Climbing Batur. Batur Volcano – climbing to the top or independent ascent at dawn Climbing Batur Volcano

Volcanoes in Bali are three peaks located in the central and eastern parts of the island. Two of them are active. There are also several dozen extinct and sleeping ones. They form a large mountain range in the central part of the island. The mountains in Bali are sacred and play an important role in the religious practices of the locals. In recent decades, the peaks have become popular among tourists.

You can learn more about them by clicking on one of the names below. And in this article I want to talk about the general characteristics of all the mountains and volcanoes of the island, as well as why they may be interesting.

The island's attractions are very diverse. There are ancient temples, beautiful natural parks, rivers with waterfalls, beaches, and much more. On the site, all interesting places are divided into categories. You are currently in the "Mountains and Volcanoes" category. To find out about other attractions, go to the “Places by Category” section and click the button with the desired name. You can see the full list of objects by clicking the “All places” button.

Description of volcanoes and mountains

The island of Bali, like all of Indonesia, is part of the huge Pacific Ring of Fire. It is located at the point of contact between oceanic, island and continental lithospheric plates. The ring stretches from New Zealand, through Oceania, the east coast of Asia, Kamchatka, the Aleutian Islands and the west coast of North and South America. The belt is interrupted only off the coast of Antarctica, near the state of California in the USA and Vancouver in Canada.

In the region of the largest ocean on Earth there are three ocean plates - the Pacific itself and two small ones - Nazca and Cocos. The Indo-Australian, Philippine and Eurasian plates are also adjacent here. Oceanic plates gradually subduct under continental or island plates, since their density is higher. Sometimes it even sinks into the earth's mantle. This phenomenon is called subduction. It leads to the formation of active volcanoes where lithospheric plates interact, and earthquakes constantly occur here. Thus, 75% of all active volcanoes on our planet are located in the Pacific Belt of Fire and almost 90% of earthquakes are recorded.

Bali is located in the subduction zone of the Indo-Australian and Pacific plates under the Sunda plate (part of the Eurasian plate). At the bottom of the ocean, at the junction of lithospheric plates, the Sunda or Java Trench is formed with high seismic and volcanic activity. The geological age of the Bali mountains is relatively young (approximately 200-500 million years, some mountains were formed 20 million years ago). They belong to the Paleozoic, Mesozoic era, Neogene and Quaternary periods.

Now I will tell you about the volcanoes and mountains themselves.

General characteristics of mountains and volcanoes

The mountain range stretches from west to east, dividing the island into northern and southern parts, and significantly influences the climate. In the northern half it is dry, in the southern half it is wet. That is why there are more rivers in the south and agriculture associated with rice cultivation and irrigation is developed. It is much colder in the mountains than on the plains. There is a lot of precipitation here and there are dense fogs. If you are going on an excursion to mountainous areas, bring warm clothes.

All mountains and volcanoes on the island can be characterized by the following parameters:

1. By height
2. On infrastructure development

1. Height

Here we can roughly distinguish three types:

• More than 2,000 meters – 7 peaks
• More than 1,000 meters, but less than 2,000 meters – 22 peaks
• Less than 1,000 meters - the exact number is unknown, since this definition includes small hills and elevations that are difficult to count

All active volcanoes in Bali are over 1,000 meters high; the tallest of them is , its height is 3,142 meters. , which is located in the caldera of the Bratan volcano, is the second highest (2276 meters). occupies only 13th place among all peaks, its height is 1717 meters. On the edge of its caldera there is another peak, Abang. It is part of an old large volcano. The height of Abang is 215 2 meters.

2. Infrastructure:

• Absent
  Such peaks are rarely visited by tourists. Their slopes are overgrown with forest, there are almost no paths or they are difficult to climb. On the top or slope there may be small temples or altars, often dilapidated and rarely visited.

• Poorly developed infrastructure
  Most often such mountains are found in the north of the island. Near their foot there are always 1-2 villages, at the top there is a small temple. Sometimes on the slopes you can see rice terraces, coffee plantations, and orchards. There are narrow roads and hiking trails, but the entire infrastructure is designed exclusively for local residents.

• Well developed infrastructure
  These are popular peaks among tourists, which are regularly climbed. There are well developed routes here. Near the foot you can find parking lots, cafes, restaurants, and hotels. Local guides offer guiding services. Also included in this category are mountains with large rice terraces and plantations. The infrastructure is also well developed near the large mountain temples, where pilgrims come from all over the island.

Specific characteristics of volcanoes

Almost all the mountains on the island were once volcanoes or formed on the slopes of calderas.

Now there are officially three real volcanoes:

• Bro

There are some characteristics that can be attributed exclusively to volcanoes. All of them belong to the central type. This means that in the middle of the mountain there is a trench about 20 km deep (this is exactly the thickness of the lithospheric plate in this region). The lower part of the volcanic vent reaches the earth's mantle with magma, the upper part ends with an expansion - a crater. Some volcanoes may form additional craters.

