This is one of the Bali mountains where I’m glad I went on a guided tour, after initially considering doing this hike on my own. Several reviews of Mount Sanghyang said there was no view from the top… and the start of the trail is not easy to find. So a couple days after reaching out to Bali Local Tour Guide, I’m standing at the base of the 2,093m peak with my guide Putu Dedi. At 3:30am. I wanted to leave later, but Putu insisted we get to the top for sunrise… and again I’m glad I followed his advice.
Unlike the crowds on Mount Batur, it’s just me and Putu – and a cup of Balinese coffee – as we wait for the sun to rise to the left of Gunung Agung and Gunung Abang
We’re at Putu’s “secret sunrise spot” which is just below the top of Gunung Sanghyang North Peak (which has very limited views), and about 500m from the slightly higher Gunung Sanghyang South Peak (which has no views). From this vantage point is a great view of many of Bali’s higher volcanic peaks.
- There’s a great view of Mount Catur (2,098m) to the north‑east, whose summit is home to the temple Pura Pucak Mangu. It sits at the end of a long ridge that also includes Mount Pengelengan (2,102m). In the far distance is Mount Penulisan (1,745m), an ancient hill on the western rim of the old Batur Caldera in Sukawana Village.
- Directly in front and below us is Mount Pohen (2,063m).
- The triangular peak of Mount Agung dominates the eastern skyline — at 3,142m it rises almost a full kilometre higher than its neighbouring peak, Mount Abang
From our Secret Sunrise Spot we continue a short distance to the top of Mount Sanghyang North Peak (2,074m), which offers a sweeping vista out to the west.
Although not all the peaks are visible, you can clearly see on the horizon Mount Raung or Gunung Raung (3,344m) – one of Indonesia’s most active and hazardous stratovolcanoes – which is located on Java Island. On its right is Mount Merapi / Gunung Merapi, which translates to “The “Mountain of Fire” and holds the title of being the most active and dangerous volcano in Indonesia.
From the summit we retrace our route back down Gunung Sanghyang, enjoying more views to the east; a small but very distinctive landmark is the Turyapada Tower to the left of Mount Catur/ Mount Pengelengan. A new tourist icon completed in 2026, the 115m tall telecommunications tower serves as both as digital broadcasting infrastructure and an “eco-driven edutourism destination” with a transparent glass bridge, planetarium and revolving restaurant.
We soon reach the sacred Pura (Hindu temple) which has a statue of Pelinggih Dewi Bhuvaneswari riding the Waraha Awatara (Wild Boar). Bhuvaneswari is the Hindu goddess of the universe and a symbol of Mother Earth (a compound of the words Bhuvana and Ishwari, meaning “Goddess of the world” or “Queen of the universe”) and the boar is the third avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu, representing his incarnation in the form of a wild boar.
Just below this is another sacred shrine, guarded by a black and white tiger. Several small buildings provide shelter, and provide a good spot to rest out of the wind if you arrive (as we did) before sunrise.
From here the trail starts to descend fairly steeply, with multiple fixed ropes that aren’t really needed on the way up, but are helpful on the way down to avoid slipping.
There are more views along this upper section of the Mount Sanghyang trail, including the very tranquil Tamblingan Lake to the north.
It’s less than a kilometre from the Mount Sanghyang summit to the Second Resting Point, but it descends about 260m in elevation with many steep and slippery scrambles.
The Second (or upper) Resting Point has a small shrine, and the last view from the trail of the neighbouring Gunung Pohen to the east.
Towering overhead are Casuarina junghuhniana, an adaptable tropical species of Casuarina native to the Indonesian highlands and the island of Bali. Unlike the trees I’m used to in Australia, these frequently reach 20 to 35 metres in height, and can occasionally stretch up to 50 metres.
The trail continues to descend but less steeply, with my shoes now full of dirt from the loose, dusty trail.
We reach the First Resting Point, another small shrine.
The last section of the trail descends very gently under a tall rainforest canopy.
Near the end of the trail are a couple of directional signs; take the wrong trail and you’ll end up climbing a completely different peak…
It’s taken us about two hours up, with multiple breaks so we didn’t arrive at the summit too early – allow 1.5 – 2 hours for the climb up, and 1 – 1.5 hours for the descent. If you’re looking for a sunrise trek without the crowds, I’d definitely recommend the Mount Sanghyang Sunrise Trekking Tour!
Getting to Mount Sanghyang (North Peak)
The trail is accessed via Tamblingan Village along Jalan Danau Tamblingan, with the last 3.6km along a rough, unsealed road to Alta Mountain Village. Allow 2 – 2.5 hours drive from Ubud. If you’re doing the hike with Bali Local Tour Guide they can access the trail from slightly closer to the Pura Penataran Gunung Sanghyang (temple), which marks the start of the Mount Sanghyang route.
More information
- Bali Local Tour Guide – Mount Sanghyang Sunrise Trekking Tour
- The Bali Sun – New Tourist Attractions To Be Created At Bali’s Turyapada Tower
- A Guide to Hiking Bali’s Tallest Mountains
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