Hiking in Bali: My Favourite Trails for Every Level
TRAVELHIKING
I've always liked the fact that even though Bali is famous for its tropical climate and beaches, you have a lot of hiking options and the weather can get chilly. Hiking in Bali ranges from a flat, free thirty-minute walk through rice fields to a genuine multi-hour volcano expedition, and most first-time visitors only ever hear about one of those extremes. I've done most of the island's major trails at this point, some with a headlamp at 3am, some in flip-flops on a Sunday afternoon, and this guide covers the real range: easy, moderate, and genuinely hard, with what each one actually involves.
If you’re looking for more activities to do in Bali, check out my Top Things to Do in Bali guide.
What Is the Best Hiking in Bali?
Bali's best hikes fall into three categories: easy countryside walks like the Campuhan Ridge Walk, moderate waterfall and jungle treks like Munduk, and serious volcano climbs like Mount Batur and Mount Agung. There's no single "best" hike, the right one depends entirely on your fitness level and what you actually want to see, forest views, waterfalls, or a sunrise above the clouds.
Best Easy Hikes in Bali
Campuhan Ridge Walk (Ubud)
The most accessible hike on the island, and completely free. A paved path runs along a ridge just outside central Ubud, with rolling views over forest and rice fields on either side. It's flat enough for any fitness level, takes about 45 minutes to an hour round trip, and needs no guide, no permit, and no advance planning. Go early morning or late afternoon to avoid the midday heat, and to catch the light at its best.I recommend staying in Ubud during your trip. For the best accommodation options, click to check out my guide.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
A UNESCO-recognized landscape of cascading rice paddies in central Bali, with marked walking paths ranging from a short 30-minute loop to a longer 2-hour circuit through the terraces. This is walking rather than technical hiking, flat, scenic, and genuinely one of the most photographed landscapes in Bali, without the crowds that Tegallalang's terraces near Ubud tend to draw.
Best Moderate Hikes in Bali
Munduk Waterfalls Trek
Munduk, a misty mountain village north of Ubud, is Bali's best waterfall hiking area, and noticeably less crowded than the falls closer to the tourist center. The full loop links three waterfalls, Laangan Melanting (the tallest, with a dramatic 150-meter drop), Red Coral, and Golden Valley, along steep concrete stairs, dirt footpaths, and moss-covered bamboo bridges. The full trek takes three to five hours, undulates up and down throughout, and can be done without a guide, though sturdy shoes and a reasonable fitness level matter here. Bring a swimsuit, several of the pools along the way are genuinely worth a dip.
Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking
Bali's most popular sunrise hike, and the most accessible volcano climb in Indonesia. At 1,717 meters, it's a roughly two-hour ascent starting around 3am, on a well-trodden, non-technical path with a fairly easy gradient even in the dark. The reward is a sweeping sunrise view over the crater lake, rice paddies, and Mount Agung in the distance. A guide is required, both by local convention and in practice, and most treks bundle in a stop at nearby hot springs afterward. Group tours typically run IDR 600,000–800,000 per person including transport and breakfast.
Best Challenging Hikes in Bali
Mount Agung
Bali's highest and most sacred peak at 3,031 meters, and a serious step up from Batur. This is an active volcano, occasionally closed for religious ceremonies or volcanic activity, so always confirm access before committing. Expect a genuinely demanding climb with steep, exposed sections, this is for hikers who've already built up real fitness and ideally have prior high-altitude or volcano trekking experience, not a spontaneous add-on to a Bali holiday.
Mount Batukaru
Bali's second-highest peak and the least touristy of the island's major climbs. The route winds up through dense, genuinely untouched rainforest, passing the atmospheric Pura Luhur Batukaru temple partway up, before a final narrow ridge leads to a grassy summit. On a clear day the views stretch as far as Java and Lombok. Some hikers camp at the summit for sunset and sunrise, though it's entirely possible as a single long day hike. Batukaru sits inside a protected conservation area, so access is limited to a capped number of hikers per day through an organized tour, independent hiking isn't permitted here.
Do You Need a Guide to Hike in Bali?
For the volcano hikes, yes. Mount Batur, Mount Agung, and Mount Batukaru all require a licensed guide, either by regulation or because local trekking communities won't let you start without one. Batukaru specifically also caps daily visitor numbers as part of its conservation status. The easier trails, Campuhan Ridge Walk, Jatiluwih, and the Munduk Waterfalls loop, can all be done independently without a guide, though a local guide adds context and can be worth it for Munduk specifically given how the trail branches.
Best Time to Hike in Bali
Dry season, roughly April through October, is best across nearly every trail on this list, firmer footing, clearer skies, and far more reliable sunrise views on Batur and Agung specifically. Wet season (November to March) doesn't rule hiking out entirely, but volcanic scree gets genuinely slippery, and waterfall trails like Munduk can turn muddy and, in heavy rain, temporarily unsafe.
What to Pack for Hiking in Bali
Sturdy shoes with real grip, sandals genuinely aren't enough for Munduk, Batur, Agung, or Batukaru
A headlamp for any volcano hike, nearly all of them start well before sunrise
Layers for Batur and Agung, it's noticeably cold at altitude before the sun comes up, even in tropical Bali
At least 1.5–2 liters of water, more for the longer treks
Cash for small trailhead and waterfall entrance fees, most are collected by local village groups (subak) and don't take cards
A swimsuit if you're doing Munduk, the waterfall pools are too good to skip
Tips for Hiking in Bali
Start early, always. Heat and humidity climb fast after 9am on every trail, and the volcano hikes are timed around sunrise for a reason.
Match the hike to your actual fitness, not your ambition. Agung and Batukaru are genuinely hard, don't treat them as a bigger version of Batur.
Book Batukaru ahead of time. Daily visitor caps mean you can't just show up.
Check volcanic activity status before Agung specifically. Access changes with both ceremonies and eruption risk.
Bring small bills. Entrance fees at waterfalls and trailheads are almost always cash-only, exact change helps.
Make sure you have travel insurance with the right coverage for your trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest hike in Bali? The Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud, a free, flat, paved path suitable for any fitness level, taking about 45 minutes to an hour round trip.
Do you need a guide to hike in Bali? For volcano hikes like Mount Batur, Mount Agung, and Mount Batukaru, yes, guides are required. Easier trails like the Campuhan Ridge Walk and Jatiluwih's rice terrace paths can be done independently.
How hard is the Mount Batur hike? Moderate. It's about a two-hour, non-technical ascent starting around 3am, well-suited to most fitness levels, but the pre-dawn start and steady incline make it more demanding than a casual walk.
What is the hardest hike in Bali? Mount Agung, Bali's highest and most sacred peak at 3,031 meters, with steep, exposed sections that require real fitness and ideally prior high-altitude hiking experience.
Is the Munduk Waterfalls Trek worth it? Yes. It links three waterfalls across three to five hours of jungle trail, and it's noticeably quieter than the waterfalls closer to Ubud, genuinely one of the best moderate hikes on the island.
What is the best time of year to hike in Bali? Dry season, roughly April to October, offers the most reliable trail conditions and the clearest sunrise views, especially for Batur and Agung.
Final Thoughts
Hiking in Bali isn't just Mount Batur at sunrise, though that's a genuinely great place to start. Between the free ridge walks around Ubud, the waterfall trails up in Munduk, and the two serious volcano climbs at Agung and Batukaru, there's a real trail for every fitness level and every kind of trip. Start with whichever one matches where you're at right now, and build up from there.