Black Lava Sunrise Jeep, Kintamani: Route from Ubud and Prices

A sunrise jeep tour to the Black Lava field at the foot of Mount Batur starts at about Rp600k per jeep for one person and goes up to Rp1m for four, if you make your own way to the meeting point in Songan. Those figures come from the Mount Batur 4WD Jeep operator's price list (checked October 2026). Packages with hotel pickup from Ubud rise to around Rp1.5-1.8m per jeep, and Kompas reports foreigner rates from Rp1m for three people. Black Lava is a sweep of hardened black lava and volcanic sand on Batur's slopes, and the jeep takes you to a sunrise spot with no hiking.

Timeline from Ubud

• 02.30-03.00 Leave Ubud. Driving up to Kintamani and down to South Batur or Songan takes about 1.5-2 hours. Operators that collect from hotels usually arrive from 02.00.
• 04.30 Reach the meeting point and switch to a 4WD jeep. Many operators supply blankets.
• 05.00 The jeep climbs to the sunrise spot. In October the sun rises around 06.00, and the sky starts to lighten about half an hour earlier.
• 06.00-07.00 Sunrise with Mount Batur, Mount Abang and Mount Agung behind. A simple breakfast of bread, eggs and coffee is included in many packages.
• 07.00-08.00 Drive around the black lava and sand for photos. Some operators stop at Pura Bukit Mentik, the temple surrounded by lava in 1974.
• 08.30 The jeep tour ends after about 3-4 hours. Warm up afterwards at Toya Devasya on the shore of Lake Batur.

A 02.30 start is tough. Spending the night around Kintamani or Toya Bungkah moves your alarm to about 04.00, and you can browse Bali hotel vouchers on AccessiaPass.

Things to weigh up

• It is a bumpy ride. Off-road over lava rock and sand, dusty in the dry season. Not suitable for pregnant travellers, anyone with a back injury, or babies.
• It is not quiet. Many operators use the same sunrise spots, so do not expect to have the view to yourself.
• Sunrise is not guaranteed. In the wet season, roughly November-March, mist and cloud often hide the sun.
• Prices are per jeep. Going alone costs almost the same as going with three. Team up with friends or look for a shared option if offered.

Kintamani entry levy

Bangli Regency charges a Kintamani area levy of Rp25k for domestic visitors and Rp50k for foreign visitors under Regional Regulation No. 5 of 2023, collected at five posts including Penelokan. Staff only work 08.00-17.00. A pre-dawn drive usually passes no one, but you may be charged on the way back after 08.00. Ask your operator whether the package includes the area ticket.

Jeep or hike?

If your knees are strong and you want to stand on the crater rim, choose the Mount Batur sunrise trek, which starts around 04.00 with a guide. The jeep makes more sense for families, people who do not want to hike two hours in the dark, or anyone who simply wants lava and sunrise photos with minimal effort.

Booking and meeting point

• Black Lava location: Batur's slopes, South Batur and Songan, Kintamani, Bangli. View on Google Maps
• Example meeting point: Jl. Tabu, Songan A, Kintamani (Mount Batur 4WD Jeep). Other operators use different spots, so confirm when booking.
• How to book: WhatsApp an operator or use platforms such as Traveloka and GetYourGuide, ideally the day before.
• Price: Rp600k-1m per jeep without pickup, Rp1.5-1.8m per jeep with pickup from Ubud (checked October 2026).
• Instagram: search on Instagram to see how misty the last few mornings were.