“Mount Batur – an experience I will never forget”
After touring different places in Bali for 3 days, I finally made it to Lake Batur and decided to do Mt Batur trekking the next morning. It was a thing I always wanted to do and it was part of the itinerary proposed by my guide that I engaged from World Heritage Network who specializes in arranging tours and travel guide for tourist like me.
Mountain hiking isn't easy especially to Mount Batur which stands at 1717m above sea level. That means, a hiker would have to expect 2km of walking up to the crater and another 2km down. Based on my experience, Mt Batur hiking is not for the unfit, this includes overweight individuals, old folks, kids. In fact, those without proper shoes with traction will tend to wear out fast and will quit before reaching the top. However, if I can make it, so can you, and many Westerners who made it easily. Much thanks to my guide who was not only patient but very professional in guiding me all the way safely to the summit and back to the foot of the mountain later. I don’t think I can ever get up safely or comfortably without my guide leading me every step of the way. Believe me you can never do it alone as it was rather too risky to trek solo in this mountain. If you wish to have a travel guide that not only guide you but keep you safe during this strenuous climb, you can email them: worldheritage101@yahoo.com or you can check out their website with more info (which I found it really helpful in planning my trip to Bali): www.baliparadisetour.blogspot.com
Sunrise, and it's beautiful. What you can expect to see is a good view of the sunrise and beautiful view of the plains of Mt Batur below. But it is the journey through the tough terrains of Batur that makes your hiking trip something to be proud to finish the hiking (at least for me bcos I made it after 6 times I felt want to quit). At the peak of Mt Batur, there's a retreat camp where visitors get to sit and rest with chairs and tables, some outdoor wooden stools to admire the beauty of nature's sunrise (we may not see it in 10 years time due to global warming). Some guests get to have breakfast as part of their hiking package, some simply enjoy the view with their SLR cameras. For me, I enjoy the view, the photography, the breakfast and best of all, the feeling of successfully made it after a strong determination of defeating the evil part of me that tells me to quit.
About the trekking to Mount Batur, it is NOT FOR AMATEURS and UNFIT. I started off from the hotel at Lake Batur at 3am with my driver guide. He drove off reaching the carpark where most visitors will start their hiking. It was cold at 15'C. Why the chill temperature? I have no idea. Was told to bring a jacket to keep warm.
At 4am, I started the walk with the guide. The sky was superbly clear, can see the sky painted with stars (like the song by Enya "Paint the sky with stars". The temperature then was very cold at 15'C because of the morning cool I guess. As I keep walking about almost 1km before reaching the slope, that was where I started panting. The walk is about 2 hours, it should be 1 km flat walk, 1km slope walk. The slope walk was the killer, I stopped 6 times with heavy breath and had almost 6 times to quit and felt like want to return to the base camp at the foothill. The guide asked me to rest. I know every rest is useful for unfit fellas like me in order to continue to finish the trekking to the top. I counted, I stopped 6 times, each climb was very steep and every thigh muscle you pull, it will take your muscle to move an 87kg body upwards to lift to another step. As far as my memory recalls, I had even small tip toe steps to continue the hike. At one time, my body was completely flacid, losing strength to even hold my grip. I had to rest and rest every 5 mins. Every time when rested, every step I climb was heavy breath.
The guide was encouraging me that we are almost there pointing upwards. When I look upward, it was another 10 storeys high. Those who made it, had good stamina, able to control their breath and maintain metabolism. It was tough for me but upon some screams from my wife who was already at the top that she is there and it's just a few steps, I hustle up and I made it, panting the way through and was glad to reach the top (I wouldn't do it a 2nd time).
The sunrise was nice, it was actually the wait for the sunrise which was the good part, and the sigh of relief after a strenous trek of 2kms (2 hours of walking). In my opinion this trekking is for fit people, not for any tourist without preparation. After the hiking, I had breakfast of boiled eggs and bread with steam banana. Taking a pee would have to pay 5000rp. Tea will cost you 10000rp. A coke will cost you 25000rp. It makes sense to bring 1litre of water to get up there. I was having only a 500ml water and it wasn't enough. Was it worth the sweat, the trouble of getting up there? Yes it is, it's a test of will, a test of your body and mind. I'm a very unfit person and it was the will of determination that I pull myself up, telling my lower limbs that this is the test where you can lift yourself. Other than the sunrise which is the resulting goal, I do agree that another great view is the sky with the stars. I've never seen such bright stars in the night sky before. That was something awesome for those who knew what I meant. At the top, the guide also brought us to visit the crater which I think is very dangerous, one fall, you'll never see life again. There is a plain up the crater which looks over Lombok, Mt Agung and the lake below. It was beautiful there.
Walking up the volcano and down to the foothill has a different problem...you use your muscle to pull yourself up, and you use your muscle to brake when walking down. I had near muscle cramps after almost 1.5 hours of braking when going down slope. My advise is always wear tracking shoe with good traction and gripping, never wear sandals. I saw a girl who was wearing sandals and I pity her, if she ever had foot cramps or blisters later. The problem of walking down the slopes is always the thigh muscles that have to brake to support your weight which stress your muscle and will go into injury if continuous stress to the muscle goes on. It happened to me...near cramps and I knew...I had to go slow. Pls be advised, never test yourself when you have near cramps....cos when u have cramps, you cant proceed anymore for at least half an hour. The entire camp will hate you for that. Walk slowly, prevent cramps, time is not running out when it comes to Mt Batur, unless the volcano unleashes it's lava flow. In the end, it was a great experience I will never forget.
...Commented by Panaptuk Pann, Phuket, Thailand
About the trekking to Mount Batur, it is NOT FOR AMATEURS and UNFIT. I started off from the hotel at Lake Batur at 3am with my driver guide. He drove off reaching the carpark where most visitors will start their hiking. It was cold at 15'C. Why the chill temperature? I have no idea. Was told to bring a jacket to keep warm.
At 4am, I started the walk with the guide. The sky was superbly clear, can see the sky painted with stars (like the song by Enya "Paint the sky with stars". The temperature then was very cold at 15'C because of the morning cool I guess. As I keep walking about almost 1km before reaching the slope, that was where I started panting. The walk is about 2 hours, it should be 1 km flat walk, 1km slope walk. The slope walk was the killer, I stopped 6 times with heavy breath and had almost 6 times to quit and felt like want to return to the base camp at the foothill. The guide asked me to rest. I know every rest is useful for unfit fellas like me in order to continue to finish the trekking to the top. I counted, I stopped 6 times, each climb was very steep and every thigh muscle you pull, it will take your muscle to move an 87kg body upwards to lift to another step. As far as my memory recalls, I had even small tip toe steps to continue the hike. At one time, my body was completely flacid, losing strength to even hold my grip. I had to rest and rest every 5 mins. Every time when rested, every step I climb was heavy breath.
The guide was encouraging me that we are almost there pointing upwards. When I look upward, it was another 10 storeys high. Those who made it, had good stamina, able to control their breath and maintain metabolism. It was tough for me but upon some screams from my wife who was already at the top that she is there and it's just a few steps, I hustle up and I made it, panting the way through and was glad to reach the top (I wouldn't do it a 2nd time).
The sunrise was nice, it was actually the wait for the sunrise which was the good part, and the sigh of relief after a strenous trek of 2kms (2 hours of walking). In my opinion this trekking is for fit people, not for any tourist without preparation. After the hiking, I had breakfast of boiled eggs and bread with steam banana. Taking a pee would have to pay 5000rp. Tea will cost you 10000rp. A coke will cost you 25000rp. It makes sense to bring 1litre of water to get up there. I was having only a 500ml water and it wasn't enough. Was it worth the sweat, the trouble of getting up there? Yes it is, it's a test of will, a test of your body and mind. I'm a very unfit person and it was the will of determination that I pull myself up, telling my lower limbs that this is the test where you can lift yourself. Other than the sunrise which is the resulting goal, I do agree that another great view is the sky with the stars. I've never seen such bright stars in the night sky before. That was something awesome for those who knew what I meant. At the top, the guide also brought us to visit the crater which I think is very dangerous, one fall, you'll never see life again. There is a plain up the crater which looks over Lombok, Mt Agung and the lake below. It was beautiful there.
Walking up the volcano and down to the foothill has a different problem...you use your muscle to pull yourself up, and you use your muscle to brake when walking down. I had near muscle cramps after almost 1.5 hours of braking when going down slope. My advise is always wear tracking shoe with good traction and gripping, never wear sandals. I saw a girl who was wearing sandals and I pity her, if she ever had foot cramps or blisters later. The problem of walking down the slopes is always the thigh muscles that have to brake to support your weight which stress your muscle and will go into injury if continuous stress to the muscle goes on. It happened to me...near cramps and I knew...I had to go slow. Pls be advised, never test yourself when you have near cramps....cos when u have cramps, you cant proceed anymore for at least half an hour. The entire camp will hate you for that. Walk slowly, prevent cramps, time is not running out when it comes to Mt Batur, unless the volcano unleashes it's lava flow. In the end, it was a great experience I will never forget.
...Commented by Panaptuk Pann, Phuket, Thailand
"Mt Batur - The best trekking mountain in Bali...”
I think I will always remember Bali in my last trip and the amazing experience in trekking Mt Batur. Actually I was quite excited about the whole thing. I'd read so many things about this hike and while everyone goes on and on about how difficult it is, it is also considered breathtaking. So I was really looking forward to it and my excitement kept me awake all through the journey.
Then we got to the start of the trek by the Association office (HPPGB), and let our guide from WORLD HERITAGE NETWORK that we hired to handle the business. Thanks to our guide, that we need not have to meet up with these people from the Association after what we heard about them. We went with our guide and off we strolled in what looked (sounded) like a forest in the pitch darkness. We left behind the forest and the volcanic sand, only to start searching the rocky slopes for a foothold -- soon we left behind all the other groups as well. You'll read estimates that the hike takes around 90 minutes or two hours to complete. Well, a lot depends on your equipments and your speed. Knowing that it would only be a relatively short hike (done in the dead of night), we opted for only a couple of very short breaks. It's not really advisable to eat while climbing or to drink cold drinks (these are bad for your body when all your muscles and veins are otherwise hot), so we kept to climbing and only took a couple of pics and deep breaths. =)
Then we got to the start of the trek by the Association office (HPPGB), and let our guide from WORLD HERITAGE NETWORK that we hired to handle the business. Thanks to our guide, that we need not have to meet up with these people from the Association after what we heard about them. We went with our guide and off we strolled in what looked (sounded) like a forest in the pitch darkness. We left behind the forest and the volcanic sand, only to start searching the rocky slopes for a foothold -- soon we left behind all the other groups as well. You'll read estimates that the hike takes around 90 minutes or two hours to complete. Well, a lot depends on your equipments and your speed. Knowing that it would only be a relatively short hike (done in the dead of night), we opted for only a couple of very short breaks. It's not really advisable to eat while climbing or to drink cold drinks (these are bad for your body when all your muscles and veins are otherwise hot), so we kept to climbing and only took a couple of pics and deep breaths. =)
We also had nice hiking shoes that are both comfortable and reliable, so no problems in that department. I saw people attempting the hike in sandals, thongs (and barefoot!), and they were doing, well, I wouldn't say they were doing fine, but they were doing it, so I guess it's possible. That doesn't mean it's necessarily a nice experience. But sneakers are fine, I guess, if you don't feel like investing in anything else.
All that said, it took us an hour to get to the first shelter, and from there we just walked over to the second, at our leisure, not feeling the need to press on. So basically if took us 70 minutes to get to our vantage point, well ahead of the others -- and the sunset. =) Many people stayed at the lower hut, but I think it's foolish. Once you've climbed so far, it's an easy stroll to the second, higher point. You can also go to the top, 200 meters above the second hut, but we didn't bother.
I really enjoyed this hike. It's fun doing it in almost complete darkness, watching your step, while holding a torch (you'll need one) as if onto some mischief, or using a headlamp, just like cave experts. And looking back at the long serpent of little lights all through the valley -- our fellow climbers. ;) It was definitely huge fun, if sometimes demanding (think ascending long stairs with considerable distance between steps), and I'm still laughing at our guide's comments about starting as the twelfth group and finishing as the second.
I really enjoyed this hike. It's fun doing it in almost complete darkness, watching your step, while holding a torch (you'll need one) as if onto some mischief, or using a headlamp, just like cave experts. And looking back at the long serpent of little lights all through the valley -- our fellow climbers. ;) It was definitely huge fun, if sometimes demanding (think ascending long stairs with considerable distance between steps), and I'm still laughing at our guide's comments about starting as the twelfth group and finishing as the second.
The sunrise was truly amazing (video coming up!), but I have to warn everyone that it is unimaginably cold up there. Not so much the temperature but the wind. So take a jacket or sweater, and definitely take a clean T-shirt. Otherwise, what you'll get is a nasty cold. (I'll tell you, I was enumerating silently all the jackets and sweaters I had left in Geneva...) We warmed ourselves with the incredibly hot, sweet tea our guide got us. But we were fine, huddled like penguins, till the first rays appeared around 5.45am. Around 6am the sun started to appear, and in like 5 minutes it took its place above the clouds. From then on, there was not much for us to watch.
We had a breakfast of boiled eggs and "banana sandwiches" and decided to take the longest way down. There are at least 3 ways to climb down from this point. You can take the same path or similar, directly down. You can also do a small tour of the top crater (+30 mins). What we did was the longest tour, including the top crater and some of the outer treks, all round to a path that leads down. On the way we checked out the hot, steaming holes in the ground (the mountain's nostrils, so to say) and the older and newer lava flows of all the eruptions. We started the descent at 6.30 and by 9 we were already heading home in the car. So I'd say the crater rim, etc. took us around 90 minutes, plus the 45 minute descent. The longer trek is really worth it, if you're interested in volcano stuff. =) Also, there's no more real climbing, so it's rewarding as well.
Our guidebook told us that it is inevitable to pay the Association around US$30-40, and we have our guide to tag along as we felt much more secure with our own guide. He was really nice, even when we changed our mind and wanted to do the long trip. Our "package" covered only the shortest one, and he explained to us that he wouldn't ask for more money, for him it's more important that we like it and we can tip him whatever we consider fair. He mentioned that most people tip around US$10-20, so we tipped him $10 in the end and I thought it was alright. He was really nice, and got us breakfast, seeing how hungry we were, even though our hotel "forgot" to pay him for that. I think the most important thing to make trip like trekking this volcano is to engage a good guide and we were so lucky that we did. If you looking for reliable, trust worthy and reputed kind English speaking guide, you can email them: worldheritage101@yahoo.com or you can check out their website which is very useful and informative:
www.baliparadisetour.blogspot.com with a lot of pictures and infos of the tour. On the whole, I think it was a good deal and we had a wonderful time with our guide from this network where we will never ever forget. This is a trekking trip that you will always want to do once in your lifetime and tell everyone okay I did it when I was in Bali.
...Commented by Moon Parasithun, Bangkok, Thailand