Volcanoes can be classified according to the following criteria:

1. By activity
2. By shape
3. By number of craters
4. By type of post-volcanic phenomena

Below are detailed characteristics of volcanoes for each category.

1. By activity

• Active - erupted within the last 3500 years
• Dormant – eruptions occurred between 35,00 and 10,000 years
• Extinct - have not erupted for more than 10,000 years

As I already said, there are two active volcanoes on the island - and. They are located in the province of Kintamani on the east coast. The last eruption of Agung was recorded in 1963. Batur has been active three times in the last 100 years - in 1917, 1963 and 2000. The most destructive eruption occurred in 1917. The last activity of the volcano began in 2017. Read more about this in the section Volcano Agung - news.
The third volcano, Bratan, is considered extinct; the date of its last eruption is unknown. Most likely, it was several thousand years ago.

2. According to the form

• Stratovolcanoes
• Calderas

The stratovolcano is formed as a result of periodic eruptions; lava, ash and hot slag are deposited in layers on its slopes. The crater at the stratovolcano resembles a funnel with concave edges. Sometimes lava flows out of side cracks, and after it hardens, specific stone corridors are formed on the volcano.

A caldera is a negative landform. It is formed after multiple volcanic eruptions over a short period. Under its base, voids appear into which part of the earth's surface falls. Often part of the caldera fills with water, forming lakes. Calderas can be seen near the Batur and Bratan volcanoes. Moreover, the Batur caldera is considered one of the largest in the world.

3. By the number of craters

• With one crater
• With several craters

Mount Agung has one crater. And Batur has three. Bratan Volcano is a huge caldera, along the edge of which there are several peaks with the remains of old craters.

4. By type of post-volcanic phenomena

• With fumaroles
• With hot springs

Fumaroles are small cracks on the slopes of a volcano from which steam and gases escape. You can see them on Batur. The steam temperature is so high that you can easily cook food in them. There are hot springs in the Bratana caldera and near Batur.

Volcanoes largely determine the island's topography and soil composition. Thanks to their activities, lakes appeared here, fertile land that can produce 3-4 crops per year. Even the black and gray color of the sand on the beaches is associated with eruptions and emissions of volcanic ash.

Volcanoes and mountains on the map

The Balinese believe that gods live on the mountain tops and come down to earth on major holidays. The most revered peak is Agung; on its slopes there is the sacred complex of Pura Besakih - “Mother of all temples”. The patron of the shrine is Shiva (in the Balinese version, Batara Mehadeva), personifying the masculine principle. There is also a temple near Batur, it is dedicated to the water goddess Devi Danu. In addition, there are small temples of local significance on almost every mountain.

For tourists, the volcanoes of Bali, like the local mountains, are, first of all, interesting and exciting climbing routes. Particularly beautiful views open from the peaks at dawn, when the first rays of the sun illuminate the island. The most popular routes among travelers are the routes to the craters and. In articles about these volcanoes you can learn more about them.

One of the main attractions in Bali is Mount Batur. All tourists on the island definitely come here: either just to look at the famous active volcano and drink coffee in a restaurant overlooking it (like us), or to conquer it and watch the sunrise at the top. We did not dare to climb the volcano at night or even during the day with a 5-year-old child, and we came to Batur just to admire the views.

Gunung Batur is an active volcano in Bali, which is what makes it interesting. The most destructive eruption of Batur was recorded in 1917: then more than 1,000 people died, more than 65,000 houses and temples were destroyed.

Solidified volcanic rock in the Batura crater

Its last eruption occurred in 1964: then lava destroyed 16 houses of a village located in the valley. But after this, various kinds of activity often occurred. So, in 2000, there was a powerful emission of ash to a height of as much as 300 meters. And in 2011, a release of sulfur dioxide was recorded, which is why a lot of dead fish were observed in the lake of the same name. All this volcanic activity does not seem to bother the local residents living right in the Batur caldera at all: they are in no hurry to change their place of residence.

The Balinese are some of the most superstitious and religious people in the world: altars with offerings can be found in the most unexpected places!

Volcano Batur in Bali has two craters: the diameter of the outer one is 14×10 km; in this caldera (that is, the basin of a volcano with a flat bottom) there are villages and quite ordinary life goes on. Inside it there is a second crater, smaller - 6.5 × 9.5 km. It is this mountain that tourists climb.

The gentle slope of Batur volcano

The height of the volcano is 1717 meters. Quite a bit, the climb to Batur will only take a couple of hours. But climbing it on your own, without a tour and local guides, is quite problematic: they simply won’t let you through, because this is their main income.

Another attraction near the Batur volcano is the lake of the same name. It was formed at the bottom of the crater as a result of volcanic activity more than 20 thousand years ago. The lake is quite large: 8 km long and 3 km wide. And this is a very unusual lake.

