Tourist Injured While Hiking Bali’s Mount Agung Highlights Need For Travel Insurance

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Tour guides in Bali have confirmed that a Slovakian tourist hiking Mount Agung was injured during a trek on Saturday, 14th June.

The tourist was accompanied by a guide, as is a legal requirement, and while he is expected to make a full recovery, the incident is an all-too-time reminder of the importance of travel insurance for tourists visiting Bali.

Mount Agung is Bali’s highest peak and is also the most sacred volcano on the island. Standing at  3,031 meters, Mount Agung sees fewer hikers than Mount Batur and is by far the more challenging trek.

Though both of Bali’s most famous peaks are regularly explored by tourists many underestimate the challenge before them. Both Mount Batur and Mount Agung are technically challenging climbs with steep ascents and narrow, winding, and often slippery trails. 

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On Saturday 14th June a 33-year-old Slovakian tourist, known by his initials IJ, was hiking with his local guide when he fell 3 meters down a ravine on the volcano’s slopes at around 2,600m above sea level.

Hiking guide Jro Gede Arda spoke to reporters following the incident and confirmed that the group had embarked on the Pengubengan Temple route at around 11 pm on Friday evening. Much like with Mount Batur, hikers will often complete a trek to the summit of Mount Agung under the cover of darkness in order to watch the sunrise from the summit. 

Arda told reporters that the incident took place close to the I Kori Agung Post at the 2,600m mark. He confirmed that IJ tripped and fell, rolling into the ravine, and experienced a wound to his chin, a potentially broken finger as well as feelings of dizziness and nausea. 

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Arda confirmed that he followed protocol and reported the incident to the Karangasem Search and Rescue Post at 05.40 WITA within minutes of the fall.

After receiving the report, the Coordinator of the Karangasem Search and Rescue Post I Gusti Ngurah Eka Wiadnyana coordinated with Rendang Police officers, local guides, and the Karangasem Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD). The rescue mission was carried out by dividing officers into two teams.

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Team 1 left to pick up the victim at 07.30 WITA and Team 2 left at 09.55 WITA. Team 1 met the victim at an altitude of 1,800 meters above sea level at 09.55 WITA. When descending, the IJ was still able to walk alone with the support of officers through the steeper downhill trail sections and arrived at the Pengubengan Temple parking lot at 11.05 WITA.

Wiadnyana confirmed that IJ was tended to by Dr. Bayu Kubera and a nurse from the Rendang Health Centre who raised concerns that he has a concussion, though he refused treatment. 

While IJ was able to return to his accommodation safely and independently after the rescue mission, this has not always been the case for tourists who have been injured or gone missing on Mount Agung.

The incident highlights the importance of both only hiking with a local guide and the need for medical insurance. 

One of the key reasons why IJ was able to safely make it back down from the volcano is due to the appropriate response from local guide Jro Gede Arda. In all too many cases, foreigners have illegally attempted to hike Mount Agung without a guide, have become injured en route, or have fallen into one of the many ravines along the trail.

In fortunate cases, Karangasem Search and Rescue Teams have been able to safely locate and evacuate the individuals, though in many cases over the years tourist has lost their lives. 

Tourists are reminded to check that their travel and medical insurance policy includes cover for hiking and trekking activities for routes over 3,000 meters (9000 ft) and to ensure that they hire a locally registered and experienced guide.