Bali’s Mount Agung to Close to Tourist Hikers

Bali’s most sacred volcano will be closed to the public for the next month. Mount Agung, which is Bali’s tallest and most spiritually significant peak, will be closed for cleaning ceremonies; this means that all tourist visits and hikes will be prohibited.

Here at The Bali Sun, we keep our readers up to speed with the latest news on the island and upcoming events that may impact travel plans. The upcoming closure of Mount Agung is no exception. Mount Agung is closed to the public on an annual basis according to the timing of ceremonies and rituals that must be performed on the land.

As Bali’s most sacred landscape, there are often periods where the land must be let be to allow for cleansing and clearing of energies, in accordance with Balinese Hinduism, which is culturally the law of the land.

All activities on Mount Agung, including hiking, walking, trail running, and sightseeing visits, will be prohibited for 28 days, starting on the 28th March through to 24th April 2026. This is to respect a series of major Karya Ida Bhatara Turun Kabeh (IBTK) ceremonies that will be held at the Agung Besakih Temple.

Speaking to reporters, the Besakih Traditional Village Head, Jro Mangku Widiartha, stated that the decision was made through a paruman, or meeting with all the caretakers of Pura Agung Besakih. Information about the closure has also been communicated to hiking guides and travel agents, meaning that tourists and travelers should not even be able to book experiences on Mount Agung during the closure period.

Jro Mangku Widiartha told reporters, “We hope that all tourists and climbers will understand and not force themselves to climb Mount Agung during the closure.”

There is a series of major ceremonies that will take place in the area in the coming months. One of the key components of the IBTK Work is the Nedunang ceremony, which will be held on 30th March.

During this procession, the Ida Bhatara will be “lowered” from their respective places of worship and placed in the Penataran Agung Besakih Temple. The ceremony will run until 2nd April and involve worshippers from all over Bali. Visiting hours and access to Pura Besakih, also known as the Mother Temple, may be impacted during the ceremony period.

As ever, worshippers take precedence at all Bali temples at all times. Tourists are advised to contact their tour guide to understand if their upcoming visit to Pura Besakih will be impacted by ceremonies.

The hiking and climbing routes will re-open as of 25th April 2026, following a peninsular ceremony that will be carried out by the local community.

Volcano Advisory

Tourists traveling to Bali between 28th March and 24th April 2026 and who want to experience the island’s volcanic peaks can still do so. While access to Mount Agung is closed to all members of the public, including locals, Mount Batur remains open.

In fact, Mount Batur sees markedly more tourists, hikers, and visitors every year than Mount Agung.

As is the case for all of Bali’s peaks, it is a legal requirement for all hikers to be accompanied by a licensed local guide. Hiking to the summit of Mount Batur is one of the most famous bucket list activities for tourists in Bali, but that does not mean that it is easy.

Mount Batur is a serious undertaking that requires strong levels of fitness and the correct equipment. It is, undeniably, one of the most impressive and fulfilling activities tourists can take part in while in Bali.

For those who want to experience the magic of Mount Batur but don’t fancy the sunrise hike, there are plenty of options available. Jeep tours are an ever-popular option, there are helicopter tours that offer aerial views over the whole of the Kintamani landscape, and of course, taking a few nights’ stay in Kintamani means waking each morning to stunning views of Mount Batur, Mount Agung, and Mount Abang as well as the glimmering Lake Batur.

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