Overall, I cannot recommend HireBaliDriver or this tour enough. Although this hike was early, it was absolutely worth it for the views! Our driver got us to the mountain in a timely fashion, and he was great the rest of the day as well! Also, our other guide who hiked up the mountain with us, Kan, was fantastic! Overall, I recommend this tour to anyone who wants to go on a cool adventure!
I booked the Mount Batur & Hot Springs tour via the Hire Bali Driver website, and I can safely say it turned out to be one of the highlights of my trip. A huge part of that was thanks to my amazing driver, Dekwi, who was absolutely fantastic throughout the day - punctual, professional, and genuinely friendly.
We chatted about everything and anything during the early morning drive to the mountain. I mentioned my love for wood carving, and on the way back Dekwi added a stop at a lovely local shop where I could get my fix. He even offered to take me to a few more places afterward, but by that point I was just about ready to collapse from exhaustion. Still, it was so thoughtful of him. Dekwi also handled all the logistics during the trip and made it clear that he was happy to adjust the day to suit my pace and preferences - and that meant a lot to me.
Now, on to the mountain itself.
Fair warning to anyone considering this tour: the hike is no joke. Obviously, this depends on one's level of physical fitness, but as a certified couch potato, I was just about crawling on all fours by the final stretch. I wasn’t the only one suffering, either: at one point, a fellow hiker muttered “let’s just die,” and I felt that in my soul.
For the less masochistic, there’s an option to hop on an ojek (motorbike 'taxi') for the lower half of the hike, but you're on your own for the last segment, as even ojeks can't go up trails that steep and rocky.
I chose to pridefully suffer all the way, and I genuinely wouldn’t have made it without my lovely guide. She encouraged me constantly, waited patiently while I caught my breath every two minutes, and took a ton of great photos for me - which was very much appreciated, since I was traveling solo.
Key tips for the trek:
1. Bring a jacket, it gets cold at the top
2. Wear proper footwear - I'd say sneakers/closed-toe shoes at minimum. And please, God forbid, no flip-flops - unless you're a local or just plain crazy.
3. Skip the shorts - leggings, or at least jeans, are a much better choice.
4. Bring water - at least one 500ml bottle per person, but two is ideal.
5. Apart from your prepaid meal, you can purchase sweet snacks from the locals at every rest stop, but that's just about it in terms of food (I was too busy breathing to care for any of it - breakfast tea was more than enough, honestly).
6. The monkeys at the summit are much calmer than, say, their Uluwatu temple cousins, but they may still snatch food (though they ignored everyone the day I visited).
7. Most importantly: whatever pain you experience climbing up, you’ll likely forget once you reach the top.
I had the misfortune of being there on a rare foggy morning, so the sunrise and crater were hidden at first. But even then, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking, and as we began the descent, the clouds lifted, revealing an incredible view below. 10/10 - would strain my calves again.
The hot springs were the perfect follow-up — a great place to relax sore muscles, soak in the warmth, and enjoy stunning views over Lake Batur.
All in all, this was a wonderful experience I’d gladly repeat next time I'm in Bali (though I should probably do a little training beforehand). And when I do, I sincerely hope Dekwi will be my driver again. He truly went above and beyond to make the day smooth, enjoyable, and special.