Mount Dukono volcano hike in Maluku, Indonesia

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Mount Dukono is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and has been erupting continuously since 1933. If you are a hiker, you can see this awesome volcano up close and needless to say, it is one of the best hikes in Indonesia!

It is possible to hike Mt Dukono in one long day, but it is more popular to spend two days and one night on the mountain as it is less difficult and the views are incredible. If you are feeling brave, you can even climb it the crater and look inside, even though there is clearly danger.

The reason this hike is so special is that many tourists still don’t know about it. It’s in a remote part of Maluku, but I’m sure Dukono will become very popular one day. Right now it’s like Bromo the mountain without the crowds.

This travel guide will explain how to get to Mount Dukono, what to expect on the hike, and everything you need to know before you go.

How to get to Mount Dukono?

Mount Dukono is located on Halmahera Island, North Maluku, Indonesia. The closest town for hiking is Tobelo, which has hotels, restaurants and everything you might need.

To get to Dukono, you can fly into either Cao Airport (KAZ) or Gamar Malamo Airport (GLX). Another option is to fly to Ternate Airport (TTE) and take a boat from there to Sofifi in Halmahera, although it is a longer journey that way.

There are several weekly direct flights to these airports with Wings Air, starting from Manado in North Sulawesi, with direct flights to Manado from Bali and Jakarta. You can shop for flights in Indonesia with Skyscanner.

From Manado, we flew to Kaohsiung Airport and then drove 1.5 hours to Tobelo, where we stayed the night before and after the hike.

The best local guide for Mt Dukono

A local guide is essential for navigation and safety in Dukono.Although it adds to the cost, I would only recommend doing this trek with a guide.

The path is almost completely unmarked and will be very confusing if you try to go it alone. A guide will better understand the habits of the volcano and how close you can get to it safely on any given day. to carry your hiking gear, making hiking much more manageable and enjoyable.

I did this trip with Alex Jangu, a local trekking guide who speaks English and lives on Halmahera Island. He is very helpful and knowledgeable about the volcano and he has spent many years guiding international tourists to Mt Dukono as well as Mt Ibu which Halmahera is another amazing volcano.

Alex can be contacted on WhatsApp ☎ +62 821-9123-5467 or else alex_djangu @ yahoo.com (no spaces) Generally, the best way to contact him is to send a message on WhatsApp.

Mount Dukono Hike. What to expect?

Mount Dukono can be done as a very long and strenuous day hike, or you can spend the night near the crater and hike back down the next day.

The advantage of staying overnight is that you can see the red lava better after dark and you can also enjoy the unique experience of falling asleep to the sounds of the raging volcano.

I decided to do a 1-day trek in Dukono to save time and money, although I would like to camp there sometime.Alex and I started on a scooter at 2am, heading to the starting point near Mamuya village.

• Jungle Trek

Dukono Volcano is 1,335 meters high, but you’ll start the hike near sea level.

The first part of the Dukono trek is through the jungle, although most of it is paved. You are walking up a steep hill the whole way, but it is not dangerous in terms of rocks or exposure.

There are a few river crossings but when I was there they had no water. Flooding can be a problem during heavy rain. The main challenge for us was not to trip on the dirt and tree roots.

On the way we saw a python, a lizard, some giant centipedes and some exotic birds. A python was crawling right along the main path, so we had to go around it.

• Ancient lava field

After 4 or 5 hours of hiking we came out of the jungle and saw the first views of the smoking crater. We could already hear it rumbling like a jet engine. If you are camping, you will pitch your tent about 1 or 2 from the crater kilometers away.

For this next section, you will walk through an old black lava field until you reach the top of the crater. On the way you will pass by a pool with interesting turquoise water.

Walking on the lava rocks can be a bit tricky, but I found it easier than the jungle.

• Crater of Dukono Volcano

When we got to the top of the Dukono volcano, we crawled up to the crater rim and looked in while it was spewing smoke and ash.

For your own safety, do not approach the crater if it is spewing lava rocks. Dukono sometimes spits out giant lava rocks that land on the crater’s slopes like bombs, and being hit by one of these can be fatal. Fortunately, the volcano was not spewing rock bombs. when we visited, though we did see a few bombs on the crater slope recently.

We spent about 30 minutes on the edge of the crater and I flew the drone for a bit, then we went back down. The noise, the heat and the smoke were scary, but great at the same time.