On its shores there are several villages, called local “lake stars”. Among them is the village of Trunyan, which is not quite usual for us, where the Bali-Aga people live. These are people who profess animism (worship of nature), while the rest of the population of Bali professes Hinduism. While it is customary for other Balinese people to cremate the bodies of the dead, the Bali Aghas place them under the sacred “fragrant” Menyan banyan tree in their “cemetery.” To prevent the bodies from being eaten by wild animals, special cages are built around them. When only bones remain from the body, they are placed in a common pile not far from the tree. By the way, everyone who has visited the unusual cemetery claims that there are no unpleasant odors there. This is usually explained by special essential oils released by the sacred tree.

The tradition of taking the dead under the roots of a tree has become a good way for local Trunyans to make money. You can only get to this cemetery by boat, and almost any resident of the village will offer you such an excursion for 500 thousand rupees ($37). This is a considerable sum for the crossing, but for less, no one will get tourists across the lake. Along the way, local “guides” intimidate tourists with creepy “keepers” of secrets living in the cemetery, who do not like tourists. Our driver told us that local residents can steal from and harm visitors without a twinge of conscience, so he strongly advised us not to go to the famous creepy “cemetery.”

Volcano Batur on the map: how to get there

You can visit the famous Batur volcano in Bali with an organized excursion purchased at any beach in Bali. The cost of the excursion is on average $30 per person. This includes tickets to the observation deck, an English-speaking or even Russian-speaking guide, entry into the monkey forest and coffee plantations.

We rented a car with a driver for the whole day for 500 thousand rupees ($37) and during this time we visited several interesting places on the island. Since we rented a large car with friends, it turned out to be very profitable (compared to an excursion).

Restaurant overlooking the volcano on the edge of a cliff

Of course, you can rent a bike and get to Batur on your own. This will be the cheapest option. You can get to the volcano from the most popular area of ​​Kuta using the map:

There is a buffet restaurant on the observation deck. By paying only $4, you can eat delicious and beautiful Indonesian or European food and drink a cup of coffee while enjoying a gorgeous view.

Lunch with a view of the volcano: unforgettable

What is the best way to go to the volcano: take a tour or do it on your own?

Basically, there are the following ways:

1. Buy an excursion to be picked up from anywhere in Bali and taken to the volcano, and then back to the hotel. Sleep in a minivan and go there and back.
2. Arrive to the volcano on your own at night by taxi or bike

• pay for entrance and guide, climb with a guide
• pay only for entry, save on a guide

1. Arrive early at one of the hotels on Lake Batur or check in after the climb. It depends on your availability of time and money; you can stay for one or several nights, pay extra for early entry or late check-out.

What are the pitfalls?

Whatever option you choose, you need to take into account that the ascent begins around three in the morning, and the drive from the tourist south of Bali is not that close:

🚗 Ubud - Batur = 40 km, drive about 1.5 hours.

🚗 Kuta - Batur = 80 km, about 3 hours drive.

🚗 Changu - Batur = 70 km, drive about 2.5 hours.

That is, you will be picked up from the hotel somewhere at 12 or one in the morning, it’s good if you can sleep in the evening or in the car. And if not? Imagine this plague-like state, and you still have to climb the mountain! And if you ride a bike in the middle of the night without getting enough sleep, then the pleasure will be even more dubious...

Therefore, we chose the third option. We arrived on our bike to Lake Batur the day before the ascent. We checked into a lovely hotel for 2 nights. The first night we went to bed early and set the alarm for 2.30. We climbed Batur. After the climb we were able to sleep during the day, swim in the pool, spend another night and leave in the morning, full of strength.

How much does it cost to climb Batur?

💰Admission = 100.000 rupees per person

💰Guide services = 400,000 rupees for a group of up to 4 people.

The hotel offered us a tour for at least 800,000 rupees for two.

Excursion companies offer this tour for 1,400,000 - 900,000 rupees per person. The more you are in the group, the better the price.

🛵And one more moment for those who decide to go themselves.

At the entrance to the park, we were stopped and asked to purchase tickets for 30,000 rupees and an insurance policy of 1,000. Honestly, the “employees” with receipts did not inspire confidence, because they simply stopped passing cars and bikes. But they were given money for visiting the 📌 “UNESCO-protected Geopark”

In total, visiting Batur cost us:

Climbing = 600,000 rupees + tea, water

Hotel for 2 nights with breakfast = 800,000 rupees

Is it worth hiring a guide?

💰Some especially thrifty tourists think like this: everyone goes up the mountain along the same path, I won’t pay extra money for a guide. However! If you decide to go without a guide, be prepared for the fact that you will encounter pronounced dissatisfaction on the part of the guides, and they will immediately see “street children” in the crowd. They may curse you (they saw it in person), they may damage your transport, or even start a fight (these horror stories are often written about on the Internet).

