masterthesis-playground/raft/corpus_old/topic=4__part=031__n=60.txt

[TOPIC] 4
[Stats] N=60 | Source=../data/original/reviews.tab


(1) We had a lovely trip climbing to the rim of Mount Batur today. Our family consists of 3 boys 18,16 and 14 and parents 50 and 47. We left Candi beach resort at 1.30 am, arrived for start of treck at 4am, reached summit at 5.30. We walked up the steep route, not too slippy or difficult ( but in day light there would have been some sheer drops to see). We were given a large breakfast at top, eggs, bananas, cooked banana sandwiches, lychees, oranges, tea and coffee. Sunrise over Lombok was stunning. Since I don't like exposure and big drops the guide suggested the long route home, gentler and black sand - I needed walking poles, but then no problems. We called Jero as recommended here - he arranged taxi and local guides, Wayan was good, attentive and encouraging.
(2) My partner and I trekked Mount Batur with Bali Trekking Adventures and we had a great time thanks to our guide Mudi and driver Jero. The driver picked us up right on time and gave us a lot of tips. Our guide Mudi was very helpfull, he held my hand on difficult places, spoke very good English, and the most fantastic part is that Mudi was our private guide, for only the two of us. We were able to do it at our own pace.\n\nWe would strongly recommend Bali Trekking Adventures, en you should ask for driver Jero and guide Mudi.
(3) In July and August, hiking to the top is a nightmare. Most people here seem to do their first hike there, and you end up in a slow procession of tired people who should have stayed in their bed instead of spoiling the hike for the fit people who don't stop every meter... Easy hike, people who say otherwise shouldn't do it if they're not up to it. The summit is overcrowded too, which spoils again everything, and it's the same thing going down... A lot of hours wasted because of them.\nThe mafia guides is another Indonesian b*******. The guides are useless, you can do it on your own. Instead, you will be with a group of people slowing you down that you have to wait for all the time...\nThe view is good but not awesome. Not really worth a wake-up at 1.30 am. I should have gone with the more expensive ascent of Mount Agung, that would have been more rewarding.\nMy girlfriend climbed it in May 2013, there were very few people (around 30 at the top, and none on the trail). Difficult to imagine now...
(4) Hot springs in crater worth visiting. Entry to area 30,000 when you come from rice terraces. Mountain can be climbed with guide or in trip for sunrise views
(5) I was very unsure about my ability to do this climb as there are many different views as to whether this is challenging or not. I'm 40, 6ft, 10kgs overweight, moderate fitness and I found it challenging. If you are not used to climbing/walking inclines you need to prepare physically. Do dome practice climbs/stairs and you will be much better off. Bring a spare shirt as you will get drenched in your own sweat on the way to the summit and yes, the wind chill is harsh!\n\nNow that's been said, please note you will be rewarded with a spectacular view and great feeling of accomplishment! Many friendly co-climbers of all nationalities makes for a great vibe and the photo opportunities are endless. We had a great guide who added to the fun.\n\nBe prepared for the world's saddest egg sandwich and one hell of a sunrise!
(6) We took our 2 children aged 6 and 10 yrs.\nWe took them to Waterbom in kuta early the day before to wear them out, left mid afternoon, got an early dinner and got us all to bed before 8pm, as they had been staying up late throughout our trip.\nAt midnight we got up all in good spirits and left at 1am. We arranged a private driver who knows the tourist areas well, travelled for 2 hrs from Seminyak.\nOn arrival we paid a high price of 400’000 pp at the base but went with it. They also supplied lite jackets for us all at 30’000 each rental, which I recommend if you don’t have your own.\nWe packed 4 small water bottles, 4 energy drinks, 1 extra ltr of water (Not needed), a few energy bars and some packets of biscuits as I really didn’t think my two would be into eating the eggs and bananas at the top (I was right!!)\nWe all had at least 3-4 layers, put them on and had stripped them off bar 1 within the first half hr. (Tip: when removing clothing keep it in your bag to stay dry, not around your waist, any clothing you wear to the top will be damp with sweat and dew and becomes rapidly very cold!) We were comfortable on top where as most people were shaking. We all wore long trousers and trainers.\nSetting off at 3:30am we stopped at the first Warang at the base. Run by a great old lady who sells energy bars, and all drinks so we needn’t of worried so much. We enjoy supporting the locals we meet, however everyone else walked past her as it is so early on, but she is the only one before the top.\nIt took us 2 ½ hours to walk to the top, but we did it, our guide Wayan was terrific, once the terrain got steep with boulders etc he took our youngest and got another guide to take our eldest hand, this proved a necessity and was paramount to our successful hike.\nThe children did it very easily, both thoroughly enjoying the ease of which they did it in comparison to Mummy and Daddy, panting and taking a 2 min break every 5-10 mins behind them on the second half towards the top.\nOn the top we got a good seat and waited in anticipation!.... the cloud stayed with moments here and there where you could see the view. We stayed positive and patient and then it lifted to reveal a sight well worth the climb.\nI understand that the view is not guaranteed, and for us the climb was adventure enough, the children are so happy to be able to go home and tell their   that they climbed an active volcano! We saw steam vents, and stood at the craters edge – although it too was full of cloud.\nThe decent is slippery, as the volcanic rubble can be like marbles; the guides took our children down with ease giving us our hands free to maneuver the difficult paths. I’m not sure if tipping is regular, we did as we felt our guides had gone above and beyond their job.\nOnce back at the car we got our driver to take us to Toya Devasya natural hotsprings. It is 2 mins away, and you can pay to just use the pools as a visitor to the hotel, with showers, changing rooms and towels provided.\nThey have a wonderful environment below the volcano, over looking the lake, with two hot spring pools and a huge cold water swimming pool. The kids had a great time whilst we soothed our limbs in the springs and then had a wonderful poolside massage, with some drinks food available.\nSo pack your swimwear in your car, and make sure you do the spa. We stayed 2 hrs and felt the benefits enormously – it also gives you something to focus on when your body is aching towards the end of the descent.\nIn short, this is totally doable with children, we are not overly fit but in good health, and the spa just refreshes you for a lovely nap on your journey back home.\nWe are all thrilled we did it!!
