Gunung Batur

Information

Elevation

1.717 m

Country

Indonesia (ID)

Location / Range

Sunda Arc, Kintamani District, Bangli Regency, Bali

Mountain type

Active stratovolcano with nested calderas

Volcanic?

Yes — volcano

Coordinates

-8.2394, 115.3780

Difficulty

Moderate — a climb of about 1.5–2 hours from Toya Bungkah; some sections are quite steep; suitable for fit beginners

Best Season

April–October (dry season); April–May and October recommended to avoid the peak-season crowds (June–September)

Permits & Rules

A licensed guide from HPGB (the Mount Batur Guides Association) is mandatory; solo climbing without a guide is not allowed; guide fee around Rp375,000–600,000 per guide

Hazards

Volcanic gas in the crater; slippery, loose rocks and volcanic ash; slippery trail in the rainy season; eruption risk (active volcano, monitored by PVMBG); most dangerous November–March in the rainy season

Description

Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is an active stratovolcano rising to 1,717 m at the center of two concentric calderas in Kintamani district, Bangli Regency, Bali. Its outer caldera — approximately 13.8×10 km across and among the largest on Earth — contains the crescent-shaped Lake Batur spanning about 16 km². Eruptions have been recorded at least 26 times since 1804, with the most destructive in 1926 and the most recent in 2000. In September 2012, the caldera was formally admitted to UNESCO's Global Geopark Network as Indonesia's first geopark, covering a 370 km² area of geological heritage. The sunrise trek to the summit takes roughly two hours from the standard trailhead at Toya Bungkah; climbers must use a licensed guide from the local HPGB guide association.