In 2012 the area became Indonesia’s first Geopark, part of the UNESCO Global Geopark Network. Commonly the region is referred to as Gunung Batur, however locally it’s widely known as Kintamani, one of the larger towns in the region. Sitting 1,000 metres above sea level, the caldera is approximately 10 kilometres across and is the remainder of a monstrous volcano that reputedly exploded some 30,000 years ago. Gunung Batur has a history of regular eruptions: at least 20 have occurred since the 1800s. It’s monitored, and occasionally closed due to increased activity.

Every day, busloads of tourists make the trip to the villages edging the crater, Kintamani and Penelokan, admire the view, eat an overpriced buffet lunch and return. An army of pushy souvenir sellers targets all and sundry with a level of hassle unmatched in Bali — hence the area has a rather negative reputation. However don’t let that put you off; we think the region is worth more than a quick day trip and has many interesting things to offer — the number one highlight, climbing Gunung Batur is a moderate trek for someone with a reasonable level of fitness and is really a must-do activity for the adventurous when ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 900 words.)