Million Dollar Point by private 4x4: sunrise without the hike
Million Dollar Point is a viewpoint in Kintamani where Mount Batur, Lake Batur, Mount Abang, Mount Agung and the Indian Ocean all fit into one frame, with Lombokās Mount Rinjani joining them on clear mornings. Most people earn that view with a 2-hour climb in the dark. We took the easy way up instead, in a private 4x4 with Expedition Bali Tours, and walked the last 10 minutes. Below youāll find how the tour works, when to go and the add-on weād book again tomorrow. For the rest of the region, see our Kintamani and Mount Batur honeymoon guide.
Million Dollar Point in Kintamani, without the 2-hour trek
Our sunrise at Million Dollar Point
We booked the sunrise tour and got picked up while it was still pitch dark (the alarm was not our friend that morning). The 4x4 handled the rough track like it was nothing, and unlike the main Batur trail, there was no long line of headlamps ahead of us. It was just our guide and the two of us. The walk up was easy, and then the whole caldera started to glow in front of us. Agung, Abang and Batur, all from one spot, and we didnāt have to move an inch to see them.
The 4x4 and the team behind it
This isnāt a tourist van with a new paint job. The vehicles are custom-built for Kintamaniās rough volcanic terrain, with weather protection, rollover protection and a seatbelt for every seat. Youāll be glad of all that once you feel the track, because itās bumpy, and a regular car would have a hard time. Every tour is private, so the 4x4 is only for you and the people you bring, up to six in total. The price depends on how many of you are coming.
The guides grew up in Kintamani and speak good English. You can tell they know the area, because they read the weather and time the walk without a second thought. Safety gets the same attention as the terrain. Expedition Bali Tours is Australian-owned, and its CEO used to be a safety manager in the mining industry. That background shows in the details: a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and anti-slip tape on the steps come standard in every vehicle, and each 4x4 is serviced twice as often as the manufacturer recommends.
Sunrise or sunset at Million Dollar Point?
Both tours go to the same viewpoint, but the mood is completely different, so pick the one that suits the two of you.
The sunrise tour is the more popular choice, and in our opinion the more dramatic one. Yes, the alarm goes off in the middle of the night, but you get the whole caldera waking up in front of you, with Mount Rinjani across the water on clear days. The 4am pickup below is for hotels in Kintamani. From Ubud or the south itās earlier, and weāll confirm your exact time.
Sunrise tour:
- 04:00 š Hotel pickup
- 04:30 š Depart the Kintamani meeting point by private 4x4
- 05:20 š¶ 10-minute walk to Million Dollar Point
- 05:30 š The big moment: sunrise over Mount Batur, Lake Batur, Mount Abang, Mount Agung and the Indian Ocean, with Mount Rinjani in the same frame
- 07:20 š¦ Visit the Kintamani Bats, out in the open on the cliff face in broad daylight
- 08:30 š Drop-off at the meeting point, then transfer to Desa Oculus (optional add-on)
- 09:00 š Eat, swim, relax and leave Desa Oculus whenever you like
The sunset tour is a lot kinder to your sleep, and the light over Batur turns warm and golden.
Sunset tour:
- 16:00 š Depart the Kintamani meeting point by private 4x4
- 16:40 š¶ 10-minute walk to Million Dollar Point
- 17:00 š Golden hour over Mount Batur, Mount Abang, Mount Agung and the Indian Ocean, the backdrop for your couple photos
- 18:00 š Back to the meeting point and on to your hotel
The catch with sunset is the weather. Sunset is only reliable in the dry months, from May to August. From around September to April, afternoon clouds tend to roll over Kintamani right at golden hour and can hide the view completely. If youāre traveling outside those months and a clear sky matters to you, book sunrise instead.
Whatās included and what to bring
The tour covers the private 4x4, an English-speaking local guide, bottled water, the Kintamani entrance fee, public liability insurance and pickup and drop-off at your hotel. You also get a rechargeable LED hat to keep, which turns out to be very handy on the walk in the dark (and a fun souvenir).
Bring a warm jacket above everything else, because Kintamani before sunrise is properly cold, much colder than most people expect in Bali. Add proper walking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and a camera with a spare battery. The meeting point is listed on Google Maps as āExpedition Bali Toursā, on the road up to the Batur trailhead.
Black lava fields and the Kintamani Bats
On the way back, the track crosses the black lava left behind by Baturās past eruptions, a landscape that looks more like the moon than tropical Bali. Then comes the stop most tours in the area donāt offer: the Kintamani Bats. Most bats hide in caves and only come out at dusk, but these hang out in the open on the cliffs and under rock overhangs, so you can see them clearly in broad daylight. No flashlight and no waiting around, just point your camera.
Add-ons for your Million Dollar Point tour
Breakfast, lunch and a swim at Desa Oculus
Ask us to add Desa Oculus, a rooftop restaurant and pool a short drive from the viewpoint, and weāll fit it into your day straight after the tour. We stopped here ourselves after our sunrise, and it turned into our favorite part of the whole morning. Mount Batur fills the entire window while you have breakfast, lunch or a drink, and afterwards you can spend a lazy hour on the daybeds by the infinity pool, which is angled so the volcano looks like it spills right into the water.
Message us with the button above and tell us whether youād like Desa Oculus added to your tour or booked as a separate visit.
Million Dollar Point jeep tour FAQ
How far is Million Dollar Point from my hotel?
The drive to Kintamani takes 1 to 2.5 hours, depending on where youāre staying. The tour works best if you sleep in Kintamani or Ubud the night before, rather than coming up from South Bali.
How hard is the walk to Million Dollar Point?
Itās only 10 minutes and itās easy, but the path is loose volcanic gravel and youāll walk it in the dark at sunrise. Good shoes matter more than youād think. Your guide checks in with you along the way, so thereās no pressure to keep up.
How much does the private jeep tour cost?
A private 4x4 costs more than a seat in a shared group jeep, and the price depends on how many of you are coming. It stays the same in high and low season. Message us for the current rate. For a couple, we think having the viewpoint without a crowd is worth it.
Is the tour suitable for less mobile travelers?
The drive does most of the work, so the tour suits most fitness levels. Service animals are welcome. The walk on loose gravel means itās not wheelchair accessible.
Tap the button above and tell us whether youād like sunrise or sunset, which hotel youāre staying at and whether you want any add-ons. Weāll confirm your pickup time from there.
More things to do in Kintamani
Youāre already up in the highlands, so make a day of it. Many couples follow sunrise with a soak at Batur Natural Hot Spring, or a coffee with a view at one of the ridge-road cafes like Ritatkala Cafe or Paperhills. For where to stay and what else to do in the area, read our Kintamani and Mount Batur honeymoon guide or browse more of our unique honeymoon experiences in Bali.
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