Mount Agung: Three to Four Hours from Pasar Agung, Five to Seven from Besakih

Agung stands 3,142 m above sea level in Karangasem Regency, and Balinese tradition holds it to be the home of God. It is the highest and holiest mountain on the island. There are two usual ways up, and the difference between them is hours. From the Pasar Agung Temple starting point, a fit walker reaches the summit in about three to four hours. From Besakih Temple it takes five to seven. Either is steeper and harder than Batur, and both need stamina rather than enthusiasm. A permit is normally required, and a local guide is recommended for navigation as much as for safety: the trail is hard to follow in the dark. From the top, on a clear morning, the view runs across Bali and out to the islands around it, as far as Mount Rinjani on Lombok. The crater is there too, below the rim. Cancel at least 24 hours before departure for a full refund.