Hi Bree. Currently Mount Batur is still open for hiking, so nothing has changed yet. Personally I think it’s very unlikely there will be any ban, but I’ll be monitoring the situation closely and I’ll update this article if anything changes.

Hi Mick! Hiking boots with ankle support would be best, but you could do it in hiking sandals if you’re needing to save space in your bag. It’s not a very long hike, but the gravel can be slippery, especially on the way back down, so you’ll want something with a bit of grip. As long as you watch your footing, I think that would be fine.