Not sure about you, but hiking to the top of an active volcano is my idea of a good adventure. On Bali there’s two such opportunities, Mount Batur and Mount Agung.
Mt. Batur is the easier one to tackle, taking less than half a day and costing less than $40 per person for a guide and round trip transportation to the mountain. Being able to summit a volcano in a single morning was impossible for me to pass up.
The goal was to reach the volcano’s summit in time to watch the sunrise. That meant getting picked up at 2 a.m. from my hotel in Ubud, arriving at the trailhead at 3:30, and following a steady pace uphill for two hours in the dark to reach our volcanic perch.
Once at the top we walked along the volcano’s rim, with steep drop offs on each side, to find a place to stop for the sunrise. As the morning light grew, the amazing view came into focus.
The sun rose over the Bali landscape with Mt Agung spewing smoke in the distance. Batur Lake filled the valley below and was surrounded by Balinese villages, agricultural fields, and low-hanging mist. Looking down into the volcano, there were steam vents sporadically emitting vapor clouds into the air. No doubt an amazing view I’ll never forget.
Now that it was light out, on the hike down you could actually see the trail and enjoy the great views. Our guide took us down a more aggressive route that included some slippery patches with loose shale and rock. Overall the hike wasn’t easy, but doable for anyone in moderately good fitness. At a lower elevation we re-entered a forest and passed the Pura Payogaan temple.
Having just summited a volcano, I was amazed to see that it was only 9:15 a.m. when I was returned to my hotel. A nice breakfast and a small nap was in short order, but still had an afternoon left to fill in another great day traveling.
Hiking a volcano was a one-time thing for me on this trip, but Indonesia is known for its many volcanoes. So many, in fact, that there are more active volcanoes here than in any other country in the world. Here’s a good guide for hiking more volcanos in Indonesia.
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