[TOPIC] 4 [Stats] N=60 | Source=../data/original/reviews.tab (1) We are non trekkers but do 2-3 times of 1-hour cardio exercise each week (cycling, swimming or zumba). We started the trek at abt 430am. After 1hr40mins later, we reached the sunrise viewing point of Mt Batur. Looking at the tones of red, then orange to feeling the heat of the sun against your skin... magnificent! Spent some time sitting on the benches enjoying the picturesque view while waiting for breakfast from the tour operator.\n\nAfter simple breakfast of boiled eggs, banana sandwich and hot coffee, we were shown the craters and holy cave.\n\nThe descent took slightly over 2 hours for us due to the slippery stones. The next days, our muscles ached. We felt there is a certain level of danger during the trek but we thought it was worth it! We recommend wearing appropriate attire (light jacket/rain coat) and footwear. (2) This is is historical place to visit in Bali. The volcano is amazing on a clear day. We managed to see it on a cloudy day. The viewpoint is great and u can take plenty of photos. We went with 2 children and they loved it as well. There is some seating available there where u can sit and enjoy the views. The souvenir markets here are also good to shop as cheap bargains available. (3) We didn't climb the 1717 meter high mountain but see it from afar while having our lunch at a restaurant. The restaurant serves buffet lunch and we picked one of the many tables facing the mountain. It was a magnificent view. We can see a few islands of green trees and plants by the mountain sides encircled by the hardened lava. Coupled with the cool temperature and fresh air, the scenery really refresh the tired body having been in the tour van for about 3 hour plus from Denpasar.\nThe ride itself offers a sight of rural Bali. The scenery changes like kaleidoscope from an area specializing in batik, to silver crafts, wood crafts, and paintings. Not hard to notice also is the plentiful 'puras' or temples along the road, either in public places or in privates residences.\nFor Muslim tourists/ travelers, a musolla is also available at Batuk Sari restaurant, where we have our lunch.\nWell worth visiting. (4) last year went there,just sat in a restaurant viewing Mt Batur,charming,I stayed for hours,cos heavy rain,and waited till the sky cleared up,worth a visit,will go again,maybe have a hiking (5) Though exhausting the sunrise trek to Mount Batur it totally worth it. We had booked kintamani tours who charged us USD35 per person for the trip. They picked us up from Seminiyak at 130am and the trek starts at around 4am so that you make it to the top by 6am beofre sunrise. The trek is steep and plain at times and totally a mountainous terrain therefore exhausting but the sunrise males up for it. On the hilltop we were served breakfast while we enjoyed the beautiful view. Beware of the monkeys up there who leave no stone unturned to have your breakfast. Do a favour to yourself and take this sunrise trek; its totally worth the effort.\n\nDress light and carry ample water with you. (6) I chose Mt. Batur for its beauty, reputation and calderas. I wasn't disappointed. The trip up from Sanur was rainy and quite miserable but as we turned the corner Mt Batur showed off its full glory. I am so glad I persisted.\n\nMy advice would be to persist on the trip to the volcano regardless of the weather. Be patient with the drive; it can be slow going especially during cremation season. The reward is worth the drive.\n\nWhen you arrive, take your time to enjoy the view. The volcano certainly has a temper which is visible from the lookout. (7) You have to go to kintamani as your tour destination when you come to Bali. Very nice view, volcano mountain, lake, green landscape, and enjoy the fresh air there...\nBut too many pushy hawkers, every time you will have someone approaching you & trying to sell something. They have to be arranged by the government... (8) The whole experience overall was amazing. But when I was going through the reviews before I did the tracking, it was mainly about climbing Mount Batur. What I actually found harder is going down the mountain!! Climbing the not require a fit person as you can take breaks throughout the climb, even if it was every 2 steps. But going down is dangerous as you can easily slide and fall down. Unfortunately we saw the sunrise for a few seconds until a cloud came in and covered the whole view, so you need to check the weather conditions online before booking your trip.\n\nMAKE SURE: you wear a right tracking shoes, don't carry heavy things with you, carry water, use the washroom before you start climbing as there isn't any washrooms on your way, get a jacket, cover your face with a scarf to avoid inhaling volcanic ash.\n\nIMP NOTE: There will be an earlier stop than the final one. If you couldn't take the first stage of the climb don't reach the peek, stay on the first view point. The last view point is very hard to climb and harder to go down (steep & slippery) (9) Recommend during they day it is nice. And definitely go at night to one of the bats to sit on a beanbag to relax with a drink. (10) Climbed Mt. Agung on 22Mar14 with a friend.\n\nWe hired a guide, started our walk at about 11:00pm from The Mother Temple of Besakih.\n\nIt was a long, arduous and horrendous climb.\n\nWe walked in the woods for about 4 hours to start with. Then terrain changed to become loose aggregates. The next section was rocky and steep. In total, it took us about 7-7.5 hours to reach the summit. Mind you we made lots of small breaks to drink and snack.\n\nIt was hard and required stamina and mental determination but you'd be rewarded when you reached the summit for the sunrise.\n\nThe view was simply mind blowing. You could even see the peak of Mt. Rinjani which is the highest mountain on the island of Lombok, east of Bali.