Bali is world-famous as one of the best vacation destinations but aside from Ubud, few tourists venture beyond its beautiful coastline. Don’t make that mistake. Venture inward to the center of Bali for a change of pace,where you’ll cool mountain weather, ancient volcanoes, and three crater lakes. You’ll also discover the most popular destination in Bali’s highlands: a mystical place called Bedugul.
When Bali’s tropical heat and humidity finally got to us, we accepted our friend’s suggestion to see what Bedugul had to offer.Following his “insider” tips, we soon realized just how much there is to do in this mountain community. Take it from us: It may be close enough for a day trip, but there is enough going on to warrant staying for a few days.
Pura Ulun Danu
Bali is legendary for its unique Hindu temples, and one of the most well-known is Pura Ulun Danu, positioned on two small islands in the middle of Lake Bratan. This temple was built in the 17th century to honor Dewi Danu, the water goddess who takes care of locals’ water supply, especially for farmers. Priests have lovingly landscaped the temple grounds, which enhance the temple itself.
Thanks to the peaceful reflection this temple creates in the peaceful water, your camera will be busy. It was worth getting up early for, but we had to adjust our thinking. Mornings are cloudy so forget about any fantasies of clear blue skies at sunrise.
Tip: The parking lot fills up quickly with cars and tourists shopping in the many souvenir stalls. Arrive very early to avoid crowds – and bring a sweater.
Open: 08:00 – 20:00
Admission: Rp.10,000, Rp.5000 (children).
Candi Kuning traditional market
Candi Kuning is a famous traditional market in Bedugul where you can find spices, vegetables, fruits, and plants, as well as sarongs and other souvenirs. We bought a huge bag of vanilla beans for Rp.50,000 and found huge bags of other spices, like saffron and cloves, to be just as much of a bargain.
Tip: Balinese love to haggle; it’s a game to them. Offer half the asking price as an opening and don’t be afraid to walk away if the terms aren’t to your liking.
Open: 07:00 – 16:00
Eka Karya Botanical Garden
Also known as Bali Botanic Garden, Kebun Raya Eka Karya is a huge (nearly 160 hectares) botanic garden that is used for research, conservation, education and recreation. It contains 2100 species of native plants, trees and orchids, as well as a traditional Balinese-style guesthouse that functions as a guest house for visitors. Expect gorgeous walks through rainforests, conifer groves, palms, tree ferns etc.
Open: 08:00 – 18:00 daily, except Nyepi.
Admission: Rp.7000 for locals, Rp.18,000 for foreigners, plus Rp.5,000 for cars.
Bali Treetop Adventure Park
Inside the botanical garden is Bali Treetop Adventure Park, where you’ll find suspended bridges, spider nets, Tarzan jumps, Flying-Fox zip lining, flying swings, and more. Winches, ropes, nets and so on will let you explore the forest well above the ground. And it’s not passive – you hoist, jump, balance and otherwise circumnavigate the park, safely inside a harness that you will clip to the wires between the trees.
Open: 08.30 – 18.00 daily.
Admission: Ticket is good for 2.5 hours. Prices vary depending upon time of day. Discounts for pre-booking; see website for details.
Bali Handara Kosaido Golf & Country Club
What can be more relaxing than playing golf while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Tamblingan Lake? Bedugul is heaven for golf lovers, and not just because of the cool highland air. Ranked among the “Top 50 Greatest Golf Courses in the World” by Golf Digest, Bali Handara Kosaido Golf and Country Club is one of Asia’s most iconic golf courses, with stunning view of green mountains, crater lakes and lush forest.
Bali Handara Country Club offers exclusive bungalows for rent as well as a nice restaurant with picturesque views of the course. The resort was named 2015 winner of the “Best Golf Hotel in Indonesia” by the prestigious World Golf Awards. (Compare room rates for Bali Handara Golf Resort here.)
Tip: Be sure to book a tee time before you arrive.
Strawberry Picking
Thanks to Bedugul’s high altitude it is an ideal place to grow a variety of crops. Typical of the Balinese, the enterprising local farmers have turned that into a tourist attraction by letting visitors come to pick strawberries.
Dikubu strawberry farm is one such place. You can pick fresh strawberries for Rp.30,000 per kg, or for Rp.15,000 you can just pick and eat them to your heart’s content on the spot. Arrive early for the best pick; after 4 p.m. the farmers will begin harvesting the leftover strawberries to be sold in the city.
Tip: Strawberry season is July-September. You can still get some at other times but there will not be as many.
Open: 07:00 – 23:00
Mountain lakes
The three serene crater lakes of Tamblingan, Buyan and Bratan (sometimes called Beratan) are a photographer’s dream and offer plenty to do.
- You can relax in a lakeside cabin if you just want an escape from Bali’s tropical climate.
- The area is a great spot for birdwatching; more than 97 species of birds can be found here.
- If you are into water sports, you can swim, parasail, jet ski, canoe, fish and boat.
- If not, you can hike through the jungle covered hills and pine forests surrounding the lakes. (Don’t forget your camera!)
Tip: Clouds and rain can make the area surprisingly chilly (down to 11°C / 50°F at night), so bring a sweater.
Bedugul resources
Getting there
Whether you’re in Ubud, Kuta or Sanur, it takes about an hour to get to Bedugul. You can drive there, take a ‘bemo’ minibus, or get there on a rented motorbike. However, if you have seen Balinese drivers (we did) you might want to consider hiring a car and driver for your trip. Most drivers (like ours) are quite willing to take you around for multiple days.
When considering the cost of hiring a driver, note that drivers charge per vehicle, not per passenger. Expect to pay $40-$75 per day (for 8-10 hours/day), including driver and petrol. You can have your hotel arrange this for you or search for a driver online (use search terms like “Bali tour guide” or “Bedugul driver”).
Getting around town
Once in Bedugul, there are a few ways to get around.
- Hiring a motorcycle from Rp.60,000 – Rp.100,000 per day. You can find this service at some tourism agencies around the village, or you can ask your hotel to make arrangements.
- Local bemos from Rp. 5000 – Rp.50,000 depending on the distance. They are available around Candi Kuning market.
- Find a local driver for the day (ask at your hotel).
Where to stay
If you want to stay longer than one day, use this search box. It compares prices from many hotel comparison sites, for everything from hostels to resorts.
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