From which side is it better to see Batur volcano. Wake up volcano in Bali - how dangerous is it? Active volcanoes in Bali. Is it all so scary

Every time someone asks me if it's boring to live in Bali for two months, I just shrug my shoulders. If Bali were an ordinary island, with heavenly beaches, perfect water color and palm trees framing all this splendor, she might have died of boredom in a week.
But how can it be boring when the island is so diverse. I will no longer sing the praises of Ubud, you already know everything :))

But when you live here, in the center of the island, only one and a half to two hours on a bike separate you from the ocean, with volcanic black sand and huge, kilometer-long beaches, or vice versa, snow-white, sandwiched in tiny bays.

Or from volcanoes in the north, from mountain lakes and thermal springs on their shores.
This time my heart is right there.

As you know, there are a lot of volcanoes in Indonesia. Here passes the fiery ring of the earth. Bali, of course, is no exception. We have here the sacred Mount Agung (an active volcano in combination), which is idolized by all the locals, on which deities live and which adds drama to absolutely any landscape, majestically appearing when the clouds clear. And since the mountain is not small, 3142 meters, and there are no skyscrapers on the island, you can see it very often.

New Year-2016 we meet again in Bali! We look forward to seeing you at our bachelorette party!

Climbing Batur - an excursion during which you will climb Mount Batur - one of the highest peaks in Bali. You will meet the dawn and have breakfast near the crater, admire the views of the caldera. I will take care of all the organizational issues, you just have to enjoy the trip. Below I will tell you in detail how the excursion to the Batur volcano takes place, I will give you the prices and the main conditions of the tour.

How is the tour organized?

Dawn on Batur is the best time when the most beautiful views open from the top of the volcano. Therefore, I suggest you a night ascent. During the day it is cloudy, you will not see even half of what you can see in the early morning. I will pick you up from the hotel around 03:00 so that we will be there at 03:00. The road from the south takes approximately 1.5-2 hours.

We will drive to the village of Songan, which is located almost on the slope of the volcano. From there your ascent will begin. At the foot of the volcano we will be met by a local guide who knows the route very well. At this point, we will part temporarily. Further ascent to the volcano will be accompanied by one of the local guides.

Climbing Batur with a local guide is a prerequisite for an excursion, since it is dangerous to climb to the top without a guide, especially at night. It is easy to get lost in the dark, even a detailed study of the road on the maps on the eve of the trip will not help here. In addition, all guides have walkie-talkies. If something happens during the ascent, they will quickly contact the "earth", and help will arrive in time for you.

Note! The guide on Batur speaks only English.

Sunrise on the Batur volcano begins at about 6 am. The ascent lasts approximately 2 hours, so you need to start it at 03:30-04:00 so that you can get to the top by sunrise. There are halts along the way. Their number depends solely on your desire and level of training. If you get tired, do not hesitate to ask for a stop.

The first part of the path goes through the forest, it is relatively easy. Closer to the top, the path becomes steeper, in many places it is covered with pieces of solidified lava. Steam, mixed with volcanic gases, can come out from under the ground to the surface in some places. They are not hazardous to health. Along the way, you will see lava fields, traces of recent eruptions. The lava that entered the valley at the beginning of the 20th century has already begun to be covered with forest. The streams that appeared as a result of the 1964 eruption are still black and lifeless.

The mountain has two peaks, on which observation platforms are organized. You will reach the first one in 1.5-2 hours, the distance here is approximately 2.3 km. The second ascent is a bit harder and steeper and takes about 30 minutes more. You don't have to go all the way to the main peak, the view from the bottom platform is just as good. If you feel the strength to climb Batur and reach its highest point, the guide will be happy to take you there.

Breakfast will be provided at the top. For you, they can boil eggs and fry bananas right in the crater of the volcano. On the observation decks there are small cafes serving hot tea, coffee and simple snacks. Apart from a cafe and a few shops next to them, there are no other amenities, including toilets, at the top. Don't be surprised if monkeys come to you for breakfast. They climb everywhere where there are people and you can beg or steal a treat.

After breakfast, you will have some rest, take photos, admire the surrounding landscape. Then the guide will offer to walk around the crater of the volcano. There are three of them on Batur, and there is a convenient path around the largest one. At the end of the walk you will go back. The descent is quite difficult at first, as the paths are covered with volcanic rock, steep and a bit slippery. Closer to the foot you will again fall into the forest, it will become much easier to go.