Our personal opinion. After you overcome this difficult path and understand the price of a guide’s work, you will also want to give him a bonus for his courage and willpower, because what we consider a personal feat, they do every day!

What to take with you to Batur?

At 3:30 we were at the entrance, the location was marked on the map

It was already quite lively, sleepy tourists with flashlights were already going somewhere. We went to the ticket office and paid for the entrance and the guide. The guides are standing right there at the ticket office. There is no haggling about the price or slaughter for the client, all guides wait their turn. Our guide turned out to be a young guy, short, who spoke very little English. 🔦He gave us flashlights, we bought water and at 3:50 we set off.

Mini-groups of 3-6 people constantly overtook each other and us, then we overtook them, but everyone confidently stomped forward in the dark along the asphalt. Suddenly we left the asphalt and began to move along a narrow path among the bushes. Everyone lined up behind each other. 🌟You could see a stream of lanterns flowing up the slope, in the dark it was a very beautiful sight🌟.

Pieces of volcanic rock were already visible under our feet, and this is the most difficult thing - to carefully step on the stones so as not to twist your foot. And so absolutely all the way: first gravel, sometimes cobblestones, just keep your eyes peeled!

🔮At some point, when we were already climbing up, I realized that I was so concentrated on my legs and steps that I couldn’t see anything around, as if I had fallen into a meditative state. One step, another, excellent, neat, forward, higher, another step.

• Only sneakers or closed, comfortable shoes. No flip flops or other beach shoes. Small pebbles are sharp and even get into sneakers. Everyone climbs close to each other, at arm's length. Sand and stones may fall on you from the person walking ahead.
• About temperature and warm clothes. Sweatshirts will not hurt you, because at night it is generally cool in this area. We were lucky with the weather, the huge moon was shining, the sky was clear, there was practically no wind. Therefore, when we started climbing, it immediately became hot and we tied sweaters on our lower backs. Then it was just sweat and tears =) Just kidding, no one cried, but it was very hot.
• Water! Often, but in a couple of sips. Take at least a liter for two.
• Change of clothes. No kidding. A spare T-shirt and maybe even a small towel. You will be soaking wet when you climb to the top of the volcano, and there is a piercing wind blowing there. It will be cold until the sun rises. Then you’ll be pouring a new T-shirt on during the descent 😉
• Raincoats. These are mountains and tropics. There’s no way to predict the weather; it’s better to have raincoats in your backpack. By the way, they help well against the icy wind at the top 😉
• Iodine and patch. In case someone slipped or cut themselves on the porous rock. It's better to process it right away.

All! Don’t take anything extra, every hundred grams will seem like a heavy burden to you.

Is it difficult to climb Batur? 😯

Our common opinion with Zhenya is 8 out of 10. At some point, our legs become wooden, then weak, they don’t want to listen to you, but in general we didn’t have that moment when someone sat down and said: “I can’t take it anymore.” .

✨💭It was harder for me to cope with dizziness. Still, the height made itself felt. We simply asked the guide for small breaks. By the way, it’s better not to sit down during a break. Then it will be really hard. Just drink, catch your breath, and it’s better to sit down a couple of times or shake your limbs to disperse the blood through your cast-iron legs.

Interesting "crowd effect" works, when you think that you are about to give up, those walking behind you literally step on your heels. 👀And you think that all these people, and there were hundreds and a half of them, are doing this and you can do it!

⏰The whole climb took about two hours to the highest point. But we met the dawn not on it, but a little lower. This means that either we walked slowly, or we should have left at 3.00.

All the effort is worth it!

It is impossible to describe in words the picture that opens from the heights of Batur! This is something unimaginable! You are standing right in front of the mountain at the other end of the caldera, it is even higher than Batur, it is called Abang (2150 m), and behind it you can see the top of the head! At first we didn’t even understand it, but then our guide explained it. And because of these monolithic monsters, the bright sun rises, the sky is filled with incredible colors. It’s getting brighter so quickly that you want to scream and stop the moment. We haven’t seen enough of the lake, the smoking craters, the frozen lava at the foot... 🎈🎈🎈and I’m also having a jam day! 😀 Let's blow up the balloons. And how smart our guide is for taking a picture of us at that moment, so tired, but sincerely happy, tying the balls with some kind of string, because no threads were found =)) Because when we tied the balls together, a stream of wind simply tore them out hands... The wind decided to give them to Batur, but we don’t mind!

Gunung Batur is an active volcano on the island of Bali in the Kintamani region, its height is 1717 meters.

In this article I will give a detailed description of the Batur volcano, tell you how to get to it and what to see nearby. For those planning to visit this attraction, I will give some useful tips.

Batur is one of two active volcanoes in Bali. It is located in the eastern part of the island, in the Kintamani region. This area is about 3,68 square kilometers and is home to the volcano itself, the lake of the same name at its foot, as well as several villages.

