Located in the northeastern Bangli Regency, the strato-volcano Gunung Batur is Bali’s second most sacred peak.  It is also Bali’s most active volcano having erupted 20 times in the past 200 years.  It sits in the middle of an old volcanic basin inside a massive caldera (measuring 13.8 km by 11 km, this is one of the largest calderas in the world), the remains of a massive prehistoric eruption that decreased its height from 4,000m (when it was taller than Gunung Agung) to its current altitude of 1,700m above sea level.  Technically, the word Batur pertains to the entire caldera that includes Gunung Abang that is located on the caldera’s rim and that makes it the island’s third highest peak at 2,151m.  Climbing Gunung Batur is a much easier proposition compared to the titanic Gunung Agung and can be attempted by anyone of average physical shape and without any prior climbing experience.  As with Agung, it is ideal to only climb during the dry season and to arrive in time for sunrise via a couple of suggested routes that take an average of two hours to trek.