I will meet you at the foot of the volcano in the very place where your ascent began, accompanied by a local guide. The further route will depend on your desire and degree of fatigue. You will have the opportunity to walk around the caldera. There are hot springs near the volcano. The water is warm and very relaxing. In the village of Kintamani, you can go up to the observation deck and see the Batur volcano from a completely different angle. But we can immediately get in the car and go to the hotel. The tour ends at approximately 14:00.

Important information on organizing an excursion

Now that you know how the tour is organized, I would like to mention a few more important points regarding the organization of the trip.

Is it worth climbing Mount Batur?

Climbing Batur with a guide is a fairly simple trek, suitable even for people with minimal physical fitness. But still, there are some limitations. Do not go on a tour with small children. Also, the rise should be abandoned to the elderly. According to the rules, you can take a child at least 7 years old with you to the mountain. I do not advise pregnant women to book a tour, the journey will be too difficult for them.

What do you need to take with you?

• Warm clothes
• At night, the temperature on Batur drops to 15-16 degrees, take a windbreaker with a hood or a cap, if possible a warm sweater. Do not go on a tour in shorts. Firstly, you will freeze, and secondly, you can fall and injure your leg.
• Comfortable shoes
• It is desirable that these are trekking shoes or light boots. You can't climb the mountain in flip-flops.
• Light snack
• Chocolate, cookies, fruit or something like that will do. If you get hungry during the ascent, you will have the opportunity to eat.
• Thermos with tea
  The cafes at the top are not always open, so you should play it safe and take hot drinks with you.

Regular drinking water will be provided by a local guide, who will also help you carry a backpack if you get hard. You can take things for climbing the mountain with you in your bag. You will change clothes on the spot, and leave all excess luggage in my car.

Gunung Batur is an active volcano on the island of Bali in the Kintamani region, its height is 1717 meters.

In this article I will give a detailed description of Batur volcano, tell you how to get to it and what to see nearby. For those who are going to visit this attraction, I will give some useful tips.

Batur is one of two active volcanoes in Bali. It is located in the eastern part of the island, in the Kintamani region. This is an area of ​​​​about 3,68 square kilometers, it houses the volcano itself, the lake of the same name at its foot, as well as several villages.

Kintamani area where the volcano is located

Kintamani is a caldera, that is, a pit formed as a result of the collapse of a volcano. 5,00,000 years ago, a huge mountain with a crater on top formed in the area. After a powerful eruption that occurred about 3,000 years ago, a large amount of rock was thrown out of its mouth. In this regard, the thinned walls of the volcano collapsed, forming a depression with a flat bottom 13.8 km long and 10 km wide. In this depression, Gunung Batur formed, which is often called the "Kintamani Volcano".

And another 8,500 years after the next eruptions, a second caldera formed in this area, of a smaller size - 6.4x9.4 km. Over time, water filled it, and now this caldera is called Lake Batur.

By the way, this is the largest crater lake in the world, exceeding in size even the Crater in Oregon, USA. The waters of Batur irrigate the local rice fields. It is forbidden to swim and use motor boats here.

Another of its features is that the water level in the lake does not change at all during the year. Locals often tell a legend that this is due to the fact that the lake is protected by the water goddess Devi Danu. It is also said that the lake is filled with eleven springs hidden at its bottom. Therefore, even in the dry period, it remains full-flowing.

Another legend says that there was once a village at the bottom of Lake Batur. After the formation of the caldera, it was moved closer to the top of the volcano. Today, there are several villages around the caldera, which are called "lake stars" (danu bintang). Despite the constant danger, the inhabitants of these villages are not going to leave. Firstly, this is due to the fact that moving is a troublesome and costly business. Not every Balinese has the money to move to another part of the island. Another reason has to do with the fact that regular eruptions have made the soil in Kintamani incredibly fertile. Here you can harvest several times a year. The lake provides the peasants with fish. In addition, residents make souvenirs from volcanic tuff, which is incredibly abundant here, and sell it to tourists. Also in the caldera is a quarry in which sand is mined.

There are several villages here:

• Kintamani (Kintamani),
• Penelokan (Penelokan),
• Toya Bungkah,
• Batur (Batur),
• Kedisan (Kedisan),
• Abang (Abung),
• Songan

Description and history of Batur volcano

The top of the volcano is located at an altitude of 1717 meters above sea level. But the mountain cone itself has a height of 686 meters. There are three craters here: two of them have a total area of ​​​​about 182,000 m2, and the third - 46,000 m2.

