Review Author: Catheryn Wong

Review Date: 08 dec 2022

Review Body: This was a small company trip for 8 of us. We started the tour at Mt Batur with Sari and Don. They are amazing and professional guides that speak good English! They really showed us a route with fewer tourists and took care of us like their babies. We were impressed that they packed extra weight in their backpacks for us (ie. Bananas, chocolates, extra torch lights, bottles of mineral water), and their stash came in pretty handy. Here are some of the most memorable highlights during the trip: 1. 1 of us was wearing slippers as he lost his shoes a day before the hike. Sari and Don loan him a pair of shoes from a nearby village that matches the size of his feet. 🤯 2. It was extremely extremely extremely cold, and it was our fault for not reading the description on Seek Sophie's website that we're supposed to wear jackets and long pants. All of us wore dry-fit T-shirts and shorts. We were basically freezing, and it was so cold that mist was coming out of our mouths. Sari and Don kept reassuring us that as we hiked, we'll feel warmer. Their words of encouragement helps and were truthful. We reached Mt Batur at around 3 am, and within 10 to 20 minutes of hiking, warmth kicked in, and we no longer felt cold. 3. 2 of our unfit teammates weren't feeling well. 1 had pulled her muscles and had to keep resting. Don went to search for a tree, broke a branch to make a hiking stick for her and even ensured that the stick matched her height. The other teammate vomited and felt nauseous; Don kept taking care of her, gave her chocolate bars, and ensured us that it was free and not to worry. (ie. they weren't those guides that will scam you and charge extra money) They allowed us to rest as long as we needed instead of forcing and pushing us to catch the sunrise, which we greatly appreciate. 4. It's not a big deal to most people for this point - We like the fact whereby Sari and Don will say, "1 more minute to reach the next resting point." And it was actually less than 30 seconds when we reached the resting point. It makes us feel encouraged, and her words can be trusted. 5. Sari was extremely humourous, honest and a pretty Balinese. She informed us that we were not able to reach the top to catch the sunrise, but she will bring us to a secluded place with zero to no tourists, and we could rest there to watch the sunrise + have our breakfast there. The view was like out of a fairytale! There were only 2 other tourists and the rest of us. We were able to see the sun rising gracefully while Sari personally cooked us breakfast at that shop to serve us 😂 6. Sari has excellent photography skills. She took amazing photos for our team and has loads of creative ideas for fun shots. 7. Climbing down mt batur was the scariest part. Sari showed us a way to effectively hike down fast, and that is to run. I know it's scary, for fear of danger was shouting in our minds, but we trusted her. She held one of our teammates' hands and sped down. Soon afterwards, each one of us tried and had the courage to follow her instructions. I won't recommend old folks to run, but for young people that want to fill their bodies with adrenaline, hold Sari's hands and try it for yourself! We highly recommend Sari and Don for your Mt Batur hiking experience! For the rest of the trip, the hot spring and buffet were alright. Perhaps we were too tired and didn't even visit the coffee farm. So, we shall not leave further comments on the remaining part of the trip. Fun fact - Sari used to have an insta account of 50k followers until her account got hacked. This just shows how popular she is as a guide. We left her insta account here because it's a good initiative that Seek Sophie promotes tourists to support locals. Sari and Don are hardworking guides that deserve to be recognised. Using Seek Sophie platform was also easy and straightforward. Their support team addresses all my concerns fast and was friendly. Because year-end is commonly a rainy season, Seek Sophie's team also assured us that cancellations could be made 3 days prior or postponed till next year. Do check with them on the latest updates for their postponing policies, I'm sure their efficient team will be able to take care of your worries.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Kanish

