good to know before you plan
Five days lets you do the highlands and still keep a couple of days in Ubud, which is the honest limit at this length.
It is tighter than the week: one weather window for the summit rather than two or three. If a clear Batur sunrise is the whole point, the seven-day trip gives the mountain more chances to cooperate.
Bali in March: A 5-Day Kintamani and Highlands Itinerary
Five days is the sweet spot for one region of Bali, and this plan spends all of it on Kintamani and the highlands. March sees the rains easing, and Nyepi closes the whole island for one full day somewhere in the month.
You split the five days between the Kintamani rim and Ubud: the pre-dawn Batur trek and the lakeside hot springs up top, then the temples and terraces of the valley below. It is one clean loop rather than a scramble across the island.
Five days for the highlands in March, when the sunrise odds finally turn
March
Week 2
day by day
Two nights on the Kintamani rim for the trek and the hot springs, then three back in Ubud. Five days covers the highlands and a little of the valley, not both in full.
Day 1: Arrive, sleep in Ubud.
Day 2: Up to Kintamani after breakfast, hot springs at Toya Bungkah in the afternoon, early night.
Day 3: Batur summit trek, pickup around two, back on the rim by mid morning.
Day 4: Lake Batur by boat to Trunyan, then down to Ubud.
Day 5: Slow morning, then the airport.
If Nyepi falls during your stay, the day before belongs to the Ogoh-Ogoh parades and the day itself is spent inside your accommodation. Shift everything above by one day.
Where to Eat
Central Ubud for the broadest dining selection
Penestanan for cafés and relaxed healthy dining
Tegallalang for restaurants overlooking rice fields
Local villages for traditional Balinese warungs
Ubud markets for casual local food and snacks
Where to Stay
Penelokan: best for caldera viewpoints.
Toya Bungkah: best for hot springs and lakeside.
Kedisan: best for lake access and boats.
Batur village: best for early trek starts.
Songan: best for quiet lakeside stays.
Ubud side: best for warmer nights nearby.
best Things to Do
Explore Ubud’s cultural centre
Walk through rice fields and terraces
Visit Tegallalang Rice Terrace
See Tirta Empul and nearby temples
Walk the Campuhan Ridge
Attend a traditional Balinese dance performance
Join a cooking, craft or wellness class
Explore waterfalls and river valleys
Take a day trip into Bali’s central highlands.
March gives you the sunrise odds without the July queue
Book the room on the rim first, and book two nights. March odds are good but not guaranteed, and a second morning is the only real insurance. Trek packages need arranging ahead since guides are mandatory on Batur, and March is when the better operators start filling up. A driver is close to essential for a 2am pickup on a steep, unlit road, and the same car covers the hot springs and the lake. Three links below.
frequently asked questions
What is the weather like in Kintamani in March?
Improving but not settled. The rainy season is ending, so cloud over the caldera is less persistent than in January and February and clear mornings become common. It stays cold at altitude: nights on the rim can drop into the mid teens while the coast sits at 27 to 31 degrees. Bring a warm layer regardless.
When is the best month for the Mount Batur sunrise trek?
July and August have the highest chance of a clear summit, and the largest crowds on the path. March through June gives you good odds with far fewer people, which many find the better trade. January and February are the months to avoid if the sunrise itself is the point.
Does Nyepi affect the Mount Batur trek?
Yes. Nothing runs on Nyepi, including treks, and you cannot leave your accommodation for the full twenty-four hours. If your trip covers Nyepi, treat that day as a fixed blank in the schedule and plan the trek for a different morning. The airport also closes, which affects arrival and departure dates.