The most incredible hikes in Indonesia

Good for Panoramic views at sunrise

Arguably the most accessible volcano hike in Indonesia, Mount Batur unlocks one of Bali’s most eye-catching above-the-cloud views. It’s an early 3am start in total darkness (flashlights are provided on group treks), but it’s a well-trodden path with a fairly easy-going gradient. Little more than two hours later, the peak is in sight.  Soak in the sweeping orange-tinted sunrise views of the crater lake, rolling rice paddies, and the holy mountain Agung in the distance. Those aching limbs can be quickly soothed at a popular add-on to the sunrise hike – a visit to the hot springs at nearby Lake Batur.

Good for Jungle trekking and wildlife spotting

A 90-minute drive north of Ubud unlocks the ‘real’ Bali of untouched nature and dense hilly rainforests. Just beyond Munduk village, a track runs through dense tropical forest, which leads to the dramatic Laangan Melanting waterfall. This is the first of three stunning falls on a looped hike that takes around three to five hours. Although it undulates up and down widely as you trek to each waterfall, it’s a straight path and can be completed without a guide. Still, it does need a fair level of fitness and sturdy footwear to complete. Expect to encounter some inquisitive macaque monkeys along the route. 

The Red Coral waterfall, roughly at the halfway point, is another eye-catching, powerful rush of water. The third is the Golden Valley Waterfall, which is reached from a steep uphill track. Thankfully, respite is at hand at a small café overlooking the falls to replenish energy levels. It is a great vantage point for photos of the waterfall, too.

Good for An easy-going countryside walk for all fitness levels

The Campuhan Ridge, just outside the cultural hub of Ubud, is an easy-going walk through Bali’s famed art heritage. Just 2km long, the thin path cuts through dramatic valleys on either side, offering spectacular views of lush rice paddies and rainforests. Dubbed the ‘Artists’ Trail,’ this is the verdant scenery which inspired the timeless landscape paintings of noted artists like Walter Spies since the early 1900s. It’s especially picturesque at sunrise or sunset and can be completed within 30 to 40 minutes at a leisurely pace. It’s incredibly accessible, just minutes from Ubud town centre, yet presents some of central Bali’s most iconic countryside views.  A must for keen photographers seeking that Insta-worthy Bali landscape image.

Good for A sense of achievement. This is a serious and strenuous three-day mountain hike.

The site of the most cataclysmic eruption in recorded history, Mount Rinjani is an epic three to four-day climb that is an altogether unique and physically demanding experience. The two main starting points – Senaru and Sembalun – take trekkers through dense tropical rainforests, picturesque valleys and savannah grasslands to vertigo-inducing steep rocky sections. This is particularly true of the incredibly steep gradient of the final leg from the crater rim to the 3,726m summit. 

The most popular trek (three days, two nights) goes as far as the crater rim at 2,641m and then descends steeply to the bright turquoise waters of the huge caldera lake. It spans more than 11 square kilometres, with a depth of up to 200 metres. A new mini volcanic peak (Gunung Baru) has formed within the lake itself and regularly emits smoke. Periodic magma leaks have kept the water at a very tropical 20 to 22 degrees Celsius. It’s possible to go swimming, soak in hot springs, and even go fishing 2,000 metres above sea level.

Good for Witnessing a unique natural phenomenon

Nothing can seriously prepare you for the otherworldly ‘blue flames’ of Mount Ijen in East Java. This is another before-dawn mountain hike, which is unique in that all the action takes place in the dead of night. Ijen is a highly acidic and combustible sulphur volcano. Under darkness, hikers get to see blue flames dancing across the crater lake in a dazzling electric blue light show. This is a completely natural phenomenon, an ethereal sight made possible due to sulfur gases escaping from cracks in the crater.

The blue flames disappear as the first light of dawn arrives, but with it comes a clear view of the turquoise-coloured sulphur lake. Ijen is also a working mine – hikers that start after dawn may see local miners extracting sulphur from the rock. Due to the sulphur density, gas masks are supplied on organised treks. Mount Ijen trips can be arranged from neighbouring Bali, inclusive of the ferry to East Java. 

Good for Unique three-beach coastal panorama

There are few coastal hikes as visually dramatic as the island of Padar, situated in the Komodo National Park. Accessible by boat from the tourist hub of Labuan Bajo, the vistas it unlocks are worth the lung-busting 700 steps you have to climb from the beach. Once you recover from this, it’s a relatively flat ridge path which takes you to the viewpoint. From here, you will see a sweeping view of the X-shaped island and its three picture-perfect beaches, each with a different colour of sand. There is literally nowhere else on the planet where a single shot will give you three perfect arcs of white, black and pinkish sand. Needless to say, it’s been blowing up on Instagram feeds for the past few years. Rising to a height of about 600 feet, it’s a short 30 to 40-minute climb, and park rangers are stationed along the route to give a helping hand.

Good for Crowd-free jungle trekking 

Just two hours from the chaos of Jakarta lies the Sentul Hills, a bucolic landscape of unmatched diversity. Expect trails cutting through lush rainforests, tea plantations, rice paddies, and pine tree-covered hills. Still, the highlight is unearthing the hidden cascading waterfalls. Around a dozen different trails vary wildly from easy-going to some best left to super-fit hikers. The perfect moderate-level trek is the Sentul 3 waterfalls hike. The three waterfalls, Curug Hordeng, Curug Kembar, and Curug Ciburial, seemingly appear out of nowhere in the dense rainforest. Curug Kembar is a pair of twin waterfalls that showcase the unreal symmetry of nature; a cool dip in its pools is a must. This hike takes around four hours to complete, while an extended version, visiting a total of five waterfalls, is a full-day hike of eight to ten hours.