person canoe from C Bali Canoeing for 150,000 IDR ⓘ for one hour. During our visit, we were the only people out on the huge lake, making it a unique and peaceful experience. An hour was enough time to row over to the floating Pura Segara Ulun temple (more below) and back.

The best time to go canoeing is between 9 and 11am, as strong winds in the afternoon can make it difficult to paddle on the lake. They won't hire out the canoes if the wind and currents are too strong, so it's best to go early to avoid disappointment.

5. Visit Kintamani's floating temple

Pura Segara Ulun Danu Batur is a peaceful floating temple on the edge of Lake Batur, accessible by a small bridge across the water. It's far less touristy than many other Balinese temples, especially the more famous floating temple in Bedugul.

Every time we've visited, we've been the only tourists here. We once even got to watch a local ceremony taking place at the temple. It's one of our favourite places to experience authentic Balinese Hindu culture away from the tourist crowds of the south.

The temple's picturesque position overlooking the lake and Mount Batur also makes it a fantastic spot for taking some beautiful photos, especially around sunrise and sunset.

As of our most recent visit, it was still completely free to visit Pura Segara Ulun Danu Batur. However, we did need to rent a sarong to enter, for which we gave a 20,000 IDR ⓘ donation each.

6. Soak in the natural hot springs

Located within a volcanic caldera, Kintamani is famous for its many natural hot springs. There are several spas where you can find man-made pools filled with spring water from the mountains and heated naturally by underground magma.

The warm, mineral-rich waters in the springs around Mount Batur are known for their relaxing and therapeutic properties. A soak in the hot springs is the perfect way to relax your muscles after an early morning hike up Mount Batur.

7. Go glamping in Kintamani

Kintamani is one of the few places in Bali where we'd recommend camping or glamping. Partially because the cool mountain air makes it bearable to sleep in a tent overnight. And partially because you won't find campsites anywhere else on the island with views this spectacular!

We've stayed at a few different campsites around Kintamani. Some sat on the crater rim overlooking the mountains, while others were located on the banks of Lake Batur.

Below are some of our favourite camp sites in Kintamani:

8. Take a Jeep or ATV adventure over the black lava fields

Kintamani's black lava fields are an unusual geological formation near the base of Mount Batur, produced after a minor volcanic eruption in 1968. A sea of hardened lava is covered in a thick layer of black sand, creating a unique otherworldly landscape.

The lava fields have now become a playground for adventure junkies, with 4WD jeep tours, ATV rides, and even dirt bike trips for experienced riders.

We briefly explored the lava fields by jeep as an add-on to our sunrise Mount Batur adventure. We visited the natural phenomenon and discovered some epic viewpoints and plenty of cool photo opportunities.

Next time, we'd love to explore the lava fields even more with an ATV experience, which lets you speed along narrow paths to discover lava formations. Most tours also include a stop at the Lava Ball lava tube cave, an unusual cave formation that Balinese people consider a holy place.

9. Learn about volcanic activity at the Batur Geopark Museum

Close to the many cafes on the crater's southern ridge, the Batur Geopark Museum is a large modern museum that showcases the geological, biological, and cultural diversity of Mount Batur and the surrounding area, which in 2012 was named Indonesia's first UNESCO Global Geopark.

The museum was a fascinating place to learn more about the Batur region and Bali's diverse natural landscapes. It told the story of the volcanic processes that have shaped the island over millions of years, with an impressive collection of volcanic rocks and fossils.

The Geopark Museum is open daily until 4pm (2pm on weekends) and is completely free to enter. We spent just under an hour exploring it all, but you could definitely spend longer here, depending on your interest in geology.

10. Visit Kintamani's main temple, Pura Ulun Danu Batur

Sitting on the crater ridge, Pura Ulun Danu Batur is the main temple in Kintamani and one of Bali's nine key directional temples that protect the island spiritually. It's dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess who controls water and irrigation.

Dating back to the 17th century, it's the second-largest temple complex in Bali, with 9 main temples and 285 shrines and pavilions, so there's plenty to see and explore inside the impressive site.

However, our experience of visiting Pura Ulun Danu Batur was not the best. Firstly, there was a ticket booth near the entrance, where we paid 50,000 IDR ⓘ to visit, which was supposed to include a free sarong rental. However, we were not given this sarong.

Instead, the women at the entrance kept trying (quite forcefully) to make us buy one for a high price. When we said no, they then said we had to pay to rent one, which we reluctantly did. We have since read many reviews of people having the same problem, with some saying they eventually got the free sarong after a lot of arguing.

Once inside the temple, a local guide was effectively forced on us, and we were expected to tip at the end despite receiving very little information from them.

Pura Ulun Danu Batur is a beautiful and culturally important Balinese temple. But the way tourists are treated at the entrance has made us put it low on this list of Kintamani attractions. If you do visit, be prepared for scams and gimmicks. Hopefully something will be done about it in the future.

11. Ride the rainbow slide at The Grand Lagunas

The Grand Lagunas is one of the more unusual tourist attractions in Kintamani. It's a small, outdoor adventure park in the jungle, with a tree-top climbing course, flying fox zip-line, ATVs, trampolines, photo-spots, and a rainbow slide.

While all the activities looked fun, we visited on a cloudy day during rainy season and didn't have long before the next downpour, so we decided to quickly try the rainbow slide. We grabbed some donut-shaped tubes and let the staff launch us down the hill. It was short and silly, but we still enjoyed ourselves.

If you're looking for a fun activity in Kintamani with kids, it could be worth doing the all-in-one pass and enjoying all the different attractions for a few hours.

12. Go cycling through scenic landscapes

Kintamani is one of the best places in Bali for cycling enthusiasts, with plenty of ways to enjoy the stunning landscapes by bike. You can rent your own mountain bike from C Bali Cycling (the same shop as canoe hire) and explore the region at your own pace.

For a quick and easy ride, we cycled east from the rental shop along the shores of Lake Batur. The route was mostly flat and relaxed, with stunning scenery and hardly any traffic (up until zone 7) - see the route here.

More experienced riders can try one of the longer and tougher Batur crater rim routes. You'll need to be pretty fit and have the best part of a day to complete these.

Another popular option is to take a guided cycling tour from Kintamani to Ubud. The 30km route is mostly downhill and takes you past many rice terraces and traditional villages. Most include a few stops to learn more about local Balinese culture and enjoy some drinks and snacks on the route.

13. Visit the region's organic farms

Kintamani is a major agricultural area in Bali. The rich volcanic soil is perfect for growing coffee beans, cocoa, and plenty of fresh fruit and veggies.

You'll find colourful local produce being sold and used all across the region. But the best way to experience it for yourself is to visit one of the many organic farms around Kintamani.

How To Get To Kintamani

Kintamani is located in the northeast of Bali. You can reach the region by bike or car in one hour from Ubud or around two hours from Canggu, Seminyak, or Kuta in the south.

The easiest way to travel to Kintamani is by renting your own bike. This gives you more freedom to explore the region once you arrive. Or you can hire a local driver to take you around.

Where To Stay In Kintamani

The best areas to stay in Kintamani are around the crater rim on the southeastern side of Mount Batur or on the western edge of Lake Batur.

Useful Things To Know When Visiting Kintamani