Now the volcano is silent. But in the past, he has repeatedly shown his power. Since 1800, there have been at least 22 eruptions of varying strength. One of the most devastating occurred in 1917. As a result, more than 1,000 people died, 65,000 houses and 2,500 temples were destroyed. In 1964, the volcano came to life again. The eruption was less violent, but still destroyed 16 buildings in the village at the foot.

Emissions of ash from the crater Batur occurred much more often. In the first half of the 20th century there were three of them - in 1926, 1929 and 1947. The last such release occurred in 2000. Then a column of ash rose to a height of 300 meters. The locals were very frightened - after all, by that time the volcano had been silent for almost half a century.

To appease the gods and avoid further catastrophes, the Balinese held a symbolic ceremony. They sewed a huge sarong several kilometers long and wrapped the volcano around it. The ceremony was attended by a huge number of people from all over the island. They came to pray and brought offerings. Whether it helped or not is hard to say. But one thing is known: since then, eruptions really did not occur.

In September 2009, the Balinese recorded seismic activity in the Batur area. For two months, it intensified, and in November of the same year, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation of Indonesia joined the observation of the volcano. Scientists even talked about a possible eruption. However, by June 2010, Batur's activity began to decline, and on November 19, continuous monitoring was terminated.

Since the causes of this anomaly were unknown, scientists decided to explore the area near the volcano and in June 2011 went to Bali. In the vicinity of the caldera, a characteristic smell of sulfur dioxide was felt, and on the surface of the lake, scientists found thousands of dead fish. Greenish-white spots were also visible on the water.

This event dealt a severe blow to the island's economy. The water from the lake turned out to be unsuitable for irrigation and drinking for a long time, and the dead fish deprived local fishermen of food and earnings. When the damage was calculated, it was equal to one billion rupees.

In 2012, the UNESCO world organization included the territory of the Batura caldera in the Global Geoparks of the World program. This has made the caldera a geological heritage site of international importance. The assignment of such a status is a kind of "quality mark" for the attraction.

Climbing the volcano

Climbing Batur does not require any preparation. In one and a half to two hours, you can easily get to the top, making a couple of halts along the way. The main sight for which tourists climb the volcano is the sunrise. Meeting the dawn in the crater of an active volcano makes a strong impression and makes it possible to take great pictures.

To climb to the top, you need a guide. Local guides can be met at the foot of the volcano, or you can simply book a tour in advance. In both cases, you will be accompanied by a Balinese speaking English. Independent ascents to Batur are prohibited. There are cases when tourists were injured and lost in the forests on the slopes of the mountain.

Guides accompanying tourists to the summit carry walkie-talkies (in an emergency they can contact and request help), they know the route and will lead you to the crater in the safest way. Also, the guides will help you carry your things and tell you a lot of interesting things about the Kintamani area.

By the way, I can also organize an excursion for you with a rise to Batur. Contact me for more details and pricing.

There are several routes to the top of the volcano. They start in the villages located at the foot of Batur. The main trail goes to the southern edge of the caldera. There are several places to take a break along the way.

Once at the top, you will see a panorama against which the neighbors of Batur rise - Abang and Agung volcanoes. The latter has a height of 3014 m and is considered a sacred mountain (translated from Indonesian, Agung means “great mountain”). The Balinese believe that gods and ancestral spirits live here. Abang is a mountain with a height of 2151 m, which is the remnant of the very huge volcano that formed the Kintamani caldera. Currently, Abang is not active, so its slopes are overgrown with forest and now the volcano has become a calm mountain peak.

The view from Batur is magnificent in the morning, afternoon and evening. The main thing is that the clouds do not cover it. However, this rarely happens: the crater is not very high.

Local residents have opened a small cafe on the observation deck where you can buy cigarettes, water, tea, coffee and something to eat. Just keep in mind that prices here are several times higher than "below": a half-liter bottle of water costs a few dollars. You can not buy anything, but just warm up and pass the time while waiting for the dawn.

One of the local entertainments is the preparation of steamed breakfast coming from the rifts of the volcano. In the depths of the vent, the temperature is incredibly high, and hot steam rises to the surface, on which you can boil eggs or bake bananas. The meal is often joined by curious and hungry monkeys, accustomed to being constantly fed.

