Gunung Batur

Today, Moni and I decided to do one of the least touristy things but with the most tourists.

So, at the ungodly hour of 1.30am, we rolled out of bed and got ready for our hike.

Now, Mt Batur is 1,700meters high and we climbed all the way to the peak where a crater now sits. Mt Batur is also classed as an active volcano so we could see smoke and steam rising out of the crater at times.

We arrived at the 'base camp' for breakfast of a banana pancake and tea at around 3am. At 3,45 we headed to the actual base and began our ascent at 4am. We were each given a flashlight and that was about it. Our guide joined the unending stream of people from top to bottom and we were off.

The first part was on the road, full of people and cars and altogether rather underwhelming. It had been advertised as a trek up the mountain and I kept having to walk around people of certain demographics (I'm sure you can make a guess at who I mean).

Thankfully our guide and another joined together as they were friends and created a massive group of 16. All of us were either young or experienced hikers so after a little complaining of 'is this it?' and 'is it just a road?', they resolved to take us the old route that is longer and harder. This route is done less now as they want to make the tourism as accessible as possible. One of the women in for car that picked us up and done this hike twice before and said that before covid it was track from top to bottom. I could tell she was displeased with the changes.

Our guides were very nice though and seemed to be pleased for this change from the norm as both were more than capable of doing it. Though it meant for a much harder walk, the idea of walking up the road the whole way simply felt wrong.

The route itself was a dirt track which also catered to dirt bikes taking up people and goods. If I am being honest, constantly having to move to one side to let them through took away from the overall impact of trekking up at mountain pre dawn. However, it was still a lot of fun. And no one hikes predawn for the hike, they go for the view.

And what a view it was. Indescribable.

We arrived at the top around 5,50, roughly 1.45hrs after setting off. I was rather please by this as it is supposed to take 2hrs on the road and we went the long way around. Sunrise was set for 6,15 so we got go enjoy the predawn colours before the sunrise itself.

The entire experience was well worth it but I do not think I would do it again. Though i would like to, that view is unmatched after all. But certain things annoyed me about it. The fact you have to climb the road, there are literally hundreds of people doing it and we only got around 40mins up there. I climbed for 2hrs, I wanted longer. But a once in a lifetime thing and definitely something we would have regretted not doing.

And that view.Read more

Footprint time 😊
Wer ist so wahnsinnig und steht im Urlaub um halb 2 morgens auf? Richtig.... WIR. Zwei Uhr war nämlich PickUpTime von unserem Transfer Richtung Mount Batur (ein noch aktiver Vulkan). Auf dem Weg haben wir noch ein paar Teilnehmer eingesammelt. Also ab, mitten durch die Nacht. Die Tour auf den Mount Batur gehört zu den beliebtesten Attraktionen auf Bali, dementsprechend waren mindestens 1000 Leute gleichzeitig mit uns auf dem Weg nach oben. Gefühlt hatte man an jeder zweiten Biegung Pause. Es ging vom Parkplatz aber auch knapp 650m steil nach oben. Und das auf ungesichertem Lavagestein. Unser Guide war aber ne Nummer für sich und er hat versucht alle im Blick zu behalten. Auch wenn wir mitunter echt weit auseinander waren. Wir sind dann kurz vor Sonnenaufgang auf dem Gipfel angekommen und konnten einen wahnsinnigen Ausblick genießen. Nach vielen vielen Fotos, ein wenig Stärkung und einem Kaffee haben wir dann den Abstieg angetreten. Wo der Aufstieg noch einigermaßen entspannt war, war der Weg nach unten doch wesentlich Kräfte zehrender. Wir haben aber auch das gut hinter uns gebracht. Für mich war die Rückfahrt das schlimmste am gesamten Trip. Unser Bus hatte keinen einzigen Anschnallgurr und der Fahrer war kollerischer Drängler und Raser. Daher war ich ziemlich froh, als wir wieder wohlbehalten in unserem Hotel angekommen sind.Read more