Exploring Mount Batur: A Sunrise Tour, Black Lava Field, Coffee Degustation, and Silver Workshop

Seeing Mount  Batur in person is way more amazing than any words can describe and it's definitely a must-visit in Bali. Mount Batur is an active volcano. It stands at 1,717 meters above sea level and is one of the island's most iconic landmarks.

There are various tours available for exploring Mount Batur. One of the most common is the sunrise trekking tour, where visitors hike up the volcano in the early hours of the morning (it's around 3-4 hours of walking and you go with a guide). Alternatively, some tours offer the option to ride in jeeps to the top.

We arrived at the meeting point bright and early in the morning, around 3 a.m. It took about an hour to drive from Ubud to the meeting point. There, we enjoyed a simple breakfast consisting of coffee, pancakes, and bananas.

After breakfast, we hopped into jeeps with different driver. Don't worry about safety; these drivers are experienced locals who know the off-road terrain well. Our journey began as we rode up the bumpy and chilly road. Be sure to bring a sweater to keep warm!

We drove for about an hour from the meeting point to the top, and it was still dark outside. When we arrived, we had the chance to admire the dark sky filled with bright stars. After waiting for about an hour at the summit of the volcano, we witnessed the most stunning sunrise, leaving me speechless. It made me realize that life is truly worth living for moments like these.

Later, we visited the black lava field, a reminder of Mount Batur's last eruption in 2000, before meeting back up with our guide/driver for more exploration. It's really interesting that they are using lava as a construction material.

We kept going on our tour with the local guide. As a part of it, we visited a local farm for a coffee and tea tasting. It was fascinating to see how spices like vanilla, turmeric, cinnamon, as well as coffee beans like arabica and robusta, grow.

We sampled about 20 different types of coffees and teas. My favorites were the avocado coffee and mangosteen tea. We even got to try Luwak coffee - the most expensive coffee in the world. Luwak coffee, also known as civet coffee, is made from coffee beans that have been eaten and excreted by civet cats. The beans are collected from the feces of these animals, cleaned, and then roasted to produce coffee. The digestion process supposedly alters the flavor of the beans, resulting in a unique and often highly prized coffee taste.

After the farm, we headed to a silver workshop, as Bali is well-known for its silverwork. The Balinese people have been making it for a long time, and they're really good at it. They've learned special techniques from their ancestors, and their work is influenced by Hindu and Javanese cultures.

Balinese silver makers are famous for their detailed designs and careful work. They create all sorts of beautiful things like jewelry and decorations using traditional methods like filigree and carving. Tourists love visiting silver villages like Celuk and Ubud to see and buy these amazing pieces of art. You can even visit a silver workshop where you can create your own jewelry.

The entire adventure cost us about 50-60€ (but it could vary depending on your bargaining skills). This included getting picked up and dropped off at our villa, the jeep ride to Mount Batur, exploring the black lava field, trying coffee and tea, and visiting a silver workshop.

We arranged this trip there, but you can also book online if you prefer.This is definitely an experience that you shouldn't miss in Bali.