How to get to the volcano

You can get to Kintamani by bus, taxi or rented car. Buses depart from the terminals according to a specific schedule and only reach the edge of the caldera without going down. Then you will have to travel by local minibuses, the fare in which is about 13 thousand rupees.

Here are some popular bus routes to Kintamani:

• From Kuta. Departure at 10:00. The price is 150,000 rupees.
• From Sanur. Departure at 10:30. The price is 150,000 rupees.
• From Ubud. Departure at 11:30. The price is 100,000 rupees.

To feel free and build your own schedule, I advise you to rent a car or hire a taxi.

Using a navigator and landmarks, you can easily get to the volcano from anywhere on the island, including from the main resort towns. Now I will give the best route from Denpasar (71.8 km, and approximately 2 hours drive). From other southern resorts, the path is the same, but first you will need to get to Denpasar.

1. Leave the city to the east, to the highway Jl. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra and follow it for about 15 km.
2. After that, turn left. Focus on the green road sign indicating the turn to Gianyar. If you drive straight ahead, you will arrive in Kusamba, and Pantai Siyut beach will be on your right. Remember to turn left.
3. This is the Banjar Siyut road. You need to move along it for about 3.5 kilometers straight (after 3 km, the asphalt road will turn into a dirt road), and when you hit a T-shaped intersection, turn left.
4. Drive straight for 320 meters and then turn right onto Jl. Taman Bali-Banjarangka.
5. Then drive in a straight line for 10 kilometers until the road hits another T-junction. There will be a sign in front of it that says "Batur Global Geopark". Turn right at the crossroads.
6. After another 320 meters you will come across a roundabout. Keep to the left on it. In principle, already from here you can follow the signs for Kintamani and Batur.
7. After 1.3 km, turn left (follow the sign for Kintamani) and then follow the main road. After 500 meters, a one-kilometer-long winding highway will begin. This means you are on the right track.
8. Once you reach the flat road, continue driving along it for another 17 km until you enter the territory of the Batur Geopark. You will not miss the entrance to the park - there is a high pyramidal structure with a large sign and red brick gates.
9. Continue straight for another 300 meters. Next, be careful: you need not to miss the intersection to the village of Toya Bungkah. It's not even a crossroads, but a 180-degree turn. In order not to pass by, look for a road sign indicating the direction to the village.
10. After turning, drive along the winding road for 3 km until you come to a high stone gate. To the left will be the entrance to Toya Bungkah, and straight ahead - Lake Batur.

To get to the volcano, get to the village (it's still about 3 km).

The path from all other resorts in southern Bali also passes through Jl. Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Mantra. So you will need to get to this highway, and then move in the manner described above.

Distance and travel time from other resorts:

• From Nusa Dua to Batur volcano - 86.1 km 2 hours 27 minutes
• From Kuta to Batur volcano - 80.7 km 2 hours 24 minutes
• From Sanur to Batur volcano - 67.8 km 1 h 59 min.
• From Jimbaran to Batur volcano - 96 km 2 h 36 min.
• From Legian to the volcano - Batur 80.6 km 2 h 21 min.
• From Seminyak to Batur volcano - 82.1 km 2 hours 23 minutes

Gunung Batur Volcano on the map

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What to see next to the volcano?

In addition to the extraordinary views from the top of the mountain, there are many other interesting places to visit in the vicinity of the volcano. Now I will tell you about some of them.

Near Lake Batur there is a settlement in which the unusual people of Bali-Aga live. Unlike the main population of the island, who profess Hinduism, they still worship pagan spirits. Trying to be as close to nature as possible, Bali-Aga do not bury their dead, but leave them under the sacred Menyan tree. Thanks to the aromatic oils released by the tree, there is no characteristic smell. After only bones remain from the deceased, they are folded in a certain place. You can visit this cemetery, but you need to get there by boat.

The village of Toya Bungkah is located at the foot of the volcano. It is noteworthy that the Bali Natural Hot Spring thermal complex is located here - several pools in which the water is heated to a temperature of +38 degrees. After a long journey through Kintamani, you can have a good rest and relieve stress here. A beautiful view of Lake Batur opens directly from the baths.

coffee plantations

In the Kintamani region, there are several farms that grow and produce the most unusual coffee in the world - luwak. It is "produced" by palm martens - musangs, which feed on coffee berries. During digestion, they only digest the outer shell of the grain, and the rest is excreted. After that, the coffee beans are harvested, thoroughly washed, dried, roasted and ground. They say that the taste of this coffee is incomparable to anything - it is spicy, very soft, with a hint of caramel. In a local restaurant, you can try this coffee and buy it with you, although it is very expensive (about $110-120 per kilogram). The observation deck of this restaurant also offers a gorgeous view of the valley.