\n\nA good pair of boots and warm clothing are a must. Bring plenty of water and some energy bars to keep you going.\n\nThis is definitely not a recreational hike.\n\nOur guide, Gede Darmayasa, is a native of Besakih. He's highly recommended, very friendly, honest and highly knowledgable.\n\nHe charges Rp. 800,000 for a group up to 4 people max. He can be contacted on (+62) 852 388 57937.\n\n (11) We have travelled to see mountain and lake Batur but we were stopped by 2local \guides\" who just didn't allow us to go further, shouting at us that we MUST pay, when we answered that we didn't need their services as guides because came to this area for hot springs and don't want to go up but just want to walk around one of these man started to push my husband , then ran for nearest bungalow and was back with a huge stick and started to wipe with the stick!!\nWe were just shocked and find no other way but to go away, all the way back from that point to hot spring (500 meters) he and his \"friend\" were following us on their motorbike just 2 meters behind shouting that we have to \"respect their rules\" and breaking that huge stick into pieces (most probably this was the way to show who is \" the king\" in this area)\n\nUnfortunately it really spoils the impression about whole 2weeks trip to Bali\nPs I use trip advisor for2years but usually don't write feedback (this one is the first one-unfortunately negative), but I just can not remain silent in this situation" (12) Hey guys, watch out when you climb down. The climb is not that difficult, but all the other tourists make it dangerous! \n\nI went there at sunset. Made a big bonfire and stayed for the night! Milkyway, Shooting stars, waves, Monkeys around. Amazing solo experience. \n\nOh...mind the waves. they took my fire and almost me at 3 am in the morning. So make sure you sleep close to the trees! There are is also a small cave. but i preferred the sky with the stars. :) (13) Unforgettable time hiking this giant- hike leaving 11PM arriving at the summit 6AM for sunrise. Hike wasnt as difficult as other volcanoes ive done - you are in forest for more than half of it, bring one hiking stick - not two. When you get on the rock, ti will be lighter and a bit less dangerous\n\nWhen the sun rises...wow...\n\nHike down - annoying and 6 hours again, ha....youll be nice and dirty by the end\n\nImpossible to do this without a guide. PM me for details (14) I booked the trekking tour with Bali Eco Cycling because they accommodate solo travelers well, all they need was a minimum of 4 individuals to start a tour.\n\nThe trek is at entry level for majority (maybe), but for me it was killing. However all that effort paid off when we got to the top (1717m above sea level). It was foggy initially, which did not allow us to watch the entire sunrise process. But once the fog started clearing... Unbelievable! This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Bali.\n\n*TIp: Go to the toilet before the trek. (15) One of the best excursion of our Indonesia trip. Trekking to Mount Batur to view sunrise was adventurous and super exhausting but it was once in lifetime experience.\n\nWe had chosen our anniversary date for the trek and it was the best choice ever made.\n\nTrekking is to Mount Batur requires decent stamina and some tough terrain specially last 4-5 Kms, so be prepared for the same (please note this trek is suitable even for children with 12 years and above but you need to be very careful while climbing)\n\nOnce you reach top you will have one of the best views of Sun, Mountain, Clouds and River, its absolute surreal\n\nAnd the best thing is boiling eggs in the natural heat coming out of holes of this volcanic mountain.\n\nIts highly recommended for trekkers and nature lovers. Ensure lot of water, stick and umbrella (your guide will definitely help but in case your travelling alone)\n\nWe had a superb guide for this trek (16) As others have described before, it is hard work especially if you are not too fit. In saying that, my level of fitness is not great so a slow and steady pace is not stressful and getting to the top gives you great satisfaction . The view is worth it . And climbing a volcano is a great story to go with it too! Our two guides were knowledgable and patient as we made our way up at our pace. We had a driver who organised it for our group of 5 and price was reasonable. Making our way to Ubud, the boys found a place to hire mountain bikes and guide and made their way through the villages downhill towards Ubud town. Would recommend both activity..... (17) Mount Batur is much easier than Mount Agung, about half the time and effort to reach the summit. Expect more crowd at the common areas for photo taking as well.\n\nAwesome view of the sunrise, crater, the villages at the foot of the volcano, as well as the black ash where the lava flowed. (18) We headed up at 4 AM. We did not encounter the harassing locals that others have mentioned. However we did use a local guide (Jordan) who we got through Good Bali Driver. We had been hearing from locals how cold it is on that way up. For perspective we are from Chicago and they are from Bali. I was pulling clothes off along the way. It might get a little cool once at the top and wait for the sunrise, but really its fine. You should be fit to attempt this. Several people looked exhausted early into this hike up.Our guide was telling people often turn around. We used flashlights and they were definitely need as this does turn into a rock scramble (good shoes a must). The hike up is a wonderful experience but it is very crowded and gets worse going down....think bottleneck. However just the experience, the view, the steam, the monkeys. Some idiot brought a drone, that sort of cut into the peacefulness. The clouds blocked the sun, but we knew it was out there, its was our 24th anniversary and a great way to celebrate