The 1.30am wake-up to start climbing at 3.30am is painful, but very much worth it. It’s approximately a 2 hour climb but best to make it in the dark whilst its coolest. The terrain is road and then rocky/sandy for the rest. The guides will provide flashlights to everyone and that is enough to make it up, feel free to bring your own as well if you prefer. Walking shoes are not a must, but trainers with grip are a minimum. The route down is a lot more sandy and very easy to skid/slip on, that happened multiple times to me. The views from the top at daybreak and then sunrise do make the trek worth it. This is a popular attraction running every day/night, so if taking a tour expect to be in a group of 10+ with 100 or so climbers ascending that very morning.

The mountain is majestic. We were also amaze by the lava site and the pine forest. Our tour guide explained the history of the place and drove us around in a jeep which was a great experience. You could hit him up on his Instagram @balijeep_adventure10

With a tourist guide visited the best view mounting Batur. lava volcano since 1963. I took picture in one view, there are the last frozen lavas from the rest of the vulcan. Is it possible use frozen lavas for organic plantation?

the hike to mt batur for sunrise is worth it. it is about 1.5h hike each way there are two tracks up and down mt batur that i know off: #1 short and steep, #2 long and gradual. we took #1 while going up and #2 while returning to base. during the hike up, the first section is paved road (but you may bypass it in a vehicle if you know the checkpoint officer), and the second section is volcanic dirt path it was a cloudy and misty day on the day of visit, so sunrise view was non-existent. however, luckily, the mist cleared and everyone up at the ridge cheered. we were rewarded with a gorgeous view of mt agung and abang against the lake backdrop about 15 min after sunrise, floating above a layer of clouds. so dont despair but stay patient if weather is not completely on your side. you will also see volcanic steam vents along the way. there is also an option to visit the hot springs after the hike. we did not do that but instead visited pura segara ulun danu batur. this temple shares a similar setting to pura ulun danu beratan but the temple at beratan is more impressive.

We walked with our guide from “balivolcanotrekking” from at around 4 am. It was a steep hike in the dark. When we arrived we had breakfast and waited for the sun. We were very cold even though we brought a sweater. But it was worth every bit! It was so beautiful. Our guide showed us where the gas from the volcano came out and we got to feed a monkey with our leftovers. The hike down was difficult and slippery - we fell several times. The lava pebbles roll when you walk. We wore trainers which was fine. There are a lot of people trying to sell something in your face when you are suffering and struggeling. We understand they have to make money but the peace you wish for combined with the view is not there. Our guide took us up early which we appreciated because there are a lot of people up there and we went in the low season. Bring warm clothes!!

The view was breath taking on a clear day and absolutely worth the trek. I notice you do not need a guide for this. I made a mistake of booking a guide, it was so expensive (400k pp) and he was literally in our way the whole time. He was also acting somewhat like a gangster and reeked of bad cigarette smell. He was not even helping us taking photos. Absolutely useless. I saw many people trekking without a guide but do not know how they did it without being stopped by the mountain mafia

Our guide, Lubak, guided us expertly up Mount Batur in Bali, Indonesia. His upbeat attitude made the climb enjoyable, and his photography skills captured unforgettable moments. Highly recommend for a fun and memorable trekking experience. His Instagram is lubak_mount_batur WhatsApp is +62 812 3841 8862

Did a group tour booked with Get Your Guide - I was picked up in Seminyak at 1:30am for a 2 hour drive to Mount Batur and and then a 2 hour hike to to the top. We were given lamps to wear on our head and walking poles as the ground was quite slippery after some rain. I am a fit and active 68 year old man but have to say the hike was far tougher than I was expecting- the trail is steep in places but after quite a few breaks I made it to the top. The weather wasn’t great with lots of mist and steam from the volcano which hid the sun rise but it was still worth it - it was a great experience and our tour included a visit to the local thermal spa to soak in the warm water afterwards

Beautiful scenery but very VERY crowded hike. It’s not too difficult a trek - 3km up and 3km back down, depending on the route taken - and early morning start (2am from Ubud) is worth it. The loose sandy trail can tough at times but the short distance balances it! The journey via private taxi can be painfully slow, the crowds are unavoidable and the chaotic nature of all the various competing “guides” but the smoking crater and awesome views out towards Lombok are fantastic.

We did the sunrise hike from the bottom carpark. Approx 9km return. Arranged a driver from Amed and a guide for the mountain. I would not trek this by myself or without a guide. There were so many different paths to choose from. Pay the money. It’s a challenging hike and very loose and slippery coming back. The sunrise was absolutely beautiful. I read other reviews about the ‘mafia’ of which I was worried about however i found everyone on the path very kind and accommodating. You’re in Asia - just abide by the rules, and pay the very cheap fee for a guide. I hope to do this again soon. It was a really beautiful and scenic walk. I took my 12 year old daughter and she loved it.