Mount Agung

Indulge your spirit of adventure on an early morning hike to Bali's highest point, and ascend Mount Agung to watch the sunrise from the top. Experience the most challenging, yet most beautiful trek on the island. Start the night before with a hotel pick-up between 23:00 and 00:00 (depending on the location of your accommodation). Then, journey to Pasar Agung Temple near Selat to start your hike at 01:45. Located in the Karangasem Regency, Mount Agung is Bali's highest and holiest mountain. Be guided through the jungle of the sacred site by an English-speaking local guide. Believed by the locals to be the home of the gods, Mount Agung reaches an altitude of over 3,000 meters at its highest point. It can be a challenge for some people to climb, but the rewards for the brave - and reasonably fit - are stunning views and a sunrise like none you've ever seen before! Once at the top, enjoy breakfast and take in the breathtaking views. Cast your eyes over the lush landscape of east Bali as far as the eye can see. Then, climb back down the mountain to return to your starting point.

Following a pick-up from your hotel, you will head to the majestic Lempuyang Temple in the eastern part of Bali. Along the way, pass long stretches of beautiful and pristine rice paddies, travel along winding roads and marvel at breathtaking mountains. There is a reason why this temple is known as the Gateway to Heaven. Be awed by the magical views of Mount Agung behind the temple. Your own private guide will not only snap cool shots for you but also will also explain the history of the ancient temple as well as the Balinese people and their culture. You will then visit Tirta Gangga, which is well known as the most beautiful former royal water palace in Eastern Bali. The water palace features tiered fountains, gardens, and stone sculptures of mythical creatures spouting water into bathing pools. Just outside the palace grounds, the views of the lush rice paddies of northeastern Bali are stunning. After visiting the water palace, you will then enjoy scrumptious buffet lunch overlooking Mount Agung, Telaga Waja river, and the rice fields. When you are finished, make your way to the biggest temple in Bali, Pura Besakih. It is the most important, the largest and the holiest temple of Hindu religion in Bali, and one of a series of Balinese temples. It is also well-known as the mother temple of Bali. The temple miraculously survived the catastrophic volcanic eruption of 1963. Join this unique tour and learn more about the history from your guide.

Following pick-up from your hotel, journey to the village of Tulamben on the north-east coast of Bali, best known for its black beach covered with smooth, fist-size rocks. Upon arrival, head to Tulamben Bay to take part in a wreck dive and get close to the World War II cargo ship, the USAT Liberty. Located just 30 meters from the beach, the wreck measures an impressive 120 meters on a steeply sloping sandy bottom, with its top just 3 meters below the water surface. Sunk by torpedoes on January 11, 1942, the USAT Liberty was carrying rubber and railroad parts for war service across the Lombok Strait. The damage was critical, but 2 destroyers hitched her up and tried to tow her to the port at Singaraja. She was taking too much water, so the crew decided to run her up on the beach at Tulamben. The volcanic explosion of Gunung Agung in 1963 rolled her off the beach to the present location, breaking her in pieces along the way. Now completely covered with corals and home to hundreds of species of fish, the wreck is submerged to a maximum depth of 29 meters. Considered one of the best beach entry dive sites in Bali, the wreck of the USAT Liberty is just for starters! A 15-minute journey further east takes you to the Alamanda Reef and Batu Kelebit Reef. Travel by car 10 minutes west from Tulamben and you reach the village of Kubu, where access to the pristine Kubu Reef is easy. Night diving is especially popular, with an average visibility of 15 to 20 meters and water temperatures around 28 to 29 degrees Celsius. Join this diving adventure for a fantastic day in a unique area and get up close to the magnificent marine life along the way! Please note, this tour is only available to certified divers. 

Spend a day exploring Lombok's northern part, visiting pristine natural landscapes and learning about the history and culture of the locals. In the morning, first make your way out to Malimbu, a lookout point. From here you can see the nearby Gili Islands and Bali's Mount Agung. Continue to Sendang Gile Waterfall, on the foot and slope of Mount Rinjani. The cool, fresh air and calm hill will provide a comfortable resting point, and you may choose to swim in the inviting waters. Then visit Senaru, a traditional village where mountain tribal life and the civilization of past centuries still exist. Finally, visit Bayan Old Mosque, one of the inestimable historical Islamic heritage sites in Lombok which is believed to have been built upon the Islamic people's arrival in the 16th century.

There are two common hiking routes up the mountain, which you will need to choose between.  Mount Agung Hike via Besakih Temple (from the West) The most challenging yet rewarding route for hiking up Mount Agung. The hike starts near the Besakih Temple, also called the Mother Temple of Bali. You'll be hiking through the dense jungle of Besakih. The ascent will take approximatively 6 to 7 hours, and ends at the very highest point of the mountain. The final hour or so is exceptionally demanding, often requiring climbing up the mountain on all fours. The hike starts at about 11.00 PM, so that you arrive at the top before dawn. From here, you are able to witness the stunning sunrise overlooking Mount Rinjani in Lombok. You will also have a masjestic view of the giant crater of Caldera Batur, and Lake Batur. Mount Agung Hike via Pasar Agung Temple (from the South) This is an easier, 3-4 hour hike in which you will ascend about 2,000 meters. It's not as challenging as the Besakih Temple route. The hike ends about 100 meters below the actual summit, but the views are still excellent in all directions, as well as down into the crater. The starting time will be about 2:00 AM, with the aim of reaching the peak just before dawn.