Mount Merbuk is the fourth tallest peak in Bali and its third tallest active volcano. However, we wouldn’t get too hung up on “active”.
Mount Merbuk hasn’t erupted since the Pleistocene Era, which means at least 11,700 years ago and up to 2 million years ago!
It’s a great stopping point on the way to West Bali National Park and it rises up to 1,359 meters (that’s 4,459 feet) above sea level at the highest point.
Where Is Mount Merbuk?
Mount Merbuk is reasonably remote, though it is on the way to West Bali National Park if you’re following the Southern Route to the park.
It’s in the Jembrana Regency and there’s not very much around the mountain to see or do.
Address: Dauhwaru, Jembrana, Jembrana Regency, Bali, Indonesia
How To Get To Mount Merbuk
The best way to get to Mount Merbuk is to hire a car and a driver, this is very reasonably priced at around 500,000 IDR for 8 hours (including car, driver and petrol) and it means you can see some of what the national park offers visitors after you’ve finished at the mountain.
We wouldn’t advise using Grab or Goejk to get to Mount Merbuk as you will find it impossible to get a ride off the mountain when you’re ready to leave.
There’s very little in the mountain’s proximity.
What’s The Best Time To Visit The Sacred Mountain Of Mount Merbuk?
There’s no bad time of year to visit Bali and mostly this is true for Mount Merbuk. However, if you want to enjoy a nice sunrise view from the summit, we’d recommend going in the dry season.
Be warned though, this doesn’t guarantee that it won’t rain, it just reduces the chances of rain and it can get cold on Mount Merbuk before sunrise makes things warm.
Is There An Entrance Fee For Mount Merbuk?
There is no entrance fee at Mount Merbuk and it’s quite an easy peak to climb and you can probably hit the summit in 2 hours.
However, there’s not much of a path to follow, whatever the national park offers visitors, there just aren’t very many visitors to go around and most f them don’t climb Mount Merbuk.
So, you will probably need to hire a local guide. 150,000-250,000 IDR should be more than enough for this ($10-$17 USD and $15-25 AUD).
What To Expect At Mount Merbuk
Mount Merbuk is not one of Bali’s major tourist attractions and you’re not going to run into any tourists there.
It’s a relatively easy climb from the base to the top of this volcano and there’s absolutely no chance of an eruption spoiling your hike.
If you reach the top and the sky is clear, you will get amazing views over the local countryside. If you hire a local guide, this will be a very pleasant walk and if you run into any of Bali’s scarier jungle spiders, they will clear the way for you.
The only other thing to be aware of is that you should take food and drink with you. There is nothing for tourists on this mountain and you will not find a warung, store, restaurant or cafe within walking distance.
2 hours up is also 2 hours down and most people are going to want something to eat and drink over a period of 4 hours of exertion.
Where To Stay Near Mount Merbuk
There are no hotels at Mount Merbuk and the closest hotels are a decent drive from the base of the mountain:
Negara Hotel – a simple 2-star hotel that is very good value for money (150,000 IDR a night) and one of the few places on the road to Gilimanuk.
Kampung Coklat Jembrana – an attractive lodge-style residence in the most beautiful chocolate plantation (the chocolate is very good).
Hotel Jepun Bali – a simple and basic hotel, there’s no hot water but the hospitality is excellent and the rooms are big and clean.
Hotel Segara Mandala – this is a hotel with good facilities but it’s not the best value in the world and you’d be better off finding some hot springs than using the pool here.
Ana Homestay – a very elegant homestay which is attractively laid aout and with a very welcoming staff.
Where To Eat Near Mount Merbuk
We need to stress that there are no restaurants in the immediate mountain’s proximity and you will need to drive some distance to get food at:
Warung Lontong Buk Nyoman – a simple local warung serving tasty food that’s very popular with the locals.
Paon Nirwana – the closest place to Mount Merbuk is a surprisingly good Indonesian restaurant on gorgeous grounds with the mountain looming over.
Warung Betutu Kebun Duren – if you love chicken betutu, you will love this place, it does an amazing Nasi Campur Ayam Betutu.
Babi Guling Pak Uyung – a very small place with a seriously tiny entrance but serving excellent babi guling.
Warung Krisna – a decent Javanese restaurant with no frills but very low-priced food.
Things To Do Near Mount Merbuk
There are some things to do near the mountains but it’s worth noting that they are not within hiking distance either and you’ll need a car to reach:
West Bali National Park – Bali’s only national park. It’s wonderful for hiking particularly in the early hours before temperatures rise significantly during the day.
Air Terjun Yeh Mesee – a very tall waterfall in an attractive garden setting.
Bendungan Benel – a nice inland reservoir and dam area. Not worth a special trip but great for views of a gorgeous landscape.
Air Terjun Sumberkina – a challenging waterfall to get to and it’s not the most dramatic of sights.
Air Terjun Yeh Buah – a small but attractive waterfall, best visited in the rainy season as it could easily dry up.
Other Active Volcanoes In Bali For Hiking
There are another two active volcanoes on Bali island and both of these geological wonders can be hiked.
Mount Batur
The second tallest active volcano on the island is Mount Batur. It is to the Northwest of Mount Agung and sits between a pair of concentric calderas.
It’s a very popular destination for its scenic beauty and the sunrise makes for one of the most incredible views on the island.
The chances of an eruption are pretty remote and the mountain is, in fact, the result of a previous huge eruption.
Mount Agung
Mount Agung is found among some of the most gorgeous landscape in Bali and it is one of the most sacred places in Bali.
It’s the home of ancient rituals and spiritual beliefs as well as some very powerful volcanic activities.
The last eruption occurred in 2019, so you must be clear that if you visit Mount Agung, you must obey any warnings given to you by local officials.
It’s a much tougher climb than Mount Batur, mind you, and many people would be better off tackling another peak like Mount Catur, before trying their luck with this beast.
Consider Hiking Dormant Volcano Spots
You don’t have to hike up Bali’s active volcanoes, you could hit the inactive volcanoes on the island too. Each of these mountains is accessible to climb and most of them attract very few visitors. You will need a local guide to make it to the peak of most of these places.
Mount Bratan (near Lake Batur)
Mount Batukaru
Mount Adeng
Mount Lesong
Mount Lempuyang
Mount Sanghyang
Mount Pohon
Other Easy Hiking Destinations In Bali
Mount Prapat Agung
If you want to say you climbed a mountain in Bali but don’t fancy doing much more than a brief walk up a hill, this is the mountain for you.
It’s only 322 meters high and you climb it by walking up the steps of the temple complex on the summit. We should note that while it may not have steep slopes, it has one of the best views in Bali.
West Bali National Park
Just around the corner from Mount Merbuk is West Bali National Park. The national park offers visitors a wide range of hiking options and it’s a wonderful place for nature enthusiasts.
The park is the only national park in Bali and it has almost every type of terrain known to exist in tropical zones. It’s home to a huge range of flora and fauna.
It also has a wonderful diving spot in the shape of Menjangan Island where you can meet herds of wild deer before diving down to explore gorgeous coral reefs.
Final Thoughts On Trekking An Active Volcano In Bali
Mount Merbuk is one of Bali’s least visited volcanoes and it’s a really cool place to get high up above sea level and see Bali from a bird’s eye perspective.
A local guide is essential for first time visitors, but you will find that it’s very peaceful and unlike at some other mountains in Bali, there is no-one else around to spoil your contemplative hike.
Read more: The Best Volcanoes Bali: Your Guide To Bali’s Active And Inactive Volcanoes
