After a successful search and rescue mission on the slopes of Bali’s Mount Batukaru, tourists are once again being reminded to book hiking trips not only with a local guide but with a licensed guide.
On Monday, 19th August, Search and Rescue crews from Tabanan were called to Bali’s second-highest peak to rescue a tourist and her guide after they had strayed widely off path.
A tour guide from Jakarta was operating a hiking tour of Mount Batukaru with a solo female traveler on Monday, 19th August, when the pair became lost on the trail.
While there are several dedicated hiking routes on Mount Batukaru, unlike Mount Batur and Mount Agung, the route is often overgrown and unclear in places as Mount Baturkaru is hiked far less frequently than Bali’s two most iconic peaks.
Search and Rescue Teams, accompanied by local and licensed guides in the area, were able to locate the duo despite the cover of darkness. The Head of the Denpasar SAR Search and Rescue Office, Nyoman Sidakarya, shared the order of events with the press following their hiker’s successful return to Wangaya Gede Village.
Sidakarya explained, “Our team, assisted by two local guides, started the search at around 22.40 WITA, with a target search position at an altitude of approximately 1,500 meters above sea level.”
He confirmed that the crews had to struggle through the densely forested mountain slopes with limited viability.
They located the hiker and her guide minutes after minuting at 1,800 meters above sea level. It took a further hour to hike back to the trailhead, where the coordinating search and rescue crew was waiting.
Sidakarya said, “The condition of the two victims is good, and they did not suffer any injuries, so they were able to immediately return [to their accommodation] independently.”
Sidakarya confirmed that he had spoken to the Javanese tour guide, who suggested he had felt confident navigating the route, which is why they had not hired a local guide. The duo has not paid their hiking permit fee either.
@andreasd1092 Mount Batukaru – Bali #CapCut #hiking #nature #solo #drone #alam #gunung #batukaru #bali #fyp ♬ original sound – andreasd1092
These kinds of stories are being reported by Bali’s Search and Rescue teams all too frequently, whether on Mount Agung, Mount Batur, or Mount Batukaru.
Many feel that there is a misconception that since Bali’s mountains and volcanos are not as high as mountains in the Himalayas or the Andes, they are, therefore, easy to hike.
This simply isn’t the case, not only for all of these hiking routes, which frequently have technical sections, but they are also not well signposted.
Since many hikers start their treks under the cover of darkness to reach the peak for sunrise, the hikes are even more disorienting for even the most experienced climbers.
It is a requirement that tourist pays their trekking permit fees for Mount Batukaru, Mount Batur, and Mount Agung and are accompanied by a local licensed guide.
The average tour guide and driver based in Bali is not qualified or experienced in facilitating these mountain hikes. Tourists must book a specific hiking guide in order to accompany them on the trek.
Back in March 2024, a 60-year-old Indonesian tourist died after embarking on a solo mission on Mount Agung. He was found by a fellow hiking group and passed away near the summit of the mountain at an altitude of 2822m.
In May 2024, a 29-year-old Dutch tourist also died after falling on Mount Agung. The woman had been hiking with her partner, and the couple had decided to attempt the hike without the services of a local guide. She died after falling over 15m into a ravine.
Tourists are also reminded that Bali’s mountains and volcanos are deeply revered and sacred landscapes, with many genuine guides taking the time to make offerings at local temples to ask for safe passage as they step foot on the holy lands.
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