A Beginner’s Guide To Trekking Bali’s Highest & Holiest Mountains

If you’re an avid trekker or mountain climber, the famous Bali in Indonesia will definitely provide you an interesting and challenging experience, as there are two semi-active volcanoes here – Mount Batur and Mount Agung. Here’s a brief but, helpful guide on trekking its highest and holiest peaks.
Mount Agung

Standing at 3,142 meters (10,308 feet) above sea level, Mount Agung or Gunung Agung is the island’s highest and holiest mountain, and it’s also one of the top tourist attractions in Bali Indonesia. 

Mount Agung is located in Karangasem Regency or district, and it can be reached by physically fit hikers within 3 to 7 hours. There are two starting points when going up Mount Agung, Pasar Agung Temple (which will take hikers 3 to 4 hours) and Besakih Temple (hiking time is 5 to 7 hours).
Mount Batur

Mount Batur stands at 1, 717 meters (5,633 feet) above sea level. It offers hikers and adventure seekers a spectacular scenery and a warm spiritual experience. The ascent to the summit often takes two hours, and the routes start at Besakih Temple.

Hikers can choose to hire local guides and porters to help them safely make their way atop these two lovely mountains. However, they could also opt to go up on their own, as long as they have a map, compass, plus the required gear and navigation skills. A self-guided trek however, can be quite risky as the trails aren’t fully marked yet, and some locals may react with hostility to foreigners who go up on their own without a guide.

Essential Stuff To Bring Along

Hikers in Bali should bring along essential stuff like hiking shoes, long pants, compass, a jacket, camera, drinking water and flashlights. Because the weather in the island is always hot, humidity is very high, even during the dry season.  Likewise, it rains almost every day from October to March.

Because of the unpredictable weather, trekkers should never forget to bring waterproof boots and water-resistant jackets, as well as lots of water to ensure hydration. For more helpful information, they can also contact the office of the Bali Tourism Board.