Mount Batukaru Trek

At 2,276 meters, Mount Batukaru is Bali's second-highest peak – a sacred mountain cloaked in thick rainforest and a challenging full-day adventure for fit, experienced hikers who are happy to start before dawn.

The classic route starts at Pura Luhur Batukaru, around 800 meters above sea level, and climbs steadily through dense, moss-draped forest to a small shrine at the summit. Plan on four to five hours up and three to four hours down. On a clear day the reward is a sweeping view across Bali, from Lake Tamblingan to Batur and Agung.

Highlights

• Rainforest all the way – mossy trunks, ferns and cool, misty air.
• The summit shrine – a place of pilgrimage for Balinese Hindus.
• Island-wide views – when the clouds part, you can see both coasts.

Good to know

• Hike with a local guide; the trail is steep, muddy in places and easy to lose in the mist.
• Start early, carry plenty of water (there are no reliable sources on the trail) and pack a rain jacket.
• Leeches are common after rain – long socks help.
• This is a holy mountain: dress modestly, follow your guide's lead on local customs and carry out all rubbish.

From Tegal Wangi Penebel: about 30 minutes by car to the trailhead at Wongaya Gede.

Stay nearby: Tegal Wangi Penebel, our guest house among the rice fields of Penatahan.

Photo: Kemahkuy / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)