Trekking up a volcano in god’s island

Saachi Dhillon   

Ubud, Bali’s cultural heart, made famous by Hollywood movie Eat, Pray, Love is the perfect base to trek up Bali’s second highest sacred mountain and active volcano, Mount Batur. At a height of 1700 m, Mount Batur has an explosive history, the last eruption having taken place in 2000.

It is an early morning trek starting at 2 am. Although there are many tour operators offering the trek, it is best to book the tour at your hotel. Charges range between $30 and $40 per person. This includes a visit to a coffee plantation as well. Set your alarm and make sure that the phone has enough battery or there is a chance that you would miss this fantastic experience. 

The base camp is an hour’s drive from Ubud. We stopped en route to grab a cup of strong Indonesian Kopi (coffee) and fried bananas, which seemed customary for anyone going on this trek. It was drizzling and foggy throughout the journey. The driver, accustomed to such weather conditions, managed to navigate his way with ease. Soon enough, we had reached the base camp.

We were given flashlights, a bottle of water as well as breakfast to enjoy at the summit. It started out as a brisk walk on a flat, unpaved road through some vegetable fields. We walked alongside the guide, Putu, chatting about India, Hinduism and Shah Rukh Khan. There was a gradual incline leading up the mountain soon afterwards. We took several rest breaks from time to time in order not to get tired.

There was a stream of flashlights going up the mountain. At the halfway point, many people stopped to buy some eats from the last shop on the way. The rest of the path was very steep, full of volcanic rocks and loose gravel. People were motivating each other to continue their climb up in spite of the challenging terrain. The guide Putu helped climb up several steep stretches.

As the dawn broke, we picked up some speed in order to find a good spot among the crowd to watch the sunrise. The sun’s orange hue lit up the sky. As we sat among the misty mountains, heart-shaped clouds with Lake Batur at the bottom; the sweeping panoramic views around us made all the effort worthwhile.

The crater, a short walk away, was engulfed in mist. It is home to monkeys who are eager to grab any eatables from the tourists. After taking a few photographs, we descended into the crater. Steam emanating from the rocks is a common sight there. Some tour operators even offer eggs cooked on lava rocks for breakfast as part of the tour.

The Mount Batur trek is a unique yet rewarding experience, something that should not be missed while visiting the paradise island of Bali.