Water Temple of Lake Batur

Above, at the edge of the caldera, is the unique temple of Pura Ulun Danu Batur, which, along with the village of Batur, was moved here after the devastating eruptions in 1917 and 1926. The locals saved the most valuable thing - the Meru tower, dedicated to the goddess Devi Dan and consisting of 11 levels. They restored the temple and placed the saved shrine here. You can visit this temple complex, and maybe get to the festive ceremonies that the Balinese dedicate to their deities.

Here you can see a computer reconstruction of the volcano's eruptions and the history of its changes over a period of 26,000 years. The museum also exhibits maps with the location of 129 active volcanoes located in Indonesia. Through a telescope installed on the observation platform, you can look at the top of the volcano. By the way, if you want to take a look at the village of Trunyan, then in good weather you can also see it through a telescope.

First of all, choose the right season, because from December to February there is wet and foggy weather, which will make it difficult to climb and prevent you from seeing the sunrise.

Due to the fact that Batur is an active volcano, be prepared for the fact that it may be closed due to its high activity.

On the Internet, you can often see stories that guides force tourists to pay them to accompany them to the top, that sometimes it comes to extortion. I fully admit that conflicts really can be. However, you need to understand that independent ascents of Batur are prohibited, so if you do not provoke the guides by trying to slip past them, then you will definitely not have any problems.

It is best to hit the road around 2 am: this way you will have time to climb up, sit on the observation deck and see the dawn from the very first rays, and there will not be too many people at this time.

If you climb at night, then stock up on comfortable and warm clothes, because it will be quite cold. Shoes should be comfortable and non-slip. I also recommend bringing flashlights and some snacks.

The height of the volcano is almost 2000 meters, so the elderly, parents with small children and people who have problems with the cardiovascular system and the musculoskeletal system should be cautious about climbing. Those who cannot or do not want to climb will see Batur from the observation deck, of which several have been built around the volcano. One of them is located at the southwestern foot.

On the way to the observation deck, there are many cafes and restaurants where you can try local and European cuisine and relax a bit. There are also small hotels for those who want to stay longer in Kintamani. The cost of rooms in hotels is much lower than in the resort area, almost all of them have their own restaurants and cafes on their territory.

We, humans, are so arranged that we are constantly drawn to something grandiose and incomprehensible, beyond our control. Therefore, volcanoes are always fanned by a certain mystery and cause us to tremble. In this article, you will learn about traveling to one of the most sacred and revered mountains in Bali.

Bali is a volcanic island, as are most of Indonesia's neighboring islands. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur constantly in this region. In November 2015, for example, Bali was surrounded by angry volcanoes whose erupting lava and ash threatened air traffic throughout the region. Then the Bromo volcano in East Java and Rinjani in Lombok woke up. Bali's Ngurah Rai Airport was closed for three days. At the end of 2017, after a long sleep of 54 years, the majestic Agung woke up - the highest volcano in Bali. And he is still active. In July 2018, there was even a small burst of lava. And the smoke from the crater is now almost daily.

But there is also a less dangerous volcano in Bali, which has become a celebrity among tourists due to its not particularly difficult climb and stunning views from its summit. Volcano Batur, along with Agung and Abang, it is one of the three main volcanoes in Bali. Its height is 1717 meters above sea level.

Who is Gunung Batur?

Now Batur volcano is in the dormant stage. The only sign that it is not completely asleep and is active is clouds of warm vapor rising from crevices in the rock in the crater. Curious tourists can see it - the steam is so hot that you can boil eggs or bake bananas on it.

Gunung (translated as "mountain") Batur is beautiful and unusual with its caldera. 25,000 years ago, the top of a giant volcano collapsed down. It was so clogged with a huge amount of magma that had accumulated below the crater that when the eruption eventually occurred, the surrounding rocks and earth collapsed down, leaving a giant valley with steep cliffs - this is the caldera. In the middle now rises a peak with a crater inside, and on the eastern side of the caldera - the largest freshwater lake in Bali - Lake Batur. Measuring 7 km long and 2.5 km wide, this lake is the most important drainage basin for irrigation in central Bali.

And in the caldera, at an altitude of about 1000 m, there are eight of the most authentic villages in Bali. Their inhabitants were not influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism, which in the 14th-15th centuries. came to the Island from Java and formed a unique religion. These people have preserved the original Balinese beliefs in spirits and forces of animated nature. Their religion is called Bali Agha. Now the local population is engaged in fishing and receives income from tourists who come to these villages in increasing numbers.

Climbing Mount Batur

Usually the ascent to Mount Batur starts from the base camp, which is marked on Google map as "Area Parkir tracking mount Batur". Here you can leave the car and find a guide. In general, in a good way, a guide to Batur is not needed, because. the path is very clearly beaten. Still, every day from 200 to 500 people pass through it. But the locals organized something like a mafia. If you refuse the services of a guide, then these "good" guys can ruin your car or bike. Of course, it is possible, out of principle and for the sake of economy, to find other, less noticeable trails to the top, but in total darkness, this will probably not be very correct. An official ticket according to 2018 costs 100,000 rupees per person. Guide services - another 500,000 rupees - a maximum of 5 people. Those. if you go with four friends, then your personal cost will be 200,000 rupees. The guide will provide flashlights for everyone, help carry the bag, help on difficult sections of the road, joke and talk to you along the way to make your climb less difficult. That, in principle, is its entire function.

Get ready for the climb to take about 1.5 - 2 hours depending on your speed. You need to start from the parking lot no later than 3:45 in the morning. Imagine a picture - in complete darkness in front of you are the outlines of a huge mountain and a snake of lantern lights, persistently crawling towards the goal - conquering a volcano in Bali.

Several roads lead to the top. If you go with a guide from the parking lot, then the ascent is carried out along two main trails. This is the safest and fastest way to the top. But in any case, all paths lead there. Some people climb one route and descend another.

Climbing Batur is the easiest compared to traveling to other volcanoes and does not require special equipment. Although the ascent is not very easy. If you have an average level of physical fitness, then conquering the volcano will not be a problem. But go up only in good weather. On cloudy days, firstly, it is cooler, and secondly, you will walk in the fog and when you climb to the top, you will see only the milky white sea below you. Mount Batur is not recommended to climb during the rainy season, which in Bali lasts from December to March.

So, the first 15 minutes from the parking lot you walk along an asphalt road between beds with vegetables grown by local residents. By the way, the fertile region of Kintamani is the leading producer of fruits and vegetables in Bali. Then the relief suddenly becomes much steeper. And the path goes straight up. Be careful, because under your feet - pieces of volcanic pumice, on which you can slide down.

Sunrise at the top of Batur volcano

Usually everyone comes to see the sunrise. Firstly, at the top you can take the most beautiful, incomparable photos, see the crater of the volcano, look at the steep slopes and cliffs, feel the power of this place.
Secondly, before sunrise it is still not so hot and in the process of lifting you will not burn yourself in the sun.
When you go up, you will see the second base camp. There are tables and benches for tired tourists to have a bite to eat. In the cafe you can order tea, coffee, cocoa. But get ready for the fact that the prices here are quite high. Also, be careful that the local monkeys, who wake up at dawn, do not steal your breakfast. In this place you can relax, set up your tripods, get your cameras ready and wait for the show to begin.

There is also another peak framing the crater. A very narrow, steep path leads to it. The ascent is not easy and takes about 30 minutes. The view from there is the same as from the second base camp. But there is the highest point of Batur volcano.

The action starts around 6 am. The sky is painted in many colors while the stars are still visible. The sun rises on the horizon and slowly begins to illuminate the bluish-green Lake Batur, allowing you to enjoy what you could not see in complete darkness. You will see black rivers of solidified lava left over from powerful eruptions of the 20th century. The earth was so scorched that now, decades later, there is nothing alive on it. On the opposite shore of the lake, the lights of village houses flicker. And in the distance in front of you are three peaks - Mount Abang (with two peaks) and Agung volcano. If you look closely, the outlines of the Rinjani volcano on the island of Lombok are also visible in the east. Right now you can take photos to capture these wonderful moments that will stay with you for a lifetime.

Return trip

Going down is not much easier than going up. The trail goes through the forest, and it seems that you are in Russia. Mountain pines, ferns, shrubs, the smell of pine needles - nothing reminds you that you are now almost at the equator. The trail, although wide, is very steep in places and also slippery due to fine sand and dust. The journey will take about an hour.

What to bring to Batur volcano?

Whatever the weather, you need comfortable, durable footwear. Sneakers are the best. Be sure to bring a change of jersey with you to change at the summit, as you will sweat through the climb. A strong wind always blows at a height and the temperature can drop to +10 degrees. So warm clothes - trousers or jeans, a jacket, a sweatshirt, a scarf - are a must. Take water, snacks and sunscreen. You can also buy food at the cafe at the top, but if you want a really tasty meal, it's better to have your own.

During our yoga tour in Bali, we will climb the sacred Mount Batur if the weather is clear. Because in the rain, traveling is very dangerous because of the slippery road, plus nothing is visible except haze and clouds. But I hope that the Gods of Bali favor us, and you can enjoy an unforgettable sunrise from the top of the active Batur volcano.

Indonesia is famous for the huge number of volcanoes that the country is literally riddled with. Volcanoes now and then wake up and spew a sea of ​​liquid flame from their depths. Some of them do not doze at all, but constantly smoke and scatter hot sparks. So, for example, the famous Krakatoa, the consequences of the eruption of which came back to haunt the whole world, still, after more than a hundred years, cannot calm down and constantly sparkles with small eruptions.

Krakatoa is located on a small island between Java and Sumatra. In Java, the Bromo volcano is especially famous, which smokes hydrogen sulfide on the entire environment :) But I didn’t even suspect that there are volcanoes in Bali. I naively believed that since this is such a paradise-tourist island, then there are no dangers here except for sea urchins :) But having studied the information before the planned trip, I, of course, realized my mistake. But she was immensely glad, because I just dreamed of volcanoes since my school days! And now I had a chance to see them with my own eyes!

To be honest, volcanoes were the most desirable place I wanted to visit in Bali. And I was just ready to squeak when I noticed Agung volcano on the way from the airport. I did not expect at all, he thought deep into the island. It would seem where Denpasar, and where Agung, on the map is not much and close to each other. But it turns out that the middle part of Bali is practically a plain, and through the whole island you can see hills on its other side. So Agung towered importantly and silently over the endless rice fields.

Unfortunately, we did not manage to meet the huge Agung “face to face”, because clouds constantly ran into the island, and selectively gathered for a gathering right next to the volcano :) Once we drove up to its very foot, to the temple of Pura Besakih, and only here everything was covered with an obscure veil of pre-storm fog. In the rest of the island, the sun shone merrily. Therefore, we looked at Agung, of course, but there is no filming! Sorry.

But I would like to show you the second famous volcano of Bali - Batur. He is smaller than Agung in size, but in no way inferior to the impression he makes on his viewers. And the true decoration of the views surrounding the volcano is Lake Batur, which is nothing more than the crater of another volcano! Together with little Mishutka, we went down the serpentine on a motorbike to the very water of the lake, soaked our feet in it and admired the life of the locals. I think it's worth it to tell you about it too ;)

Batur is located near the village of Kintamani. She became quite famous thanks to the volcano. It is here that the observation deck is located, where heaps of tourists are brought daily. The name “Kintamani” was necessary for me only for laying a route on Google maps, according to which I ride forever on a motorbike. The road from Ubud goes stupidly to the north, without turning anywhere. It is almost empty, there is very little traffic. True, local traffic officers skillfully hide in the bushes, who tore off a bribe of $ 20 from us for the fact that you see the rights are not the same, that there is no helmet and many other reasons. In general, you will be in Bali, know that traffic cops there are lovers of bribery.

In the end, we reached a crossroads, where the road diverges to the left - towards Lovina, and to the right - towards Kintamani. And straight ahead, a fence over a cliff, from which you can already see the volcano. Oooooh!!

We admired the views from above and moved further to the east. On the way, I saw a small lapel, sort of down. She chased after him. Ahhh, what a road it was! For the first time I rode a serpentine on a motorcycle, and I almost turned gray, to be honest. The bike rolls and rolls on its own downhill, slows down with difficulty, God forbid you make a sudden movement and you start somersaulting. But the most disgusting thing is that it all happens on the road, which veers from right to left literally 360 degrees. That is, back and forth, back and forth, completely sharp turns and no fences are provided. Phew. I cursed this serpentine a thousand times and repented that I would no longer stick my head on a similar road.

The photo came out unconvincing, but, believe me, at other moments I simply had no time to shoot. I took pictures in breaks, when it was more or less possible to find a place to stumble on the side of the road.

Finally we got to the very bottom. But to the very shore of the lake you need to somehow get close. Again, a fork in front of my eyes.

I chose the path to the left towards Ke Toyabungkah. Firstly, I visually saw that it was in the direction of the volcano. Secondly, there are fewer kilometers to this village than to the others.

As a result, it was not necessary to reach the village. The road ran along the lake, literally a hundred meters from the shore. Just the coast was built up with houses of local residents.

It was in one house that I saw a gap =) I braked the bike on the side of the road and Mishutkus and I walked straight through other people's "canopy" to the water.

I’m terribly ashamed, we would have been tied up for this, at least they would have been driven away with a filthy broom, but there I decided that it’s nothing terrible =) I just know that the Balinese would never behave like that, very good-natured people live there. And it’s clear to anyone that a stupid white girl just needs to go to the lake, and she certainly doesn’t want to drag a pig :)

After passing through the buildings, we found ourselves in the "garden". The green onion sits on the beds.

I just wanted to grunt it, but I didn’t become so impudent, it’s someone else’s, after all, and Mishkus and I didn’t touch the crops. Gardener's dream!

The beds are fed with water from the lake, there are pumping stations and pipes going into the water everywhere.

And here is the lake itself - Danau Batur!

Lake Batur is the largest lake in Bali. It is approximately 8 km long and 3 km wide.

For the Balinese, this lake is sacred. According to their beliefs, the goddess Devi Danau lives here.

Volcano Batur, located nearby, is considered active. From time to time it emits poisonous gases into the air. One of these emissions occurred relatively recently - in 2011. After that, the water in the lake changed color dramatically, and all the fish surfaced belly up. Today, fishermen are again catching livestock without any problems.

On the other side of the lake is the mountain-caldera Abang, reaching a height of more than 2000 meters. I think it's impossibly beautiful!

Thanks to this caldera on the one hand and the Batur volcano on the other, the lake is, as it were, in a bowl. And surprisingly, the water level in it always remains the same, despite the season. Whether it's the dry heat of the winter months, or the monsoons that flood the tropics with rain.

After wetting our feet in the lake, we headed back to the bike.

The road in these places is covered with black volcanic sand. I have already seen this one once in the Indian Varkala, because he did not particularly surprise me.

But Mishutka was interested in digging into it :)

After we successfully climbed back to the main road. Personally, it was easier for me to overcome the serpentine uphill, at least I felt that I was keeping the motorcycle under control, and not that it was rolling like crazy. And just a few meters after the lapel to the foot, I saw the same observation deck, which is crowded with ordinary tourists. Here is the whole infrastructure - souvenirs, fruits at exorbitant prices, restaurants overlooking the valley ...

As you already understood, I decided to stop too, to take hackneyed shots :)

Below you can see the road along which we meandered just a few minutes ago.

And Lake Danau Batur spilled in a "cup".

A mushroom has grown from a cloud over the valley :) And the other creates the illusion of smoke swirling from the largest crater. By the way, Batur has three craters!

Pay attention to the scorched slopes of the volcano. Apparently, it erupted quite recently, in the last couple of years for sure. Although, according to information on the network, the last eruption dates back to 2009. Fortunately, there were no casualties. But in 1963, the volcano did not spare the neighboring villages, and then claimed the lives of more than 2,000 people. So it's not all toys.

Even my son and I, during the Thai wintering in 2012, experienced the consequences of eruptions in the Indonesian Sumatra region. Then we felt the tremors even in the province of Krabi, which seems to be not very close. I felt the earthquake for the first time, sensations never experienced before - like tremors from the depths of the underworld. And about how the streets of the province looked after the tsunami warning, I told and showed in my article Earthquake and tsunami in Thailand. Then the tsunami passed us, but I saw the consequences of the most powerful tsunami of 2004 on the southernmost cape of India in Kanyakumari. And this was quite enough to understand the danger of volcanoes, these powerful gates to the belly of the Earth.

But, if the risk does not stop you, and the desire burns with the same flame as mine burned, then Here are some tips for your trip to Mount Batur in Kintamani, Bali: