Bedugul is a picturesque region in Central Bali that offers an escape from the traffic and high volume of tourists in other popular destinations around Bali. From the serene lakeside temple of Ulun Danu Bratan to the famous rice terraces of Jatiluwih, Bedugul is a beautiful place to explore for those seeking cultural sites and tunning landscapes. Through our hotel, we booked a Bedugul Tour and explored several sites in the Bedugul region of Bali. We started with a brief stop at Handara Gate before making our way to the famous lake temple of Ulun Danu Bratan. Afterwards we hiked through the rice terraces at Jatiluwih and finished our day at Taman Ayun, The Royal Family Temple.
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Bedugul is located about 50km north of Bali’s capital city of Denpasar and about 40 km from Ubud.
Bedugul is an area in Bali’s central region that includes the three lakes: Danau Bratan, Danau Buyan, and Danau Tamblingan. The area is mountainous and therefore the weather is milder then other parts of Bali.
Other towns and villages in the Bedugul area include Candikuning, Pancasari, Pacung, and Wanagiri.
Booking a Bedugul Tour
If looking for a fun and adventurous day trip in Bali from places like Ubud or cities around Denpasar, I highly recommend a Bedugul Tour.
If you are looking for a peaceful getaway and escape from the crowds and partygoers, then book a Bedugul Tour and see one of the most beautiful areas in Bali. One of the highlights of a Bedugul tour is a visit to the famous water temple of Ulun Danu Beratan located at Lake Bratan. If interested in seeing non-touristy rice terraces, the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, a UNESCO site, are included in some of the Bedugul tours.
Personally, we booked a Bedugul Tour through our hotel in Ubud, it was recommended to us based on our preferences. Many hotels in Bali will offer tour packages. If your hotel does not offer tours, there are many reputable tour operators found throughout many touristed towns and cities in Bali.
Bedugul and other tours can also be booked online through Viator. A quick look on Viator, there is a Tanah Lot – Jatiluwih (UNESCO) – Bedugul Tour, Bedugul and Singaraja Tour, and Private Tour Highlight Bedugul and Jatiluwih Rice Terrace Tour.
If unfamiliar with Viator, you can read the tour description and information after clicking on the tour of interest, read reviews, and view the meeting and pickup requirements.
Touring Bali's Bedugul's Sites and Outdoor Activities
There are many tour packages offered by hotels and companies throughout Bali, it can seem overwhelming picking the right tour. For me, I was interested in seeing an authentic rice terrace in Bali and wanted to see the Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, so the Bedugul Tour was a no brainer.
The Bedugul Tour can vary too based on tour companies, guides, and customer interests. For the Bedugul Tour that I signed up, it started with a stop at the Handara Gate. After getting to many selfies at one of Bali’s famous gates, we made our way to Ulun Danu Bratan. Our driver then took us to the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. We finished the Bali day trip at Taman Ayun.
Below are the sites and outdoor activities that were included with our Bedugul Tour.
Handara Gate
Are you familiar with the famous Gate at the Temple of Penataran Agung Lempuyang? I’m sure you are, it’s the famous Instagram spot in Bali where everyone goes to for a photo between the gate with Mt. Agung in the background. Honestly, the line to get that famous Bali Instagram photo can be anywhere from 1 to 4 hours.
What people might not know is that there are other similar gates around Bali that are far less touristy.
While on the Bedugul Tour, our first stop was the Handara Gate. This gate is actually the main entrance to the Handara Golf & Resort. Because of the beautiful location and stunning architecture, Handara Gate is just as Instagram worthy as the one at Lempuyang.
There is a small entrance fee and of course a fee if you want your photo taken with it. The wait time for the Handara Gate was about 20 minutes.
If you look at photos of Lempuyang, you might notice the beautiful reflection in the photos as if the water in the foreground is crystal clear and still. That is not the case, this is done by using a small mirror held under the phone to get that symmetrical reflection. Visitors can get that same photo taken at Handara Gate.
So do yourself a favor, if you are like me and not into photos of yourself or don’t want to wait hours in line just for that Bali Instagram shot, go to Handara Gate for beautiful photos and less crowds.
Ulun Danu Bratan: The Lake Temple
Ulun Dany Bratan, the majestic lake temple found on the shores of Lake Bratan is the most famous Bali day trip site for many visitors, and for good reason. This temple sits on the shore of Lake Bratan, surrounded by the picturesque lake and towering mountains, usually cloud covered.
Ulun Danu Bratan is one of Bali’s most visited temples and photographed tourist sites.
Ulun Danu Bratan is a Hindu temple that was built in 1633. According to the Indonesia Travel Website, Ulun Danu Bratan was built to worship the Goddess Dane. The Goddess Danu is the queen of water, lakes, and rivers.
Like Jatiluwih, Ulun Danu Bratan is one of Bali’s UNESCO sites.
Today visitors can walk the grounds of the temple. Although the temple itself is off limits to tourists since it is a place of worship. Don’t let this change your plans because the outside grounds are beautiful and you can get those iconic photos of Ulun Danu Bratan with the mountains and lake.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
My favorite stop while on the Bedugul Tour was a visit to Jatiluwih Rice Terrace.
There are many rice terraces in Bali, many of them are set up to be tourist attractions with Instagram photo opportunities like swings and decorated seats set up in the middle of the rice terrace.
I liked Jatiluwih because it didn’t feel touristy, in fact it’s an area that is still used today for rice cultivation.
Jatiluwih Rice Terrace is considered one rice terrace in Bali that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to it’s Subak irrigation system, which is a traditional Balinese method of irrigation.
There are many trails within Jatiluwih Rice Terrace where visitors can walk in between the rice terraces. Plan at least 1-3 hours to visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace.
For more information about Jatiluwih and the trails, I have a post on the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace.
Taman Ayun: The Royal Family Temple
The last stop on our Bedugul Tour was at Taman Ayun, the Royal Family Temple of the Mengwi Empire.
Taman Ayun is another water temple listed as one of Bali’s UNESCO sites, under the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province: the Subak System as a Manifestation of the Tri Hita Karana Philosophy.
This beautiful temple is located in Mengwi, Bali and sits on a plot of lush greenery surrounded by lotus ponds.
Taman Ayun was built in the 17th century for the Royal Family during the Mengwi Kingdom. This temple is a prime example of traditional Balinese architecture with the pagoda structures and alang-alang thatch roofs.
The grounds of Taman Ayun are open to the public. Like other temples, the main temple grounds are not accessible to visitors. But feel free to walk the outskirts and peek inside.
Conclusion
The Bedugul tour offers a unique and authentic experience for travelers who are interested in Bali’s natural beauty, cultural and historical sites. From the famous water temples like Ulun Danu Bratan and Taman Ayun to the stunning rice terraces at Jatiluwih and less touristy Handara Gate, the Bedugul tour showcases some of the best sites and outdoor activities in central Bali. Plan for a full day on this Bali tour but the memories will last a life time.
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