Bali it’s not only beaches and temples it’s also mountains and volcanoes. The Gunung Batur area is located in the center of the island of Bali, and since 2012 was added to the Unesco list of geologic wonders. Central Bali is the most mountainous area of Bali, and also the more isolated and thus more traditional.
Mount Batur has a height of 1717m above sea level the higher elevation also means that the temperatures are much cooler than in other parts of Bali. This region is perfect for trekkers and nature lovers.
Mount Batur is an active volcano, that has erupted several times over the time and has produced ‘black lava‘ which you can still see today. The most recent was eruption was in 2000.
The crater has stunning views and there are a couple of villages around to explore. Kintamani is the main one.
Kintamani has a network of traditional mountain villages resting along the rim of the Mount Batur caldera. Kintamani is also home to Pura Ulun Danu Batur, one of the holiest of the nine directional temples of Bali.
To the west of Kintamani lies Bedugul, situated at the shores of mountain lake Beratan.
To get the best views, get up before the sun rises to climb Mount Batur, its a relatively easy 2-hour trek. The hike is mostly off-road trails and rocky terrain.
If you are looking for something more challenging the Mount Agung is the right one for you located in the east side of Bali. You can do a trekking to watch a breathtaking sunrise at Mount Agung, the highest mountain in Bali. This climbing is rather a challenge and requires physical fitness, so for serious mountain climbers
Central Mountains Highlights
Munduk area (mountain and waterfall)
Besakih Temple (the largest and holiest Hindu in Bali)
Pura Luhur Batukua (Temple)
Ulun Danu Bratan (Temple in Bedugul)
Danau Tamblingan (volcanic lake)
Gunung Batur (active volcano)
villages around Danau Batur (scenic views up the surrounding peaks)
Antosari Road (rural drives through rice terraces)
Jatiluwih (Unesco recognized rice terraces)
Botanical gardens (close to Candi Kuning)
? find out more easy day trips from Ubud ?
photography – all rights reserved – Ana Rocha