The Bali Guideline
Bedugul Travel Guide

Destination Guide · Central Highlands

Bedugul Travel Guide

Lake temples and cool highland air.

By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 15 October 2026

Area Brief

What Bedugul is really like.

Bedugul is the cool highland area around Lake Beratan in central Bali, about 1,200 m above sea level, home to the lake temple Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, the Bali Botanic Garden and Candikuning’s fruit market. It suits day-trippers, families and anyone tired of the heat. The drive from the airport takes 1.75 to 2.5 hours (about 64 km).

Bedugul is the name everyone uses for the highlands around Lake Beratan, the easternmost of three crater lakes in the old Bratan caldera. On the map it is mostly Candikuning village in Tabanan’s Baturiti district, where the temple, market and botanic garden sit within 2 km of each other, plus Pancasari at the north end, in Buleleng. The lake lies at about 1,200 m, and nights drop to 10 to 15°C, so pack a jacket.

Most people come on a day trip for Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, the 17th-century water temple whose tiered shrines stand on islets off the west shore. On a normal day it sees 600 to 800 visitors; on Indonesian long weekends that passes 2,000, and the main road through Candikuning fills with tour buses and family cars. Come early. Cloud usually rolls in off the hills by late morning, and from November to March rain often follows by early afternoon.

Read the full overview

Some things have changed. Bali Treetop Adventure Park, the rope course many websites still place inside the botanic garden, closed in September 2020 when its lease was not renewed; the garden, now run by the research agency BRIN, rents bikes, e-bikes and golf carts instead. The Handara golf-resort gate has become a paid photo stop with a queue. Foreign visitors at the temple now come mostly from India, Australia and China, while weekends belong to Indonesian families.

Bedugul vs Munduk: Bedugul is the sightseeing stop, with the temple, the garden and the market close to the main road. Munduk, about 20 km west past Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan, is where people go to walk to waterfalls and stay a few nights. Bedugul vs Kintamani: both are high and cool, but Kintamani is about an active volcano and its sunrise trek, while Bedugul is greener, wetter and gentler. Places to stay are few, mostly homestays, lakeside cottages, glamping and the Handara resort, so many visitors sleep in Munduk or drive back to Ubud or Canggu.

Best for
Lake temple, botanic garden, cool-weather day trips
Vibe
Misty and cool; busy with Indonesian weekenders
From the airport
1.75–2.5 h by car (about 64 km)
Days needed
1 day trip; 2 days with a hike or Munduk
Best time
April–October; at the temple before 9 am
Getting around
Car with driver; Candikuning is walkable

Bedugul is a good fit if…

  • Bali’s most photographed lake temple, best before 9 am
  • A cool day out from the heat of the south
  • Families: boats, strawberry picking, farm animals and garden bikes
  • Plant lovers: orchids, begonias, cacti and conifers
  • Breaking the drive to Munduk or Lovina

Skip it if…

  • You want sun: cloud and rain often arrive by midday
  • You dislike crowds: long weekends bring 2,000 visitors a day to the temple
  • You want to enter a temple: Ulun Danu’s shrines are for worshippers only
  • You want a lively base: hotels are few and evenings cold and quiet
  • Paid photo queues annoy you: Handara and Wanagiri charge and make you wait

Neighborhoods

Which part of Bedugul to base yourself in.

Bedugul is not one place. Each pocket has its own pace, noise level and walking distance to the things you came for.

Gold labels are the neighborhoods below. Numbered pins match the things-to-do list; zoom out for the day trips.

  1. 01

    Candikuning: temple, market and garden

    Candikuning, in Tabanan’s Baturiti district, holds most of what people come for: the temple on the west shore, the market 1.1 km south along the main road, the botanic garden gate a kilometre uphill on Jl. Kebun Raya, and Masjid Al-Hidayah on the hill between. Homestays fill the side lanes, and tour-bus traffic peaks from mid-morning.

    Best for: Day-trippers who want the sights within walking distance

  2. 02

    The Lake Beratan shore

    Away from the temple the lake is quieter, with fish cages in the shallows and forest rising on the far side to Gunung Catur. On the main road, Dermaga Bedugul is a jetty with a small entrance fee, boats for hire and a clear view across the lake when the mist lifts. Swimming is not allowed.

