Mount Dukono is without doubt one of the most energetic volcanoes on the planet, and it’s been erupting continuous since 1933. In the event you’re a hiker you may go see this spectacular volcano up shut, and for sure, it’s one of many finest hikes in Indonesia!
It’s attainable to hike Mount Dukono in a single lengthy day, however it’s extra standard to spend two days and one evening tenting on the mountain because it’s much less difficult that manner and the views are unbelievable. In the event you’re feeling courageous, you may even climb the crater and peek inside, though there’s clearly hazard concerned.
A part of the explanation this hike is so particular is as a result of not many vacationers find out about it but. It’s in a distant a part of Maluku and it’s greater than a bit of scary, however I’m certain Dukono will likely be standard sometime. Proper now, it’s form of like Mount Bromo with out the crowds!
This journey information will clarify how one can get to Mount Dukono, what to anticipate on the hike, and every thing else it’s worthwhile to know earlier than you go!
How To Get To Mount Dukono
Mount Dukono is positioned on the island of Halmahera, in North Maluku, Indonesia. The closest city to base your self for the hike is Tobelo, which has inns, eating places, and every thing else you may want.
To get to Dukono, you may fly to both Kau airport (code: KAZ) or Gamar Malamo airport (code: GLX). Another choice is to fly to Ternate airport (code: TTE) and take a ship from there to Halmahera, though it’s an extended journey that manner.
There are a number of direct flights per week to those airports with Wings Air, ranging from Manado in North Sulawesi. To get to Manado, there are direct flights from Bali and Jakarta. You possibly can store for flights in Indonesia on Skyscanner.
From Manado, we flew to the Kau airport, after which it was a 1.5 hour drive to get to Tobelo city, the place we stayed the evening earlier than and after the hike.
Mount Dukono volcano erupting
Greatest Native Information For Mount Dukono
A neighborhood information is important for navigation and security at Dukono. Although it provides expense, I’d solely advocate doing this hike with a information.
The trail is sort of fully unmarked, and it will be very complicated should you attempt to go alone. A information can even have a greater understanding of the volcano’s habits and the way shut you may safely strategy it on any given day.
I did this journey with Alex Djangu, an area trekking information who speaks English and lives on Halmahera island. He’s very useful and educated concerning the volcano, and he’s spent a few years main worldwide vacationers to Mount Dukono and in addition Mount Ibu, which is one other wonderful volcano on Halmahera.
You possibly can contact Alex by WhatsApp at ☎ +62 821-9123-5467 or by e mail at alex_djangu @ yahoo.com (no areas). Usually one of the simplest ways to contact him is by sending a message on WhatsApp.
Drone image of the Mount Dukono volcano
Mount Dukono Hike: What To Anticipate
Mount Dukono could be carried out as a really lengthy and strenuous day hike, or you may camp in a single day close to the crater and return down the following day.
The benefit of staying in a single day is that you may see the purple lava higher after darkish. You additionally get to benefit from the distinctive expertise of falling asleep to the sounds of a raging volcano.
I made a decision to do a 1-day hike at Dukono to save lots of money and time, though I’d like to camp it someday. Me and Alex began by scooter at 2 AM, driving to the place to begin close to Mamuya village.
• Jungle Trek
The Dukono volcano has a summit elevation of 1,335 meters (4,380 ft), however you’ll begin the hike close to sea degree.
The primary a part of the Dukono hike is thru jungle, though plenty of it’s paved. You’re strolling up a steep hill the whole manner, however it’s not harmful by way of cliffs or publicity.
There are a number of creek crossings, however that they had no water after I was there. Flash flooding could also be an issue throughout heavy rain. For us, the principle problem was making an attempt to not slip on dust and tree roots.
Alongside the best way, we noticed a python, a monitor lizard, some big centipedes, and a number of other unique birds. The python was crawling proper on the principle path, so we needed to go round him.
Dawn within the jungle
Finally the jungle ends at an previous lava subject
• Previous Lava Subject
After 4 or 5 hours of mountain climbing, we got here out of the jungle and received our first views of the smoking crater. We might already hear it rumbling like a jet engine! In the event you’re tenting, that is the place you’ll pitch your tent, roughly 1 or 2 kilometers from the volcano crater.
For this subsequent part, you’ll be strolling by an previous black lava subject till you attain the highest of the crater. It doesn’t look very removed from right here, however it takes 1 or 2 hours to get to the highest of the crater with a reasonable tempo. Alongside the best way, you’ll cross an attention-grabbing pool of turquoise water.
Strolling on the lava rocks is usually a bit difficult, however I discovered it simpler than the jungle. We stopped right here and I flew the drone a bit, making an attempt to seize the large cloud of smoke coming from the volcano.
Strolling by previous lava fields on Mount Dukono
A mysterious blue pool close to the volcano
• Dukono Volcano Crater
Once we reached the highest of the Dukono volcano, we crawled as much as the sting of the crater and appeared inside whereas it was blowing out smoke and ash. It’s an superior sight. Typically you too can see purple sizzling molten lava.
To your personal security, don’t go close to the crater if it’s taking pictures out lava rocks. Dukono sometimes spits out big lava rocks, which land like bombs on the slopes of the crater, and a success from one among these may very well be deadly. The volcano fortunately wasn’t taking pictures rock bombs after we visited, though we noticed some current bombs on the slope of the crater.
We spent about half-hour on the crater rim and I flew the drone some extra, then we headed again down. The noise, warmth, and smoke was terrifying however great on the similar time.
Simmering lava within the crater
Smoke cloud
• Return Hike
Going again down from Dukono is simpler than going up, however it’s nonetheless not precisely straightforward. The paved sections of the trail are steep and slippery, particularly after rain. We encountered laborious rain for 1 or 2 hours on the best way down, and fell a bunch of instances on the slick pavement.
We began down at about 10 AM, when it was already getting cloudy, and it took us 4 hours to go down from the highest of the crater to the beginning of the path, or nearly 5 hours counting the scooter trip and different issues.
In complete, me and my information Alex spent about 12 hours mountain climbing at Dukono, and most of that was an uphill trudge on tough volcanic terrain and slippery mud paths within the jungle. We have been extraordinarily soiled and exhausted, particularly after beginning so early within the evening.
I grabbed a fast meal in Tobelo city the next afternoon, after which crashed and slept for one thing like 11 hours. What a day!
Is Dukono Energetic Now?
Sure, the Dukono volcano is at all times energetic. It’s been erupting continuous since 1933. If in case you have particular questions concerning the present exercise, you may contact my native information Alex on the quantity talked about earlier and he’ll be pleased to assist.
The quantity of volcanic exercise modifications from 12 months to 12 months at Dukono, however it’s nearly at all times placing on a very good present. Once I visited in 2021, there was much less ash popping out than regular and it wasn’t throwing many rock bombs.
Is The Dukono Volcano Secure?
Clearly the general security of this trek is questionable (at finest) since you’re climbing as much as the sting of a extremely energetic volcano, however there are methods you may mitigate among the danger whereas nonetheless having an incredible expertise.
The primary hazard at Dukono is when it’s throwing out rock bombs. These are very large and a success from one among them may very well be deadly. The rocks can land wherever on the slope of the crater at any time. Proceed at your individual danger.
If you wish to be additional secure, you may simply view the volcano from a distance and never peek contained in the crater. It’s attainable to get some nice photos of Dukono from the previous lava subject with out ever getting in vary of the rock bombs, particularly you probably have a drone.
Hardly ever, there are some extra extreme eruptions at Dukono. This occurred in 1550, inflicting demise and destruction on Halmahera island, and different main eruptions have been recorded in 1719, 1868, and 1901. You possibly can verify for standing updates on Magma Indonesia earlier than you go.
Extra Suggestions For Halmahera Island
- Cell Service. We had good 4G reception with Telkomsel on the island, however WiFi continues to be uncommon.
- Electrical energy. There was secure 24/7 electrical energy in Tobelo city in our expertise.
- Mosquitoes. We solely encountered some mosquitoes close to the beginning of the hike, and at our lodge in Tobelo city. As soon as we received to the previous lava subject and close to the volcano, we by no means noticed any mosquitoes. Total, there weren’t plenty of mosquitoes on this hike, though your expertise might differ.
- Malaria. There could also be some presence of Malaria in North Maluku, however it’s positively diminished in keeping with this Lancet examine from 2018. We have been very cautious to make use of bug spray and keep away from mosquito bites, however we didn’t take malaria prophylactics.
- Roads. The roads in and between cities have been in good situation. The scooter street to the beginning of the hike was not nice, however not horrible both. This might change relying on climate.
- ATM. There are working ATMs within the space. All of them appear to provide 50k Rupiah notes.
Indonesia Drone Video
Here’s a YouTube video with a few of my drone photographs of Mount Dukono and different Indonesian volcanoes, waterfalls, and pure sights. This video was filmed throughout Bali, Java, Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatra, and different islands in Indonesia.
Extra Indonesia Journey Guides
Thanks for trying! I hope you loved this journey information for the Mount Dukono volcano hike in Maluku, Indonesia.
Don’t neglect to take a look at my Indonesia Journey Information and my checklist of the finest hikes in Indonesia!