Mount Catur is a great alternative to hiking Mount Batur, one of Bali’s most popular mountains, and its location outside of Bedugul gives you the opportunity to see Lake Tamblingan, Lake Buyan and Lake Beratan too.
One of the nicest things about hiking Mount Catur is that you get to see an incredible old temple that most visitors to Bali will never see as you near the summit.
Our guide to Mount Catur will give you all you need to know to consider hiking this awesome mountain in Bali.
Where Is Mount Catur?
Mount Catur is in Central Bali not far from the town of Bedugul and the hike begins in the Candikuning Village near the main lakes area of the region.
How To Get To Mount Catur?
We’d recommend that you join an organized tour to Mount Catur as although the trek through the jungle and tropical rain forest isn’t too strenuous it’s not always well marked and a guide can really help you get to the summit easily.
However, you can always use a route planner (make sure it operates offline) on your phone and tackle the hike yourself. In that instance, you will need a private car and driver to take you out to Mount Catur and to pick you up when you’re finished.
There is no Grab/Gojek service in this area and we wouldn’t recommend using a scooter to get there as the roads are particularly rough.
About Mount Catur (Gunung Catur)
Mount Catur (Gunung Catur) is an awesome destination for wildlife lovers and bird watchers. You can see Forest Eagles, Civet Cats, Monkeys and various other fauna and flora on your hike up this mountain and we strongly recommend taking a pair of binoculars or a camera with a long telephoto lens for the walk.
There’s a lovely old temple, Pura Pucak Mangu, at the top and this also makes for some lovely shots before you turn to the main event the views of Lake Bratan, Lake Beratan and Lake Tamblingan.
If you want the best light, we recommend using a local guide to ensure you reach the top by sunrise. You’ll need to set off around 2-3 a.m. to be certain of completing the trek up the mountain by then.
About Mount Catur Trekking
The trek takes 5-7 hours round trip and starts among coffee and fruit plantations and then works it way through the rainforest through Plage Village to the temple at the top.
The summit is at 2,096 meters (6,876 feet) above sea level.
There are some shelters along the way where you can grab a few minutes of rest.
It’s a fairly easy trail until the last 20-30 minutes when it becomes very steep and can be a heavy challenge for beginners.
Watch out for monkeys along the route who are only too happy to steal food and other things out of your hands if you let them, and there’s not much chance that your guide will be able to get them back for you.
You should watch out for leeches if the weather is wet as they are quite common. You can avoid leech attacks by spraying your legs and ankles with insect repellent before you start the hike.
When you get back down the mountain, you might want to stop in the Strawberry Shop for some sweet treats before you move on.
How To Prepare For A Mount Catur Hike
Mount Catur isn’t the most challenging hike in Bali but it’s not a walk in the park and you can prepare for this trail by:
Setting off early in the day – this helps you avoid the heat and gives you a great view when you reach the summit
Bird watchers and wildlife lovers should take binoculars and/or a camera and tripod if they want to make the most of the walk through this tropical forest area. The forest eagles are a real highlight of a climb up Gunung Catur.
Consider staying locally (ECO Bedugul Adventure Camp in the village is a great place to stay) if you want to hit the mountain refreshed before your hike.
Wear sensible hiking shoes – it can get very wet and slippery if it rains and you want to ensure that you can grip the route properly
Bring a light rain jacket – it can be surprisingly cool on the mountain and in the surrounding area and you don’t want to get soaked to the bone, a light jacket can keep you warm and dry
Bring a change of clothes – if it rains and you do get soaked, it’s best to have a change of clothes for when the rain ends
Bring some snacks and drinks – we like to bring a thermos of coffee for our walk through the trees and some energy bars, there are no vendors on the hiking trails
Other Mountains To Climb In Bali
Mount Batur
This is probably the most popular mountain hike on the island. Mt. Batur is a relatively easy climb to the summit compared to the bigger mountains and you can cook your eggs for breakfast at the top in volcanic steam which is a lot of fun.
Lake Batur nearby offers some lovely hot springs for you to work out any muscle pains from the climb too.
Mount Agung
The biggest mountain and active volcano on the island. Mount Agung is a serious challenge and you should only undertake the ascent if you’re an experienced climber in good physical condition.
It’s worth the effort to get to the top, mind you, the views from the summit are unmatched and the photographs you get are spectacular.
Mount Abang
The third highest peak on the island is one of the easier climbs here and yet, it’s rarely on the tourist trail which makes it a much more peaceful event than climbing Mt Batur or Mt Agung.
There are some lovely temple spots along the route where you can rest before you make for the summit too.
Mount Batukaru
The second tallest mountain here and a real challenge.
This is not a hike for the faint-hearted and while not as technically challenging as Mount Agung, you can expect to spend a long day climbing up and down this mountain even if you’re in peak condition.
FAQs
How Long Is The Mount Catur Hike?
The Mount Catur hike takes about 2-3 hours each way and is mostly through the tropical rain forest on the slopes of the mountains. It’s not the hardest hike in Bali but you should be reasonably physically fit to tackle it.
If you do, you will get some great views of the lake area when you reach the summit including Bratan Lake and the temple on the water.
How Do I Book A Trip To Hike Mount Catur?
If you want to book any trip or holiday in Bali, we recommend that you do it through the excellent Bali Res Centre.
That’s a locally owned and operated Balinese travel agency that specializes in finding you great deals on flights, hotels, villas, tours and more on the island.
Final Thoughts On Mount Catur
Mount Catur is one of our favourite hiking spots on the island. It’s a little more challenging than some walking routes but it’s a lovely area and the view of Lake Bratan and the other two lakes from the top is unmatched.
If you love tropical forest and amazing wildlife and birds, Mount Catur is a fabulous destination and far less crowded than popular mountain hikes like Mount Batur.
