masterthesis-playground/raft/corpus/topic=4__part=030__n=60.txt

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


(1) We booked for sunrise trekking tour for Nov.'13. The tour operator was at our hotel at 1:30 AM to pickup and drop us to coffee plantation where we were offered coffee and banana pancakes. Then from their 15 minutes drive to the Base Camp.\n\nThe Trek was good ... and tiring.. Our guide was good .. He really helped us and told stories throughtout the way. On the way some coldrink seller met him and he also followed us to the top. The colddrink seller helped me climb the rock and when we reached the top then i realised that he wanted me to take coldrinks from him which were some 10 times more than the normal store price. This really sucked. coz we never asked him for help. That guy only helped us\n\nThe view from the top was wonderful The guide shows some cave and volcanic steam. Overall it was great exprience.\n\nTip: while getting down, it can be very tricky as you might sip down as the rocks are very smooth. i myself tripped for some 4-5 times.
(2) I have done a small amount of mountain trekking, and I'd have to say Mt batur was my least favourite mountain trek so far. From the moment we were packed into out tiny non-aircontioned van at 1am, this was a very uncomfortable day! When you arrive at the base of Mt Batur, you are greeted by around 400 other tourists huddling around with their guides and being handed flash lights. I would have to say that the toilets here- the only toilets you'll see- are the worst toilets I have EVER used in my life. So disgusting, urine everywhere, all toilets blocked and overflowing, absolutely disgusting. Do yourself a favour and wee behind a bush!\nThe trek up is obviously in the dark, so there's no joy- just huffing and puffing and slipping and sliding along with the other 400 tourists- it felt like we were sheep being herded. At one point where our small group were allowed to stop for a five minute break, yes, you guessed it, there are locals there trying to sell you food/drinks etc. Half the people in our group didn't make it to the top. There were a few injuries- the volcanic soil is very very loose and slippery and you basically take two steps forward and one step back the whole way.\nWhen you finally make it to the top, you join the other 400 tourists, and local dogs, and tour guides and try and find a spot to sit and watch the sunrise. If you are lucky, you might actually get to see it through the clouds- we didn't. Once the sun was up the view of the surrounding area was quite pretty and we were able to get some half decent photos. We were served our breakfast soon after- which was banana in white bread and a boiled egg- no thanks.\nThe trek down was slightly more enjoyable as you could see your surroundings by now, and the monkeys were out and about and it was quite entertaining watching people get their hats/water bottles stolen.\nAll the remaining people in my group (including myself) had falls on the way down, there's no avoiding it, the ground is simply sooo slippery and rocks so unstable!\nAll in all, I would not recommend this climb, There are so many other beautiful things to see in Bali, and many without quite the herd of tourists alongside you.\nI would recommend the downhill mountain bike tour over this trek any day! A much more enjoyable experience and more scenic.
(3) Can highly recommend doing this trek. If you can manage the early start it's definitely worth it. The hike was challenging but the guides ensure you are ok the whole time and stick to whatever pace you can manage. The sunrise was absolutely stunning, and a stop in at the coffee plantation afterwards is a must!.
(4) My sole aim in wanting to climb Mount Batur was to experience a sunrise above a sea of clouds, which normally forms there. The path is easy to follow and not to steep, as long as you of of average fitness. Unfortunately however, due to the practices of a local cartel which run the mountain, you will not be allowed to climb the volcano without the services of a guide. Having done my research and not wanting to be harassed and threatened as I tried to summit alone, and determined to experience the sea of clouds, I paid for a local tour and went up. Down to pure bad luck there were no clouds below the mountains peak whatsoever that day, and whilst the views over the lake and village below were great, they were not unlike views I have seen before. I was disappointed - unfortunately that is a risk you take when you have expectations.\n\nFurthermore, we missed the beginning of the sunrise as we were slowed down by some members of our group who were not quite as fit. Being in a tour group also meant I had to hang around for over an hour until the others in my group were ready to come down. I was ready to cut my losses and get some sleep so I could enjoy the rest of the day, by the time the sun had risen.\n\nWhilst it was just bad luck that the sea of clouds was not present when I went up, the fact that I had had to pay a guide to go up to try and see them as part of a tour group, left a bitter taste in my mouth. Our guide was lovely albeit wholly unnecessary had I not been made to have one. I witnessed people without a guide trying to get up that morning and being harassed as a result. I also got asked multiple times where my guide was, when I dared to walk off on my own.\n\nIt’s up to you if you want to go up. I can’t recommend it. I can’t not recommend it either. It really depends on what you want out of it and what you’re willing to support to get it 🤷🏻‍♂️\n\nMy advice would be to pay no more than 350,000.000 IDR (try and get it cheaper if you can) for a tour and not think about it to much. Going up without expectations will also make for a better experience.
(5) Mt Agung – Villo & Evo Mountain Climb - February 2017\nJane (Villo) and I (Evo) decided to climb this mountain after deciding Mt Batur was to commercial & touristy for us, Agung being more of a challenge for two reasonably fit 50+ year olds\nThe weeks before our trip we put in the ‘hard yards’ on walking trails, cross trainers and treadmills in preparation for the climb, glad we did as it was a lot harder & involved more climbing than we thought.\nWe decided to do the pasar temple route as it was a couple of hour shorter duration than besakih.\nOur driver / organizer Wayan picked us up from our Ubud hotel at midnight, with the drive to the mountain taking 90mins (two hours on the way back with traffic). Wayan dropped us off in the pasar carpark where we met our guide Wayan.\nWe started climbing at 1.45am up through the temple steps which set the scene for the rest of the climb. It’s a steep climb with little respite apart from a few rest breaks 5 – 10 mins every hour.\nThe climb and terrain could be spilt into three phases all of which are steep,\n• Bottom third is in the tree line with a soil /gravel/ tree root track that has some deep ruts.\n• Middle section is smaller shrubs, with larger rocks and a little bit of climbing\n• The top section is large rocks & climbing on all fours for the majority of it.\nThe climb up was physically taxing on the calves and thighs\nWe reached the top just before 6.00am with the sun rising 10mins later, with a clear sky the view is amazing.\n\n\n\nIt’s cold & windy at the top, even in the hot month of February, warm jacket and long pants are recommended.\nOur guide provided us with hot tea and a pastry type breakfast, we rested soaked up the atmosphere for 30-45 mins then started the decent in the light of day.\nThe climb down is less physical but hard on the joints and toes, with Villo suffering from ‘Hammer Toe’ and losing the toe nails from her big toes, it’s also hard on the neck from looking down for the 4 hour duration.\nWe encountered a few monkeys on the way down, at one rest stop they took a liking to Villo’s snack, the guide kept them at bay with his hiking stick!\nThe feeling once we arrived back at the temple was unexplainable, a sense of achievement & relief amongst other feelings.\nThe whole trip for us was 13 hours door to door from our Ubud hotel.\n\nOur advice to other climbers is:\n• Decent hiking / trail shoes that will reduce the slips and hammer toe on the way down.\n• Gloves for climbing on all fours & to keep you warm at the top.\n• A light back pack to carry water, etc warm clothes, we travelled late Feb & it was cold & windy at the top\n• Bring your own torch – head light.\n• Take your own snacks, energy bars, water, the guide also has spare water and snacks\n• On the way down its slippery even in the dry and hard on the joints, take care as we had a few slips.\n• A good massage before and after the climb.\n\nWe’re glad we completed the climb, wouldn’t do it again but do recommend it to anyone that’s reasonable fit, flexible & determined to last the nine hours..!