it. (19) Yes it is a spectacular view if you can get to see it with all the aggressive sellers/hawkers up there. It cost to get there, then it cost to go up the volcano and it just keeps on costing. If you are on a budget be careful. The drive around the volcano and lake was well worth it. Oh Yeah and they charge to use the toilet and make sure you bring your own paper. The drive up the range to get to Mount Batur you will find plenty of monkey roaming freely and their are places where you can park. (20) Not sure if I would go again. After an hours drive at night time, you climb up with torches at 4.30 am. Reach up at 6 for sunrise. The walk back is 2 hours and boring , so not sure if I would want to to it again. The sunrise is also ok as I have seen better ones elsewhere. Dont pay more than 250k per head all up. (21) \nIt has been hard to see the changes Bali since my first trip in 1981. But this hike is Bali at its worst! It's a serious tourist trap and a total waste of time and money!\n\nThe actual hike can be challenging, and I if you choose to go I would advise you to read up on it so you know what you are getting into.\n\nI am an experienced hiker and would call this trail unsafe! Lots of loose rock and scree. So be sure to take your time on the way down!\n\nWe made it to the top before anyone else arrived and waited for an hour and a half for the sunrise. I knew it would be cold and was somewhat prepared, but the wind was strong so I took shelter in the cooking hut.\nWhen the sun finally did come up there must have been 300 people up there!\n\nAll ready for their Instagram selfies and radios blasting! Not my idea of a good time...\n\nI had my own guide so I was surprised when he wouldn't go when I said I was ready hike down to avoid the crowds. I could have insisted but luckily another guide shamed him into taking me.\n\nHis explanation as to why you have to hire a guide is because some Tourists died after getting lost.\nNow I tend to believe it's more organized Mafia than safety. (22) It was raining and very busy but still it was something that we couldn't miss.Bring some bananas and biscuits to feed them otherwise they will ignore you if food not involved.Watch your belongings,they can easily pinch your wallet :)Be aware of people offering help, they doing that for the money.It was very good experience ,we will come back again (23) We have followed some instructions from french baliblog to plan this small treck. We've been riped off !\nWe've paid 700,000 Rp each for a 1 hour transfer Ubud - Batur + guide.\nThe guide was speechless et not friendly.\nThis is a hike you can do on your own easily but the local guides will force you to hire them or to turn back (beeing eventually physically threatening)\n\nThe sunset is nice to see but there are so many tourists that it became too much.\n\nVisit it if you want to loose one day on your trip... (24) Even if you know, that you can climb on Mount Batur without guide, they don’t let you go. We wanted go at the morning, at 5am, but they stop us - six guys, not friendly at all, even oposite, I mean agresive guys, and no possibility to pass them. Entrence is 100.000 IDR per person for a reservetion, plus they wanted 300.000 IDR per person for a guide. Not professional, just guy from Village. If you are more then two people, you can find even cheaper guide. I meant if you want pay for easy trekk to top, from Láva hostel (the most easy way, 1hour 20min maximum). (25) I think everywhere I went in Bali this seemed like the one tour to do, and I'm very pleased I did it! Set off at 2am get to the volcano at 4am to begin the hike and you have one guide to 4 people, however I lost my guide within 5 minutes as it was pretty busy and dark - I would also recommend fantastic footwear as the ash at the top makes you slide everywhere and taking your own torch!\n\nLuckily even without a guide I made it to the top and had a fantastic clear view - it is a pretty difficult climb and I think the guides should split those who are beginners, intermediate etc into groups so you have the correct pace! Would recommend this to anyone who visits Bali (26) Mount and the Lake Batur are famous places of Bali. The view is amazing and there are a lot of tourists. One of the best place to take photos of nice landscape in Bali. Which made our experience even better. (27) Thia is not as easy as they say.. Really steep in the way up and very slippery way down.. around 3 hours walking for a distance of 8km... shoes, pants and jacket mandatory! (Really cold up there)\nOther than that the view is just amazing and is really worth it... (28) The sunrise trek to Mount Batur was one of our most powerful experiences in Bali. It took us 2 hours to climb, from 4am to 6am. Most of the way is quite steep, so it's not for everybody, yet plenty of people come every night/morning. You can't climb fast even if you like because there are human traffic jams. Having said that, being in a trail of people from all over the world, all climbing in the darkness with their flash lights, is an experience in itself, it felt like a pilgrimage to the sun... We had a young guide, a local girl who came with us. She didn't know much English but was very familiar with the trek so it was nice she was there. The sunrise was amazing and more than photos can convey. The clouds mixed up with the steam from the volcano. When they cleared up we could see the landscape until Lombok, more than 200 km away. You can feel the warmth of Earth like the planet's breathe in the chill of the morning. There were a lot of people and a lot of monkeys too, yet I felt the serenity of mighty Nature. The way down is less steep and much easier. It was the 1st time I climbed an active volcano, an experience I will never forget. (29) Most of the people who hike Mt Batur take a tour from Ubud but we decided to go all the way to Kintamani. We booked