Ascent of Mount Agung

Mount Agung is the holiest peak in Bali. Its top rises to an impressive 3,142 meters, and as a mark of reverence, the island's Hindu residents align their mattresses so that their heads face the mountain as they sleep. Even though the last big eruption occurred in 1963, the crater still regularly emits smoke and ash plumes. The Mother Temple of Bali, Besakih, is perched high on the mountain's slopes, and the fact that the lava flows from the 1963 eruption bypassed the temple only served to increase the mountain's significance.

Your guide will take you up from the hotel lobby around midnight or 1 o'clock (exact time varies) and drive you up to the slopes of Mount Agung. You start at the Pasar Agung temple, just north of Selat. The mountain route begins after you've left the town market and winds through a steep but steady pine forest; there are multiple trails here, so stay close to your guide. After about an hour, the trees thin out significantly, and you begin the last ascent, which takes another two to three hours on hardened lava. With suitable footwear and the help of your guide, you should be fine staying on the straight path, even though this may be loose in spots and slippery when wet. To have made up to this vantage position before dawn is an incredible feat in itself. As the sun rises east over Lombok, you can see the shadows of the island gently making their way over the crater. Bring your camera since the scenery and colors are stunning. You may spend as much time as you wish at the peak before returning to Selat, where your vehicle will be ready to transport you to your accommodation.

Snacks and essential hiking gear, including a headlamp, a trekking pole, and a warm jacket, are given today.