    Best for: Photographers and walkers who want the lake without the temple crowd

  3. 03

    Pancasari & Handara (Buleleng)

    North of the lake, Pancasari belongs to Buleleng and is strawberry country, with pick-your-own farms along the main road 4 to 7 km from the temple. The Handara golf resort and its photographed gate fill the valley floor, Bali Farm House keeps alpacas and ponies for children, and the village reaches west to Lake Buyan.

    Best for: Families and golfers staying near the resort

  4. 04

    Baturiti & the road up from the south

    Baturiti district is the long climb from the south, with farms and fruit stalls along the Denpasar–Singaraja road. Leke Leke Waterfall sits just off the road at Mekarsari, and a side road south of the lake heads west to Jatiluwih, about 25 km away. On Sundays and holidays the climb fills with cars from Denpasar.

    Best for: Drivers who want a waterfall stop on the way up

  5. 05

    The roads north: Wanagiri and Gitgit

    From Pancasari one road climbs west along the Wanagiri ridge toward Munduk, past viewpoints over Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan. The main road continues north over the pass and down to Gitgit and Singaraja, about 30 km from the temple, so the lake fits neatly into a drive from south to north Bali.

    Best for: Travelers heading on to Munduk or Lovina

Top Sights · 14 picks

Things to do in Bedugul.

Ranked by how worth your time they are, with the practical detail you need before you go.

How we rank: how much each place adds to a first trip, weighed against cost, crowds and travel time from Bedugul. Prices and hours checked 15 October 2026. Editorial policy

  1. The 11-tiered meru of Pura Ulun Danu Beratan on Lake Beratan at sunrise, with a rower in an outrigger canoe01

    Temple

    Pura Ulun Danu Beratan

    West shore of Lake Beratan, Candikuning, Baturiti

    Bali’s best-known lake temple was built on the west shore of Lake Beratan in 1633 for Dewi Danu, the lake goddess whose water irrigates central Bali. Its 11-tiered meru, dedicated to Shiva and Parvati, stands on an islet that seems to float when the lake is high. Visitors walk the gardens and lakeshore, past a Buddhist stupa; the shrines are for worshippers.

    Tip: Open 7 am–7 pm. Foreign adults IDR 75,000, children IDR 50,000 (Dec 2024); an Aug 2026 guide reports IDR 100,000, so carry extra (checked Oct 2026).

    Open in Google Maps

  2. 02Nature

    Bali Botanic Garden (Kebun Raya Eka Karya)

    Jl. Kebun Raya, Candikuning, about 1 km uphill from the market

    Founded on 15 July 1959 and named Eka Karya, “first work”, as the first botanic garden Indonesians set up after independence, it covers 157.5 hectares between 1,250 and 1,450 m and specializes in conifers. Look for the orchid garden, the Begonia House, the cactus greenhouse, tree ferns, a giant ficus and the lawn above the lake.

    Tip: IDR 15,500 per person on weekdays, IDR 25,500 on weekends and holidays (checked Oct 2026). Gates close at 4 pm.

    Open in Google Maps

  3. 03Adventure

    A boat on Lake Beratan

    Temple jetty, Ulun Danu Beratan, Candikuning

    Seeing the meru from the water is worth half an hour. In December 2024 the temple jetty charged IDR 200,000 for a speedboat lap of the lake, IDR 75,000 for a wooden rowing boat and IDR 40,000 for a pedal boat. The rowing boats are quieter and drift closer to the shrines.

    Tip: Go early, before the wind rises, and agree the price before you board.

    Open in Google Maps

  4. 04Market & Shopping

    Candikuning market

    Jl. Kebun Raya No. 7, Candikuning, 1.1 km south of the temple

    The market at the foot of Jl. Kebun Raya is where Bedugul’s farms meet the tour buses. Stalls sell strawberries, passion fruit, tamarillos and cut flowers, with sarongs, spices and vanilla behind. Nearly every day tour stops here, so first prices are high: bargain, buy fruit by the box and keep it to 20 minutes.

    Tip: Entry is free. Ask the price before anything is bagged.