Review Date: 08 okt 2025

Review Body: It was an amazing experience! Me and my 3 friends were picked up by Indra punctually at 2:15am from Gianyar (Ubud), and taken to base camp. The ascent to Mt. Batur started at around 3:30am. While the first and fourth quarters were similar to other treks, the middle half was more challenging due to the terrain being full of small rocks. However, our guide Yush was helpful and encouraging us at all times, and made it much easier and fun to go all the way to the top. The summit had a breathtaking view of the sunrise, as well as multiple craters that marked points of volcanic eruption over multiple centuries. The descent was somewhat faster, and we were back to the base camp by 8am. From there, Indra took us to Batur Hot Springs, where we were able to get some much needed relaxation after the gruelling hike. Next came Amora, which can only be described as "great food with a great view". We were served an all-you-can-eat buffet with a panoramic view of Mt. Batur and Lake Batur. Finally, our itinerary wrapped up with a visit to the coffee plantation, where we were shown various fruits and beans that are used to make a variety of beverages, such as coffee, cacao, rosella and vanilla among many others. We also had an additional request put in to be picked up from Ubud and be dropped back at Sanur Harbour, since we had kept some luggage there a couple of days back that we needed to collect. For this reason, we also requested transport back to Ubud in the same vehicle, and were very graciously accommodated for an additional price matching the normal market price. This made out return much more convenient and hassle-free, for which we are grateful to the organisers, as well as Indra.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Guz & Emily

Review Date: 05 sep 2024

Review Body: A flawless, rewarding, and hassle free experience. Instructions were clear and easy comms over whatsapp. Our driver "Arjana" was prompt at our hotel pick-up and good level of conversation / banter throughout the journey. For the Mt Batur hike, our guide "Wira" was extremely knowledgeable and experienced. He made sure to maintain a pace that matched our fitness levels and checked our well-being regularly. Wira got us to the mountain-top first, beating the crowds and giving us prime position to watch the beautiful sunrise over Ubud. He even cooked us a wonderful breakfast and took many treasured photos for the memory bank. The hot springs was a refreshing way to unwind from the hike, with the water fresh and not overly chlorinated. A little busy/crowded, but small price to pay for the view of Mt Batur. We had similarly spectacular views at the resteraunt, with the local indonesian food packing plenty of flavour, while still being light and healthy. Finally the coffee plantation is a must-do with lush rainforest vibes, a complimentary guided tour and complete tasting experience of unique Balinese coffee/teas. What we appreciated most is that the tour moved at the pace we wanted (in this case super fast) and we were completed by midday giving us back the rest of the day and maximising our holiday downtime. Quite simply this was the highlight of our bali trip and the experience would not have been anywhere near as good without the team at seeksophie

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Shelley O'Driscoll

Review Date: 17 okt 2024

Review Body: My day started at 1:30 a.m. when I was picked up by Ariga. He was lovely. He let me know how long it would take us to get to Mt Batur and said I could have a sleep, which I did. I arrived and was introduced to my local guide, Jero. Jero encouraged me as my legs became tired and reassured me that I had plenty of time. I reached the top at 5 a.m. and had plenty of time to watch the sky change and others arrive. I loved my breakfast. As the sun rose, Jero took some photos of myself as I had done this climb solo. After I had walked down the mountain, Ariga took me to the Hot Springs, which was relaxing. Then, I had breakfast and a coffee plantation. Ariga grew up around Mount Batur, so I was lucky to be able to answer questions. His English was great, and I felt comfortable during the 12-hour day. I highly recommend climbing from bottom to top. Dont take the short cut of the jeep of bikes.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Jojo

Review Date: 08 jun 2024

Review Body: My wife and I enjoyed our hike up to Mt Batur. Our driver Yoga arrived at our hotel on time at 2:15am. He is very friendly and polite, and makes sure that the ride is comfortable. We reached the starting point where we got to rent jackets for the cold weather (glad we did!), and was provided with hike stick, flashlights and poncho. The climb was a challenge but our guide Agus was so good that he helps us when the trail is steep or slippery. We made a few quick stops to rest and recharge, and we made it just in time to catch the sunrise at about 6:20 am. We're so amazed of the beautiful scenery! We were also served such nice breakfast, nice reward after the long way up :) The trek down was not easier, but we made it back! The dip in the natural hot springs and lunch were nice treat after the trek. It was a great morning and I'm glad all went well, special thanks to Yoga and Agus!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: GK

