Black Lava Batur: The 1963 Lava Fields on a Mount Batur Jeep Tour

Where the 1963 Lava Fits Into the Jeep Day

The 1963 eruption left the lava fields that jeep tours cross today. On the sunrise listings that name both stops, the jeep goes to the viewpoint first and reaches the lava afterwards. On the Shared Sunrise Jeep and Hot Spring Option the route is a 15 minute jeep ride, sunrise at the viewpoint over Lake Batur, then the black lava fields. The Shared or Private Sunrise Jeep lists a 20 minute ride to the viewpoint and a further 10 minute ride to the black lava.

The sunrise point on the Private Jeep Adventure with Black Lava sits at about 1,365 m above sea level, while Mount Batur itself stands about 1,717 m high according to the Bangli Regency Tourism Office. So the jeep stays well below the summit.

What Looks Different on the Lava

Look for ropy lava, jagged lava, lava pillows, lava balls and bombs, and crusted lava tubes. There is little vegetation and no real shade, so the 4WD ride feels bumpy and open.

What Sits Inside the Caldera

Mount Batur sits in a double caldera, with the second caldera formed inside the first. The calderas are believed to have formed after two major eruptions about 29,300 and 20,150 years ago. The active cone inside is described by Toya Devasya as a stratovolcano about 700 metres tall.

Lake Batur beside it is crescent shaped, about 7.5 km long and 2.5 km wide, and the jeep sunrise viewpoints look over it.

What Level I Means for a Jeep Day

PVMBG lists Mount Batur at Level I (Normal), the lowest of four levels. MAGMA describes Level I volcanoes as fluctuating but showing no significant increase in activity. The UK government still warns that volcanoes can erupt without warning, and says to respect exclusion zones and follow local authority advice.

Lava Stop by Listing

Compare the lowest option of each listing below. Prices are per person and the lowest option is the basic jeep without the hot spring. The $17 and $18 shared jeeps cover the Mount Batur ticket and a simple breakfast at the top, and the $45 listing adds a private hotel transfer and all entrances.

Sunset Jeeps and the Black Sand

The 4WD Sunset Jeep from Ubud costs $22.50 for a sunset jeep, a snack, water and a coffee stop. Pickup runs from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM and the day lasts 8-10 hours. On the option without transfer, the Kintamani entrance is IDR 50,000 per person, paid in cash.

A hot spring comes only on its Hot Springs + Sunset option.

By Jeep

The jeep paths run up the northern side of Mount Batur to a parking area about halfway up, and the jeeps do not go to the summit. The ride is bumpy volcanic road with no hiking, and the shared listings are not suitable for people with back problems or mobility impairments. The Private Jeep with Black Lava and Fruit Breakfast lists a driver and guide, and the Private 4WD Sunrise Jeep and Transfer lists a professional driver.

Ask the operator before you book if you want to walk the lava fields on your own.

On Foot or Halfway

The summit trail climbs from the southeast side, moderate and about 2 hours to the top, with a 700 m gain. Trekkers usually meet around 3:00 AM, and the jeep tours tend to meet around 4:00 AM. A middle route is the Jeep Halfway and Walk to the Summit at $37.97 for the jeep to the halfway point, a guided walk of up to 45 minutes, breakfast at the top and all fees.

It is a 10 hour day, up to 15 people, and not private. Hot springs are a dearer option there. The UK government names altitude sickness as a risk in parts of Indonesia, so ask the operator about it before any summit walk.

Month by Month at the Lava Fields

This table shows the average high, low, 6 AM temperature and rain for six months at the Mount Batur lava fields, from the Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis for 1995-2024. The grid point sits lower than the crater rim, so the summit is cooler.

Sunrise Times and Cloud

Sunrise at Mount Batur is at 6:33 AM on 1 July, 6:28 AM on 15 August and 6:04 AM on 1 January in the NOAA solar calculation. Sunrise views depend on visibility. The Shared or Private Sunrise Jeep says so on its listing, and the listing for the Shared Sunrise Jeep from Ubud says you can ask to reschedule to another date if there is heavy rain.

Packing for the Jeep

The Shared Sunrise Jeep from Ubud lists comfortable shoes, warm clothing, a jacket and a camera. The lava has little vegetation and no real shade. Tap water is not safe to drink in Indonesia according to the UK government, and the shared jeeps include 2 bottles of mineral water per person.