the sunrise trek at our hotel so let's be honest i think we could have gotten a better deal. Woke up at 3 and were on the site at 4am. We were only 4 in total. The guide had some flashlights for us, bottles of water and a breakfast for later. All we had to do was strarting the climb. Pretty funny in the dark, the first part is nothing compare to the second. You pull a good sweat, if you're in good shape you can do it easily, months of fried food got us a bit rusty but the guide made many spots for us to rest. You have to choice to spot at the first level to enjoy the sunrise, or the second but we decided to climb to the summit. And the little climb to the summit is a bit more difficult with a lot of small rocks and sand wich make the all thing slippery. It's a bit chilly up there even more after sweating so bring a little jacket and all you have to do is beeing proud of your accomplishment and enjoy the view who is breathtaking. Enjoy (30) If you are reasonably fit this is not a major hike, and it offers excellent views of the surrounding area. It is a steepish dome in the middle of a large caldera, with a lake as part of the caldera. There have been fairly frequent volcanic flows over the last century which are visible as different coloured lava streams. What is amazing is that 10,000 people live in the caldera where there is a live volcano. It seems to be playing with fire, so to speak. I did not make the early morning trek to get to the top by sunrise, but still got a clear view at mid-day. I would have been happy to do the hike without a guide, but doing so without knowing the lay of the land ahead of time is not easy. Once I knew where to go, there would have been no need for one. When I finished the hike, my guide took me to a resort that offered hot springs. They were very high priced so I went across the street where I had an excellent meal at low cost, and the proprietress took me a few houses over where there was a perfectly acceptable hot water pool for a fraction of the resort price. All in all, it was a excellent. I did it on a day trip from Candidasa, but it made for a long day due to the slowness of the traffic. (31) We had a great time hiking Mount Batur. Make sure you leave EARLY if you want to see the sunrise. We left Ubud around 2:00 am and got to the mountain at 3:00 am. That left us about a half hour to grab a quick drink (coffee, tea, whatever) before starting the hike. When we got to the top, we were a bit early for the sunrise still (it was about 5:00 am) so we entered this very kind lady's little hut where she had a fire going and made us hot cocoa and mie (ramen). The hike itself was tough, especially in the dark, but so worth it. The view was beautiful. The way back down is a bit slippery so be careful! Another tip: bring a jacket. It is COLD! (32) Been with a tour, the view was totally amazing! If you are in Bali you must go to see that amazing volcano as is not that expensive with a tour but you can also go if you rent a car (33) It's a nice place to visit and enjoy the scenic view of the mountain and lake. It is very windy and cold with the wind blowing. (34) Initially we planned to climb Gunung Agung, which is the highest mountain in Bali, after the Gunung Rinjani plan failed. But we were told by the tour agent that even though Gunung Batur doesn’t rival Gunung Agung in stature, but its accessibility and beauty are beatable especially the view of sunrise. So changed our mind and hike Gunung Batur instead.\n\nIt was about 2 hours drive from Sanur to Batur. 2 hours in the van at 1a.m. in the morning… what else can I do besides sleeping? Yup, I took a 2 hours nap in the car but couldn’t sleep at all as the van was too shaky. While doing nothing in the car, let me introduce to you the background of Gunung Batur.\n\n*******************************************************************************************\nHeight: 1,717 meter\nMajor jump-0ff: Toya Bungkah, Kedisan, Bali\nLLA: 8.242° S 115.375° E, 1717 MASL\nHours to summit: 3-4 hours (depend on your speed)\nSpecs: Minor climb, difficulty 5/10\nFeatures: Volcanic sand, night trek\n\n~~ Tour Guide Fees: ~~\nRp 370k per person (We got it cheaper than the prices offered in the brochures that we got from the airport).\n\nIt was an 8 hours hiking tour from 3a.m. to 12p.m. includes exploration of crater rim and the transportation.\n\nThe hike wasn’t difficult compare to some of the mountains in Malaysia. The only different is the ground is formed by the volcanic sand and rocks. The routes were very rocky that I kept tripped by the rocks. The volcanic sand and rocks add the difficulty to the hike as the route was slippery. At about 4a.m., when we were half way to the peak, we looked down to the mountain and saw many lights in the distance, each one a group coming up the mountain behind us along the trail we had just covered.\n\nAt the Summit\nFinally we reached summit at 5a.m. It was too early for the sunrise, as the sun only rises at 6a.m. There was a hut at the summit for resting and to serve drinks and food. I have to say that it was extremely freezing cold that it reminded me of the winter time in Jiu Zhai Gou. It wasn’t a good experience without bringing any jacket at all.\n\nThe sun was finally rising! The wind was so strong early in the morning that it was such a tortured experience to have to stand in the wind but we must defeat the coldness to fully admire the sunrise.\n\nHere we admired the sun slowly lighting the whole lake, caught glimpses of Gunung Rinjani, Gunung Abang and Gunung Agung.\n\nAfter the sunrise, we were ready to explore the crater rim and descent by another route. We stopped by at the crater to have our hard-boiled eggs as breakfast! The eggs were buried inside the steam hole.