    Open in Google Maps
  5. A family picking strawberries between plastic-covered rows at Hidden Strawberry Garden in Pancasari05

    Food & Drink

    Strawberry picking in Pancasari

    Hidden Strawberry Garden, Jl. Gatotkaca, and farms on the main road, Pancasari

    Pancasari, just north of the lake, grows strawberries under long plastic tunnels, and many farms on the main road let you pick your own: entry is free or cheap, and you pay by weight. Hidden Strawberry Garden on Jl. Gatotkaca adds planting sessions for children and sells its own juice and jam.

    Tip: One farm charged IDR 75,000 per kilo in early 2026; agree the price before you pick.

    Open in Google Maps
  6. Aerial view of the Jatiluwih rice terraces curving down a valley at sunrise, with a farm road and huts06

    Nature

    Jatiluwih rice terraces, 45 minutes away

    Jatiluwih, Penebel, Tabanan, about 25 km south-west

    Tabanan’s UNESCO-listed terraces are about 25 km south-west, 45 to 60 minutes by car, the easiest pairing with Bedugul. Go to Jatiluwih first, while Mount Batukaru is clear, then come up to the lake as the day cools. Foreign adults pay IDR 75,000, and our Tabanan guide covers the trails.

    Tip: Book a driver for the whole loop; ride-hailing cars rarely accept trips out of the hills.

    Open in Google Maps

Itinerary

How to spend your days in Bedugul.

Routes that follow the light, the traffic and the opening hours, so you are in the right place at the right time.

One day in Bedugul

A driver day from Canggu or Ubud: 100–125 km of driving and about 4 km on foot, plus a bike ride in the garden. The drive up, the Pancasari leg and the drive home need the car.

  1. 6:30

    Leave Canggu (about 54 km) or Ubud (about 45 km) with a driver; the climb through Baturiti takes 1.5–2 hours.

  2. 8:15

    Pura Ulun Danu Beratan as the mist lifts. Walk the gardens and lakeshore, about 1 km.

  3. 9:15

    Thirty minutes on the lake in a rowing boat from the temple jetty.

  4. 10:00

    Walk 1.1 km (about 15 minutes, mostly flat) south along Jl. Raya Bedugul to Candikuning market for fruit.

  5. 10:45

    Walk about 1 km uphill (12–15 minutes) on Jl. Kebun Raya to the Botanic Garden gate, then rent a bike for the lake lawn and the greenhouses.

  6. 13:00

    Lunch near the garden; your driver collects you at the gate.

  7. 14:00

    Drive about 7 km (10–15 minutes) north to Pancasari to pick strawberries.

  8. 15:00

    Skip the Handara gate unless the queue is short, then drive 1.5–2 hours south before dark.

Three days in Bedugul and around

Two nights in Candikuning; a car with driver for every transfer, plus one long hike.

  1. Day 1, 7:00

    Leave Canggu or Ubud and stop at Pura Taman Ayun in Mengwi on the way.

  2. Day 1, 10:00

    Leke Leke Waterfall in Baturiti, before the lunchtime groups.

  3. Day 1, 13:00

    Check in at Candikuning, then cycle the Botanic Garden until the 4 pm close.

  4. Day 2, 3:30

    Hike Gunung Catur with a guide to Pura Pucak Mangu, about 4 km each way.

  5. Day 2, 14:00

    Rest, then Candikuning market and the lake view from the Masjid Al-Hidayah terrace.

  6. Day 3, 7:00

    Pura Ulun Danu Beratan at opening, then a rowing boat on the lake.

  7. Day 3, 10:00

    Drive about 25 km (45–60 minutes) to Jatiluwih, or north via Gitgit to Lovina.

Seasons

Best time to visit Bedugul.

Bedugul sits at 1,200 to 1,450 m, where botanic garden staff record days of 17 to 25°C, nights of 10 to 15°C and high humidity. April to October brings the clearest mornings, and July and August are the driest and busiest. From November to March rain is heavy and often starts by early afternoon; floods in 2016 and 2017 swept away bridges in the garden. In any month, see the temple and the views before 10 am.