Review Date: 27 jul 2025

Review Body: Overall, the experience was pleasant. The driver arrived on time and brought us to the hiking starting point super early in the morning. Our hiking guide Wira was super supportive and patient throughout the journey. Although we couldn’t catch the best sunrise due to the fog, the views along the way were still stunning! A few tips to take note of: 1. Don’t underestimate the cold at the peak! A light windbreaker isn’t enough for the strong winds up there. We ended up renting a blanket for 50k IDR to stay warm. 2. Wear proper hiking shoes. Parts of the trail includes loose, porous stones and sand, so shoes with good grip are essential to avoid slipping. 3. Beginners, be mentally prepared (but trust me the view is definitely worth your sweat and tear hahah) The trail is steep and rocky in parts. We were provided a walking stick by our guide and that was a big help.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Amanda

Review Date: 19 jun 2023

Review Body: Great hike! We were staying in Ubud and transportation was included. Very good communication via WhatsApp and prompt pick-up at 2:15AM. It was just my husband and I with the guide. Guide provided water and took breaks as needed. The guide was excellent as he knew which areas were crowded and when to get the best pictures. Light breakfast at summit was provided too with hot coffee! Our driver was also great! Very responsive and nice. Took us to the hot springs after which was delightful (they had lockers, towels and showers there). Then had a lunch at Amora Bali in Kintamani, with an Indonesian food buffet, with gorgeous views. Also included a coffee plantation tour + tasting, where they also sold luwak coffee beans. Highly recommended!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ilyda Chua

Review Date: 28 apr 2024

Review Body: had a great hike thanks to guide ayu and driver komang! pickup was about 2:15am, and we drove about an hour to mt batur. unfortunately it was cloudy and we couldn't see the sunrise but we still enjoyed the misty mountain views and cool temperature! ayu was also amazingly helpful, even holding my hand during the slippery bits haha. we did request to switch the hot springs to the tegallang rice terrace instead, which wasn't as much fun because it was super crowded and full of tourists. nevertheless, komang was very patient and even helped us to queue! lunch was ok, gorgeous views though so no complaints.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sophie & Aakash

Review Date: 12 okt 2024

Review Body: We had an amazing experience!! Intan and Gusman were so kind and helpful. The hike itself was great - definitely steep and slightly slippery at times but overall doable for any beginner or intermediate hiker! The views were incredible and our guide Gusman made things super easy for us. He was very knowledgeable and fun to speak with. Our driver Intan arrived on time and was very kind and flexible. The hot springs were great after the hike and the lunch spot was awesome as well - the views were incredible! We would highly recommend this activity to anyone coming to Bali. It was absolutely worth it!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ashraf M

Review Date: 09 jun 2023

Review Body: It was an absolute pleasure to spend the day with Made and the sunrise tour with Dante. This was a brilliantly organised tour. Made went out of his way to make a quick stop on the way to the tour early in the morning, as we were feeling peckish. He also assisted us with great patience and good conversations, even made an extra stop to help us change hotels for our stay. Dante was a brilliant guide and help up the mountain. His cheeriness and eagerness to be helpful was really nice. He was really patient and always full of smiles and good stories. Definitely recommend this tour.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Cn

Review Date: 10 jul 2024

Review Body: Our driver Sarwa and his brother arrived early and waited patiently for us outside our Airbnb, drove really well and were really polite, they also catered to our requests to change the coffee plantation & lunch to another destination after the hike. Really thankful for them! Our Mt Batur guide, Setiti, she helped us up Mt Batur through its slippery and steep route, found a great spot for us to appreciate the view, was really hospitable and patient throughout the ascend and descend. Thank you so much!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Alex

