A Mt Batur sunrise hike during the Covid-19 pandemic? It actually exists!
With Covid-19 sweeping the planet and the subsequent fallout on the travel industry, as well as life in general, it’s been difficult to find any activities to do or attractions that are open. In Bali, whilst social distancing has become everyday practice, strict lockdowns that are in place in other countries are not in affect here. Tourist attractions are closed off from the public, but in most cases access rights are left up to the local Banjar. So imagine my surprise to find out that the Mt Batur Sunrise hike was still open.
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The best way to see Mt Batur and experience the sunrise is to do an actual tour. Going with a registered guide will save you time and a lot of hassle. Even if you stay in any of the fantastic motels around the Calder, it is still worth getting a guide. Stumbling up the mountain in the dark with many intersecting paths, it can be easy to take the wrong one.
My day began when my driver picked me up in Nusa Dua. A 1 am start was extremely early, however that is the usual time for a Nusa Dua pick up. What we didn’t factor in was that there was no one else on the tour, no other pick ups, and no traffic. We literally flew up the island to the mountain, breaking all records and getting there in under two hours. For those that are not on the island during the Pandemic, it is hard to believe how quiet it actually is. There are no crowds, no traffic, and most things are just closed. As sad as it is for the locals, it makes it a good time for expats and tourists that are stuck here to actually do some things they wouldn’t normally do. Take advantage of having no crowds, and also to give a little to the Balinese who are struggling right now.
Once we arrived at the drop off point we had to wait for the guide. We were so early he wasn’t even out of bed yet. When he turned up, we were still so early that he was a little confused what to do. If we climbed the mountain like usual, we would be sitting up top for ages waiting for the sunrise. Which in the end was what happened anyway.
The climb was done at what can only be described as a leisurely pace. There was no hurry, and we seemed to be the only ones on the mountain. The hike was pitch dark, and we both moved by the light of my headlamp. A few times on the climb we stopped, turned off the light and sat in silence, enjoying the millions of stars and complete silence in the absence of other climbers, or the string of torches and lights that usually accompanies a climb to the summit for the Mt Batur Sunrise.
Upon reaching the summit, the solitude was broken only by a few locals who work on the mountain, and a small group of five other hikers who had come a slightly different route. They had done the hike without a guide, but had subsequently taken a harder route as they knew no better, had been made to pay a fee to the local guards at the base, and were held up there for some time sorting it out. Still, with a total lack of any other climbers we were on the summit for over an hour waiting for the sunrise, chatting softly to each other and enjoying the peace that only a mountain top can bring.
The sunrise when it came was the most spectacular thing I have ever witnessed. The morning was perfect, and the view of Mt Agung and Mt Rinjani was so clear I felt like I could reach out and touch them. Words and even photos could not do the sight any amount of true justice. Even the perfect surface of Lake Batur seemed to be mesmerized by the moment.
Being alone on the top of the mountain for the Mt Batur Sunrise is an experience that may not ever come around again. I am so glad I was able to take advantage of it, and cherished every moment. Even the local troop of monkeys that make the summit home seemed more relaxed, even if happy to actually have some tourists to show off to.
The locals that work on the mountain rely on the tourists for money to feed their families. If you do decide to do the climb and experience the Mt Batur Sunrise for yourself, remember to support them by hiring a guide who will not only show you the way, but will give you facts about the mountain, point out things of interest you would miss on your own, and even cook you breakfast over the volcanic steam coming from far below. This is without even mentioning that a guide will show you the safest way to the summit, and warn you of any loose surface or soft edges that are very common on the volcanic slopes.
Tour company to book with : GetYourGuide
Where to Stay: There are plenty of places to stay right at the foot of the mountain! Check out one of the very best HERE.
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