(7) OK, so you've probably read other reviews on the guides being run by a mafia type set up, not letting you up the mountain without, and being physically violent. We weren't really ready for hassle of not getting a guide so we went ahead and got one:\n\nPRO'S\n* We didn't get beaten up by the Mafia\n* Took us to, and facilitated cooking an egg on the Volcano (steaming for 15 mins, bit like hard boiling) - this is a great story to be able to tell. You wouldn't be able to do this without a guide, because there are just a few steam holes, down a smaller track, with little signage.\n* Guide spoke good English, and after a while we chatted with him about his education, family etc, which gives you an insite into their lives\n* Told us about the last erruption\n* Took Photo's\n* Carried our bag, with drinks, food and camera - much appreciated\n\nThe fee you pay does seem high, but:\n* The guide does really only get a fraction of the fee - the Mafia / Government get the rest.\n* In the low season the guides still go to the mountain every day, and only a fraction of them get tours that day: no work = no pay, our guide said that in low season, he's lucky if he works one day a week, but he still turns up at the mountain everyday. So think that the fee that you pay may be all that is earned the entire week by that guide, and still he only gets a small cut of it.\n\nCONS\n* Apart from having to pay for one, there were no disadvantages to having a guide.\n\nTIPS\n* Take your own eggs, and bread for the egg cooking :-)\n* Take waterproofs, inc spare change of socks, the mist can make you wet, even if it doesn't rain.\n* If it's in the wet season the view won't be great unless the cloud clears. So if it's at all likely to be cloudy, you won't see the sunset - so don't bother getting up there for dawn, and walking in the dark. Wake up at a normal time, and if you're lucky the cloud will have cleared.
(8) I'm an experienced mountaineer, having climbed Mount Blanc, Kilimanjaro, Fuji. Mount Agung climb is a must do if you are fit and that you have sufficiently prepared it. I recommend a good guide, like ours Wayan Tegteg ( tegtegwayan@yahoo.co.id ). We found him via Lonelyplanet and from his 63 years old he is an experienced and great guide! The summit climb is probably very challenging but having been with someone else we climbed to the intermediate summit. It's already a nice climb, and by the time you end the trek you are tired ;-) Great views and a great Trek.
(9) We decided to do the Batur sunrise trekking and we got paired with an excellent guide and a small group of people (5 in total) as a group we had a good laugh and our guide was really fun and nice whilst making sure we stayed safe. The sunrise was beautiful to watch and we were taken to see the craters, monkeys etc. A word of warning - the trek is TOUGH i am a fit person who works out 5 times a week and have good cardio endurance and I struggled! We did so the trek in an hour and a half so would probably be easier if you took longer to get up but the walk is steep and only gets steeper the further you go! If you aren’t fit I wouldn’t advise to do it! We did manage to get a good price for the package of 400K IDR each which our car operator (Bali car/Bali quality tour) sorted for us and we weren’t hassled at all by anyone.
(10) Took a private tour as there were 7 of us. Started the hike around 330am and got to the summit before 530. The elevation was very gentle, so it would have taken us less time if there was no \traffic jam\" on the way. At the summit, hot beverage, bread and boiled eggs were served but none of them tasted very good. The sunrise was nice but because the hike wasn't difficult, it didn't feel as rewarding. We walked to the crater afterwards but there wasn't much to see apart from the monkeys. There is only one bathroom and it's located at the bottom of the mountain and it costs 10,000 Rp per person. We stay in Nusa Dua area so it took longer time to go to mount batur base than the hike itself. If you stay in ubud area or somewhere in north Bali, maybe it's worth going. But if you stay in an area that's far away from mount batur, there might be something better to do."
(11) I almost die climbing this Mount!!! But it was relly amazing. We had started at 2:30 a.m and whe arrived at the top at 5:30 a.m to watch the sunrise! In that day the sky was not good to watch the sunrise, but it was very nice at the same way. We had our breakfast there, it was bread with banana, cooked in the ashes of the vulcano, and salak (a kind of fruit) cooked there too. We loved it!
(12) It's intense! But so worth it!\n\nWe were picked up by a driver at 2am and got to the mountain by 4am where we met with our guide and started the ascend.\n\nThe 2 hour hike is pretty intense, lots of cardio so we were stopping a few times during it for water breaks. There is an option to walk halfway on an asphalt road (but it's longer) or climb right on the mountain, which is more intense but shorter distance. We did the first one.\n\nOnce you get there you'll be offered breakfast (if you booked with a guide) and be aware of the monkeys! They steal the food of unawared sleepy tourists, so look out and eat quickly haha Also, hold onto all your belongings, those monkeys are quick!\n\nYou can purchase hot tea/coffee on the top.\n\nYou start the descend whenever you want, usually people stay for about 2-3hours after the sun is up. The way down there is again, an option to walk the whole way or take a bike ride halfway down, your choice.\n\nTips:\n- bring a good flash light (your guide might also give you one)\n- bring a jacket, it gets hot during the hike but pretty cold up there before the sun fully rises\n- bring proper shoes! makes the hike so much easier and enjoyable\n- bring water, you will need it\n- sunscreen! once the sun is up it burns\n- bring a blanket if you wanna be cozy on the top/sit on something soft\n- bring a camera - the view is breathtaking\n- beware of the monkeys, they steal\n\nEnjoy!
(13) As a 1st time mountain climber, I would say its physically demanding but definitely manageable.\nOur tour picked us up at 2am and dropped us off midway for brekkie before heading to the foot of the mountain to start our ascend. Midway through the mountains the route got steeper and at some point of time I had to be on all fours to make my way up. Glad that I'm with a group of supportive   and a funny guide who not only ensure our safety but crack jokes along the way to make the whole trip less daunting.\nIt was a very cool achievement when we reached the top and we were rewarded with an absolutely amazing sunrise.! Breakfast was served at the peak as well but with lotsa mischievous monkeys stealing tourist's brekkie.!!\n\nAll in all its a pretty cool climb and the reward at the peak is worth the effort.!
(14) So I was told by a friend who lives there I have to do it so I did it. I got up at 1.30 in the morning to drive to the mountain from seminyak and then we start climbing around 4 am and made it up the mountain to the very top at 6, ready for sunrise. The hike is quiet steep in certain areas and hiking in the dark is an experience you don't wanna miss. Once you are at the top the exhausting pain that you experienced hiking up will disappear when you see the sunrise. In our case today it was cloudy but you can still see it and even the few moments of when a cloud gets you see it made it worth it. Definitely recommend it for a unique experience in Bali. Don't plan too much on the same day though, I was so tired to do anything else same day.
