A Norwegian tourist has been swiftly deported from Bali after he was caught hiking Munt Agung without a guide.
Local legislation stipulates that it is mandatory for hikers, whether Indonesian or international tourists, to be accompanied by a guide on the trails of the sacred volcano.
A 41-year-old Norwegian man, known by his initials BG, has been deported from Bali by the Singaraja Immigration Office.
He left the country on a flight to Kuala Lumpur on Thursday 20th February, and on Monday 24th February the Head of Singaraja Immigration Office, Hendra Setiawan, confirmed the details to the media.
Setiawan explained, “The person concerned will be subject to administrative immigration action in the form of deportation and deterrence.”
BG had been eligible to stay in Indonesia on his visitor visa on arrival until 3rd March, having entered the country on the 2nd February 2025. However, since he was caught breaking the law his visa was revoked and he was forced to leave the country.
BG was caught hiking Bali’s sacred Mount Agung without a guide on Saturday 15th February. Setiawan explained to reporters “The foreign citizen was secured by the Singaraja Immigration enforcement officers based on a report from the local authorities.”
“After receiving the report, we immediately sent a team to the location and secured the foreigner concerned for further questioning at the office.”
BG is reported to have been given advice from the Mount Agung Climbing Manager not to hike the trail alone. Nevertheless, he persisted, in turn violating legation as laid out in the Circular Letter of the Forestry and Environmental Service Number B.24.500.4.1/95/UPTD.KPHBT/DKLH of 2025 concerning Prevention of the Risk of Climbing Mount Agung in Extreme Weather Conditions.
The document states that hikers can only embark on the trials on Mount Agung with a registered local guide.
Setiawan told reporters “However, BG deceived local officers. He even managed to document the prohibition banner, but they still ignored it.” He appealed to foreigners intending to hike Mount Agung to arrange a trek with a local guide, whether directly with a freelance guide or through a travel and tour provider.
BG is the second foreign national to be deported from Bali for attempting to hike Mount Agung without a guide in just as many months.
On Wednesday 22nd January 2025 a German national, known by his initials KES, was too deported from Bali on a flight to Kuala Lumpur after he was apprehended by authorities for hiking Mount Agung alone.
KES, like BG, is also reported to have tried to deceive officers at the hiking post. He is reported to have told the guard that he only intended to visit Pasar Agung Temple. Speaking last month the Head of the Bali Provincial Forestry and Environment Agency, Made Rentin, pleaded with hikers to obey the rules put in place to keep them safe.
Rentin spoke with specific reference to the dangers of hiking during the monsoon season and recent violent storms in the province. However, it is still illegal to hike both Mount Agung, Mount Batur, Mount Batukaru, and Mount Abang without a guide at any time of year, no matter the weather.
Rentin told reporters “Climbers are advised not to climb Mount Agung during extreme weather for safety. If the weather is stable, climbing can be done using the services of experienced local guides who understand the route and environmental conditions.”
He added, “Climbers are urged not to do climbing activities on Mount Agung during bad weather, such as heavy rain, storms, or other extreme weather potentials that can endanger safety.”
Bali is taking a zero-tolerance approach when it comes to violations of this nature, especially since there has been a notable rise in these types of cases over the last few years.
Contrary to popular belief the hiking routes to the summits of both Mount Batur and Mount Agung are physically challenging, technically difficult in places, and the routes are poorly marked throughout.
Dozens of tourists have become lost, injured, and even died on the mountainsides over the years, almost all of whom have embarked on the trek without a guide.
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Wayan kostner
Thursday 27th of February 2025
The one an only reason you are required a guide to hike these mountains is because the guide mafia can extort money out of you to levels way higher than what would be normal. I hiked to the top of Mt Batur with my very small kids and no guide (that was before the regulation came in) it was totally manageable.. the crater on top was a unique sight: trash all over its walls… bali has just become so insanely greedy… but after all if tourists consider it’s worth their money, then be it..
Randy
Saturday 1st of March 2025
@Jake, tru dat!!
Jake
Friday 28th of February 2025
@Wayan kostner, The people who have to rescue injured trekkers or carry out their dead bodies would like to disagree. The holy men and woemn who are caretakers of the mountain, along with the guides (who are also caretakers of the mountain) who have to be unemployed for at least a week and spend the local community's time and money to purify the mountain afterwards by carrying tons of supplies and offerings up and down the mountain for days on end would like to disagree. They're not exactly raking in the dough, either. They make less than minimum wage and are responsible for anything that happens to you even if you're an idiot.
Peder
Thursday 27th of February 2025
I've done both. Gunung Agung is a serious hike and should not be done without a guide, and not be done at all if the weather is not good. Gunung Batur is a walk in the park, and guide-mafia extort tourists for ridiculous fees to walk the 40-minute easy path to the top. That the latter is (apparently) now under Bali law is no less than an insult to the tourist industry.
Randy
Thursday 27th of February 2025
Again!! Come on now...seriously.
Jimbo
Thursday 27th of February 2025
This is complete bull crap. Making hikers use the guides is just another way of a deeply corrupt people to scam their way into tourists wallets, as they love doing all around the island, and throughout Indonesia. I went to Batur all by myself. Huge road, that you can't miss. Can't get lost. Easy walk. Aging is trickier, still, it's not about safety. It's about money. The Balanese love nothing more than money, and in the process they are losing their souls and making Bali into a soulless place
Randy
Saturday 1st of March 2025
@Jimbo, shut the hell up and go back to where you came from. Idiot!!
Graham Hindle
Wednesday 26th of February 2025
Mountain climbing should be a pass time which is not under the control of governments. Riding a motorbike is far more hazardous as are surfing and diving. People should be free to take their own lives into their own hands. This does not hurt anybody else.
Randy
Saturday 1st of March 2025
@Mark, milking tourists. Mount Agung is a sacred mountain.
What services do you want more than a guide in other Mountains ?? Holding your bottled water and your backpack so your white poor arse can walk freely??
Jake
Friday 28th of February 2025
@Graham Hindle, Only if you own the mountain. Do you own the mountain? No. It belongs to the Balinese, and is under the jurisdiction of the local government. That's like saying "I should be able to tear through someone's farm with my motorbike because the government shouldn't be able to control riding." You're free to ride, but you're not free to trespass. I can't think of a single place on the planet where the local government doesn't get to decide where you are and are not allowed to go freely. "Public places" belong to the sovereign nation it lies within or the local government that manages it. None of it belongs to you. There is no human right that says you can go anywhere you want because you feel like it.
Steve bm
Thursday 27th of February 2025
@Graham Hindle, it does make problems you obviously don't know how many times over the years they have had to go out and rescue people or pick up and carry bodies out. The search and rescue teams WHO pays for them it's not free they train all the time and are on standby. Search and rescue/disaster teams.
W. Lundeberg
Thursday 27th of February 2025
@Graham Hindle, Nonsense, if something happens the local emergency service providers and usually guides are the ones who put them selves at risk retrieving an injured or dead hiker.
Not to mention that people are guests in this country. Exercise you individual rights at home if that is so important.
Randy
Thursday 27th of February 2025
@Graham Hindle, obviously YOU have never been to Yosemite or Yellowstone National park in the US...there are paths that are not accessible to guests of the park without a park ranger, guide or simply too dangerous to walk on. If you get caught, you may be given a fine or a ban from entering the park again or a law enforcement may get involved depending on the severity of the violation. But certainly it will not get you deported unlike in Bali. But the law is the law and if a naughty tourist ignores the sanctity of the sacred mountain, well guess what will happen in Bali.