Mount Agung and Mount Batur

Mount Agung or Mount Batur are popular destinations in Bali. Both are active volcanoes. You can either take a motorbike or bicycle to visit both areas. You will be most likely a whole day out. Let's see how you can do it yourself.

After breakfast get a motorbike (I took a bicycle but most find that too much in the tropical heat). There are several roads that lead to Mount Batur (see our map on the main Bali page). If you decide not to climb either Mount Agung or Mount Batur, then you can easily do this trip on your own in a day.

The loop you can make is about 100 to 125 km Ubud to Mount Batur, the nearby Lake Batur, Mount Agung, Bangli and back to Ubud.

It's about an hour ride by motorbike from Ubud to Mount Batur. As soon as you leave Ubud, you leave the comfortable tourist zone behind and you are inside a land that seemed not to have arrived in the 21st century. Stop here and there to make some photos of the endless rice fields.

There are some tiny villages on the way, most of the village people are farmers.

In Penulisam, a small village on the west side of the volcano, there's a neat temple complex. Most people here are farmers. The volcano is still active. In 1926 there was an eruption followed by another in 1974, 1994 and one in 1999.

It is possible to do a trek to the crater, but it requires a full day and a guide. According to local beliefs, there are many ghosts and spirits captured inside the crater.

A trip to the crater can be organized in Ubud in one of the many tourist shops and in some of the hotels.

The nearby Lake Batur (Danau Batur) is the largest lake on Bali. It was formed by the volcano about 30.000 years ago. The lake is about 10km long and it's deepest point is 65 meters. The lake provides a lot source of freshwater fish.

Lake Batur

The main village at the south part of the lake is Kedisan. It's possible to rent a boat and make a trip on the lake. Around the lake there are some hot springs.

Mount Agung

South of Mount Batur is Mount Agung. Balinese believe that Mount Agung is a replica of Mount Meru in the Hindu mythology. Mount Agung or Gunung Agung is the highest point on the island with a top just over 3000 meter. It is possible to hike up to the mountain top but it is advised to get a guide which can be found in the nearby village Besakih. The trek starts with a temple which was saved in the last eruption. The Balinese belied this was a sign of the gods who did not want the temple to be destroyed. Considering how close the lave was streaming to the temple, one can indeed speak of a small miracle.

Mount Agung is also an active volcano with the last eruption in 1963 and 1964. Around 2000 people were killing in the eruption.

Going to the top is possible. You can arrange a trekking in Ubud in one of the small tourist shops or simply go in the early morning to Besakih and hire a local guide here.

Best time of the year to climb the both mountains is in the dry season although during festival season it is not permitted. The shortest and most popular route up Mount Agung is from Selat or Muncan. This involves the least walking due serviceable roads from both Selat or Muncan town to the Pura Pasar Agung, or Agung Market Temple. From the temple, the trek to the top takes around 2 hours.

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