\n\nOn the way back we finally saw the trail for the first time as it was too dark to see anything during the night hike. The same sandy volcanic trail that we had to scramble! Some sections of the trail were too sandy and steep that we had to let ourselves free fell by letting our shoes slid down the sand for hundreds meters. It was really exciting and one of the coolest experience that we wouldn’t find other than volcano or desert.\n\nThis is one of the best hiking experience I have.\n\nYou might also visit http://www.travel-living-bliss.com/bali-day-3-mount-batur/ for more details and the photos taken. Hope it helps. (35) While on a tour yesterday, we visited Mount Batur and even though the day was overcast the views of the lake and volcano were splendid. There is a restaurant with a spectacular view well positioned next to the main road looking directly at the volcano and and their buffet is tasty. Given the unfortunate hit to the Balinese tourism sector because of the potential Mount Agung eruption, a threat still existing but downgraded, we hope visitors will still visit Bali to enjoy the incredible scenery, culture, adventurous activities and friendly people. (36) I absolutely loved this experience, highly recommend this to anyone who is willing to push their body to the limit for a payoff no words can describe.\nI read all these reviews, thought ok ok it's hard I get it.. Ok its cold, and ok ok i need proper footwear..\nWe decided to go anyway and we're not prepared like we thought we were.\nCan't stress enough the footwear you choose had better be a hiking shoe or boot with very good grip and get ready to put your body to the ULTIMATE test.\nIf you think your fine and all these warnings are just wimps or people that aren't fit....and because you go to the gym, crossfit or tough mudder competitions forget it because if your human it will test you. Trust me.\n\nBut don't let me talk you out of it. It's unreal and I wouldn't change it for anything. No pain no gain. And if you ever want to see beauty like that it won't come easy so get up there!\n\n-Bring hiking shoes with very good grip\n-Bring a walking stick (never used one before but saved my a$@)\n-will need warm clothes on top\n-book trip with wayan.idguides@gmail.com\n\nThe whole idguides team was unreal, so helpful and genuine but I gotta say Wayan widiyasa was the best possible guide\nwayan.idguides@gmail.com)\n\nI emailed him directly because of his raving reviews on these very posts before mine and knew he was good but he was amazing. Such a genuine kind hearted guy and after my girlfriend and I climbed we were so spent we had problems coming down safely. 7hours Wayan held my girlfriends hand, patiently making sure she always had her footing and was safe.\nWithout him she would have been in a bad spot coming down and with my body so exhausted it was tough for me to support anyone else's weight as well.\nHe single handedly made sure my girlfriend was totally safe not leaving her side once for a 7hour decent and I can't thank him enough for that not to mention the 20 other ways he exceeded (37) The top of Mount Batur is a must see when visiting Bali. The trek is a challenge but so worth the view (if the sky is clear). I Would recommend taking plenty of water as the trek is about just over 2h and even tho it is made at night it is still hot! Also don't forget a jacket as by the time you get to the top you are all sweaty and it is breezy up there. Breakfast up there wasn't great- just two hard boiled eggs with banana sandwiches, but your there for experience and the view. Take some nuts for the monkeys up and be careful whilst climbing- it can get very rocky and steep. (38) Overall the climb was worth it--especially if you're an active person. But there are a lot of people that climb at the same time in the morning to take advantage of the sun rise. I would have preferred to hike later in the day to the sunset sans the crowds. But still worth it. (39) If you are in Ubud I would highly recommend going on this trek. It was really easy, in fact it can be done alone (many blogs available online). The trek itself was not difficult at all, and the sunrise from the summit is worth the journey. If you are an avid trekker, I would advise you to ask your agency to take you all the way to the top of the summit. Most companies only go up till the higher view point and come back down which seems a bit silly to me with the summit being only another half hour away. The extra climb allows you to take a beautiful walk along the ridge, which I thought was definitely worth it since you are right there anyway! (40) This was definitely a formidable hike for an unfit clutz like myself. However, the view for sunrise was absolutely spectacular and 100% worth the effort. There's an alternative route back with some more stunning views, however, it is dangerous! Like, 'walk along a 1 foot wide ledge with straight drops down' sort of dangerous. (41) An amazing experience. We were taken to the base of the volcano to meet our wonderful hiking guide at 3am. We then set off for a 3 hour hike up the volcano in the dark and jeepers I am glad it was dark for when you get to the top and realise how steep the drop from the tiny path you just climbed it gave me butterflies!\nThe sunrise was worth all the physical exhaustion and the guides organised eggs and tea and toast for everyone. Sadly some people fed the monkeys which made them all start fighting which was upsetting but other than that I loved the experience. Our guide then showed us around the volcano - so beautiful to be out in the natural environment. We then set off on the descent back down, with the sun now up we could really enjoy the views and how far we had actually climbed. What an amazing adventure!