Kintamani region where the volcano is located

Kintamani is a caldera, that is, a pit formed as a result of the collapse of a volcano. 5,00,000 years ago, a huge mountain with a crater on the top formed in this area. After a powerful eruption that occurred approximately 30,000 years ago, a large amount of rock was thrown out of its vent. In this regard, the thinned walls of the volcano collapsed, forming a depression with a flat bottom 13.8 km long and 10 km wide. Gunung Batur, often called the “Kintamani volcano,” was formed in this depression.

And another 8,500 years after the next eruptions, a second caldera formed in this area, smaller in size - 6.4x9.4 km. Over time, it was filled with water, and now this caldera is called Lake Batur.

By the way, this is the largest crater lake in the world, even larger than Crater in Oregon, USA. The waters of Batur irrigate local rice fields. Swimming and motor boats are prohibited here.

Another feature is that the water level in the lake does not change at all throughout the year. Local residents often tell a legend that this is due to the fact that the lake is protected by the goddess of water Devi Dana. It is also said that the lake is filled with eleven springs hidden at its bottom. Therefore, even during the dry period it remains full of water.

Another legend says that there was once a village at the bottom of Lake Batur. After the formation of the caldera, it was moved closer to the top of the volcano. Today, there are several villages around the caldera, which are called “lake stars” (danu bintang). Despite the constant danger, the residents of these villages are not going to leave. Firstly, this is due to the fact that moving is a troublesome and expensive matter. Not every Balinese has the money to move to another area of ​​the island. Another reason is that regular eruptions have made the soil in Kintamani incredibly fertile. Here you can harvest several times a year. The lake provides the peasants with fish. In addition, residents make souvenirs from volcanic tuff, of which there is an incredible amount here, and sell them to tourists. There is also a quarry in the caldera where sand is mined.

There are several villages here:

• Kintamani,
• Penelokan,
• Toya Bungkah,
• Batur,
• Kedisan,
• Abung,
• Songan

Description and history of Batur volcano

The top of the volcano is located at an altitude of 1717 meters above sea level. But the cone of the mountain itself has a height of 686 meters. There are three craters here: two of them have a total area of ​​about 182,000 m2, and the third - 46,000 m2.

Now the volcano is silent. But he has shown his power more than once in the past. Since 1800, there have been at least 22 eruptions of varying magnitude. One of the most destructive occurred in 1917. As a result, more than 1,000 people died, 65,000 houses and 2,500 temples were destroyed. In 1964, the volcano came to life again. The eruption was less violent, but still destroyed 16 buildings in the village at the base.

Ash emissions from the Batur crater occurred much more often. In the first half of the 20th century there were three of them - in 1926, 1929 and 1947. The last of these emissions occurred in 2000. Then the column of ash rose to a height of 300 meters. The local residents were very scared - after all, by that time the volcano had been silent for almost half a century.

To appease the gods and avoid further disasters, the Balinese held a symbolic ceremony. They sewed a huge sarong several kilometers long and wrapped it around the volcano. A huge number of people from all over the island took part in the ceremony. They came to pray and brought offerings. Whether this helped or not is difficult to say. But one thing is known: since then there have really been no eruptions.

In September 2009, the Balinese recorded seismic activity in the Batur area. Over the course of two months, it intensified, and in November of the same year, the Indonesia Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center joined in monitoring the volcano. Scientists even talked about a possible eruption. However, by June 2010, Batur's activity began to decline, and continuous monitoring was stopped on November 19.

Since the causes of this anomaly were unknown, scientists decided to explore the area near the volcano and went to Bali in June 2011. In the vicinity of the caldera, a characteristic smell of sulfur dioxide was felt, and on the surface of the lake, scientists found thousands of dead fish. Greenish-white spots were also visible on the water.

This event dealt a serious blow to the island's economy. The water from the lake turned out to be unsuitable for irrigation and drinking for a long time, and the dead fish deprived local fishermen of food and income. When the damage was calculated, it turned out to be one billion rupees.

In 2012, the world organization UNESCO included the territory of the Batur Caldera in the Global Geoparks of the World program. This has made the caldera a geological heritage site of international importance. The assignment of such status is a kind of “quality mark” for a landmark.

Climbing the volcano

Climbing Batur does not require any preparation. In one and a half to two hours you can easily reach the top, making a couple of stops along the way. The main spectacle for which tourists climb the volcano is the sunrise. Watching the sunrise in the crater of an active volcano makes a strong impression and provides an opportunity to take great pictures.

To climb to the top, you need a guide. Local guides can be found at the foot of the volcano, or you can simply book a tour in advance. In both cases, you will be accompanied by a Balinese who speaks English. Independent ascents to Batur are prohibited. There are known cases where tourists were injured and lost in the forests on the slopes of the mountain.

The guides accompanying tourists to the top have walkie-talkies with them (in emergency situations they can contact and request help), they know the route and will guide you to the crater in the safest way. The guides will also help you carry your things and tell you a lot of interesting things about the Kintamani region.