• Return campaign

The descent from Dukono is easier than the ascent, but still not so easy.The asphalted parts of the road are steep and slippery, especially after rain. We encountered heavy rain for 1 or 2 hours on the way down and fell several times on the slippery pavement.

We got down around 10 o’clock when it was overcast and it took us 4 hours to get down from the top of the crater to the trailhead, or almost 5 hours counting the scooter ride and stuff.

In total, my guide Alex and I spent about 12 hours hiking in Dukono, and most of it was climbing over rough volcanic terrain and slippery muddy jungle roads.We were extremely dirty and exhausted, especially after starting so early in the night.

The next afternoon I had a quick lunch in Tobelo and then crashed and slept for about 11 hours. What a day!

The Dukono volcano is still erupting.

Yes, Dukono volcano is always active. It has been erupting non-stop since 1933. If you have specific questions about current activity, you can contact my local guide Alex at the number listed earlier and he will be happy to help.

The amount of volcanic activity at Dukono varies from year to year, but it almost always puts on a good show. When I visited in 2021, it was spewing less ash than usual and it wasn’t spewing many bombs.

Is Dukono Volcano safe?

Obviously, the overall safety of this hike is questionable (at best) since you’re climbing the rim of a highly active volcano, but there are ways you can mitigate some of the risks while still having an amazing experience.

Dukono’s main danger is when it throws rock bombs. These are very large and can be fatal. Rocks can land anywhere on the crater slope at any time. Proceed at your own risk.

If you want to be extra safe, you can just view the volcano from a distance and not look inside the crater.

Dukono rarely has stronger eruptions. It happened in 1550, causing death and destruction on Halmahera Island, and other major eruptions were recorded in 1719, 1868, and 1901. You can check Magma Indonesia’s status updates before you go.

When to hike Mount Dukono?

If you’re doing Mt Dukono as a 1 day hike, you’ll need to start very early, around 2 a.m. This is because it’s a very long hike, and ideally you want to be at the crater just before sunrise. after when the sky is clear and you can see the eruptions without clouds.

If you do Dukono as a 2-day hike, the timing is more flexible. Even if it’s cloudy or raining when you’re there the first time, it should be clear at night and/or the next morning.

The climate of Tobelo is quite rainy throughout the year. The driest months are July-October, and these months are definitely ideal for trekking, but I wouldn’t be too afraid to go outside of these months to Dukono.

We went to Dukono in June and it rained for 1 or 2 hours in the afternoon as we walked back through the jungle, but it didn’t spoil our hike at all and didn’t stop me from taking a lot of pictures on the volcano.

What to bring?

• Footwear. Real hiking shoes or boots are a must. The path can be rocky, muddy or very slippery at times. Even the paved sections can be smooth if you don’t have good traction.
• Luminous. A headlamp and spare batteries are essential due to the length of the hike.You will likely start or finish the Dukono hike in the dark, so you need to be able to see where you are walking.
• Raincoat. It’s common to get caught in the rain along the way, so it’s a good idea to bring a small foldable poncho, especially if you have electronics you need to keep dry.

More tips for Halmahera Island

• Mobile service. We had good 4G reception on the island with Telkomsel, but WiFi is still rare.
• Electricity. In our experience there was stable electricity 24/7 in Tobelo.
• Mosquitoes. We only encountered mosquitoes near the start of the hike and at our hotel in Tobelo. We never saw any mosquitoes when we got to the old lava field. Overall, there weren’t many mosquitoes on this hike, though your experience may vary.
• Malaria. There may be some malaria in North Maluku, but it has definitely decreased, according to this Lancet study from 2018. We were very careful to use bug spray and avoid mosquito bites, but we did not take malaria prophylaxis.
• Roads. Roads in and between cities were in good condition. The scooter path to the start of the hike was not great, but not terrible.This could change depending on the weather.
• ATM There are working ATMs in the area. They all seem to be giving out 50k rupee notes.

Indonesia drone video

Here’s a YouTube video of some of my drone footage of Mount Dukono and other volcanoes, waterfalls, and natural landmarks in Indonesia.

This video was shot in Bali, Java, Maluku, Sulawesi, Sumatra and other islands in Indonesia.

More Indonesia Travel Guides

Thanks for looking, I hope you enjoyed this travel guide to Mount Dukono Volcano in Maluku, Indonesia.

Don’t forget to check out my Indonesia travel guide and my list of the best hikes in Indonesia.

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