Mount Batur eruptions: What travelers should know

This was one of the biggest eruptions ever recorded in Bali’s volcanic history. It led to the formation of the outer caldera — that’s the massive ring-shaped depression you’ll actually hike within today. To be honest, this was more than an eruption — it was an apocalyptic event on a geological scale.

A second major eruption happened, leading to the collapse of a newer dome inside the older caldera. This created the inner caldera, which holds the present-day Mount Batur cone and the scenic Lake Batur.

This was the first historically recorded eruption. There’s not a lot of detail about the scale, but it marks the beginning of documented volcanic activity.

A powerful eruption that caused widespread destruction. Several villages were destroyed, and this event played a big role in shaping how locals viewed the mountain spiritually. It also contributed to the formation of Lake Batur as it exists today.

This was a series of eruptions, both explosive and effusive. In simple terms, there were blasts as well as lava flows. While not as devastating as 1917, these years showed the volcano was still very much active.

This one happened around the same time as Mount Agung’s catastrophic eruption. Batur erupted again with significant impact. There was loss of life, destruction of crops and homes, and a lot of ash fell across the region.

This was a highly visible eruption, with glowing lava ejections and ash clouds that spread over 6 kilometers from the summit.

A frequent eruption phase, where Batur let off repeated ash plumes, small explosions, and lava spurts. A particularly large explosion happened in 2000.

Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) monitors Mount Batur 24/7. They use seismic sensors, gas detectors, and visual observations to detect early signs of volcanic activity. If there's a change in status like increased tremors or gas emissions they raise the alert level and inform local authorities immediately.

Batur, like all active volcanoes in Indonesia, is assigned an alert level from 1 (normal) to 4 (emergency). Most of the time, it stays at Level 1, which means you’re good to go. But if it moves to Level 2 or higher, hiking and tours may be restricted or paused. You can check the current status on Magma Indonesia or ask your tour provider, they’ll usually have the latest updates.

Just to be safe, check the volcano’s status a day before your tour, especially if you’re traveling independently. Reputable tour operators will cancel or reroute trips if there’s any risk, but it’s always better to double-check. And don’t worry, if there's any chance of unsafe conditions, tours simply won’t run.