Looking for the best hikes in Bali? Well, we’ve got you covered with the 17 best hikes on the island.
There’s something for every level of experience and you will be delighted with just how beautiful and interesting the island’s hiking trails can be.
The 17 Best Bali Hikes
West Bali National Park (Tegal Bunder Trail)
This is one of the most popular hikes in Taman Nasional Bali Barat (West Bali National Park). It only takes two hours and provides a pleasant and easy stroll through the local environment.
You have to hire a guide to hike in the park but that’s good because, without the knowledge of local Balinese people, you might miss many of the sights here including the critically endangered Bali starling.
If you want a bigger challenge you can tackle the Gunung Klatakan Trail which takes you further into the rainforest and emerges at the volcano there.
This is a fabulous walk in West Bali National Park for catching sight of the sambal deer, barking deer, Javanese buffalo, anteaters, marbled cats and more! (We’ve got a great guide to West Bali National Park which goes into more detail).
Campuhan Ridge Walk
The Campuhan Ridge Walk hike starts just outside of Ubud. It’s completely free to access and one of the least challenging hikes on our list.
The only challenge is the walk up the hill to get to the starting point but once you’re there you can walk past the rice fields and rainforest at sunset and enjoy the spectacular light breaking over the local countryside.
It’s only about an hour’s peaceful walk end-to-end and there’s even a cafe near the starting point where you can stop for drinks and food.
We recommend you tackle the Campuhan Ridge Walk in the early evening rather than in the early morning for the best light.
Mount Batur Active Volcano (Gunung Batur)
Mount Batur or Gunung Batur offers the easiest hike up a mountain that Bali has to offer. You still need to be reasonably physically fit to tackle it, but you won’t need to be “in the best shape of your life” either.
You will set off in the very early morning and it’s a good idea to take some warm clothes as it can get a little chilly before the sun comes up.
Then you follow one trail all the way to the highest point (which isn’t quite the summit) with a wonderful view out over Bali (often with the mist of clouds rolling over it) at sunrise.
You will have breakfast at the peak and get the opportunity to boil some eggs in the volcanic steam vents, which is a unique way to start the day.
After you’re done, you can visit the local hot springs and soak away your aches and pains.
Mount Agung Volcano Hike (Gunung Agung)
Mount Agung is on another plane of difficulty entirely from the Mount Batur hike. Mount Agung is for the extremely physically fit and it’s a long, hard scramble up a treacherous path to the summit.
You will enjoy a brief rest at the Pasar Agung Temple before pressing on. Assuming you can handle the full trek, then the summit offers one of the most incredible views that you can get anywhere on Earth.
We don’t recommend you tackle this hike in the rainy season, however, as there would be nothing worse than putting in the effort only to find the view of the world before you are obscured by rain clouds.
So, wait for the dry season (which most people agree is the best time to come to Bali) and then get your hiking boots on.
Sekumpul Waterfall
The hike for Sekumpul Waterfall takes you not just to one but seven spectacular waterfalls and it’s fabulous.
You will have to get down some fairly steep stone stairs and then you have two choices of trails – one that takes you to a set of four waterfalls and another that takes you to Sekumpul and two more falls.
We’d strongly recommend wearing the right footwear as the paths here can get very wet and slippery.
It’s also worth noting that while waterfalls make for awesome photographs, a camera that isn’t weather-sealed may be damaged in the spray.
Speaking of awesome photos, it’s legal to use a drone in Bali and you can get some amazing shots at waterfalls and on other hikes with a drone.
Batukaru Overnight Summit Hike
Mount Batukaru is the second-highest mountain in all of Bali and the highest peak around Bedugul.
It’s an extinct volcano and the slopes offer some wonderful rainforest to explore.
You can visit Pura Luhur Batukaru, a wonderful temple that gets very few visitors for tourism purposes.
But you should know that this is an important conservation area and you will need to join an organized tour as only a limited number of hikers are given access each day.
Twin Lakes Of Munduk
If you’d like some great views of Mount Agung from afar and an amazing view of the pair of sparkling crater lakes before the mountain, then this is your lucky hike.
You start at the Twin Lakes Viewpoint parking area and then follow a simple path through the countryside.
There is no access fee to this area (though some unscrupulous souls may try to charge you all the same).
However, if you want to use the custom Instagram zone that’s been built at the viewpoint – you need to pay for that.
There is also a very small access fee for Lake Buyan of 10,000 IDR.
Sambangan Village (Secret Village And Secret Gardens)
You need to head to the Sambangan Secret Garden Waterfall Park to buy a ticket to access this trail (it’s only 10,000 IDR per person).
Then it takes about 3-4 hours to visit Pucuk, Kroya and Kembar waterfalls as you pass through coffee plantations, exotic flowers and other beautiful countryside.
We strongly recommend taking food and drinks as you will find yourself going a long time between cafes and some swimmers as bathing at Tibuan Puncak is awesome.
Lempuyang Temple Hike
This isn’t your usual walk around a temple, to get to this beautiful temple on the side of Mount Abang, you must climb over 1,700 stairs.
Fortunately, there are plenty of places to stop, on the way up Lempuyang Temple, and take some dramatic photos, but the whole walk takes about 4 hours.
You do need to be fit to tackle this hike but’s not the hardest walk on the list by a long shot.
One thing you should be aware of is that the famous “Gates of Heaven” photograph here is a bit of a camera trick and you may need to wait a long time in line to get this photo.
Mount Catur
Mount Catur or Pucak Mangu offers a 7-hour hike through an isolated temple and rainforest. It starts at the Gua Jepang caves which were built by prisoners of war.
Some say that “Infinity Mountain” is one of the greatest places for bird watching and wildlife watching too.
