Bali’s Mount Agung Will Soon Close For Tourist Hikes

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Tourists planning to hike Bali’s sacred Mount Agung in the coming month or so will need to revisit their plans.

Officials have confirmed that the famous Besakih Hiking Trail to the summit of Mount Agung will be closed temporarily.

The closure is due to a series of Balinese Hindu ceremonies that must be carried out on Bali’s most holy peak and at the Mother Temple, Pura Agung Besakih.

The Secretary of the Karya IBTK, the committee in charge of organizing the ceremonies, has confirmed that the trails will be closed for Tawah Tabuh Gentuh and Karan Ida Bhatara Turun Kabeh ceremonies. 

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Nyoman Sudarsana told reporters, “In connection with the Tawah Tabuh Gentuh and Karan Ida Bhatara Turun Kabeh work at Pura Agung Besakih, we hereby appeal to all levels of society to temporarily refrain from climbing Mount Agung because climbing will close starting the 17th of March 2024 until the 14th of April. After that, climbing will reopen as usual.”

Sudarsana said that the closure of the hiking trails on Mount Agung is in place to ensure that the sanctity of Mount Agung and Pura Agung Besakih is maintained as one sacred area.

He noted, “In Besakih, there are several climbing routes; all of them will be temporarily closed until the ceremonies are finished.”

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Tourists attempting to climb Mount Agung while it is closed will be held to account by the local community and required to participate in and fund cleansing ceremonies.

There is also the risk of legal action on the grounds of breaking the conditions of one’s visa, which stipulates that any foreigners in Indonesia must adhere to national law and local customary laws. 

Between now and the 17th of March, tourists are welcome to continue to explore the hiking trails of Mount Agung, provided they hire a local guide and respect the holy nature of the landscape.

Over the years, dozens of incidents of deep disrespect by tourists have been recorded, ranging from littering, hiking off the trails, all the way to climbing on temple grounds, and public nudity.

This was part of the reason why the ex-governor of Bali, Wayan Koster, wanted to ban all tourism-created activities on all of Bali’s twenty-two sacred peaks. 

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A middle ground has been reached, which is why Mount Agung is closed to tourists during the most holy times of the year and when specific ceremonies must be performed.

It must also be acknowledged that Mount Agung is an active volcano, so hiking to the peak at any time must be conducted with deep reverence for the volatile nature of the landscape. 

While Mount Agung will be closed from the 17th of March to the 14th of April, Mount Batur will remain open.

No local leaders have suggested that Mount Batur will be closed at all over the coming month, apart from during Nyepi Day when everyone in Bali, Hindu or not, must remain at home to honor the holy day of silence. 

Mount Batur is easily the most popular hiking destination in Bali. Every week, thousands of tourists follow the trail through the darkness of the night to reach the peak ready for sunrise.

Tourists have been reminded recently that neither Mount Batur nor Mount Agung are easy hiking trails; both require a good degree of fitness, stamina, and confidence to walk on uneven mountain trails. 

Tourists planning to hike either Mount Batur or Mount Agung must be prepared for the adventure.

Always hire a guide or join a hiking tour; not only is this technically the law, but it’s also advisable since the trails are not well marked, and local guides always know who to contact in the event of an emergency on the mountainside. 

Tourists should wear suitable clothing; it does get properly cold in the mountains! Plenty of water, snacks, and emergency gear like an insulation blanket, flashlights, and a first aid kit are always advisable.