Batur Crater Rim Cycle

Batur Crater Rim Cycle

By Vicky · Published Aug. 1st, 2022 · Updated Nov. 21st, 2022

Cycle around the rim of Batur Crater, through fields, up slopes, and visit a temple, all with splendid views of Mount Batur.

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Location

This cycle ride starts from C.Bali Canoeing & Cycling in Kesidan, at the southwest end of Lake Batur. You can rent bikes from here (see below).

Tips for Batur Crater Rim Cycle

  • We rented bikes from C.Bali Canoeing & Cycling at the southwest end of the lake in Kedisan.
  • You need a bike with low gears for this route – there are some fairly long, steep uphill sections.
  • This cycle ride could also be done on an e-bike or with a scooter. A convenient way to rent a scooter in Bali is from BikesBooking.com*.
  • Alternatively, you can follow this route in a rented car with driver*.
  • We stayed in Black Lava Hostel*, just under the volcano.
  • Make sure you put sunscreen on the back of your hands!
  • If you like cycling, try an easier cycle around Mount Batur Inner Crater, or if you like hiking, try our Mount Batur Hike, or for more hikes and bike rides check our Hiking Bali page.

This is a free, self-guided cycle tour that loops around the rim of Mount Batur crater. In this region you can also take a guided cycling tour* of the black lava fields by the volcano itself.

Cycle Route of Batur Crater Rim Cycle

A cliff in front of Mount Batur
A cliff in front of Mount Batur

From C.Bali Canoeing & Cycling, start by riding towards the volcano, and at the main road turn right. Cycle along the main road, with nice views over the lake and to Mount Batur. After about 8 km you’ll be in the middle of Songan Village.

Push Bike Rental near Mount Batur:
We rented bicycles from C.Bali Canoeing & Cycling (location, website). They were very professional, and we got good mountain bikes that were very well-maintained.
We stayed for two nights near Mount Batur in Black Lava Hostel* in Batur town. When arriving in the area we were dropped off at the bike rental place. We then cycled, following this route, but made a quick stop at Black Lava Hostel to drop off our luggage. We rented the bikes for two days and cycled back to our hostel at the end of the circuit, keeping the bicycles with us overnight. The next day, after hiking up Mount Batur, we cycled a longer loop along the outer rim of the crater before ending at the bike rental place.

Head right and immediately left at the T-junction. Follow the main road as it bends right, then take the first left. This smaller road then continues through some fields as a good dirt track. To your left are the vertical walls of the crater – you’ll be cycling up these soon!

Cycling Up to the Crater Rim

On batur crater floor
On the crater floor
In the 'flat' land above the mount batur crater rim
In the ‘flat’ land above the crater rim

Around the corner the road becomes paved again and heads uphill. It goes upwards extremely steeply, I had to get off and push. It was so steep it was easier to push my bike with my head/helmet on the handlebars rather than my hands.

After that rather steep section, we reached a flatter, but still uphill section through the countryside, where every kind of vegetable was growing in the little fields next to the road. We turned left at a junction and soon reached the rim of the crater. There were great views from here of Mount Batur.

View of Mount Batur from the crater rim, in Bali
View of Mount Batur from the crater rim
Lake Batur from the crater rim while cycling
Lake Batur from the crater rim

The route continues on a road along the edge of the crater, with great views all the while. Eventually, the road heads away from the edge and towards the walls of the outer crater in the distance. The road heads straight towards this wall and then starts zigzagging up it.

Walking up the steep hill while cycling near Mount Batur
Walking up the steep hill
Cycling up a steep hill on the way up the crater rim of Mount Batur
Cycling up the steep hill

It was very steep. After pushing for a few zigzags, I decided to cycle each turn and then have a break on every short flat section. There were many, many turns, and after an extremely long time we reached a fairly flat road at the top and headed left. This is the highest point of the cycle route, on the rim of the outer crater. Since you’re now quite high up, there are great views.

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At the Top and the Descent

Views from the top of the crater rim, Bali
Views from the top
Cycling downwards with great views in Bali, Indonesia
Cycling downwards with great view

The road now heads along the edge of this rim, sometimes heading slightly away from it, and then the long descent starts. Get ready, it’s a long way down and there’s no reason to stop (except to take photos).

Cycling through Kintamani Town

Views of Mount Batur from Kintamani town while cycling around the crater rim
Views of Mount Batur from Kintamani town

After whizzing down the fun road, we cycled into Kintamani town and pulled up right outside Pura Ulun Danu Batur Temple. This temple was quite nice, but some aggressive women made us buy sashes before we could enter. Everywhere else we’d only worn sarongs and that had been fine, but they needed something to sell us. Additionally, in the temple an old man insisted on giving us a ‘free’ tour by leading us to a man selling paintings we were pressurised to buy.

Pura Ulun Danu Batur in Kintamani
Pura Ulun Danu Batur
Back in Kedisan at the bike rental place
Back in Kedisan at the bike rental place

After the temple we continued through Kintamani and went to a cafe on the left of the road. It had great views, and there were many people taking selfies. After a short break, we continued to the Museum Geopark Batur. This closes at 4pm (2pm on Saturdays) and we only arrived shortly beforehand. Some exhibits were interesting, some less so, and some were only in Indonesian.

After the museum we got back on our bikes again and headed down the steep hill into the crater. At the junction, we turned right into Kedisan to return our bikes, after a fun but tiring cycle ride around the outer crater rim.

Accommodation in Batur Town

Black Lava Hostel near Lake Batur

We stayed at Black Lava Hostel* in Batur, just under Mount Batur. It was a great place with a fantastic pool heated by a natural hot spring and great views. The food was good and they arranged a good-value sunrise hiking tour for us up Mount Batur.


Guidebooks to explore more of Bali & Lombok


If you like cycling, try an easier cycle around Mount Batur Inner Crater, or if you like hiking, try our Mount Batur Hike, or for more hikes and bike rides check our Hiking Bali page.

FAQS: Batur Crater Rim Cycle

Where can I rent a bicycle near Mount Batur?

You can rent decent mountain bikes from C.Bali Canoeing & Cycling in Kesidan, at the southwest end of Lake Batur.

How long is the cycle around Batur Crater rim?

To cycle around Mount Batur along the rim of the crater is 39km. It takes 4-7 hours depending on how many breaks you have.

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