Review Date: 21 sep 2024

Review Body: Aji, our driver came to pick us up at the agreed our after reconfirming on whatsapp. He was very attentive and polite. Yus, our mount batur guide was amaizing. He shared stories with us, was really nice and communicative, very good english and very kind. He took us a lot of great photos and cared a lot for us! The coffee plantation can be skipped, not at all authentic - i would switch it in the schedule with a local authentic & sustainable one even if it comes with an extra price.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Ng Chai Fen

Review Date: 03 mei 2024

Review Body: Our hiking guide, Ayu is a super incredible guide. Throughout the hiking, the mountain is quite steep and slippery, yet Ayu shows her patience in guiding me and my friend hike up and down from the hill slowly. Is an unforgettable experience for me and my friend. Then also special thanks to driver to fetch us early morning in 1.30am and wait for us patiently in every activities spot. All of them are very friendly and approachable, didn't regret to join this trip at all

Review rating: 5

Review Author: SC

Review Date: 08 mei 2025

Review Body: Sunrise at the top of Mt Batur was beautiful! Our hiking guide took us on a much less busy path down the volcano to avoid all the crowds. The hot springs were soothing and much needed after the trek up and down Batur. Meal at the restaurant in Kintamani after the hot springs offered some amazing views of the valley below. Indra was a fantastic driver. He navigated the notorious Bali traffic and got us to all our destinations on time and without drama.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Judy

Review Date: 31 mei 2025

Review Body: We had a great time with Wira, our guide. Early on in the hike I dropped my waterbottle and he ran down to get it for me. Always being supportive and lending a hand up the mountain for me. Lovely fellow. He also took really good photos and seems very well liked even among the local guide Balinese population. Out driver Aji was also very nice, he grought his soon to be wife along and we spoke to her a lot.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Martin Andrei

Review Date: 29 sep 2024

Review Body: Great trip, Wira was brimming with energy which helped with our sleepiness, while also being pleasant company. Komang is wonderful driver, fast and smooth, and asnwered any question we had about the places we drove through. The sunrise exceed our expectations and the cherry on top of it all was seeing the C/2023 A3 comet with the naked eye, possible only once every 80000 years.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Rita

Review Date: 20 jun 2024

Review Body: Ketut and Ayu were absolutely lovely. Ayu looked after me really well and both my partner and I had a very engaging 4-hour conversation with her during our trek, amidst me struggling to catch my breath :p both of them were very patient and accommodating.

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Sasha

Review Date: 25 jun 2025

Review Body: We done our hike with our guide Wira. He was really friendly and easy to interact with, also very patient to go at the speed you need to go at. We all really enjoyed the hike and would definitely want Wira as our guide again!!

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Tommy

Review Date: 30 jun 2025

Review Body: Some of the most stunning views I’ve ever seen. Our guide, Wira Negara was very knowledge about the mountains and surrounding area, and made sure my partner and I were okay throughout the whole trek. Definitely worth it

Review rating: 5

Review Author: Giorgia Lanciotti

Review Date: 16 sep 2023

Review Body: The guides are kind and very helpful. They take you by the hand if they see you are having trouble trekking. Special thanks to Ketut, our Indonesian guide who made our trip pleasant and safe!

Review rating: 5

Itinerary Day 1

Itinerary Summary: Watching sunrise while having breakfast and hot drink at the summit of Mount Batur, relax at natural hot spring before having your buffet lunch.

Itinerary Description: 01.30 am to 02.30 am Pickup from your accommodation (exact time depend on your hotel location) 03.30 am Arrival to start of trail and short introduction, assignment of trekking equipment and begin the trek 05.45 am Arrival at the summit crater and wait for sunrise while having breakfast 07.00 am Explore the crater of Mount Batur before descending 08.30 am Finish the trek and board the car 08.45 am Swim at Batur natural hot springs 11.45 am Enjoy lunch at Kintamani restaurant 01.00 pm Visit local coffee farm 02.00 pm Return to hotel (depend on your location)