\nMake sure you wear comfy clothes and sensible climbing shoes take water, hat and that sort of thing! (42) We booked this tour online via W/A through Ari ( +6281337443553 ), communication was smoothly and confirmed just couple of minutes. All my inquiry answered quickly and got special deal. Need to make sure you have a good health to do this trek. Also ensure you have right shoes, right flashlight and also trekking poles. Flashlight and trekking poles are provided with Ari, the path include stones on the sand all the way up and down. In the last half way get then more difficult it becomes in my opinion.\n\nOur guide is Ari, don’t know his full name but extremely excellent local guide! During on the way up you can make as many stops as you want, just ask Ari and he will give you time for relaxes or to catch the breath. The hike took us about 2 hours to the summit include several stops. The sunrise absolutely amazing, the landscape as well, we had up on the right man, Ari just amazing guide who take care entire your trip. When you get to the top you will realize that the view was absolutely worth it!\nThe descent take different way and it easier, one thing is that is bright so can enjoy the beautiful views all the way down. I and personally definite recommend this tour and Ari as well for everyone. (43) We had to leave Tulamben at 1AM to start the trek from the base car park at 2:30. The trek starts in steep jungle before progressing to even steeper scrambling over and climbing up rocks later on. Good walking boots help a lot. We were at the summit by 5:20AM, with about five 5 minute rests along the way. We are quite fit but by no means athletes.\n\nThe start is quite warm and humid but the top is cold and windy and requires sleeves. I wore thin trousers, a T-shirt and a light waterproof shell jacket which was just about enough to keep the cold winds off while waiting for sunrise at 6AM. We were the first back down by 7:50AM, but we were descending relatively quickly. 1.5 litre of water per person was about right. (44) I wanted to take a helicopter ride over Mount Batur but no-one in our family would join me so we hired a car and driver to take us there. The drive to get there from Kuta was long but interesting as you travel through the many villages and rice fields on the way before making the unassuming ascent to a scenic rim surrounding Mount Batur. Although not spewing lava or even sporting smoke from the epicentre, the scars from the last eruption a mere 2 years previous are still visible down the slopes of the rising monolith. We ate in a restaurant precariously perched atop of a ridge overlooking the mountain and surrounding area dotted with houses on the edge of an adjoining lake. I highly recommend visiting this area to not only view a real live volcano but to also witness the Balinese culture rarely seen nowadays in Kuta or Seminyak or even Ubud for that matter. (45) I was obsessed with the idea of going to Kintamani for a weekend and I finally got the chance to go there with my boyfriend. But I think it didn't live up to the expectations. Here are some tips and observations:\n\n1. Wear proper shoes - Mount Batur is very rocky, big chunks of rocks easily collapse and make you slip and fall and hurt your angkles.\n\n2. Entrance fee is a ripoff. Originally they charged us Rp. 350k per person but we bargained all the way to Rp. 235k per person. I've been to spectacular 3000 m high mountain in Indonesia which costs me Rp. 15.000-30.000.\n\n3. Bring a thick jacket or layers of clothes. It gets as low as 18 degrees celcius, especially when you drive a bike.\n\n4. Make sure you get a guide who knows his material, patient, and professional. We got a guide who answered \I don't know\" to everything, didn't assist me when I fell and looked like he was on a hurry to go home.\n\n5. Don't take it too lightly. It is only 1717 meters above seq level, but it's no easy hike. (And I'm experienced)\n\n6. Watch out for what they call \"calo\" or people who are there to rip you off. Use official guides and avoid tour packages as much as possible (unless you are doing the sunrise trekking).\n\nI consider it a letdown because for what it is, it's a ripoff. It should be 100k per person max and I've seen better views." (46) The hiking trip itself wasn’t hard at all. Anyone can do the trip. We had to walk in line. Too crowded for my taste. We had to go so slow that we couldn’t loose a sweat if we wanted to.\n\nIt’s possible to run up the mountain in 40 minutes, no problem. Starting height is about 1000m above sea level.\n\nWe were told that we couldn’t hike without a guide, but i can’t see the problem. The path was in good condition. My guess is that they says all that bullsh**, because of the money income.\n\nThe sunrise though, was magical. It was worth the trip, but will not do it again. (47) What a lovely temple to feel the energy and power. You should go early in the morning, otherwise it gets crowded.\nThe climb up can be difficult for the inexperienced walker, but it is well worth it. The view is magnificent on a clear day. (48) Had an excellent time trekking up Mt Batur. Our tour guide was amazing. He was very patient, knowledgeable and such a gentleman. Constantly making sure our group was doing ok and helping us up and over obstacles. The sunrise was amazing. Nothing but extraordinary! Our tour guide too the most beautiful photos of us. He knew all the iconic spots and how to get those photos for the gram. Highly recommend this tour :) (49) I keep the review short and let my pictures speak for itself. We went there two days ago, short way up long way down (paid 500.000 for 3pax), short way is very steep, partly tough and dangerous so be aware of it, that's not a walk in the Forrest. But managable with good shoes and good guide.\nOn the top weather is the main thing, check the hourly forecast on webpages to be sure you are going to see sunrise, check the cloudheights (viewpoint on 1700). To get on the top only needed if you want to say that you have been on the top, if not viewpoint one is very good (100m below summit) and you can enjoy the view.\nwe loved it, see the pics yourself (50) Thank you Trip Advisor. After reading the reviews about hiring a guide to hike up the sacred and beautiful Mt. Agung, I took the advice of contacting Wayan Dartha when I arrived in Bali. He immediately contacted me and in less than 24 hours we were hiking up the volcano. He is very personable and knowledgeable and provided snacks and water. We made it to the top for an amazing sunrise, and he made me the best breakfast I had on my entire vacation, including hot coffee. As for the difficulty in the hike, I will concur with others that this was one of the more challenging hikes I've had.The trip down was, by far, more difficult than up. Wayan was patient and guided me on the best way down possible. If you plan on going, bring good hiking shoes and a warm jacket/sweater and hiking poles (Wayan did provide a walking stick). Overall, the experience was breathtaking and I highly recommend this for the active traveller. (51) Not easy, foot will remind you later of treck.... But the most beautiful look & ecperience. Guide helpful- helped me to climb vulcono, told stories of real bali life. Guide made the best breakfest in my experience- boiled eggs from vulcano steam in 3minutes, and cooked bananas.\n\nThe treck takes many hours, but energy you loose you get back. And experience is worth it. (52) It's easy to go up there even at the really early morning/at night with a flashlight and the view from the top is overwhelming. You should do the trip in the really early morning to see the sunrise.\nBUT as I red the trekking mafia is on power there it's pretty sad that they let go 300 people or more at the same time to the top. Of course they want to charge money but I'm not sure if people are still comming if they read not so good things about this trip. Anyway they shouldn't allow so much people walk there at the same time. A lot of people feel and felt under presure to go faster because they didn't want to let the big crowd behind them wait and hurt thereselfs or give too much energy and feel pretty bad than.\nSo take care, maybe just in the lower season and you should be quite fit and have done some trekking before I think. (53) We were taken here as part of a day tour and it was a nice view of an active volcano next to a pretty lake. You can eat lunch at one of the cafes overlooking it but don't expect anything special for lunch (ours was a very average buffet) - you are paying for the view. Worth a look alongside Lake Batur, which is the biggest lake in Bali or so we were told. (54) It is unfair to critique a \view\" as that is exceptionally perspective-biased. Rather by stating what can be seen and by stating clearly my context, the reader may be better informed. Following a 100+ min hike, my wife and I arrived at the \"sunrise\" viewing point. The sun emerged at an acute angle vis-a-vis the viewing point, but was unfortunately clouded over. There is an option to climb to the real peak of Batur which would take another 30 mins more. But my wife, who should be considered as having lower than average fitness, seeing that she only does 20 min flat ground walks each day to and fro from work, would not have been able to make it when considering its steepness. Nonetheless, we enjoyed views of the sea, Mt Agung, and even Lombok from our view point. We enjoyed the entire expanse of Batur Lake, as well as the hardened lava from the last major eruption more than 150 years ago. For city dwellers that have little opportunity to get out, this was a treat. When booking the hike with an agency, my hunch is that there is little differentiating the experience between agencies as the actual guide works on a rotational basis managed centrally by the association and hired on a case by case basis, and not as an employee of the said agency. It would be good to confirm this with the agency that you book with first. While I booked my tour from overseas, there are any number of local agencies that you can book your tour from, at least from where I was based in (UBUD). Negotiating on prices is a must as I managed to get a discount off the listed price almost immediately having asked for it over email. Finally, while being hydrated is definitely useful, enterprising children will be selling refreshments on the mountain top at a premium, particularly on off-school days, but it is always lovely to interact and help them out. Do cater for at least 2 hrs to get from Mt Batur back to UBUD when doing time calculations." (55) The one thing in Bali I had never done in 30 trips was climb Mt Batur (the active volcano you see from Kintimani). SO, I decided it was about time I toughened up and did it....\n\nI was picked up from my accommodation at 12.30am and driven to Ubud where I met up with the rest of my small group (one couple and one other solo traveller). From there we drove to the base of the mountain and at about 4am we started climbing.\n\nThe mountain is 1720 above sea level and the start is very tame, just a small incline. About 40 minutes in it starts getting a little steeper but it is only about an hour in that you really start climbing properly. My fitness is above average (but still not the best!) and this was my first ever mountain climb. If I can give just ONE piece of advice, wear proper shoes! I was wearing old runners, which were ok until we got into some proper climbing and the rock got loose and wet from the altitude...slippery city!!\n\nThe climb took us about 1hr 45 minutes and we had about 15 minutes until sunrise. It truly is a magical experience standing at the summit waiting for sunrise. Words cannot do it justice and neither can he photo's. Sadly, the weather gods were not kind to us that morning and just as the sun started to rise, the clouds rolled in and totally enveloped us. Time for breakfast!\n\nA hot steamy mug of Bali kopi did the trick as it was freezing!! Tip #2, take a reasonably warm jacket! After a breakfast of a hard boiled eggs and a banana sandwich, we set off to try to see the crater and holy water spring. The fog was still really thick, so we started he descent. As we got to the rest point near the summit the cloud started lifting, so we walked but up to the crater to look at it properly. The moral of the story, should you do this climb is be patient for the cloud to lift. The view to the lake and valley below is magnificent (even if you miss sunrise!). Be warned though, this is not for those who don't like getting dirty, sweaty and NEED a bathroom.... This is back to nature in all it's glory so there are no conveniences or luxuries anywhere. Allow an entire day as by the time I got back to my accommodation it was about 1.40pm so it took a full 13 hours as I was the last one dropped off.\n\nI can highly recommend this climb and I will most likely do it again one day (with proper shoes and a warmer jacket). It is a great way to get outside your comfort zone and gives a great feeling of accomplishment and a decent workout too! :)\n\nThe company I used was Bali Success Tours, but there are plenty of tour groups to take you, which appear to be pretty much the same as is the case with most attractions in Bali. (56) Against the usual practice, our idea was to climb Mount Agung during the day. On one hand we wanted to get a proper night's sleep, on the other thought it would be much easier to enjoy the view in the day light. Although Wayan agreed to the proposal, he insisted on starting the trekking as soon as possible in the morning, given the complicated weather conditions in the afternoon (even a bit of rain makes the steep track very slippery and dangerous).\n\nThus, we started our ascent at 6 am, while most people were already enjoying the sunrise at the top of Agung. I would not say that the track is dangerous, but can be challenging for those not used to regular exercise. The way leads you straight up to the top, not through the typical curves and bends, so it's pretty energy consuming and often you need to use your hands for support. But if you are generally fit, you should have no problems to make it to the top. And it's definitely worth the effort - the view is spectacular and most importantly,the place is still not overcrowded with tourists! Just remember to take at least 1 litre of water.\n\nDuring the way up, Wayan adjusted his speed to ours and assisted us and helped us during the more difficult parts. All this while sharing his thoughts on a range of different and very interesting topics such as Indonesian politics, schooling, cultural diversity and other...which made the trekking very enjoyable and distracting especially at hard times :) Also, it needs to be said, that during all the trekking Wayan's number one priority was to ensure our safety, showing us where to go, indicating dangerous and slippery areas, as well as keeping close eye on the weather changes and the timing.\n\nIn the end, the whole trip took us 5.5h, we were able to enjoy the crater view on the top of the mountain and we made it down before the heavy rain-pour started. Nevertheless, on our way down thick clods begin to form, partially blocking the view. The truth is, we had already seen the view during the way up, but I can imagine that if you sacrifice one night's sleep, weather conditions in the morning should be even more inviting to appreciate the startling landscape.\n\nAll in all, we had an absolutely great time and a feeling that everything was under control at all time and with 0 risk involved. Wayan is a real professional and knows his stuff very well. On top, he is a great company too! I would definitely recommend his services and the Mount Agung experience to anyone that likes hiking type of adventures.\n\nFinally, I really appreciate Wayan's help to arrange our trekking trip to Mount Rinjani (Lombok) through his local contact in Rinjani National Park. A big thank you for that, Wayan! (57) Our guide never picked us up so never got the chance to climb the mountain. Be careful who you book with and never use Wayan idguides! (58) I went with Pineh Bali Tours. No complaints there. Pick up was about 20 mins late but that's standard in Bali. Driver was lovely, guide up the mountain good too. Very helpful.\nFew things tho - the trek is tough. I am physically fit and I found the last bit tough. You can do it in trainers but the last rocky then sandy bit can be difficult. You can do it - lots of people do - but expect to get your hands and maybe knees dirty from grappling up.\nOn the top it's really cold. You've just sweated up the mountain then you stand still. So you'll be cold. No question. And it's damp up that high too. Keep a hold of your egg if the breakfast is included. It'll keep you warm!!\nThe views are impressive but it's very crowded. Possibly a few hundred people at the one time. It's not an intimate setting.\nThe sun rise is awesome of course and although we got surrounded in clouds the view was spectacular.\nI'm not sure if I'd recommend it tho. There will be lots of nice places to watch sunrise. I'm not sure hiking the volcano with 200 other people was worth it? (59) My wife and I did the Batur caldera climb, and it was well worth it. She was a little nervous on the way up, as it was pitch black and we were clambering up the side of the mountain! Not for the feint hearted. But when we got to the top the views were amazing! We spent around 45 minutes at the top and then took a different route down, to the lake at the bottom inside the crater, where we took a boat over to the other side. It was a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Bali. (60) An impressive volcano, surrounded by lava fields from 1963. The whole are is now green and the slopes are full of fields of tomatoes, onions, cucumbers and other vegetables. Next time worth a climb...