Mount Batur Sunrise Jeep Tour with Jungle Swing Bali

Mount Batur sunrise viewpoint

Mount Batur is an active volcano 1,717 metres high in the Kintamani highlands of north-east Bali, rising from the floor of a vast caldera formed by much older eruptions. Watching the sunrise from its slopes is one of the most popular things to do in Bali, and most visitors make a two-hour hike in the dark to reach the top. This Mount Batur sunrise jeep tour offers another way: a 4WD vehicle climbs the volcanic tracks to a high viewpoint that standard cars cannot reach.

You arrive before dawn, find your place on the ridge and watch the sky change from deep blue to orange as the sun rises over the caldera rim. On clear mornings you see Mount Abang, Mount Agung, Bali's highest peak, and even Mount Rinjani on Lombok. A light breakfast is served while you enjoy the view. It is cold at this altitude before sunrise, so bring a warm layer.

Lake Batur and the Kintamani caldera

Below the volcano lies Lake Batur, the largest crater lake in Bali, a crescent of blue water filling the eastern side of the caldera. The lake feeds springs and the water temples that irrigate rice fields across the island, which is why the Balinese consider it sacred. Villages such as Toya Bungkah and Songan sit on its shores, surrounded by vegetable and onion fields grown in the rich volcanic soil.

The whole area forms the Batur UNESCO Global Geopark, recognised in 2012 for its geology and culture. From the jeep viewpoint the layout of the caldera becomes clear: the steep outer rim where the Kintamani ridge road runs, the cone of Batur in the middle and the lake curving around it. Your driver-guide explains the volcano's history and points out the lava flows from different eruptions. The best time to visit Mount Batur is the dry season from April to October, when sunrise skies are clearest.

The black lava field

After sunrise the jeep heads down to the west side of the volcano and across the black lava field, a landscape of jagged dark rock left by eruptions in the twentieth century. Locals call it the Batur black lava. Very little grows here yet, apart from a few hardy ferns and shrubs, and the contrast between the black stone, the green slopes of the volcano and the blue sky is striking.

This is the most adventurous part of the morning: the jeep follows rough tracks between the boulders, and your driver stops at the best spots for photos, including the classic shot of the jeep with the volcano behind. The off-road section takes around thirty minutes to an hour. It can be bumpy, so the tour is not suitable for pregnant women, and loose items should be kept in a bag. Sunscreen is essential once the sun is up.

Prapen Temple, Kintamani

On the way back from the volcano the jeep stops at Prapen Temple, a temple associated with the Pande clan, the traditional metalsmith families of Bali, whose ancestors forged the tools and weapons of the island's kingdoms. The word prapen refers to a forge, and the temple is an important place of worship for Pande families from all over Bali.

The stop is short, about fifteen minutes, and is mainly for photographs of the carved gateways and shrines with the highland scenery behind. Visitors stay outside the inner courtyards unless invited, and modest clothing that covers the shoulders is appreciated. It is a quiet contrast to the drama of the volcano and a glimpse of the religious life of the Kintamani highlands, where temples and family shrines stand beside every village.

Jungle swing near Ubud

The last stop of the default option is the jungle swing, in the green hills near Ubud on the way back to central Bali. Seated in a secure harness, you swing out from a high platform over a deep valley of palm trees and rice terraces, with the forest dropping away beneath your feet. It is one of the most photographed experiences in Bali, and staff help you get the perfect picture.

The swing ticket is included in the default option, and the stop lasts around an hour, with time to enjoy the view and the platforms around the valley. Is the Bali jungle swing worth it? If you want a fun, safe thrill with a spectacular backdrop, yes. After the swing, our driver takes you back to your hotel, usually by early afternoon, which leaves the rest of the day free.