By the way, I can also organize an excursion for you with a climb to Batur. Contact me for details and cost of the climb.

There are several routes to the top of the volcano. They begin in villages located at the foot of Batur. The main trail leads to the southern edge of the caldera. There are several places along the way where you can take a break.

Once at the top, you will see a panorama against the backdrop of Batur’s neighbors – the Abang and Agung volcanoes. The latter has a height of 3014 m and is considered a sacred mountain (translated from Indonesian, Agung means “great mountain”). The Balinese believe that gods and ancestral spirits live here. Abang is a 2151 m high mountain, which is the remnant of the same huge volcano that formed the Kintamani caldera. Currently, Abang is not active, so its slopes are overgrown with forest and now the volcano has become a calm mountain peak.

The view from Batur is magnificent in the morning, during the day and in the evening. The main thing is that it is not covered by clouds. However, this rarely happens: the crater is not very high.

Local residents have opened a small cafe on the observation deck where you can buy cigarettes, water, tea, coffee and something to eat. Just keep in mind that prices here are several times higher than “downstairs”: a half-liter bottle of water costs several dollars. You don’t have to buy anything, but just warm up and pass the time while waiting for dawn.

One of the local entertainments is steaming breakfast from the volcano's fissures. In the depths of the vent, the temperature is incredibly high, and hot steam comes to the surface, on which you can boil eggs or bake bananas. Curious and hungry monkeys, accustomed to being constantly fed, often join the meal.

How to get to the volcano

You can go to Kintamani by bus, taxi or rented car. Buses depart from the terminals according to a specific schedule and only go to the edge of the caldera, without going down. Then you will need to travel by local minibuses, the fare of which is about 13 thousand rupees.

Here are some popular bus routes to Kintamani:

• From Kuta. Departure at 10:00. Price – 150,000 rupees.
• From Sanur. Departure at 10:30. Price – 150,000 rupees.
• From Ubud. Departure at 11:30. Price – 100,000 rupees.

To feel free and plan your trip according to your own schedule, I advise you to rent a car or hire a taxi.

Using a navigator and noticeable landmarks, you can easily reach the volcano from anywhere on the island, including from the main resort towns. Now I will give the optimal route from Denpasar (71.8 km, and approximately 2 hours drive). From other southern resorts the path is the same, but first you will need to get to Denpasar.

1. Leave the city to the east, to the Jl highway. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra and follow it for about 15 km.
2. After this, turn left. Follow the green road sign indicating the turn to Gianyar. If you drive straight ahead you will arrive at Kusamba and Pantai Siyut Beach will be on your right. Let me remind you that you should turn left.
3. This is Banjar Siyut road. You need to drive straight along it for about 3.5 kilometers (after 3 km the asphalt road will turn into a dirt road), and when you hit a T-shaped intersection, turn left.
4. Drive straight for 320 meters, then turn right onto Jl. Taman Bali-Banjarangka.
5. Then move in a straight line for 10 kilometers until the road hits another T-junction. There will be a sign in front of it that says “Batur Global Geopark”. At the intersection, turn right.
6. After another 320 meters you will come across a roundabout. Keep left on it. In principle, from here you can follow the signs for Kintamani and Batur.
7. After 1.3 km, turn left (signposted to Kintamani) and then follow the main road. After 500 meters, a winding kilometer-long highway begins. This means you are on the right track.
8. Once on a flat road, continue driving along it for another 17 km until you enter the territory of the Batur Geopark. You won't miss the entrance to the park - there is a tall pyramidal structure with a large sign and a red brick gate.
9. Continue straight ahead for another 300 metres. Next, be careful: you need not to miss the intersection to the village of Toya Bungkah. This is not even an intersection, but a 180 degree turn. To avoid passing by, look for a road sign indicating the direction to the village.
10. After turning, follow the winding road for 3 km until you come to a high stone gate. To the left will be the entrance to Toya Bungkah, and straight ahead will be Lake Batur.

To get to the volcano, get to the village (it's about 3 km more).

The route from all other resorts in southern Bali also passes through Jl. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra. So you will need to get to this highway and then proceed as described above.

Distance and travel time from other resorts:

• From Nusa Dua to Batur volcano – 86.1 km 2 hours 27 minutes.
• From Kuta to Batur volcano – 80.7 km 2 hours 24 minutes.
• From Sanur to Batur volcano – 67.8 km 1 hour 59 minutes.
• From Jimbaran to Batur volcano – 96 km 2 hours 36 minutes.
• From Legian to the volcano – Batur 80.6 km 2 hours 21 minutes.
• From Seminyak to Mount Batur – 82.1 km 2 hours 23 minutes.

Gunung Batur volcano on the map

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What to see near the volcano?

