Bali‘s iconic Mount Agung, the island’s highest peak, will be off-limits to visitors from October 1st to November 30th as local communities conduct rare decennial religious ceremonies. Significance and Impact Mount Agung holds dual significance in Bali: For tourists: A challenging hiking destination offering spectacular sunrise views For Balinese Hindus: A sacred landscape central to their spiritual practices The closure affects: All hiking trails, official and unofficial Access from every angle of the volcano Both tourists and most local residents Ceremonial Details The closure accommodates several important ceremonies: Karya Tabuh Gentuh Wana Kertih Segara Kertih Nubung Pedashan at Pasar Agung Temple in Sebudi Village Temple leader Wayan Suara Arsana emphasizes the significance: “This work is done once every 10 years. The last time was held in October 2014. So this is a big ceremony at Pasar Agung Temple.” Enforcement and Respect Authorities have taken several steps to ensure compliance: Notified all travel agents and licensed hiking guides Warned that violators will face accountability from community and religious leaders Required violators to fund necessary cleansing ceremonies Alternative Options for Visitors Tourists can still explore other peaks during this period: Mount Batur – offering excellent views of Agung Mount Batukaru Mount Abang Trunyan Hill Safety Reminders For all mountain hikes in Bali: Always hire a local guide Don’t underestimate the trails despite their relatively low elevation Be aware that trails are often poorly marked and maintained Take extra precautions for pre-dawn hikes Local search and rescue teams frequently assist lost or injured hikers, almost always those hiking without guides. Regular Closures This shutdown is part of ongoing religious observances: Mount Agung closes periodically for various ceremonies A recent closure occurred in July 2024 for the Purnama Kasa ceremony The temporary inconvenience for tourists underscores the living cultural heritage that makes Bali unique. While the mountain’s trails may be closed, the spiritual significance of Mount Agung remains ever-present in Balinese life.

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The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency said more than 96,000 people have now fled the area around Mount Agung in the northeast of the island as the volcano continues to rumble. Villagers began leaving in the middle of last week and the number of evacuees has swelled daily since Friday, when the Mount Agung volcano’s alert status was raised to the highest level. The agency said a monitoring centre had recorded more than 800 earthquakes so far and thin smoke was observed rising 50 meters above the crater. The volcano Mount Agung last erupted in 1963, killing more than 1,100 people, and remained active for about a year. Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the chances of an eruption are “quite big”, although experts can’t predict when with certainty. The people who have fled the volcano Mount Agung are scattered across Bali in more than 400 different locations including temporary camps, sports centres and other public buildings. In Karangasem district, volunteers were helping with classes for some of the thousands of children whose schools within the exclusion zone around the volcano are now closed. “So far the children look happy and are enjoying themselves,” said volunteer Yenni Ariyanti. “They do not look worried or sad. Hopefully we can continue to maintain their excitement and keep them in good spirits.” The Ministry of Transport says it’s ready to deploy 100 buses to take stranded tourists off Bali if an eruption forces its international airport to close. Mount Agung, about 70 kilometres to the northeast of the tourist hotspot of Kuta, is among more than 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin. Check out about Mount Agung on Wikipedia HERE

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