(6) I booked the \sunrise trip\" at an agency right on the corner of Jalan Hanoman and Jalan Dewisita in Ubud. I paid IDR 350.000 for me solo. I got picked up by \"Ubud Sunrise Trekking\" with a van van that holds 13 people. I am sure that you can get a cheaper ticket still if you are able to haggle a bit more, but not a bad price considering most people pay a lot more.\n\nThe van picks you up somewhere between 2 and 2.30 am, picking up people til the van is full. Then off you go to a place close to the volcano, stopping for a coffee/tea and a fried banana. Then another 15 minutes in the van to stop at the destination from where you start hiking in group. Depending on how many are in the group, you get between 1-3 guides. If there english is good enough, you manage to get some useful info along the hike. It is fairly easy for about half the distance; first a flat dirt road, then an asphalted road up to some kind of building in progress. Once you arrive there, the steep climb to the volcano top starts after distribution of a bottle of water, breakfast and a tor h. (Be aware, there are a few paths up, not all following the same path we did). I am afraid of heights, but an experienced hiker. The hike in itself was not an issue, but the last few metres before the first sunrise point were difficult for me in terms of acrophobia. I stayed on that first sunrise point. If you like, you can still go the extra 200m up to the top. The view is basically the same.\n\nAround 7am, you start the descend along a different path. It is easy but slippery (as it is still steep). It can take about 1.30-2 hours depending on the traffic down.\n\nI recommend you don't go up flip flops. Either wear shoes with good grip, or don't bother to go. I wore my Teva hiking sandals. They did the job perfectly."
(7) There are multiple tour stands around Ubud. We payed a decent amount and from the time we were picked up to the time we were dropped off there was little to no direction. We were in an over crowded van and our group was pretty cranky. Maybe because it was so early in the morning. The guides we got did not speak English OR Indonesian. I have a basic knowledge of Indonesian and I still couldn’t communicate with them.\n\nThe hike was very difficult for me but rest assured when you get halfway up the mountain there are dirt bikes you can hire to take you the rest of the way. Total worth the cost. There were too many people on the mountain but we found a place where we felt secluded.\n\nEven though getting there, communicating, and the hike itself were a little rough it’s truly a once in a lifetime experience. We have never seen that many star or a more magical sunrise. When you get back to the asphalt at the bottom you can rent bicycles for cheap and clock 40-45 mph making your way back to the parking lot.\n\nSeriously a highlight of our trip!
(8) We hired a driver for a day and this was one of the many places we visited. Our driver took us to a restaurant and while having a long lunch we enjoyed fabulous views of the active volcanic mountain and the lake. The views were spectacular and we were fortunate to have a bright day.
(9) My friend and I woke up at 2am to hike Mount Batur. The walk up reminded me of a vigil as a procession of flashlights lit up the trail. We made it to the top for sunrise, and the view was spectacular and breathtaking. Be careful not to accept anything from vendors unless you want to pay for it. We saw a few people think that they were getting a free soda and were later charged. The breakfast was average. The experience would have been more enjoyable if we had worn warmer clothes-- it was very cold. One of my favorite parts was seeing the steam coming from the volcano. The hike down was chaotic. Our guide lost track of the people in our group, and I've never seen so many people try to cram into a trail at once. I would not recommend using the bathroom on the trail unless necessary. I think that this can be a nice experience if planned well.
(10) Taking a sunrise trek up Mt. Batur Volcano is a very popular activity on Bali. You will typically wake up quite early (before dawn), and meet a local guide who will guide you up the volcano in the dark of the night. From the summit you can watch a beautiful sunrise, enjoy some tea and snacks, and then descend down the volcano again. The entire journey can last anywhere from four to six hours. Specific things to note: although the local guides are familiar with the hike, there is a lot of precaution a tourist should take. The hike is strenuous (despite what locals say) but if you are in somewhat good shape then you should be fine. Also, the ascent and descent require hiking on some very rocky and often very loose gravel. It is difficult land so proper footwear should be worn and while climbing you should be very careful. Finally, layers of clothing should be worn as surprising the temperature drops quite a bit at the summit. As counter-intuitive as it may seem to pack a light sweater, hat, and gloves for a visit to Bali, I highly recommend having these items during a sunrise hike. Overall the experience was very memorable and the sunrise very beautiful, but I saw lots of potential for someone to hurt themselves, so best prepare wisely to avoid any injury during a holiday or vacation.
(11) We woke up at 1am to get on a bus from our villa and started climbing at 3:30am but it was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done!\n\nWe had a local guide (not a tour) who took us up a back way. More of a direct climb but much steeper, rockier and challenging. It was a tough climb doing it that way, but absolutely epic because we got to see the most authentic parts of Batur. Sitting at the top as the sun rose was breathtaking. We got a cloudy morning and couldn’t see much at the top, but on the way down we got some incredible views.\n\nDefinitely, 100% recommend doing a hike here! You won’t regret it!
(12) We woke up at 1:30am to catch our ride from Seminyak to Ubud to begin our ascent up mount Batur. It was quite chilly but all the walking quickly warmed us up.\nOur guide was very nice and informative, and was also always there to give us a hand during the climb, especially on the way down. We got up the mountain just in time for the sunrise around 6am and it was the most stunning and breathtaking scene I have ever witnessed. The sun rose in all its fiery glory, sometimes covered by clouds; always contrasting the sky and mountains. Our guide then took us to see the mountain craters and warm our hands by the steam through the cracks.\nThe descent was definitely more challenging for me, but the experience as the top made it incredibly worth it. I would lose sleep and go through that daunting descent all over again just to see that kind of sunrise again.
(13) The hike up mount batur took roughly 2 hours, starting at about 4am. It is tough on the legs, but the scenery at the top and around the crater is beautiful. Great day out or should I say morning 😂\n\n4/5 due to clouds missing the sunrise
(14) You must reach there by 3:30 am, if interested in sunrise ( must). Walked down a lot, climbing not that difficult but for rolling stones. For Small children, no. Avoid snacks which are served on top, with your package as there are lots of monkeys, who won't allow you to eat. Guide is compulsory, who keeps torch and first aid for you. Must carry water and put on some jacket or light woolen. Elk enjoy not only sunrise but will also notice some sulphur fumes and scenic view. Great experience. Had a very good and friendly guide namely Puttu.
(15) My guide was Ketut Sabawa of Sidemen, 27 June. He also works as a driver and it was most convenient as he picked me up from my Homestay in Sidemen at 0500. This meant extra sleep for me!\nIn 45 minutes we were at the Pura Pasar Agung car park, and ready to start the climb. after paying the peak fee to the attendants we took off up the concrete steps (over 300!) to the temple, and had a short break while Ketut carried out his Hindu devotions and prayed for a safe trip (and no eruptions!). Then it was off up the dirt track through the forest, employing torches as we were just getting the first glimmer of dawn. Being dry season, the track was in good condition, and not at all slippery. Soon we were able to put our lights away and it was pleasant being able to see the forest and other features, and monkeys. After a while the forest gave way to scrub and grasses, and then up through more rocky terrain. There were more monkeys on the rocks and at the summit. They are onto a good thing, eating the food offerings for the gods. One of them had most of a coconut, and wasn't about to share with anyone, simian or human! The track was in good condition throughout, some easy scrambling requiring the use of hands occasionally. The sun peeped over the mountain top just as we were nearing the summit; what a gorgeous day. We had great views all round, Mt Rinjani on Lombok, out to sea and the mountains in west Bali. We were unable to see the rest of Bali due to low cloud cover, but all the same, it was pretty cool looking down on all the cloud formations. And of course the mountain crater was spectacular. It is dormant, for now, so don't expect to see fumes and steam. Ketut performed more prayers and offerings at the summit and then he provided hot Bali coffee, grown by his family, and gave me some breakfast to supplement what I had brought up. Coffee never tasted so good! It was most relaxing up there, taking in the views and serenity. We had the summit to ourselves, having made a late start, and this added to the experience, for me. At 9am we started our descent. Ketut had brought a large rubbish bag with him, and collected plastic and foil rubbish on the way down. We collected 40 litres. That's 40 litres less litter for the next parties to make the trip. We didn't see any other guides doing this, but I hope the idea catches on. I was impressed with Ketut's attitude to the environment, and his level of fitness, strength and agility. I felt I was in very safe hands. He was also a lot of fun to be with and was full of amusing anecdotes, and readiness to see the humour. I had been trying for a week to find a guide willing to make a later start, but was running into difficulties, being told that guides are unwilling to climb up during daylight for various reasons including, too hot, the clients want to see the sunrise from the summit etc. Seeing the sunrise from the summit is romantic of course, as it was for a couple on Mount Batur the week before. The guy proposed marriage to his girlfriend, to much acclaim and cheering from bystanders, and crying, hugging and laughing on her part (she accepted). I totally get that, but for me I was happy to have a good sleep before starting and being able to see everything on the way up. At no time was it too hot, as we are high on a mountain, and we are on the shady side of it in winter. Because of Ketut's flexibility and obvious attributes and attitude, I am happy to give his contact details for anyone who wants the flexibility to arrange their trip at the time that suits them. Ph 087 860 631302, 085 203 723242, email ketutbawa9@yahoo.com, or you can contact me at brenwick2@icloud.com for more information. Average times for the climb are 3 to 5 hours up, 2 to 4 hours down, although we were a lot quicker. The only thing I didn't like was the litter: it can be fixed by a change of attitude on the part of the guides, and Ketut has made a good start.
(16) This was one of my must dos for Bali and I’m so glad I did. It’s a very early start but well worth it for the views and the sunrise. We started the walk at about 3:30am and the first part is tarmac, from the end of the tarmac to the very top took us just under two hours. I have moderate fitness levels and I found this hike/climb easier than many others I’ve done during my time in south east Asia. It is a lot of lose gravel and rock and to get to the second summit at the top you have to climb very loose gravel which I found the most difficult part of it all. There are 100s of people climbing the volcano the same time as you so it seems everyone is going up at the same steady pace, if you’re there for sunrise you also have a time limit most people climb to the top in around 2 hours. At the top you have the most rewarding view above the clouds and monkeys, there’s also some stray dogs that are perfect to feed the horrible breakfast the organised tours give you. You’ll need some good walking boots/trainers to do this! Descending the mountain is a lot harder than ascending and I fell multiple times as did my   so go slowly and be careful, also watch out for the loose rocks that fall as some of these are massive and would cause serious damage.
(17) There were so many people walking up the vulcano that you had to cue sometimes.\n\nThe view is nice and I liked that they boiled the eggs for breakfast with hot steam coming out of the vulcano.\n\nA nice place but too many tourists. Positive thing about that is you don't need a guide as you just walk in the cue...
(18) What a splendid part of the world. We visited Mount Batur with a guide and based our viewing from a number of vantage spots along Jl. Raya Penelocan. We then drove down to Danau Batur where there is a small jetty where you can observe the volcano from a differing perspective. Young children fish from the jetty which makes the experience even more enjoyable.
(19) Picked up at our hotel in Seminyak at 1:30am, drove for two and a bit hours and started the ascent at 4am. We were given hand torches which was a bit daft seeing as for the final two thirds of the climb it requires three points of contact. A head torch would have been much more appropriate.\nOur guide, Annie was superb. She was extremely friendly and supportive, albeit a little tired (she had done the climb almost everyday for the previous eight months!\n\nUnfortunately we had very low cloud at the summit, so we didn't see the sunrise at around 6am, but all in all it was a good walk.\n\nIf you are relatively fit and have decent cardio, the climb is a breeze; you should achieve it in around two hours.
(20) We did not hike up the volcano. We had lunch with spectacular view and that was great. We werr there on a very clear day with just a little haze. There are many restaurants to chose frtom and I'm sure they all offer a large traditional buffet.
(21) We left our hotel in the very early hours of the morning arriving at the base of Mt Batur soon after 2.30am. There we met our guides and began the decent which continued for the next few hours. Some of it was quite steep so you will need to be reasonably robust for the journey. We arrived at the summit several hours later and experienced the incredible and breathtaking beauty of sun rise at the top. The trek down allowed us to get a sense of the power of the earth and of volcanic activity on the whole area. A once in a life time experience that any visitor to Bali should experience. I got to do it with an amazing group of people which made it even more special. The guides were friendly and beautiful people. A trip to the nearby thermal pools afterwards was the perfect soothing end to a beautiful morning.
(22) Awesome view, definitely worth the climb. It's not very difficult to trek up. If you never trek up a mountain before, no worries, take your time and have more breaks in between the climb. Make sure you have sufficient time before the sunrise.
(23) As our guide mentioned the night before, it would'nt be a 'walk in the park'. After the first hour through the rain forrest, which was already pretty demanding, it becomes steeper and harder. When you pass the tree line, it becomes very challenging. The real climbing starts here, with hand and feet. I have fear of heights and at some points this part really scared me. Its dark, you know its very high and when you look downwards you see a black hole and some lights very far which are villages. However, reaching the top is a great experience and the view is awesome. Downwards is very hard and painful for your legs, but after all a great experience and a victory on my fear.
(24) On our recent visit to Bali, we had an excellent private day tour organised for us by our guide, Manta from Infinity Holidays, who took us to a performance of the Barong Dance and to various interesting destinations (a public temple, craft centres, a coffee plantation etc). The best bit of the day, however, was lunch at Kintamani, overlooking Mt Batur and the beautiful Lake Batur. Just for a while, the clouds cleared sufficiently that we could also see Mt Abang and Mt Agung. It's a most impressive sight. Despite what others have said about the doubtful quality of some of the restaurants, the one to which we were taken (unfortunately I can't remember the name) was fine. The drive into Kintamani is a bit slow and tedious because of the amount of traffic, but we wouldn't have missed this!!
(25) The Bali-Batur trip was purely influenced by instagram photos and social media culture. I booked the flight on thursday and landed on friday at Denpasar. Before the trip, i booked the trip to eOasia - MOUNT BATUR SUNRISE TREK. I booked for Saturday but i was later informed that there was no one going up on Saturday and suggested Sunday instead.\n\nSo i did.\n\nThe driver and the guide picked me up at 1.15am at Four Points by Sheraton Seminyak. Along the way, one lady and a couple from Australia joined me. 4 of us in total. We reached the site around 4am. and started the climb with a local boy and the tour guide. the hike is about 2-3 hrs. it wasn't the extremely exhausting trip but required some stamina.\n\nWe reached the top about 6.50am. The view is breathtaking. This was my first mountain climbing experience and it could not have been better. We got lucky as quickly the weather changed and the cloud blocked our view. Soon enough, we could see the sunrise again.\n\nAnyway. it's worth it! But i don't find the hotspring well maintained.
(26) One of the best treks to do in Bali. Summit takes about 5 hours of clmbing starting at 12:30 AM but the view for sunrise is unreal
(27) I booked this trekking trip via my hostel. They arrange pickup from my hostel at 2 am. Arrived at Bangli around 4 am, they also prepared a coconut pancake with coffee/tea before we begin the journey and also pack 1 bottle of mineral water with breakfast. First 1 hour, i need to go through a tared road. And after that, yeah the real journey begin. A small until large rocks along the trek, thank god that i wear hiking shoes. It might be only 1717 meter, but in the morning the breeze is real. I wore long pants and long sleeve light down. Prepare your hiking tools, hiking stick might helps you a lot and also do not forget your headlamp if you start your hike in the dark. I love the journey going up to this mountain. I met a lot people with their on spirit. I arrived on top of the mountain around 6.10 am. The view is spectacular. I manage to enjoy the sunrise at 6.20 am while enjoy my breakfast. Be careful of monkeys! On my way down, I fall in love again and again with the view of the lake and soft clouds. Don't forget to look back, there is another view you will discover. Yes, Mount batur view. :)
(28) My missus and I like long walks/climbs so when we decided to come to Bali, Mt Batur was one of the items on our list.\n\nThe mount gives you at least 3 different tracks, the really easy and short, one that is a bit longer and the full track which takes you to the highest point of the mount, around the caldera and down to a cave; that last one was our pick. The guide told us it was hard so we kept that in mind (if you have climbed other volcanos, specially those in New Zealand I would tell you to discard that comment... it wasn't hard at all).\n\nThe climb starts around 4:45am to 5:00am, getting to the top approximately at 6:00am (just before the sun rises), you will get from your guide a bottle of water immediately at the car park to keep you hydrated. As you progress through the track, he will suggest different resting points for about five minutes. My missus and I did not need those stops but one of the members of the pack did, so we waited every now and then for him. Eventually the colours of the sky started to change to which our guide agreed with us that was better to continue moving than waiting forever in one spot. We split in two groups so different members of the team motivated the slowest to make it to the top as quickly as possible.\n\nAt the top our guide takes some banana and bread to steam cook it (using volcanic vents) and give it to you as breakfast while you admire the wonderful view. From the top you get to see three volcanos (two in Bali and further away the one in Lombok) put the gigantic caldera that was created 24000 years when the main volcano exploded. The banana sandwich is quite tasty but not enough to feed a big bloke (I am 2 metres tall) so I would really suggest you to take some other food with you. Luckily our hotel gave us a food box which we very much enjoyed as well.\n\nAbout one hour later, you continue around the current volcano caldera and might be tricky for people suffering vertigo as the path is quite thin and you are pretty high. My missus decided to fix her sight straight on the ground until there was a lot more material (sidewise) one which to fixate it. At that point you come down to a cave (also a temple and meditation spot) in which you are advised not to walk into as rocks might fall on you (10 to 15 metric tonnes rocks) but he happily will wait for you if you decide to do so. If you do, take a good lantern with you as the cave goes pitch back pretty quickly.\n\nThe rest of the track is pretty easy, just down hill and you will be fine as long as you mind your step.\n\nIn total it took us four and half hours waiting for our team member as well as taking lots and lots of pictures of the beautiful scenery.\n\nTo us, the track was pretty easy (even though we chose the hard track) but we exercise a bit and have a pretty good diet. Definitely a must do if you like being outside, get in contact with nature and admire a magnificent view.\n\nBy the way, I am not sure if you can go by yourself as there are a huge amount of paths which can get you in trouble. To make it a bit worst, locals live right next to the volcano so they have created a lot of new paths going to completely pointless locations. I would really advise to get a guide or try to be at the rendezvous prior the climb to follow any of the team (I don't think that is allowed). Each guide will take up to 5 people with them and they will match the rhythm of the slowest. We did not mind going slow but there was a group of germans that got annoyed with one of their members for stopping a bit too much, talk to the members prior going up to arrange what you feel comfortable with or swap groups if you want to go faster.\n\nAnother point, there is some food sold at the top of the volcano, as you might guess is very expensive but if you want to eat something, can't find your food or some mysterious force took over your stomach and is demanding more food, walk to one of the kiosks and pay for it.
(29) We took a tour on klook for a tour in a 4WD. They picked us up around 4am from ubud hotel and then we started our journey in a normal car. We stopped at the bottom of the mountain for a coffee and then we switched to a 4WD. Super monster vehicle. They took us up Mount Batur to a view point in time to see the sunrise. It was beautiful. Breathtaking. The beauty can not be expressed by words.\n\nWe spent about 1 hour at the view point and then we were taken to the lake Batur wonderful little restaurant for breakfast. They gave banana pancakes and coffee. The view from this point was fabulous. You can gaze and wait for hours.\n\nThen we switched vehicles and got back to the car and we were taken to coffee plantation and dropped back at the hotel around 11.30am.\n\nOn our way back we asked driver to stop at the rice terrace and went on swing as wel. This wasn’t a part of the tour but we paid driver extra few bucks and did this as well.\n\nWe did not want to walk for 2hours on the usual hike and we opted for this tour. It was in total about 100USD for two people. It was well worth it for us.
(30) I looked at the clock and it was 11.30pm. I had my alarm set on my phone for 1.30am with our driver picking us up at 2.00am. We were setting off from our Hotel on the North East Coast of Bali to climb Mount Batur. The alarm went off and after what seemed like a very a brief power nap. Sam and I gathered our things, locked up our room and took a short walk to collect our pre made breakfast box and water from the hotel reception.\n\nbefore our scheduled 2.00am pickup. Still half asleep I asked the driver to find me an ATM machine en route. Sam and I dived in the back and off we went. The roads were deserted at that time of the morning, we began to weave and climb up through the narrow streets. The driver pushing the small Suzuki vehicle to its maximum effort. Some of the roads were very steep with hairpin bends, it was not for the nervous passenger. After driving for a short time the driver pulled up next to an ATM where I used my trusty Starling Bank card to withdraw the 800,000 IDR (£1= approx 18,000 IDR) which I needed to pay the guide for their services and entrance fee onto the mountain. Cash in my wallet I jumped back in the Suzuki and the driver continued. We arrived at what I could only be described as a checkpoint in the road where officials/guides from the mountain were flashing torches directing our vehicle to someone where we would pay the entrance fee. I gave my money to our driver who in turn took care of the payment. Waved through the checkpoint we soon arrived at a carpark which would act as the RVP and the place where tourists would meet there designated guide.\n\nThe carpark area was bustling with people. I used the toilet facilities before we were introduced to out guide, a very fit and slim looking 24 year old who didn’t waste any time on introductions. I put my backpack on my back, slung my smaller bag with camera and GroPro round my front, off we went. Setting a brisk pace the guide gave Sam and I a torch each as we headed up a narrow tarmac road. The road was lined by farmers fields growing onions and various other vegetables. I was worried about the pace that was being set as Sam was a novice to mountains. I could see that she was beginning to worry and the look of panic on her face was evident. It was pitch black and the guide was beginning to shine his torch up at the mountain. I hadn’t done too much research prior to booking the excursion and the hotel reception described it as a fun walk…. The silhouette of the mountain up ahead of us looked like a challenging climb, it was at this point Sam to her credit said to the guide that it was beyond her capabilities. I could see that Sam was upset but knowing what I know now it was definitely the right decision. The guide and Sam headed back, so that Sam could wait with the driver and maybe catch up on some sleep. The guide and I agreed that I would tag on to the back of the next group of people I caught up with and that I would meet him at the half way point, which he stated would be very obvious.\n\nHead down I started to set a good pace myself and soon caught up with a group in front. They were a French family and I could read their faces… Their faces were saying “who is this random guy tagging on to the back of our group?” I explained my situation and luckily they spoke and understood English which helped. The climb itself was becoming steeper and the ground underfoot was becoming challenging. It was definitely starting to give the leg muscles and my lungs a good workout. I could see that we had reached the very obvious halfway point. It had a concreted flattened area where a lady and her children were beginning to set up their stall. They were selling drinks, chocolate bars, energy gels and other confectionary perfect for climbers burning through the calories. I explained to the French family and their guide that I would be waiting for my guide to catch me up. I waited for about five minutes and my guide suddenly appeared from nowhere… “That was quick I thought to myself” I asked him if Sam was okay, he said yes she is okay, she is going to sleep. I was worrying a little as I was in a foreign country, Sam was with the driver who we only just met and I was continuing up this 5,000ft mountain. I said to the guide I have completed mountain races in the past, as well as running ultra marathons so I wanted to challenge myself and push on up the mountain, “Okay no problem” he said as he set off.\n\nSetting a lung busting pace and hardly breaking sweat we soon passed the French family, which shouts of “Go..Newcastle” as we powered past them. The ground was becoming steeper and more gruelling. The guide was beginning to make me work hard and was starting to pull away up ahead. Passing more climbers with every stride he would occasionally look round to see if I was still in contact. I always had him in sight and would give him a thumbs up to indicate that I was okay and to keep going. It was still dark, I looked back down the mountain and could see a long snaking line of torches from the hundreds of other people who were now attempting the climb below. The wind was also picking up as we gained altitude. The guide turned to me with a smile on his face and said “only 20 minutes to the top, maybe even less…” The gradient was steep and the consistency of the ground underfoot was of a powder like dust which made it a challenge for my white Saucony running shoes, which were now a dirty shade of grey. After a short while we reached the summit, the guide turning to me and give me a high five and a big hug. I looked at my Garmin watch and it displayed 1hr 20mins as I hit the stop button. I showed the guide and he appeared very happy. He said normally it takes the average person 2 hours + maybe more. I was happy with that.\n\nThe wind at the summit was strong and it was blowing up the dust from the tracks and was difficult to keep out of my eyes. I tried to use my sunglasses to block the dust but it didn’t appear to work. I also began to feel at bit of a chill as I was cooling down and the sweat was beginning to dry. I only had a thin long sleeve fleece top on with my shorts. We were the first handful of people to reach the top of the mountain so we could find a seat inside the small shelter. I sat next to two french girls who again spoke very good English. We chatted about Bali and other places we had visited in the world as well as Sam’s travel blog. They made a note of Sam’s Instagram and Twitter handles. The guide ordered me a coffee with two sugars in. The black coffee came in a long glass and was delicious, just what I needed to warm up. As I gazed out towards the horizon and sea the sky was just beginning to change colour, an orange hint intensifying with every minute.\n\n06.27 was estimated sunrise time according to google. We had nearly two hours to wait. I was thinking to myself ‘I wish I had brought another jacket…’ I looked out from the small shelter and more people were beginning to arrive at the top. There was a lot of younger people who looked like students who were travelling the world. There was also group of Indonesian teenagers who were on a school expedition. They were buzzing with their effort at reaching the top. They held up their national flag to toast their achievement. I love that, I thought to myself.\n\nTime was ticking closer to sunrise and the sky was beginning to get to a very noteworthy orange, enough to justify getting the camera and GoPro ready. I captured some great pictures and videos. I spent a lot of time people watching. I also thought to myself how many people maybe didn’t make it to the top of this challenging 1700m climb. I have done many races in Snowdonia in Wales. The race was over a 22 mile course where you climb seven 3,000ft peaks it was challenging. Batur was over 5,000ft and was definitely more difficult in terms of gradient and I wouldn’t say ‘Fun’ is how you would describe it.\n\nThe guide took my obligatory mountain top photos. The sun now fully up I scanned the mountain top and would estimate 300/400 people were now observing the sunrise.\n\nI didn’t want to be at the back of the long line heading back down the mountain, so I turned to the guide and said lets go, using my arms to indicate to run back down… He smiled and off we went. We reached the half way point in 20 minutes. When the guide said he needed to take his moped back to the RVP. We clambered over some rocks to discover a small parking area of mopeds lined up. I then discovered that there was a ‘guides’ track that led from the half way point back to the RVP carpark… No wonder he managed to meet me at half way so quickly…. We both hopped on the moped and he blasted us down the track. GoPro in hand as we manoeuvred down the track. It was now daylight and was noticeably warmer. The beauty of the foothills were amazing, as I looked back the mountain was standing in all it’s glory. I definitely felt a sense of achievement. As I stepped of the moped my legs definitely knew that they had just climbed a mountain.\n\nBack at the Suzuki I knocked on the window and was relieved that Sam hadn’t been kidnapped. She was looking a lot fresher than me after a sleep. I discovered that the driver and Sam had been for breakfast in one of the local cafes, Sam said that it was delicious. The driver was impressed at the speed of our climb and descent. I used the facilities once more before making our journey back to the hotel. The scenery on the way back was something else. I will remember Batur and I am glad I took on the challenge. My advice to others would be to pack a jacket and maybe some warmer clothing for the time you are at the summit. Take it from me that it is challenging and isn’t for the faint hearted, I would question anyone who thinks it is easy. You have to have quite a good level of fitness as it does test the legs and lungs. We even made it back to the hotel in time for breakfast.
(31) As many people describe Batur in Agung's reviews.\n\nMount Batur reaches 1700m, it overlooks Batur Lake (1400m). The climb is an easy morning walk, only 300 elevation difference. A good way to start the day, walking with pets and children. Very crowded for sunrise.\n\nMount Agung is the highest peak of Bali, 3031m. It is officially closed but you can easily climb it, by yourself or hiring a guide (which I recommend). There are 2 ways:\n-the \short way\" from Pura Pasa agung, you start at 1700m and go to the top crater.\n-the \"longer\" way, from Besakhi at 1000m up to the summit (see pictures I took this morning, January 2020).\n\nThis 2nd option is short (8 km) but steep (over 2000m elevation). Basically you start at midnight to arrive before 6 am, for sunrise. You need an average fitness. It requires carefulness, and some equipments: front lights, good shoes and a jacket.\nBe aware that descending the higher, rocky part is the most difficult. It's slippery and some stones may fall: remain\nconcentrated.\nOverall it's a great experience. The sunrise colors and the view is the best reward."
(32) Starting in the morning time at 2am from the hotel (Great Mountain Views Resort), arriving at gungung agung about 2.30h ready to climb the very steep track. It takes about 3-4 hours to the peak steep, steep and steep!!! :) (and for sure same way back!) Be aware that it is quite hard to climb up. We did it without guide and I think it is manageable if you are expierienced with tracking and you are in a good (sporty) decision. You need a torch, in total it´s about 7 hours.\nIn Selat there is not much for sleeping. Just one easy guesthouse (clean) and Great Mountain Resort in Duda, 15 Minutes by car away. Great Mountain Resort is perfect!! Worth to stay two nigths (about 400 IND for the bungalow).
(33) We had booked our trip online with Bali Volcano Trekking and felt this was a great trip. It had started raining heavily where we were staying and the driver was nearly an hour late in picking us up. The tour operator offered a refund or rescheduling if we wanted due to the weather, but we decided to keep going. The driver made up for lost time and we got to sleep. The trip just a long ride from Seminyak and an easy to moderate hike up to Mount Batur. It was a bit disappointing to see so many people who were taking motorcycles up to the top. If you can't hike I'm wondering why they signed up for the trek. It seemed like a very good business for the drivers.\n\nGetting to the top there were seats and places for a warm drink. We were offered a simple breakfast and a nice warm drink.\n\nThe views were stunning as the sun peaked through some of the clouds. It was incredible to see the amount of people that were on the mountain. It was a highlight and I'm glad were able to do the hike to the top.
(34) We spent 9 days in Bali and this was definitely the highlight of the trip! We didn't use a tour company. Rather our local driver organised our hike with a local tour guide (you can't climb the volcano without a local guide anyway). We liked this option better as there were so many large tour groups whereas we were a group of 4 so it was easy to keep going and ask our guide questions. It was a bit daunting hiking at night especially as it got steeper and the wind was howling so I basically did not look to my right in case I got scared. I had dressed in layers which was good as I was hot climbing but once we reached the top and were waiting for sunrise, I was shivvering. It was kind of annoying as one of the tour groups were playing loud music which kind of ruined the natural atmosphere for me. However, the sun rise and views were stunning. We spent a bit of time up top taking photos and then we made the way back down. The terrain and route back down was different for us - so instead of climbing up volcanic rock we were now trying not to slip on volcanic sand on the way down. It took longer to get down than up and when you get off the volcano there is a paved road through farm land for part of the way which was a welcome relief. The hike is definitely strenuous so you do need a moderate level of fitness but it was definitely worth it!
(35) This is a great trip, You may get it for $70 from Kuta / Ubud, but easily negotiated to $30.\nHowever if you adventureous you can get yourself to Batur lake and stay there. Just a guide will cost you no more than $10. You also can get up at 3:45 instead of 2 o'clock because the trip takes 1.5 hours. Whe negotiating price in Batur ask as many people until you get your $10 deal. The friendly guy who stops you and wants to help you is living of commission and he wants his $20 - $30 for the deal. ask at hotel where you stay, preferably at a cheap hotel. I have not work out yet whats the deal with sunrise because I have been there few times and despite of what they say, the mountain is cloud free through out the day. On this occasion we joint a n early morning group and the sky view was beautiful until around 10 minutes before the sunrise ;-) So there was no sunrise for us and than it started to rain. We still enjoyed the excersise and the atmosphere but I understand it may let some people down. Also consider the altitude 1700m and as such temperatures well bellow 20ºC. I was only in shorts and short sleeve and it was not pleaseant, particularly waiting in cold rain for never coming sunrise. despite of all the experience i do not regret it and would strongly recommend it to anyone. The climb can be done in an hour by a fit person, but they allow 2 + hours to accomodate for people with various fitness levels. Have fun and remember any experience is great experience.
(36) This was my second time atop Mt. Batur, and it was a wonderful experience! The climb is tough, but it's worth it when you see the sunrise from the summit. Our guide was amazing, and he took us on a walk around the crater as well. Such a cool trip.
(37) We booked the Mt Batur sunrise trek rough our hotel, Puri Garden in Ubud and were picked up at 2am. We stopped for a light breakfast which was provided, about 3am and then got to the base of the volcano about 3.45am.\n\nI thought I may find this very hard as I struggle with up hill climbs, however, this was manageable. It took about 1hr and 45mins to reach the top from the car park. It was hard going at times as it became very sandy and thre were a lot of people doing the trek so a lot of the rocks were moving all the way up but our guide helped me when I needed it, without even asking, he just knew.\n\nThe view for sunrise was AMAZING! My partner carried on to the summit, which he loved and he recommends if you get the chance.\n\nWe saw the holy temple and even had eggs cooked in crater with the steam it produces. We then took the easier way down, basically just sand but better than all the rocks.\n\nWe ended up going to a coffee plantation on the way back as well and sampled some gorgeous coffee. We arrived back to our hotel for 12pm.\n\nOne of the highlights of my Bali trip!
(38) The sight of the open cones of the mountain top and the trail of volcanic ash quite blows the mind. What is even more amazing is that there are human settlements starting from where the ashes end.\nWe had a lovely lunch with a great view of the mountains. You can see truck after truck plowing its way through the volcanic ash, probably collecting the same for industrial use.\nDo take some time out to visit. Don't take the buffet or other food choices in the restaurants over looking the mountains without checking. Many of them have very poor quality food.\n
(39) emm.. I don't realise that it is a volcano until told by our tour guide. Well, did not opt for the mountain trekking since you need to wake up at early as 5am to climb the volcano to get the best sunrise view. Don't get to see any lava, just a normal mountain with lake next to it.\n\nI was just sitting in the restaurant right opposite the mount batur. This area obviously is tourist most visit, since there are lots of restaurant along the road and most of the restaurants are full, expecially during the lunch hour.
(40) We went from Pasar Agung temple in July.\n\nBRING LAYERS. Some morons went up to 10,000ft at dawn wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Guess who was shivering?\n\nOur hotel arranged transport and a guide. We met our guide at the temple at around 1:45am. It seemed to be that all the groups and all the guides stick together most of the way up. Each small group goes sort of at its own pace, but then most of the groups sort of catch up to each other at each stop.\n\nThe first 2/3 of the ascent was done at a maddeningly slow pace. We are very fit and could easily have hiked twice as fast. We also don't usually stop for breaks on ascents, but the guide (and all the other guides) stopped about 5 times on the way up. Anyway, not a big deal.\n\nThe top 1/3 of the hike is on exposed lava flows, though, and was quite sketchy in the dark because you couldn't see if you were on a cliff edge or what. There was a bit of scrambling, and may of the hikers on the route did not seem to have encountered anything like it before, and were having a tough time.\n\nOur guide provided breakfast at the top - coffee, some bars, and delicious bananas goering (fried bananas).\n\nThe view at sunrise was absolutely incredible. You could see Rinjani in the distance, and the lay of the land below.\n\nThe way down was monotonous. We hate going down hill, and this was no exception. It is a relentless 2.5-3 hours down, constant steep downhill over fairly slippery terrain. The top 1/3 was far better in the light, and it was easy to see the route. Honestly the top 1/3 was the best part of the descent because the bare rock was grippy.\n\nAll in all, a really amazing experience, and well worth being messed up the rest of the day.
(41) Absolutely loved the sunrise. The trek was enjoyable and challenging in parts. Some technical terrain on the way down especially. Bring some dry (not sweaty) clothes to change into once you arrive at the top, as it's chilly waiting for the sun to come up.
(42) We arrived to Kelingking at around 8:00 in the morning to get a great start to the day (also because of the tide tables to maximize time on the beach!!!) We were one of two groups of people there and it was amazing (Keep in mind this was during the first ramp up of COVID-19 lockdowns, so our crowd experience is probably skewed). We sat at the top and took pictures for maybe 10 minutes with just us until the other couple and us started the hike down. The hike for experienced and sure-footed people can take around 20-25 minutes if you're not stopping along the way for pictures. We stopped for pictures and to help eachother with VERY steep parts of the hike down. \nAs we got to the bottom, we saw the monkeys! They didn't mess with much of our things, but there was at least one person next to the bags and shoes the entire time because they initally ran right up to us and waited for us to leave something alone. \nThe beach was perfect and tide was not too hard to swim against, The climb back up was where things started to take their toll. We stopped multiple times on the hike back up, (it didn't get less steep, and with us being wet and tired made the stops feel longer). By this time, other tourists were hiking down and the path isn't meant for that many people!! At one point we were still hanging on the rocks to let people through that were hiking down and clearly weren't prepared for an extensive, steep hike.
(43) The scenery of lake and mountains and shimmering sky was well worth the climb. We sat there in the cold windy dawn enjoying the sunrise. We could also see the peaks of Mt Rinjani on Lombok Island .\n\nThere were a couple of huts at the top and we stopped at one where the guide gave us our breakfast, bread with jam, eggs and some bananas. We went down to where steam comes out from the fissures, a reminder that this is an active volcano. We also saw a cave. We enjoyed our climb and the experience of being on an active volcano. An experience not to be missed!
(44) This is one of my favorite hikes regarding challenge and view.\nWe started at 11pm the previous day to be transferred from Ubud to our starting point, from which we went up from 1am to 5am in the morning.\nThe following sunrise was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen.\nThis trek is awesome and I would definitely do it again.
(45) Amazing sunrise in Bali, one of the most beautiful sunrise in the world!\n\nIt takes around 2 hours climbing the mountain, I think that it was one of the most incredible experience of my life, I recommend you to do it.\n
(46) We climbed ourselves at the night. The view is beautiful but there were too clowdy :( Still I liked it much. Hint: don't pay any guide - there is no need in them. Download offline map Maps Me and use the road through Pura Payogaan. Come there at 3am and no guide will be there trying to charge you 250-500k per person ;) We used only our Iphone lighters and Maps Me to climb and did it for 1 hour 50 mins.
(47) Taking my 18 year old son to Bali, this was the one thing that he wanted to do above all else so we booked it. Ias the time grew closer, I began to doubt my abilities. I am 52 and considerably overweight, however for the last 3 months I have been at the gym nearly everyday and can walk all day on the flat. I read the reviews on here, and it didnt seem to be that bad - what did I have to lose. Worse case scenario, I would stop halfway and they would pick me up on the way back.\n\nSo we were picked up at 1.30am from our Kuta hotel. We stopped at about 3am for tea, coffee and a banana pancake for about 30 minutes then onto the start point. We drove up and up and up. Great I thought, less to climb, but then we started going down and down and down. Finally stopping at a carpark where we were introduced to our 19 year old guide Ari and we set off in our group of four. The first 10 minutes was very easy going on onky a slight incline, but the we started going uphill. I had to take my jumper off as I was already soaked in sweat. Luckily my brother had suggested I take his hiking sticks and they were invaluable. I am only short so a step up the rocks was harder for me than my son with his long legs. After maybe 20 minutes Ari suggested that our 2 companion s hook on the end of the group in front as we were slow going but he never once showed any impatience with me \its okay mama just go slowly, we have plenty of time\" and slowly it was stopping every 5 minutes for a minute for a breather, but we plodded on. We would look back occasionally and see the torchlights of those groups behind us waaaaay down the hill and that made me feel better.\n\nAbout 50 minutes in, we reached the halfway point and I was totally spent. Looking up you could see the lights of those ahead of us and I mean looking up - they were on at least a 70 degree angle. At this point I broke, they was no way possible for me to do this. But my fabulous son and Ari told me yes I could and that they would be right there and we would do it together. A chocolate bar and a stack of tears and we moved on, and on and on. One foot in front of the other. Ari in front offering a hand up when needed and my son behind offerring a push. So many times I thought I couldnt do it and somany times they would point out the lights to show how far we had come.\n\nThe second half is so much steeper and the rest breaks more frequent. I would only need 30 seconds to a minute. I was determined not to be the last up. And just when I was sure that I could go no further, wecould hear the wind and Ari assurred me just a few more minutes and then we could see the top 6 or 7 metres higher up. In tears, exhausted and shaking we finally stepped onto the summit.\n\nAll we could see at first was mist and half light, but then the wind blew and omg there was the sunrise and the most spectacular views. Ari cooked us boiled eggs in the vents of the vocano and we had banana sandwiches and fruit. There were a stack of hungry monkeys around that would steal any unattended food. After a short break we then walked to the crater itself which was spectacular. The other 3 went for a bit more climbing whilst I happily enjoyed the rest.\n\nAnd then it was time to climb down. Although somewhat easier than going up (I didnt need any rest breaks), it was an absolute killer on the ankles. Any slight miss on the uneven ground would turn your ankle painfully. I wondered if we would ever reach the car. But yes 5 and a half hours later, 9kms and 1717m high I had done the impossible - haul this body up and down the mountain. Looking back to where we had climbed, it truly seems unfathomable that we could have done it. Doing it has made me realise how strong I am and whilst I would never do it again, I am so incredibly proud of my achivement.\n\nYes I would recommend it, as it is an incredibly powerful experience, but know that it was the hardest physical and mental trial I have ever completed. But there again young 18 year old son only found it \"a bit hard\" but was equally amazed at what we had done. We had climbed a mountain!\n"
(48) What you see from the crater top is worth every step of this fairly challenging trek. The darkness adds to the drama, and probably helps climbers in focusing just on the rocky path all the way up to the crater. The climb from there to the peak on the right is almost vertical, and I have my guide Ketut (of Sunrise Trekking) to thank for helping me make it.\nThe sights from the top are beautiful, and bring your geography books alive. And while we all enjoy our packed breakfasts after the climb, I wonder what happens to all the bags, bottles and cartons left behind? It would be a shame to litter these treasures.
(49) We did Mount Batur sunrise trekking the end of December 2015, booked tour in advance through Bali Trekking Tour and founded Jero WhatsApp +6281904082208 on his site. We were picked up at 1.30am in Rimba Jimbaran by his driver Putu. My husband and I were wondering what we did on Mt. Batur recently, my son thought we can't made it because my husband are not overly active, it would be a challenge to do but we did well with our best guide Jero.\n\nWe started climbing around 3.46am, it took my husband and I about 2 hours to reach the sunrise point. To be honest half way I wanted to bail out as this was really strenuous and though, Jero said, only few 55 years old does this trekking. Jero was so helpful and and kept encouraging us to carry on up and finally we made it before sunrise. What an amazing feeling of accomplishment, the view was amazing and breath taking.\n\nJero was excellent tour guide! Informative, friendly and the important one are helpful. He we know about volcano. He was born and grow up just on the foot of Mt. Batur as he told me. Having yummy breakfast on the summit and beautiful landscape made this highlight of my experienced in Bali. Thanks Jero, we would gladly do it again and recommend you and your company.
(50) We innocently booked a sunrise climb for Mount Batur. We're quite fit and healthy - I walk up to 15 miles a day for my job. Nothing could have ever braced me for what was coming.\n\nPicked up at 1.30am, our drive was fairly smooth. 'Breakfast' was one pancake and dodgy looking coffee. We then set off for our hike.\n\nIt started fairly smooth, up a slope with the odd rock or two to walk around and then it went worse from there. I never knew I would be crawling up a volcano like an ant (because there was hundreds squeezing up there!!) on my hands and knees petrified that I was going to vertically fall of the edge of a volcano. At one point I slipped and thank goodness the bloke behind me caught me or I would have been a gonner. How you're even allowed to climb this volcano without a helmet and more equipment is beyond me. I'm not scared of heights at all, but the climb was ridiculously un safe, one wrong move and your off the side of the volcano.\n\nMany people were slipping, you could hear screams of panic as rocks took their feet out from beneath them. At points there was a 1/2 metre steep climb which would be un steady.\n\nI really do not recommend this for anyone who is not experienced in climbing or to anyone who values their life more than a view. The view was great but I wouldn't do the climb again for it.
(51) A girlfriend and I hiked Mt. Agung on November 21st and I would recommend this to all thrill seekers! I had read the reviews on trip advisor and honestly figured everyone was over reacting about the last hour of the hike, but they weren't by any means. We began at 1:30 AM and took the shorter route beginning more towards the top of the mountain. It took us about 4 hours to reach the top and 5 hours to get down (it could have been closer to 4 but my poor friend had major hiking boot issues :( ) I was extremely happy with the gear we chose to bring. I was nervous about being too hot or too cold but really between the layers we brought it was PERFECT. I bought/brought two pairs of wool socks but actually did not wear either pair and just wore regular socks. I wore Capri length Under Armour work out tights and my friend worke Columbia hiking pants. Both of us were comfortable in what we chose. I wore a work out tank up, but layered with an infrared core warmer from North Face, a long sleeved dry-fit shirt, and a rain jacket. I had a fleece lined ear/head warmer and I would DEFINITELY suggest hiking gloves. I had my gloves and my hands still got a few small callouses I didn't even realize I was acquiring as we went up the rocks and I hadn't put my gloves on just yet. The one thing we didn't bring, but I wish we had, was a collapsible hiking stick. Overall, I would suggest this to anyone/everyone looking for a thrill and a bit of a challenge. Go with a local guide for sure! My friend and I weren't in the best shape we've ever been in, but we have both run a few half marathons/a few 5ks and sprint tris over the past few years. But it's been a solid two years since I've run anything over a 5k, for time. (just to give you some insight into our athletic abilities/how in shape we were) I would do this again without a doubt!
(52) I booked through my hotel and the guide arrived at my hotel at 01.45 to take me to the mountain with the hopes we will make it to the top by sunrise (approx 06.30). I'm not in the greatest of shape and was nursing a knee injury, but I was stubborn and really wanted to make the climb. I had read reviews that this would be tough, so was somewhat prepared (mentally at least!).\n\nMy guide was very patient and helpful. We had to stop several times to rest and take in the view. On two occasions it started to rain and lightning and we sought refuge under some rocks for the weather to pass. This meant missing the sunrise but we got to the top just after and it was still absolutely incredible! Unlike anything I've ever seen before.\n\nThe walk down was the toughest part by far, however. Not only are you already exhausted, but the constant downhill trek did a number on my toes, knees and thighs. But again, once you get to the bottom, it's an incredible feeling.\n\nDoor to door the entire experience took me about 12 hours. Slow, I know, but totally worth it.\n\nSuffice to say, DEFINITELY worth it, but just try to get into some kind of shape before you go so you can make the most of it.
(53) Myself and 2   went to the mountain with a hired driver. Left at 2am to get there from Seminyak and planned to hike without a guide.\n\nWhen we arrived at the village road we got pulled over by \Security\" to pay a ticket entry which was 330,000 IDR each which we had no idea about. Then when we arrived at the car park we tried to follow the path to the mountain with a group of other tourists, but we got harassed every step of the way by several men asking who was our guide, threatening us to go back to the office and pay ticket entry or they won't let us go further.\nThey blocked our path and around 10 men aggresivly surrounded us shouting to go back until we submitted. We haggled the price but still didn't have as much money as they asked (due to the extra ticket fee before hand) so they forced us into a car to go to an atm to get the money for them. Our driver advised us to go with them. Very scary.\n\nIf you can get past these people it's a very simple and easy hike up with no guide needed and bumper to bumper tourists... But it's not worth it for the aggregation and intimidation for what should be a nice morning out. It made us all very upset.\n\nOnce we paid up, the guide (who previously intimidated us) was suddenly very relaxed and pleasant. Gave a good tour and showed us shortcuts up the hill. Took some good photos of us but had limited knowledge on the area. Just a few facts recited over and over.\n\nThe views were amazing once the clouds cleared. Well worth the trip, but just hire a tour guide and haggle the price. Not worth feeling scared for a view."
(54) We got picked up at 2 am and reached the start of the climb around 3:30 am. We started the climb in private tour with cost around 600k idr each. Once you arrive to the top it can be a bit cold so take it into account. I strongly recommend private tour as the volcano is not like walking on the park. Some part are extremely dangerous and the guided at this point come into hero.\n\nI saw a woman abandoned by her guide due to joining a group tour. The guide was not able stayed with the slower guest who only wanted to go as far as sunset point.
(55) We are relatively healthy and sporty 35 year olds and while the hike itself is not particularly difficult, we were somewhat overwhelmed by the sheer number of people (we are talking a few hundred). It seems like this track is a massive money making scheme where you are only allowed to go up the mountain with a dedicated local guide who does not really provide much information or helps you out. It is not an enjoyable track either as you are basically walking on broken pieces of volcanic terrain/loose rocks which keep on moving under you feet and get pushed down towards the person behind you. We saw a lot of people falling and getting hurt/breaking their expensive cameras. And even if you don’t fall yourself (which we didn’t) there is no guarantee that somebody in front of you don’t fall and basically takes you down with them. Also we could see a few stones being disturbed by the people in front of us (there is a long line of people in front of you all of whom are navigating using a torch and given that the path is very narrow and very steep at times you are unable to overtake) and if one of the big stones fell down somebody could have really been hurt. The sunrise was ok - if you ever went skiing you would have seen very similar views already and it certainly not worth waking up at 2am for. I would very much recommend having a good nights sleep and do a cycling tour instead or a general guided tour of the area.\n​
(56) We did not go up the mountain but we hd a drink at a restaurant on the edge of a near mountain and with a view of the vulcano.\nIf is worth it! You can see 2 volcanos and a lake, the view is splendid.
(57) This was a great hike and you shouldn't miss this if you go to Bali-- amazing views of Mount Agung and you may even see lombok if it is clear. You will work up a sweat on the way up but if you are in reasonably good shape it is not too difficult. I wore Keens with socks and a couple of layers on the top and it worked out fine. A headlamp would be really useful (we forgot ours but the flashlight app on our phones worked fine or your guide will probably have flashlights). After you watch the sunrise and see the big crater ask your guide to take you to see the other crater. Only a few people went there the morning of our climb-- it is beautiful and there were all kinds of steam holes (you can cook eggs and bananas if you want!), and the hike down that way was stunning.
(58) We climbed Batur for the sunrise walk with a beautiful young happy guide who was only 20. We were very lucky and had a clear night. The stars were amazing walking up and watching the sunrise over the lakes and mountains was so beautiful. Monkeys up there too and you can see steam emerging from cracks. Its a hard walk but so worth it.
(59) This was our #1 experience on our recent visit to Bali.\n\nAwesome views, something completely different. It's a great way to see natural Bali at its best.\n\nWe booked and climbed with \Hike Mount Batur at Sunrise via a Private Path with Locals with Gede\" booked through govoyagin.com\n\nSpectacular. An early start (1am collection) and 4am hike from the base of the mountain. A 1 1/2-2 hour ascent of over 600m to the summit in pitch blackness with torches in a small group of 6. A moderate level of difficulty but so worth the effort. We had two 13 year old girls with us who did the climb very well. At the top you get to watch the sunrise which is simply amazing. After breakfast cooked over the volcano's steam fissures you make a slow descent with your guide giving a commentary on the historical and religious significance of the mountain. What we didn't know was the tour company is contracted to the local government to provide the tours which makes it all the more worth it to us. Our guide was excellent and only too willing to take photographs of our group. We were dropped back to the villa at midday, completely shattered for the next day, however would we do it again? Definitely.\n\nMake sure you layer your clothes - you'll be hot on the way up but freezing at the summit!\n\nAs an added bonus you'll get to see monkeys, too."
(60) Stayed in Ubud, and picked up by the travel who arranged our hiking trip to Mount Batur at 2.30am at our hotel. Package cost us IDR 350K (local tourist price) incl. breakfast (bear in mind it's not a big breakfast, just plain bread, banana, boiled egg + hot tea).\nFrom Ubud to Kintamani took us around an hr, we started hiking at around 3.30am. They provided us flashlight. To get to the peak and see the sunrise we spent 2hrs, with average pace. On the top, we got to enjoy our breakfast and the sunrise :) Very beautiful indeed, with the mountain reflecting on the Batur Lake, magnificent view!