One of my favourite things to do in Bali is the Mount Batur sunrise hike. Expect to be picked up between 1-3am (depending on if you are staying in Ubud or Canggu) to drive north to Mount Batur. Once you arrive, you will meet your guide who will give you water and flashlights, and begin your ascent up the volcano. The hike begins at around 4am and takes between 1.5 – 2.5 hours depending on your speed and how many breaks you need. I would say I am of average fitness and both times I climbed Batur I took a handful of breaks. Not only because of how steep it is, but also because the second half of the climb is very rocky, rather than a clear path, and so my legs did begin to seize towards the end of the climb. 

Once you get to the top, it is totally worth it for the incredible views across Batur lake, out to Mount Agung and even across to the Gili islands, Lombok and Mount Rinjani on a clear day! It will be chilly at the top, so pack layers, as you will have the opportunity to sit and admire the view whilst your guide cooks you a simple breakfast (we got banana sandwiches, which were surprisingly good, a boiled egg and a hot chocolate). After plenty of photo opportunities, you will begin your descent back down to the car park. In some ways, the descent is harder than the climb, as it can be unsteady in places and your legs will likely already be pretty tired! You should get back down to the car park between 8 and 9am.