There are absolutely no crowds for hikers to contend with on Mount Catur and while you will need the service of a local guide, you won’t find any pushy tourist touts in the area.
Make sure to take snacks and drinks though, there aren’t very many places along the route to stop for refreshments.
Red Coral Waterfall Trail (Munduk Waterfalls Trek)
The Red Coral Waterfall Trail (or Golden Valley Trek) lets you visit four very pleasant waterfalls near the village of Munduk.
It’s worth noting that the hike takes around 4-8 hours and some parts are hard work – you don’t need to be in peak physical form to tackle this trail but you should have a decent level of fitness.
You can tackle the trail from either end or even start in the middle and do a shorter version which is handy if you don’t have a huge amount of time to dedicate to a hike.
If you want the two falls that are closest together then hit Melanting and and Lebuhan Kebo.
Mount Abang
Mount Abang is the highest mountain in the jungles of Bali, and it’s a wonderful adventure to climb.
You will need to join an organized tour part for this hike as you need a local guide who knows the trail.
It’s a medium to low-difficulty mountain hike and a great alternative to Mount Batur as it’s much less touristy.
Watch out for scammers, though, you only buy your ticket at the official trekking office, anybody who stops you before you get there is just trying to pull a fast one.
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
This awesome hike in the rice paddies of Tegallalang is one of the simplest hikes to carry out and it’s one of the easiest hiking areas to find as it’s just outside of Ubud.
The rice paddies (rice fields the two words are interchangeable) are organized in lush green rice terraces and you can get some incredible photos here.
The terraces are managed on the UNESCO World Heritage award-winning Subak system which shows that it is possible for man and nature to live in perfect harmony and that the Balinese have been doing so for more than 1,000 years.
Mount Lesung
This sacred jungle mountain is home to the Naga Loka Temple, Bukit Temple and more, it’s just south of Lake Tamblingan and you can get great views of the lake from the hike.
This is one of the least visited mountains on the island and you are pretty much guaranteed to have the place to yourself (and your tour guide).
The hike isn’t all plain sailing but it’s easier than some mountain hikes and takes about 4-5 hours for most hikers.
There is a nice rest stop halfway through where you can refresh at a local restaurant and the trek ends at Ulun Danu temple.
The Old Nature Cave (Sangeh Monkey Forest)
This is a lovely hike that starts at the Sangeh Monkey Forest (one of Bali’s less famous monkey forests – find all the spots to see monkeys here).
It’s a great way to see traditional Balinese life and explore villages, temples, a cave and the Penet River Valley.
This is a great hike for kids and it’s not too taxing at all. Expect to spend 2 or 3 hours in an easy walk in the beautiful Balinese countryside.
Tirta Gangga Water Palace And Rice Fields
The Tirta Gangga Water Palace is one of the key elements of the legendary Subak system of Bali and a walk around this area and the neighbouring rice terraces is a trek worth taking.
It’s not far from Amed on the less explored side of the island and this is a hike that can be tackled by nearly everyone.
Candidasa And Teganang Village
Candidasa is often described as one of Bali’s best-kept secrets and the Teganang Village is one of the oldest bastions of Balinese culture on the island.
They may call Ubud the “cultural capital” but you’ll learn more about life in old Bali in 10 minutes in Teganang than you will in Ubud in a week.
This is another family-friendly hike and can be tackled by nearly anyone (except those with mobility issues).
FAQs
What Is The Hardest Hike In Bali?
With the exception of Mount Batur, all the mountain hikes in Bali are very challenging and probably the most challenging hike in Bali of them all is climbing Mount Agung.
We don’t recommend that you try to tackle this hike unless you are in optimal shape and have some serious hiking experience under your belt.
Hiking should be fun and Mount Agung is only going to be fun if you’re in good shape to do it.
However, it’s not quite as hard as climbing Mount Rinjani in West Nusa Tenggara.
Can Tourists Still Climb Mount Batur?
Yes! At the moment Mount Batur is open for sunrise trekking and hiking.
The Indonesian government can change the alert levels on an active volcano at any time, so it’s always worth checking before you travel to ensure that the slopes are still open to hikers.
Which Mountain To Hike In Bali?
It really depends on the level of challenge you’re seeking. Almost everyone can manage the Mount Batur hike, but the other mountains are a much stiffer challenge and Mount Agung is the biggest challenge of them all.
If you’re not sure about this, we’d recommend trying Mount Batur first and then deciding if you want additional challenges. The views from Mount Batur are spectacular and very much worth seeing.
Does Bali Have Hiking? Is Bali Good For Walking?
Yes, as you can see from our list of the best hikes in Bali above, there are plenty of great hiking trails on every part of the island.
Popular hikes here involve spectacular waterfalls, active volcanoes, seeing the critically endangered Bali starling, exploring a secret garden and so much more.
Whether you want to meet local wildlife or climb the highest mountain in Bali, there are hiking areas for you to enjoy a peaceful walk and some extraordinary scenery.
How To Book A Hiking Holiday In Bali?
We always recommend that you book a holiday in Bali through the awesome people at the Bali Res Centre. That’s a locally owned and operated travel service.
They specialize in travel experiences in Bali and can arrange flights, hotels, tours, transport and more for you at very competitive prices.
We love the fact that when you book your holiday through the Bali Res Centre, you’re supporting the local economy and not sending your money overseas to enrich a multinational corporation.
Final Thoughts On Hiking Trails In Bali
Whether you’re hiking Lake Batur in Northern Bali or venturing out into the tropical paradise of cascading waterfalls and rice fields around Ubud, there’s always an awesome hike to be found in Bali.
We hope our 18 hiking trails have given you some inspiration to get out and see the best that the island has to offer.