In addition to the extraordinary views from the top of the mountain, there are many other interesting places to visit in the vicinity of the volcano. Now I will tell you about some of them

Near Lake Batur there is a settlement inhabited by the unusual Bali-Aga people. Unlike the main population of the island, which professes Hinduism, they still worship pagan spirits. Trying to be as close to nature as possible, the Bali Agha do not bury their dead, but leave them under the sacred Menyan tree. Thanks to the aromatic oils released by the wood, there is no characteristic smell here. After only bones remain of the deceased, they are placed in a certain place. You can visit this cemetery, but you need to get there by boat.

The village of Toya Bungkah is located at the foot of the volcano. It is notable for the fact that the Bali Natural Hot Spring thermal complex is located here - several pools in which the water is heated to a temperature of +38 degrees. After a long journey around Kintamani, you can relax here and relieve stress. Directly from the baths there is a beautiful view of Lake Batur.

Coffee plantations

In the Kintamani region there are several farms engaged in the cultivation and production of the most unusual variety of coffee in the world - luwak. It is “produced” by palm martens - musangs, which feed on coffee berries. During digestion, only the outer shell of the grain is absorbed, and the rest is excreted. After this, the coffee beans are collected, thoroughly washed, dried, roasted and ground. They say that the taste of this coffee cannot be compared with anything else - it is spicy, very soft, with a caramel tint. You can try this coffee at a local restaurant and buy it with you, although it is very expensive (about 110-120 dollars per kilogram). The observation deck of this restaurant also offers a gorgeous view of the valley.

Water temple of Lake Batur

At the top, at the edge of the caldera, is the unique temple of Pura Ulun Danu Batur, which, together with the village of Batur, was moved here after the devastating eruptions in 1917 and 1926. Local residents saved the most valuable thing - the Meru Tower, dedicated to the goddess Devi Danu and consisting of 11 levels. They restored the temple and placed the saved shrine here. You can visit this temple complex, and perhaps you will find yourself in the festive ceremonies that the Balinese dedicate to their deities.

Here you can see a computer reconstruction of the volcano's eruptions and the history of its changes over a period of 26,000 years. The museum also displays maps showing the locations of 129 active volcanoes located in Indonesia. Through a telescope installed on the observation deck, you can look at the top of the volcano. By the way, if you want to take a look at the village of Trunyan, in good weather you can also see it through a telescope.

First of all, choose the right season because from December to February the weather is humid and foggy, which will make it difficult to climb and prevent you from seeing the sunrise.

Due to the fact that Batur is an active volcano, be prepared that it may be closed due to its high activity.

You can often see stories on the Internet that guides force tourists to pay them for escorting them to the top, and that sometimes this goes as far as extortion. I fully admit that conflicts can indeed exist. However, you need to understand that independent ascents to Batur are prohibited, so if you do not provoke the guides by trying to slip past them, then you will definitely not have any problems.

It’s best to set off around 2 a.m.: this way you’ll have time to climb up, sit on the observation deck and see the sunrise from the very first rays, and there won’t be too many people at that time.

If you climb at night, then stock up on comfortable and warm clothes, because it will be quite cold. Shoes should be comfortable and non-slip. I also recommend taking flashlights and some snacks.

The height of the volcano is almost 2000 meters, so elderly people, parents with small children and people with problems with the cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system should be careful when deciding to climb. Those who cannot or do not want to climb will see Batur from the observation deck, of which there are several built around the volcano. One of them is located at the southwestern foot.

On the way to the observation deck there are many cafes and restaurants where you can try local and European cuisine and relax a bit. There are also small hotels here for those who want to stay longer in Kintamani. The cost of hotel rooms is much lower than in the resort area; almost all of them have their own restaurants and cafes on their territory.

Volcanoes in Bali are an integral part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, as they are of volcanic origin. On the small territory of the island there are two active volcanoes: Batur and Agung. Rising above the island, from time immemorial they have evoked awe, fear and admiration among local residents, who revere them as their shrines. Batur and Agung are completely different from each other: each of them has its own history, its own characteristics and legends. So when you come to Bali, it's worth going at least once to see both volcanoes and maybe even climb one of them! So, what are the volcanoes in Bali like, what are they remarkable for and how can you climb them? This is what our article will be about.

Volcanoes in Bali: location, description, photos

Batur

The famous Balinese volcano Batur is located in the northeastern part of the island, and an observation deck overlooking it is included in almost all standard sightseeing tours of the island. The volcano is not very high: only 1717 meters, and even, at first glance, it is unremarkable... But this is not so. In fact, Batur is primarily a caldera (i.e. basin) with a diameter of 13.8 x 10 km, formed about 30 thousand years ago as a result of the eruption of a huge volcano that existed in this place for hundreds of thousands of years. Then another eruption occurred and inside the first caldera a second one appeared, with a diameter of 6.4 x 9.4 km, in which a lake and a volcano of the same name arose (the same one, 1717 m high, which we talked about at the beginning). And last, on the opposite shore of the lake, another “descendant” of the ancient giant was formed - the Abang volcano with a height of 2152 m.