(15) Imagine...you are so close to a live/sleeping volcano! Getting so close to feel the cool hard rock-form of lava that this mountain erupt! It was a great moment looking at the top part from a top and safe side. Thanks to Bali tourism authority for this facility making this visit so easy for tourists.
(16) We stopped here as part of a temple viewing day trip from Ubud. It was raining quite hard so there were times we couldn't see much but when it cleared, a beautiful crater lake presented itself to us, causing many in the restaurant (decent buffet but not very good compared to hotel or resto food in Ubud) to leave their chairs to get a quick picture.\n\nThe scenery was very nice and made us wish we had more time in this area. It seems from other Trip Advisor reports, this might be a good place to spend a day or two if you like climbing moderate size mountains and lakes. There is a Danua Toba and Danua Maninjau (both in Sumatra) quality to it. It is a very worthy stop for lunch on a day trip from Ubud but would probably make an equally good feature stop for a 2-3 day excursion in Bali. On these bases, we highly recommend Mt. Batur and Lake Batur
(17) Here you will be in front of Lake and Volcano. The view was very beautiful and the weather was nice and cool. Best time to visit in the morning and dont forget to bring light jacket.
(18) 4 point review:\n- Mt Batur is an active volcano that last erupted many years back. Its 1700 m above sea level and a 2 hour 600 m trek to the summit from the starting point\n- The trek starts at 3 am where each group is introduced to their government licensed guide. The trek starts with fairly wide paths before narrowing to slightly steep paths with loose volcano rocks. For a novice like me, its quite a challenging trek!\n- The views at the summit are breathtaking and you are treated to a fresh breakfast including eggs boiled from the volcano smoke!\n- The guides are very friendly and the only point of bother are the hawkers constantly trying to sell you food and drinks
(19) We went to Mt. Batur today - we planned and booked this very last minute, so got a taxi driver to take us from Sanur (about $55 CDN for the whole day, including a trip to Ubud, and within Sanur).\n\nWe left just before lunch, and it took us about 1.5hrs to get there. We went to the caldera rim, where there are a bunch of restaurants overlooking the volcano. We wanted to get a good view of the volcano, and were directed to a restaurant's outdoor balcony area, where we looked at the volcano and got some pretty photos of both the volcano and the lake.\n\nSince we were there we also had a drink at the restaurant, and our kids had the buffet lunch. (it was expensive at about $15 cdn for adults and 1/2 price for kids - and a *very* limited selection for vegetarians). But they had good drinks! And our kids enjoyed the food. (it was 100% tourists at the restaurant) And it was nice and cool. We stopped sweating, but didn't need sweaters. Maybe 25 degrees.\n\nYou'll have a good view no matter where you sit, but we chose to sit outside for what we thought was the best view.\n\nSo, if you're looking to do a shorter trip to see the volcano, don't want to hike the volcano, or are unable, this might be a good option.\n\nOn the way back we stopped at the Tegalalang Rice Terrace (we stayed for 15 minutes with the other hoards of tourists), and Ubud, where we went to the market.
(20) We started from our hotel on the legion street at about 0130hrs and by approximately 0300hrs we started our trek.\nI must tell you the trek was not one of the easy one as the distance you cover and in the amount of time is no joke...its like we running to reach the top of the mountain in one and a half hour where we definately need around two and hour hour to 3hours.\nYou will loose breath...the start to the mountain is a decent trek but the last part of the #trek is hard and can get you a bit worried about your fittness levels.\n\nOnce you reach the top and the view from there of mount Agur and the clouds below along with lake will take your breath away and all the agony of the climb will disappear.\n\nComing back from the mountain is not very difficult we just took about 3 stops. But Is hould advice people doing this trek should wear proper shoe as in few places it is very very slipery and we had few incidents of slipping on this tour thank god the people were not hurt badly.\n\nOur tour guide Gidha for the trek was really great and very helpful. Special thanks to him.\n\nDifficult climb but views are amazing from top....its worth the pain.
(21) We elected for the camping option as we thought we'd be able to make it to the higher summit with a rest in between. Wayan picked us up from our villa in Seminyak at 12 noon and we got to the mountain by 2:30. Got to the campsite by 6 pm.\nThe conditions were very windy, and so sleeping there was very uncomfortable, and we got barely any rest. Our tent broke in the middle of the night, and Wayan moved us to his tent while he repaired the broken one.\nWe set off by 4 AM to the crater rim, as we were too tired to attempt the main peak. Had an excellent breakfast of roast banana's and coffee at the peak.\n\nThe climb was good and the sunrise and views were well worth the effort. The descent was brutal on the knees and toes.\n\nOverall, Wayan's guiding was very good and food cooked was excellent. Felt the camping was not fully worth it, but that was due to the unusual wind conditions which were out of control.\nTo be noted is that Wayan is one of the few guides that can take you to the actual summit via pasar agung: the rest claim that only the crater rim can be reached from this side.
(22) Mount Batur trekking was our highlight trip in Bali, its absolutely worth doing wake up around 1:30 am. Our trip arrange Jero who we found his name site on internet. The climb difficult need big effort to reach the summit. the descent mush difficult, very tough but luckily I have wonderful guide, he is Katuk Jero's uncle. You have to be very careful every single step to not fall down.\n\nThanks Jero for arrange my highlight trip in Bali, I will keep in touch you through your WhatsApp +6281904082208 and I definitely will recommend you and your uncle. Still a very great experience :) :) :)
(23) The view from the summit is just fabulous, especially after more than four hours climbing at night. You will need to be very fit to complete this trekking if you are no longer young. Don't try to save money by trekking yourself unless you are very experienced. Sometimes the track is dangerous, particularly if you don't have a guide at night. It it's not the traditional trekking many tourists would expect, no stairs at all. Pebble and vocano ash after pronged drought make the track very slippery.I would advise people to be prepared, bring your compression, mountain boots, and preferably a good quality trekking stick.
