Lahangan Sweet offers one of the most spectacular views of Mount Agung in the whole of Bali. I was expecting it to be good, but honestly, it blew me away. It’s awe inspiring to see Mount Agung looming ahead of you, and there are so many great vantage points all offering a unique perspective.
If you manage to coincide your visit with sunrise or sunset, then you are going to be in for an even bigger treat. However, a visit here requires great conditions over Agung, which is not always easy to come by. Luckily we have all the tips you need to make sure you have the perfect trip.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting Lahangan Sweet.
Lahangan Sweet
The access road
The road to get to Lahangan Sweet is paved for almost the entire way, but the last 900m are a dirt track. A significant portion of the paved road is incredibly steep and windy, with the final few kilometres also being very narrow.
This is less of a problem if you’re coming by scooter, but if you’re driving a car then it would be very hard to pass another car on that last stretch. There are a few points you can pull over and there are some side roads you can use to let someone go by, but we were very glad not to meet another car!
If you’re coming by scooter, just be prepared for some steep roads and tight curves, similar to other viewpoints in the area such as Pura Lempuyang.
The dirt track - AKA the walk to Lahangan Sweet
Update for August 2023: you now have the option of paying 50,000 Rupiah ($3 USD) to get a jeep that will take you up the dirt track and back down once you have finished.
The final 900m to the viewpoint is technically still a road, but the reality is that all but the most experienced (and gung-ho) scooter drivers will struggle - especially if you’ve had any recent rain. It starts off fine, but then gets steeper and rockier, before flattening again close to the top.
It’s a dirt track, so after rain it becomes muddy and slippery, but it will likely be fine in the dry season. If you don’t want to drive it, it’s only a 900m walk, so it’s really not too bad on foot. You also get some incredible views of Mount Agung as you go.
The walk is signposted, but for one junction where you just need to keep going straight.
The alternative to walking or driving yourself is paying for a scooter ride from the people working at the top - although that means you’re getting a lift downhill rather than uphill, which doesn’t seem worth it to me.
In time, as this spot becomes more popular, they will probably start offering lifts from the bottom too. The current price is 20k rupiah (USD $1.30) to get back down the hill.
The Lahangan Sweet viewpoint
Update for August 2023: there is now a ticketing system for the viewpoint where you will be given a number when you buy your entry ticket. There can be queues for the photospot, so we recommend going early to avoid the worst of the crowds.
Once you’re at the top, you’ll walk along a grassy path and quickly come to a small box platform and array of benches overlooking the volcano. It’s almost like a theatre, and the show is Mount Agung.
The walk down to the platform is easy, it’s downhill and slightly muddy in places, but still easy enough. The wooden walkway to the box was a little worse for wear in places, but it didn’t feel unsafe.
Just to the right of this lookout is the best spot at Lahangan Sweet in my opinion. It’s a little wooden platform surrounding a tree with the most incredible view over jungle, rice terraces and of course mighty Agung. It’s probably one of the most atmospheric spots in Bali.
You access the platform by a small wooden ladder. There are a few harnesses attached to the tree, but I didn’t use one because it felt fine without just for sitting or standing.
The platform feels stable, but it would not be much fun if you suffer from vertigo, or there is high wind.
I ended up sitting up there for over an hour and was lucky to have the whole thing to myself which made it extra special.
Beyond the little tree platform, you could walk a few minutes further along the grassy path for more Agung views and a couple more photo spots. One is a boat and then there’s another platform.
They look out to the ocean and the steep rice terrace covered hillside beyond. The views are good, but like the first viewpoint with the seating area, they do have that cheesy quality to them.
Lahangan Sweet: sunrise vs sunset
We wanted to visit for sunset, but we only had one potential window on our visit where Agung would be visible, and we decided to use it for Pura Lempuyang - purely because we didn’t want to fight the crowds that are ever present at sunrise.
Next time I would definitely visit Lahangan Sweet at sunset because I think it’s more dramatic with the sun setting behind the volcano. At sunrise, the sun does make the volcano glow red, but the lighting is not so atmospheric and there are some very harsh shadows. We mis-timed our trip and got to the viewpoint 20 minutes after sunrise. The light had already become challenging, so you want to be here nice and early if you’re planning a sunrise mission.
However, the best time to visit is when there is a good window for low/no cloud around the volcano - that’s definitely more important than whether it’s sunrise or sunset.
How to make sure you can actually see Mount Agung
If you want to see Mount Agung, then you’ll need to check the weather conditions carefully. Though it’s not an exact science, we have seen Mount Agung countless times using this weather forecast. Head to the details tab and then scroll across to cloud cover which is listed hour by hour.
Ideally you’d want very low cloud cover in all categories, but that’s a rarity. You want to pick the time that there is the lowest amount of low and middle cloud.
High cloud will be above the cone and is less important. A bit of low or middle cloud can be atmospheric, depending on where it sits, but you want the lowest possible in the hope it’s not covering the cone.
You’ll also want to check that the fog reading says zero, or it could be shrouded in mist. If you are only in the area for a short time and the conditions don’t look good, it can still be worth a gamble as the forecasts are not always accurate.
Agung can definitely pop out, even if it’s only for a few minutes, so it’s worth a shot.
Camping at Lahangan Sweet
Camping at Lahangan Sweet is now firmly on my bucket list! I didn’t even know it was a thing until we got there and it must be one of the best campsites in the world views-wise. It will be a rustic experience, but you’re coming for the views.
We had a chat to the person working there and the current cost is 185k (USD $12) per tent and that includes the tent, sleeping bag and pillow, so you don’t need to bring any of those things with you. You need to pay extra for wood if you want a fire (50k rupiah) and you can then grill food over the fire if you need to.
In terms of facilities there are two pit toilets. I forgot to check if they had it, but just incase I would suggest BYO toilet paper and soap.
You can find out about availability and more by sending a Whatsapp message to +62 0877 5204 1577.
Lahangan Sweet entry fee
A visit here used to be free of charge, but there’s now a 30k rupiah charge per person (USD $2). You can also get a lift back down the hill on a scooter for an additional 20k per person.
There are now queues for the main photospot and you are given a number with your ticket, so that you know when it is your turn.
Getting to Lahangan Sweet from major towns
We visited Lahangan Sweet from Sidemen which was a one hour 10 minute drive, Amed is closer at just 30 minutes. It’s two hours from Ubud and almost 2.5 hours from Kuta.
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