That is, it turns out that the Batur caldera is a huge territory, once occupied by one huge volcano, and now by two small volcanoes and a lake formed as a result of the eruption of the first. This entire area is often called Kintamani, after the name of the region of the island in which it is located. The endless expanses of Batur will open up to you at the observation deck located on the edge of the caldera: Abang Volcano, Lake Batur (the largest in Bali) and the Batur volcano itself, covered with black spots of frozen lava. This lava is traces of its eruptions, the most destructive of which was in 1917, and the last in 2000.

By the way, the Batur volcano has three craters, which sometimes disturb local residents with tremors and ash emissions. To solve these problems, local residents resort to ceremonies to appease the spirits of the volcano, of which there are a huge number. This place is considered special; it’s not for nothing that 27 temples were built along the perimeter of the caldera: the Balinese believe that Batur unites the spirits of all 4 natural elements: earth, water, air and fire.

Agung

Volcano Agung is located in the east of the island and is its highest point - 3014 m. Its history is not as eventful as that of Batur. A total of 4 eruptions were recorded during observations, the last of which occurred in 1963-1964. It was also the most destructive: the eruption claimed the lives of about 2,000 people and left tens of thousands of islanders homeless. Before it, the height of Agung was 3142 m, but as a result of large-scale destruction, a piece broke off from the top and the volcano became more than 100 m lower.

If we compare the volcanoes in Bali, Agung is the largest of them, which on a clear day can be seen from almost everywhere. Its name translates as “great mountain”: according to, it is a sacred place where gods and ancestral spirits live. All villages, courtyards and temples of Bali are oriented towards the sacred mountain. So, for example, if in the north of the island the temples are located in the southern part of the courtyard, then in the south - in the northern. It is on the slope of Agung, at an altitude of 1000 m above sea level, that the main and largest temple complex of the island is located - Pura Besakih, consisting of 30 temples located on several levels. Balinese from all over the island make a pilgrimage here: to the temple that is closest to the gods.

The Balinese worldview is characterized by the absolute completeness of the picture of the world, because the island is his whole world, and if demons live in the ocean, people live on the earth, then the habitat of the gods is a formidable mountain, which makes itself felt when the gods are angry. This is how the volcanic eruption in 1963 was perceived, which coincided with the sacred rite of spiritual purification - a great holiday held in Pura Besakih once every hundred years. The Balinese believe that this happened because the gods were angry that the wrong day had been chosen for the ceremony. True, in some miraculous way, the temple itself was not affected by the destruction... Since then, the volcano has no longer worried the local residents, however, the Balinese know that the gods do not sleep, and the sacred mountain does not sleep with them.

Climbing volcanoes in Bali

If you don't already know, you can climb the volcanoes in Bali and watch the sunrise above the clouds, this activity is very popular among tourists. After all, from the top there is a fabulous view of the awakening island, and besides, who wouldn’t want to conquer a volcano and look into its crater? Usually the ascent occurs at night. Firstly, because it is easier: you don’t have to walk under the scorching sun; and secondly, dawn is an incredibly beautiful time of day, especially if you watch it from such a height.

As a rule, the climb to Batur begins at 4 a.m. and lasts about 2 hours. Climbing Agung is a real challenge, which will take from 4 to 9 hours. There are several routes leading to the top of the main volcano of the island: a shorter one and a longer one. The first one starts from the village of Selat in the south and takes about 4 hours. It will take you to the crater, but it will not be possible to reach the highest point of the volcano. The longer route starts from Besakih Temple and will take at least 7 hours. This is the path along which pilgrims climb Agung, and it is the one that leads to the very top. If you choose it, then you need to start climbing no later than 10 pm, or even earlier, in order to spend the night halfway and continue the climb with new strength. Having climbed Batur or Agung, do not think that you have overcome the longest and most difficult part of the route... The descent will be no less exciting and, most likely, will take even longer. Don't let that put you off though, what you see at the top will definitely be worth all the effort!

You can see the volcanoes in Bali either with a tour group or on your own. If you choose the second method, do not refuse the services of local guides who will attack you already in the parking lot. It's better to pay them and be sure that you won't get lost at night and won't be late for dawn. Also find out in advance if groups are currently running. During the rainy season, for example, ascents are extremely undesirable. And, of course, stock up on warm clothes (it will be very cold when you go up), comfortable shoes, flashlights, food, water and go on an adventure!

Perhaps volcanoes in Bali are an inexhaustible topic. Ask your Balinese guide and he will tell you many legends and beliefs associated with them. Yes, you yourself will understand why they have such a strong influence on the worldview of local residents, once you find yourself next to them and feel their power. And if you have the desire and time, be sure to climb Batur or Agung: you will see the island from a bird's eye view, and also get an unforgettable experience of a lifetime!

And finally, a short video about climbing Mount Agung Volcano: