Mountains in Bali

This is the 2nd highest volcano in Bali, but surprisingly one of the easiest to climb. On the top, there is a sacred temple, but this location with its altitude and scenic beauty can also be used for night camping, assuming you don’t wreck the place as it holds religious importance. It is an excellent place to camp in the shelter of all the trees and away from civilisation.

Called "Gunung Batur" in the local language, Mount Batur is an active volcano in Indonesia. At 1717 metres (around 5,600 feet) above sea level, it offers a view of its surroundings - the majestic Lake Batur, set amongst black lava from the last explosion in 2000, and adjacent to this all, beautiful mountains.

One of the lesser peaks of the Batukaru massif in Tabanan, and the one almost nobody climbs. The forest is the same protected montane rainforest that covers Batukaru itself, thick and wet and loud with birds, and the route up starts from the villages on the southern side of the range. There is no built path and no ticket office, so a local guide is the sensible way to do it.

Gunung Batukaru is the dormant Bedugul volcanic region’s highest peak at 2,276 metres. Flanked by dense tropics, hiking trails with panoramic views of rice terraces, and freshwater streams, Batukaru has a large crater, Bali’s largest, open at the southern end, allowing the Mawa River to escape. On the summit, Pura Luhur Batukaru is a Hindu temple dedicated to the mountain.

Popular for hiking, birdwatching and walking, the 2,096-metre-tall Gunung Catur is an adventure enthusiast’s escape. A 14.5-km out-and-back trail towards Gunung Catur’s peak takes you past the scintillating Lake Beratan, then towards Pucak Mangu, an ornate Hindu temple hidden in the dense forest. The lush mountain overlooks a view of rice terraces, smaller surrounding hills and mystique clouds.

Located in Gunung Lesung National Park, Gunung Lesong is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a 9.6-km out-and-back trail in the paradisiacal tropics. After hiking for two hours past scenic cliffs, cascading waterfalls, campsites and shrines, you would reach the peak, which stands at 1,865 metres. Gunung Lesong is also famous for sunrise trekking and swimming at the Wong Jampang Waterfall.

Gunung Lempuyang Mountain in Bali is 1,058-metres-tall. It is a beautiful two-hour walk along proper steps cutting through wooded jungles to the summit, home to Pura Lempuyang Luhur Temple, one of Bali's six holiest worship places. During sunrise, the morning mist lifts, revealing majestic views of Gunung Agung nearby. For non-climbers, a temple at the bottom offers excellent valley views.

Popular among birdwatchers, Gunung Prapat Agung sits within Bali Barat National Park. At an elevation of 1,203 feet, Prapat Agung is relatively small but a special tourist attraction. It is made of limestone amidst rainforests and offers visitors a glimpse of limestone formation. A 24km trail cuts through the mountain’s base, ideal for hiking amongst the park’s flora and fauna.

Puncak Penulisan or Mount Penulisan stands 1,745 metres tall, overlooking views of the crystalline crater lake, Lake Batur and Mount Batur in the distance. A 300-step-climb to the top takes you to a megalithic Hindu temple, Bali’s oldest and highest temple. Set in a vast volcanic caldera, Mount Penulisan features verdant coffee plantations, rainforests and savannahs for trekking.