(24) It is lovely mount and the view was very beautiful. The food was very tasty. But with young children be careful as the restraurant are very open to the mountain. If not careful, they can drop from the cliff. Make sure it is not raining. Too many street sellers, who disturbed you a lot to buy things. Other than that, its a lovely place to visit.
(25) I read lots of reviews on here and my husband and I decided to do this trek. We are both in our early 30s and are fairly active at home but not regular hikers. We paid 400,000 IDR each and had a private tour guide pick us up from our hotel (if you're staying in the area Villa Jempana is a stunning place to stay). It was a 10 minute drive to the start of the path and although I'd read it can take 2 hours to get to the top we were at the top in just over an hour. The walk was tough and had us out of breath but not too bad really. Our guide was great and we had a couple of rests on the way up to catch our breath again. The first half of the walk is definitely tougher than the second half and like others have mentioned the motorbikes taking the less adventurous people up the volcano were really annoying. The fumes and noise of them we had to try and tune out, they should be banned!\nWe arrived at the top, had our banana sandwiches and boiled eggs given to us for breakfast by our guide and waited patiently for the sun to rise. We were in low season so luckily there were only a few hundred people at the top, our guide said that in high season this can easily reach 1000. But there was plenty of room at the top and we didn't feel overcrowded. There were some annoying drones at the top as apparently appreciating nature can't be done without the loud buzzing of a machine hovering above. After an hour at the top we part jogged, part walked back down again making it just over a 3 hour round trip. The views from the top were just stunning and made the trek more than worthwhile. For a private guide, food and those views I'd say this trip was inexpensive and a must do if you have the time.
(26) Absolutely brilliant experience. Well worth getting a guide as they can take you alternative routes and after all it is their livelihood! Would recommend doing the sun rise treck. An absolute must if visiting bali.
(27) Hired a car + driver, we had to get up at 1.30am and then drive 2 hours from Seminyak to close to Mount Batur. We were hassled to get a guide but in the end we climbed up by ourselves which even now we think was the right thing to do. It took about 2 hours to reach the top and you need a reasonable level of fitness to get there. Views were very good but we were unable to see Lombok because it was not a clear day. We stopped at one of the cafe's to rest and drink in the views.
(28) Moved at 1:30 am from our hotel in Nusa Dua and reached to car parking of mount Batur tracking point. Gang of local guides insisted us to hire a guide to climb up. We were not willing to hire a guide as they are asking 100 US Dollars. After negotiations we were agreed at 50 US Dollars. Although you can go up without guide just follow other people but local gang forced you to hire a guide. Be careful your taxi driver is also commission agent of them.\nEntrance ticket to Kitamani area is 33000 INDR.\nTrekking is not easy especially for those who are not use to to do it. With good stamina you can reach to the top around 2-2:30 hours.
(29) First up, there are several variations on this tour catering for what you want and how much you want to spend.\nYou can have a personal small group, +/- breakfast overlooking Kintamani, +/- visit to coffee plantation +/- walk around the full crater or budget larger groups. Details are on the pamphlets.\nOne of our group had a cold so we opted for budget through a local contact without the walk around the crater and skipped brekkie at Kintamani and the coffee thing (been there - done that). We still got tea and banana pancakes at “base camp” and a banana sandwich and boiled egg at the summit.\n\nThe climb itself is fairly straight forward apart from the last bit from the lower edge of the crater where the track is covered in volcanic sand which is slippery. So shoes with good grip are useful. You could also make it easier for yourself with a head torch but that is certainly not a requirement.\n\nThe view at the top is worth the effort and sunrise is beautiful up there. The total walk up and back is only 8km and only 615m of elevation gain from where you start (although Mt Batur is 1717m high, you start walking at about 1100m). So a decent background level of fitness would be plenty.\n\nI would definitely do it again - in fact, probably will. But next time we’ll pay the extra to walk the crater and just have a group of our own.
(30) We took a tour with one of the companies you find in Ubud streets. Local guide (highly recommended) took us traight up with couple of breaks on the way. Hard 4 hour climb from Agung temple started at 1 am. On the summit we made a small fire and just waited for the sunrise. Very good half day trip. Take some small breakfast with you.
(31) Strolling the streets of Sanur or Kuta, you'll see ads for sunrise climbs of Mt Agung alongside every other Bali tour imaginable. This is no glass bottom boat ride or gentle pedal through the rice paddies though. Agung is a proper mountain. You need to respect it, and come prepared. It is, however, well worth the effort. I've trekked in the Alps and the Himalayas, and climbing this mountain ranks pretty high amongst my favourite mountain experiences.\n\nPractically, the best way to climb the mountain is from Pasar Agung. The climb is tough, with some exposed scrambles near the top. This route takes you to the eastern edge of the crater, rather than to the actual summit. It takes about three hours each way and requires a high level of fitness and some mountain experience. It isn't dangerous though. The view into the crater from the top, and the sun rising over Mt Rinjani and the Lombok straight are spectacular.\n\nI climbed this way with Wayan Widi Yasa (wayan.idguides@gmail.com) in December 2014 and he was great. He is a really attentive and caring guide, without being patronising or overbearing. He also provides fascinating and thoughtful insight into Balinese culture, both contemporary and traditional. When not guiding tourists, Wayan farms on the slopes of the mountain. Being served a cup of coffee grown by my guide, and roasted by his mum was a particularly nice touch!\n\nThere is another route from Pura Besakih which is significantly longer, and much harder. Allow at least 6 hours each way. The bottom section is a fairly good path through forest. The mid section gets steeper and requires some scrambling at times. More scrambling is needed near the summit and there are some sections where a very narrow path follows the apex of a razor-back ridge. It isn't mountaineering, but there are certainly sections where a fall would spell disaster. If you are up to it, this is a more interesting climb than the Pasar Agung route, and the spectacular views in every direction from the summit are truly breathtaking. Peering down over the Batur crater really brings home just how enormous Mt Agung is. This is an awesome climb, but if you aren't up to 12 hours of continuous exertion, don't try it.
(32) Probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life! There is a shortcut track (which we did) and it is incredibly challenging. There is a lot of loose rock and steep inclines. Not sure if the other way is better but once you get near the top it’s extremely hard to get your footing. The guides are quite helpful but beware of those who try to help you as they ask for your money when you get to the top and for you to buy from them. We had no money with us so the guy got pretty annoyed....also there is a charge to use the toilets at the bottom. By the time we’d been up and half way back down, I really needed a wee, would be beneficial if they could install even a very basic toilet.\n\nWith all this said, it is totally worth the view when you get to the top!\n\nBe prepared for a difficult climb, but you won’t be the only one struggling so don’t feel embarrassed!
(33) We hired a transport and guide service from our homestay in Ubud. We found it to be a bit pricey (300 000rp per person) but we lacked time so it was simple for us to do it this way. It’s a very easy hike and packed with tourists. Yes the sunrise and the view over other volcanos are beautiful but there is nothing special to be seen that worth that much money. You could easily skip this activity if you are short on time when visiting Ubud.
(34) Great and calm experience. What a view on the Agung Volcano !!\nWe went in the morning without any tourist! This make this walk special and unique.\nGreat walk through the forest and amongst the monkeys. Top point of views even there are many many stairs ☺
(35) The day was nice and cool, but the clouds were in and out so the view of the top was not continuous. The vendors can be a bit 'aggressive', but stand your ground. The drive up and back was very enjoyable.
(36) Exhausting night trekking from 2AM to 6AM – worth every effort though. Impressive views, spiritual recharging.\n\nI did this – in my current view rather extreme – trekking with Yoko from Sidemen. He owns a warung (Dwi Mertha) and organises tours – either trekking in Sidemen or car transports or climbing tours or rafting or cooking classes. He probably does even more – this is at least what I know 🙂\n\nI booked the tour one day before – as I was waiting for him to have other customers as well in order for me to get a good price. And off we went … at 1AM from our house in Sideman.\n\nWe arrived at 2AM at the base of the mountain and quickly started the ascent after registering. And it was hard – up all the time, very steep. I was wondering how I would get down, as during the night it seemed so steep. We were stopping every 30 minutes for a 5-10 minutes break. During which we would lay down and look at the stars. Just stopping, being quiet and laying down on the rocks (I even felt asleep a couple of times), then continuing up. Quiet again, no-one was talking to no-one. We were just climbing forward.\n\nWe reached the top at 6AM for a brilliant sunrise. Quite a bunch of people there – maybe 30 to 50 in total. And freezing cold for me.\n\nBut after the sun rise and I had the warm coffee Yoko prepared… I started feeling good. I saw the faces of the people I was climbing up with – Yoko, Sarah and Michael. I started seeing the other people. We started talking. It was great, and I was feeling better and better.\n\nThe way down was rather pleasant, we were having conversations of kids, school, trekking, Bali holidays. Just chats. And in no-time (10AM) we were at the temple where we started from.\n\nAnother hour and at 11AM we were already in Sideman. With good memories and already having achieved something in that day.\n\nUseful info: make sure you have really good shoes – you will need them every step of the way! Then some warm clothes of course, a head light, enough water and sun cream for the way back from the top. Other than that – willingness to go all the way and trust it will worth it!
(37) It was my first climb up a mountain and I was glad to experience it at Mount Batur. I would not consider myself to be in the best of shape and yet I still found the climb somewhat bearable. Just keep to your own pace and stay consistent with it. The paths are really steep and rocky though, so watch your step. The guides were really helpful and they will be there to help you along the way. We reached just in time for the sunrise and it was all so surreal and rewarding after the long climb. The climb down was just as nice albeit slippery -- good hiking shoes is a plus. I would definitely recommend this and bring a camera!
(38) In our opinion, whatever the negatives, this is a MUST DO when in Bali. And there are negatives; the first being having to get out of bed at 1.30am to start the journey there. The next one is the 3 hour journey. The next one is on arrival at 4am and its like Picadilly Circus - 300 trekkers and many local guides who, incidentally you need to use. If you turn up and try to climb without a guide you will be made to feel unwelcome. Luckily, our villa driver did all the needfuls and we landed with a great 17 yr old guide called Putu. The walk starts at 4am in pitch black, in fact the whole climb is in darkness. I have to say, as a fairly seasoned hillwalker in Scotland, this was quite tough in the try early morning heat. Quite a bit of semi scrambling in places. There are '2 tops'; the 1st is a busy place with a small shop. The 2nd involves a further climb of 30 minutes which is on a bed of volcanic ash and quite steep. We did the usual cooking of eggs and bananas in the steam which is a good novelty. It is busy but its a good atmosphere and well worth the effort. Pity the day we went wasn't totally clear. It cost us 600K Rupees for the guide which I thought was well worth it, some think its excessive. We got down at 9.30 for the long drive home. The toilet facilities are woeful...
(39) My first mountain trekking was mount batur.\nSo i thought of doing something more adventurous to celebrate new year. Read the review here,and it ain't lying,\nIt is so very steep all the way up.i took wayan darta team,cos they are more experience on hiking mt agung.\nIm petite height 1.54cm and climbing it give me a little problem cause i have short legs.\nKetut from the team was so helpful.if its not him being my guide,i wont be reaching the peak..i start at 1130 and finish at 4pm...\nIm extremely exhausted going down and wish helicopter would fly me back down.\nAlong the way,to the peak,i also saw a group of japanese ladies all around age 55 to 65 doing the hike,\nThough they did not complete, they reach the first peak,amazing..\nI got inspired by them,and they give me the determination not to give up.\nDo not underestimate the berkasih route,i saw a lot of people turn back and give up.\nI highly recommend ketut cause he is very patience.
(40) I feel like this is my main goal going to Bali and I did it! Climbing this mountain wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. First up, we woke up at 1AM to be picked up at 2AM with a 2 hours journey to the trekking site.\n\nShortly after we got our guide, the trekking started. Kadet was an awesome guide that led us up the mountain and ensured our safety. We also get to have small breaks along the way up. I, personally do not find it extremely challenging, especially when you get to take breaks whenever you want.\n\nWhen we reached the top, our guide told us there is actually another peak which is another 30 minutes trek up. However, he told us that there are a lot of people up there and over here at the 1st base, we get to have a whole bench to ourselves so we chose to stay there.\n\nThe whole experience was amazing and breath-taking. The only down part is that there were too much clouds. We didn't get to see the actual sunrise because it was too misty and cloudy. Luckily, the clouds and mist faded away and we get to enjoy the view with the breakfast cooked by our guide. AWESOME! Warm banana sandwich and hard boiled eggs!\n\nI got to record down our journey to Mt Batur, so if you want to check it out just head to youtube @ Dion Ong, that's my chancel ! Cheers!
(41) Some recommend a guided tour to climb the old volcano. It is of course a more comfortable solution than doing it by yourself. The tour prices vary, from around 30 USD up to 200 USD. What the tour companies provide is basically the same: an early transportation in a minivan, and a guided walk uphill, some kind of breakfast and then back. All this can be done much cheaper by renting a scooter for around 6-10 USD per day, and driving it to the nearest point of the trail. From Ubud this takes 1-2 hours, depending on the traffic. At some point you might be stopped by some local people dressed in what looks like uniforms and asked for a pay of around 3-4 USD for a “permit and insurance”. This is a scam. Just drive. Don’t stop and try to argue with them because they have done the scam for years and are very convincing. When you reach the village in the bottom of the large crater, just follow the road to Mount Batur. At a crossing you should turn left and follow a smaller paved road to a trekking point. At this crossing you will be stopped by some local who demands another fee of around 10-15 USD per person for “a permit and a guide”, They will most certainly point at a sign which claims that a guide is mandatory. This is all fake. Just drive on. If you stop and argue with this people, the situation might get nasty and out of hands. Follow the road until it ends outside a Hindu temple, where you can park your scooter. There is a larger park nearby, but that park is crowded with the local “guides” who will scam you. About paying money to the local hustlers: some people consider this being aid to starving people. To me, it is just supporting corruption and paying money to gangsters in a dysfunctional country. On the western side of the temple, there is a trail uphill. Follow the trail. When reaching a high point, you will see a couple of empty buildings. Take a break, and keep on following the trail. Eventually you will have walked round the crater and will be descending to the temple, where you have parked your scooters. About climbing the mountain: it is not difficult and no mounting climbing experience is of course not needed. It can be somewhat exhausting, but by taking breaks, it can be done by untrained people. Once on the edge, the walk around the crater is easy. No special shoes is needed; we wore trainers, sandals and even flip flops.
(42) The view points offer great views of both the volcano and the lake. There are several hawkers around selling souvenirs and clothes at really cheap prices.
(43) Never go there!!!\n\nThe area is controlled by local tourist mafia, which which will spoil all the good impressions from the trip to this place and volcano. The guys are very agressive and seem ready to physically damage you if you want to climb the Batur on your own. Very bad experience!
(44) I got picked up at 2am from Ubud and we made our way to the base of the mountain. It was quite a long drive (about an hour). It is quite cold at the bottom and there are vendors trying to get you to buy a jacket, but no worries once you start climbing, you won't feel cold anymore.\n\nIt is relatively easy the first hour or so then it starts to get increasingly difficult. Especially near the top where it is all gravel and makes you slip and slide very easily. (very hard to get a firm footing). Climbing in the dark also makes it very difficult. You are given a torch (which can sometimes be very weak) so it is advisable to bring your own torch with adequate batteries.\n\nThe summit was beautiful though and the sunrise was amazing. There are always many people climbing up, so we shared the summit with about 20-30 other people. You can buy food and beverages on the summit as the tour guides will cook in one of the huts there. (it is pricey though! as it is a monopoly up there)\n\nThe climb down was less difficult but tiring non the less. It goes by an easier but much longer route.
(45) We chose to hike the volcano starting at 7am as we had a long drive from the south. It was wonderful to miss the crowds and be the only ones on the top of the volcano, enjoying the peaceful view unhindered by the 100's of people we passed climbing down the mountain who had arrived early to view sunrise. We enjoyed meeting the lovely lady who lives full time at the top of the volcano protected from the elements by a tiny hut. She provides drinks and snacks for the tired climbers. I recommend climbing to the top which is only a half hour longer than the first base. Bring a hat, water with electrolytes, and comfortable, supportive walking shoes. We wore runners which worked fine. The trail was loose because there has been no rain for a year.
(46) Even though it was the wrong day to watch the sunrise, the hike up was definitely worth every moment of my time. I am not the fittest of all, so this hike is definitely possible. However, I wouldn't recommend this to people who are afraid of heights or who doesn't exercise at all in her lifetime. I would say it isn't the average height with proper man-made steps. There are quite a few times we had to find the best way up so you wouldn't slip and fall.\n\nIf the sunrise didn't impress, I'm definitely sure the starry night sky would. If you come from the city like me where there are no visible stars around, this will definitely be one of a kind. Don't miss it for the world, you will definitely not regret it.\n\nI wouldn't recommend having the breakfast they provided as there are no toilets in the mountain. Had a stomachache on my way down and all I had was the bushes. So...... Good luck!
(47) Wake up at 230 am to get to the base by 4. You start trekking straight away with ur guide, who I found were quite attentive and helpful at the same time. It takes about 90mins to 2 hrs to reach the top. Last 50 mins is pretty steep however with breaks its not bad (considering I am poor physical fitness). Views and sunrise from the top are worth all the effort. Banana sandwich and boiled eggs do the breakfast at the top. Take a look at the steaming crater, lava overflow all around in the valley, and Mt Agung and Batur lake at a distance. I can strongly recommend to do this trek.
(48) I'm just sorry I didn't have the opportunity to go on the Sunrise trekking activity.\n\nI also woulfd have like to see the villlage ont he foot of Mount Batur famous for its Pura Tuluk Biyu's 1000 years old Rites of Peace.
(49) This was part of our mount Kilimani tour and we enjoyed the view with the lake on the right too but food was terrible.
(50) The view from the top at sunrise is really spectacular. You have can see Mt. Agung really well and in the distance you can see the mountains of Lombok and Java.\nI recommend you climb at night because you can do so in the relative coolness of the early morning and you don't want to miss the sunrise.\nYou really feel that you are climbing a real volcano: in places the ground is actually hot and steam rises from the ground. Some guides actually cook eggs for their guests in this steam.\n\nWe booked the trip to Mt Batur in our hotel in Ubud. I don't think it matters much where you book it. We got picked up at 2 am and reached the start of the climb around 3:30. We started the climb in a group of 12 guest and 3 local guides. After half of the climb one of the guides stayed with the slower guest who only wanted to go as far as sunset point. I had the feeling that at all times the guides knew where their guest were. This is easier said than done, considering that there are quite a few groups climbing the mountain and that it is really dark on the way up. I was really happy that I had brought a good LED head lamp with fresh batteries. When the light of one of the other guests faded, the guide even had a spare for her.\nTalking of equipment, I wouldn't try doing this tour in flip flops, but any running shoe etc. is good. Obviously it can be very windy on the summit, thus bringing a wind proof jacket and long pants is definitely advised.\n\nSome people visit the hot springs after the climb, but our group chose not to, because it is an extra 150 k per person. Instead we stopped at a luwak coffee place on the way back.
(51) Most people who choose to climb Mount Agung go only up to the crater rim via Pura Pasar Agung which is about 200m below the actual summit but still offers spectacular views of the sunrise and the vicinity. As the other reviews have pointed out, the crater rim trek is by no means an easy trek and you need to either have prior trekking experience or be physically fit to be able to enjoy it.\n\nIf you're doing the real summit, you can do it either via the Besakih Temple route or via the newly discovered / invented Pura Pasar Agung route. Both routes involve at least 5-6 hours of trekking on a relentless, unending incline all the way to the summit and the same duration on the way back down. If you're the casual trekker type, you're better off doing Mount Batur or attempting the crater rim trek if you're feeling adventurous. For the real summit trek, if you are not conditioned physically to climb mountains of this scale or haven't prepared for the climb beforehand, you're not going to make it to the summit. Or in the event you do, you will not be able to enjoy it. For a comparison, I found the overall experience of Mt. Agung to be tougher than Mt. Kinabalu and Mt. Rinjani as you have a lot more opportunities to rest and camp on Kinabalu and Rinjani where as Mount Agung is pretty much a 12 hour grind. A good way to prepare for the climb is by stair climbing and long distance running if you don't have similar mountains to practice on nearby.\n\nWarnings aside, this is probably the most rewarding activity that you can undertake in Bali. Apart from the joy of being able to complete the climb physically, the views you get from the mountain are unparalleled and will be etched in your memory for a long time. The different, vivid colours of sunrise, being able to see the ruggedness of the caldera of the volcano and just the sheer scale of it will humble you and make all the effort and pain you have to go through worth it.\n\nBetween Besakih and Pasar Agung routes, I would personally recommend the Pura Pasar Agung route as you get spectacular night-time views of Bali beyond 1900m where as you will still be trekking through the dark forest beyond 2200m via the Besakih route. If the weather is favourable like it was during my climb, you'll even get to glimpse the outline of the milkyway with thousands of bright stars! You can get to Pura Pasar Agung by yourself (on a motorcycle or rented car) as Google Maps GPS is pretty accurate all the way to the top. But do take into account that if you're riding / driving yourself, it'll take you 2.5 - 3 hours from Denpasar and still have the 12 hour trek to do before you ride / drive back. So a more comfortable option is to have yourself picked up through a guide arranged transport.\n\nThe summit should not be attempted without a guide. There are white markings along the way but it would be so easy get lost in the darkness of the night and end up in a completely wrong place. I left Seminyak at 9pm on a motorbike and with the help of Google Maps GPS reached Pura Pasar Agung at about 11:45pm. I had arranged to meet with our guide Pak Wayang Dartha here beforehand. His email communication was prompt and included all the necessary details of what was needed for the trek with no hidden costs. We started at about 12:15am after getting our water (if you don't bring it along, you can buy it at the security post). The trail goes through a few shortcuts behind the temple and joins a main trail through the forest. The entire trail is pretty dark and you need your own head lamp for it.\n\nThe first checkpoint is at 1900m just beyond the forest line but there are no significant markings indicating that this is a checkpoint. This is where you'll get the first glimpse of the amazing city lights and a starry sky (depending on the weather of course). The next part of the trail goes through a lot of volcanic rocks at a 30-45 degree angle. There will be places where you're better off climbing on your 4 limbs than 2. The second checkpoint is at about 2400m and this is where the trails to the crater rim and the real summit diverge.\n\nThe next 400m of altitude is on the exposed side of the mountain where you would have to traverse and scramble across volcanic rocks once again. Some of these can be slippery or prone to tumbling so you have to watch your step.\n\nAt about 2900m, you will be on the same level as the crater rim and will be able to see it in the distance. The last 200m to the real summit is through rocks adorned with white rock moss and volcanic skree.\n\nAt the top, the summit is quite narrow and exposed to the wind. You'll have to wear at least a windcheater / jacket with a head cap. Our guide Wayang Dartha was very professional with frequent funny banter and information about the mountain and local culture and customs. He knows several languages and can entertain you to make the trek more enjoyable. Along with his brother, he helped to make breakfast with boiled bananas, eggs, local chocolates and biscuits. We were on the summit for nearly 2 hours before beginning our trek down.\n\nIt's important to have a trekking stick on the way back down. You'll be stepping on rocks most of the time and that puts a lot of pressure on your knees. If you don't have one, ask your guide for one. Wayang was thoughtful enough to grab a stick from a nearby tree and hand it over to me as he noticed that I was beginning to hurt in one of my legs. Once again Pak Wayang made the return trek very comfortable with lots of stories to share, information about his life, his family, his past and current work etc. It really gives you a good perspective on life in Bali and particularly in small town places like Pura Pasar Agung. It's what makes the trek so enjoyable. There's also a huge willingness on his part to ensure that we got back down safely and comfortably. There was no rushing and we did plenty of pit stops on the way to make the down trek a lot easier. He was also more than happy to share his food and water with you.\n\nAt the end of it, it was not an easy trek but the views, the whole experience and the company of Pak Wayang Dartha, his brother and fellow trekkers made the trek worth more than the effort and stress on your body and mind. Give at least 1 full day to recuperate from the DOMs you'll suffer through post-climb. Cut your toe-nails, Carry enough cold wear. Gloves and walking stick(s) are highly recommended. Carry at least 2 litres of water / isotonic drink.
(52) Mount Batur is an active volcano in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia. Surroundings are pretty good and very pleasant.Try to buy local fruits and enjoy the new taste.
(53) OK... I'm going to be a bit negative about this...just to balance the intrepid holiday makers positives. If you're anywhere near Batu, go to the start location (-8.263602, 115.386020) and negotiate a guide. Everything in Bali, it's negotiable (the US$65 asking price includes the 1.5 hr drive from Kuta... which you don't need, $20 won't be unreasonable ... a bottle of water and the egg on top are nothing special). Go a bit early, they set off around 4am. Check out the previous few days for morning cloud or check a weather map. Any mist wont burn off by the time your group leaves the top (7am). A Guide is probably the wrong word, more a companion for the stupid. There are many doing the walk who turn back because they are not even moderately fit. The track is VERY obvious to anyone who has bushwalked. I'm all for people doing this sort of thing... but this was way overcrowded, with one path catering for all levels of competency. On the day I did it, I spent more time stopped waiting for the people ahead to be able to move on...yes, a Kuta traffic jam equivalent. The route up was a trail of lights 1 meter apart... for all 3.2kms. Many of the groups splinter because they have varying fitness levels and the guide spend most of their time trying to keep a collective. Considering the 1000's doing the walk each morning the Gunung Trekking Guides Assoc should be environmentally ashamed of the path's condition. It seems like a free for all. Anybody could just start walking and no one would ever notice. I turned my torch on once, as the rocks on the path were adequately illuminated by others. The walk up does have strenuous bits but nothing daunting if you bushwalk. The rim at dawn was FULL, no ..... overflowing with people. I wont cover clothing etc as others have. However, is it worth doing ..... YES ... but I'd do the day walk if I were to do it again.
(54) We really wish we walked this ourselves but were concerned after reading online that we would get abuse from locals.\n\nI understand this is a big business for the locals and I would be happy to pay a fee for walking the mountain, buying food and drinks along the way but this beautiful hike has been ruined by the guides.\n\nOur guide kept telling us to buy more and more things on the way up, telling us how much of a tip he wants over and over. The other people in our group got so annoyed they didn’t even finish the full hike.\n\nHe also told us we would cook breakfast over the volcano steam and then when we got to the top started laughing hysterically with the other guides at us because they couldn’t actually do this - they served a crap, dirty breakfast.\n\nThe sunrise is beautiful and this would have been a great walk had we not been nagged the entire time.\n\nYou can walk up without a guide - there is a clear path, there is no patrol as they will lead you to believe.\n\nSo I recommend waiting until after sunrise when the swarms of people have left and start walking then on your own. You’ll miss the sunrise but in my opinion it’s not worth all the hassle.
(55) We took Mt Batur sunrise trek and it was a life time experience. This was our first trek and feeling was simply awesome. Started at 3:30 from starting point and reached the top at 5:30 hrs. Around 3.5-4 km one way. Sun rise took place at 6 A.M and the view was simply majestic. First rays of the sun emerging from clouds with MT Agung clearly visible and Lake Batur in downside, you cannot ask for anything more. It gets really chilly at the top due to cold breeze so take jacket and sunscreen to protect you from bright sun. Our guide prepared breakfast for us. Egg sandwich, banan sandwich, chocolates, biscuits and hot coffee. Its must do thing while in Bali. Don't miss this.
(56) Watch out for the grandma/ parking people in front of a fruit stall. We were told to pay 2000 dirham which we had in coins. Gave them to grandma and the parking lady says that’s no good and gave us back the coins. In the midst of all the confusion, the grandma stole two 500 and one 100 idr from us when she handed the coins back to us. Not cool scamming tourists!
(57) We had a small child with us throughout the trip so we could not trek the mountain/volcano however, when driving around to the viewpoint, the view is absolutely breathtaking and definitely worth it. We ate at a restaurant not far off whereby we were able to eat in front of the breathtaking view of Mt Batur and its something that you will really be able to boast about once back home.
(58) It's our first trip to Bali. (We went on a day trip via a local tour guide/driver called Bali Local Tour in Nusa Dua). The view at Mt. Batur is amazing. In our opinion it's worth to add this on your list if you in Bali.
(59) The trip to Kintamani is a very common package tour in Bali, which is an all inclusive tour with pick, drop from hotel, breakfast, and the tour guide fees. Different tour operates quote different prices which is negotiable. We got it for 900,000 IDR. The pick up would be at around 2 AM from Kuta area.\n\nImmediate Tips:\n- keep warm clothes\n- food options at the top is basic, but the tea/coffee is highly recommended.\n- the breakfast included in the package tour is really crappy (the place is crappy) so if you can have alternatives, it will be great.\n- its not an easy climb. You need to remember that the effort will be paid off when you reach the top, so just keep going :)\n\nThe trek is of medium difficulty level, starting at around 4 AM. It takes about 2 hours from the base with plenty of halts in between. It is a steep trek at several places. When we did this it was quite cloudy and thus it was a frosty morning dew for us making the path very slippery. Warm clothes ( Jackets, Gloves, Mufflers) are a MUST. If you have not got then u can get them for rent at the base for an additional cost. It is very windy and cold at the top.U can also wear a raincoat for the dew.\nThe guide we had, was a very jovial and friendly guy, most of the guides are. Do not hesitate to take a break if you are tired. The ascend is gradual in the beginning and then it gets very steep. For beginners, it may be slightly difficult.\nAt the top - The view is spectacular. It was cloudy, but we were lucky that the clouds cleared at the right time and we were treated to a lovely sunrise with the view of the Batur Lake. You can also carry some biscuits or snacks or arrange for your breakfast ( the one mentioned in your package tour) on the mt.top in prior. Tea/ Coffee/ can be had at an additional cost. The arrangement is very basic.\nThings you will see at the top : Lake Batur, Mt. Agung, Mt. Abang, Mt. Ranjani, the mt. batur crater, and a cave.\nThe descend: The descent gives a view of the plantation on the hills ( tomatoes, chillies, corn, onions etc.).\nAll in all - a great experience and a highly recommended TO-DO in your Bali trip.
(60) We stayed at Bukit Catu Hostel, a cute place to stay and an ideal place to begin to climb the mount. You have to climb the mount with a guide. You don’t need to be very sportive to arrive to the top of it but you need to be healthy. It is really a must do and it’s worth it , the view is amazing and the sunrise is wonderful to admire.