Mount Agung - Home of the God
Gunung Agung, also known as Mount Agung, is Bali’s highest mountain, standing majestically on the island’s eastern seaboard in the district of Karangasem. Mt. Agung, with a summit elevation of 3,142 meters above sea level, has an impact on the surrounding climate. Its western slopes catch rain clouds, resulting in a lush and fertile west side, while its eastern slopes remain dry and barren.
Mt. Agung is considered sacred by the Balinese because they believe it is the home of the gods. The mother of all temples in Bali, Pura Besakih, is located on this mountain. Upon entering the temple, visitors must ascend hundreds of steps before reaching the main gate. However, other staircases with easier climbs are available to help women carrying high mountains of offerings on their heads reach the temple.
The best time to visit Besakih is during the Galungan celebrations, when the entire entrance and temple are beautifully decorated with tall bamboo poles, coconut leaves, and flowers, and hundreds of women in their best white costumes gracefully carry piles of colorful fruits and flowers offerings on their heads. Mt. Agung looms commandingly protectively in the background of the temple. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
What Should You Know Before Climbing Mt. Agung in Bali?
NOTE: Women are not permitted to climb Mount Agung Volcano during their menstruation period, and only bring what you need, leaving the rest at your hotel.
High to Extreme Activity Level
Hiking time: 12 hours (up & down).
Temperatures range from 6 to 12 degrees Celsius (At the summit).
Hiking boots, long pants, a warm jacket, a backpack, and a camera are recommended.
Mount Agung Trekking Route
As previously stated, we have two options for you to climb Mount Agung – and the following is a detailed explanation of the differences:
Climbing Mt Agung Temple from Besakih Temple:
The trek will begin at Besakih Temple (Bali’s Mother Temple) and will last approximately 5 to 7 hours, ending at the mountain’s highest point of 3,142 meters above sea level.
Climbing Mt Batur Temple from Pasar Agung Temple:
This is the shortest trek – it’s only a 3 to 4 hour hike up to Mount Agung’s peak, with an elevation gain of about 2,000 meters. Not as difficult as the Besakih route. The route ends about 100 meters below Mount Agung’s summit, but you can still see the spectacular views in all directions, as well as down into the actual crater.
ITINERARY FOR MOUNT AGUNG HIKING – PASAR AGUNG TEMPLE
11.30 – 12.00 PM: Pick up at your hotel, depending on its location.
01:45 AM: Arrival at Pasar Agung Temple – Meet with our Local Expert.
01:45 AM: Begin the ascent to Mount Agung’s summit.
06:00 AM: Arrival at the summit, where we witness an amazing sunrise and view from the top of Bali’s holiest volcano.
07:30 AM: Begin our descent to the end of our trek.
11:00 a.m.: Arrival at the finish line and boarding of the car.
01:00 PM: Arrival back at your hotel.
ITINERARY OF MOUNT AGUNG VOLCANO TREKKING – BESAKIH TEMPLE
08.30 – 09.00 PM: Pick up at your hotel, depending on its location.
11:00 p.m.: Arrival at the starting point of Besakih Temple.
11:15 p.m.: Begin the ascent to the summit and sunrise vantage point.
06:00 AM: Arrival at the summit, where we witness the spectacular sunrise and view.
07:30 AM: We begin our descent to the end of our trek.
12:00 PM: Arrival at the Finishing Point and boarding of the car.
02:00 PM: Arrival back at your hotel.
5 Tips How to Prepare for your Mount Agung Sunrise Trek
1. Wear comfortable shoes with a good grip – We cannot emphasize this point enough, especially the good grip.
2. A walking stick is useful – We’re not just talking about the over-70s here. Many people find that a walking stick (which your guide may carve for you from the bamboo in the jungle if you have a good guide) is a very useful tool, especially when climbing up in the dark. It is very useful when you are out of breath and can lean on it.
3. Gloves – Bring some light gloves to protect your hands because you will always be touching something and, especially during the descent, you will be holding on to branches, or anything else that will provide you with some balance. There was no need for anything fancy or expensive; we got some for IDR 20.000 from Carrefour supermarket a few hours before the trek (about 2 dollars).
4. Clothing – Because you will experience temperature changes, we recommend that you wear clothes that can be worn in layers and are not too heavy. It would be even better if you could get some sweat-wicking clothing, because when you start climbing, you will sweat, but when you sit down in the night for a break, it will be cooler, and wearing sweaty t-shirts makes it difficult to warm up again.
5. Food – While you will be on your feet for many hours, don’t bring too much food; it will only weigh you down when you have too much stuff in your rucksack. We realized that we only needed a small amount of food for the night climb. You’ll get hungry on the way back when you eat your breakfast, but overall, I’d say water, some isotonic drinks, and something hot (especially as it gets colder as you climb higher) are more important. Some energy bars are also a good option.