Crowds follow the Indonesian calendar. Ulun Danu Beratan sees 600 to 800 visitors on a normal day and more than 2,000 on long weekends (May 2026), and the botanic garden took 10,000 visitors on New Year’s Day 2026. Weekdays outside school holidays are calmest.

Nyepi closes the whole island, airport included, for 24 hours on Monday 8 March 2027. Galungan falls on 13 January and 11 August 2027, when Ulun Danu Beratan fills with worshippers; keep out of prayer areas. Christmas, New Year and Eid bring the heaviest traffic up the Baturiti road.

Getting There

How to get to Bedugul.

Travel times to Bedugul
Ngurah Rai Airport (DPS)1.75–2.5 hAbout 64 km north by pre-booked car via Mengwi and Baturiti; afternoon arrivals meet Denpasar traffic first.
Canggu1.5–2 hAbout 54 km by car with driver via Mengwi and Baturiti.
Ubud1.5–2 hAbout 45 km by car with driver. Perama’s shared shuttle lists Bedugul–Ubud, Kuta and Sanur at IDR 150,000 per person (checked Oct 2026).
Seminyak1.75–2.5 hAbout 59 km by car with driver; leave before 7 am to clear Denpasar and Mengwi traffic.
Sanur1.75–2.25 hAbout 60 km by car via the Denpasar ring roads.
Munduk30–40 minAbout 20 km by car or scooter via Pancasari and the Wanagiri ridge road.
Lovina1–1.5 hAbout 38 km by car over the pass and down through Gitgit.
Jatiluwih (Tabanan)45–60 minAbout 25 km south-west by car via Baturiti; the terraces and the lake fit into one day.

Getting around Bedugul

Candikuning is the one walkable part. The temple, the market (1.1 km, about 15 minutes on a mostly flat road) and the botanic garden gate (another kilometre uphill) form a short line off the main road. Pancasari’s farms, Handara, the Wanagiri ridge and the waterfalls lie 5 to 30 km away and need wheels.

Most visitors hire a car and driver for the day; the temple, the garden, Handara and the jetty charge small parking fees. Scooters manage the lake road in dry weather, but the climb from Baturiti carries trucks and tour buses, and afternoon fog and cold rain cut visibility.

There is no practical public transport, though Perama runs a shared tourist shuttle. A Grab or Gojek car up from the south costs IDR 400,000 or more (2026 guide), and a ride back down is much harder to find, so agree the return before you set off.

Know Before You Go

Bedugul tips that save time and trouble.

  1. 01Reach Ulun Danu Beratan by 8 am: the lake is calmest, mist hangs on the water and the day tours have not arrived.
  2. 02Pack a fleece and a rain jacket; nights drop to 10–15°C and afternoon showers come in any month.
  3. 03Carry small notes for parking, boats, strawberries and the market.
  4. 04Bargain at the market and agree boat and strawberry prices before you start.
  5. 05Bali Treetop Adventure Park closed in 2020; ignore tours and websites that still sell it.
  6. 06Avoid Indonesian long weekends, when temple visits pass 2,000 a day.
  7. 07The botanic garden closes at 4 pm and the temple at 7 pm, so see the garden first if you arrive after lunch.
  8. 08Cover shoulders and knees at Ulun Danu, and do not swim in the lake; it is not allowed.

FAQ

Bedugul questions, answered.

Is Bedugul worth visiting?

Yes, for a day or a night. Ulun Danu Beratan is one of Bali’s most photographed temples, the botanic garden is the island’s best cool-air walk, and boats and strawberry farms suit children. Skip it if you want sun or quiet weekends.

How much is the Ulun Danu Beratan entrance fee?

In December 2024 the management quoted IDR 75,000 for foreign adults and IDR 50,000 for foreign children, with lower prices for Indonesians. A guide updated in August 2026 reports IDR 100,000 for adults, so carry extra cash. Parking and boats cost extra. Open 7 am to 7 pm (checked Oct 2026).

What is the best time to visit Ulun Danu Beratan?

Early morning, from the 7 am opening to about 9 am, when the lake is calm, mist often sits on the water and day tours have not arrived. Cloud builds by late morning and rain often follows, especially from November to March. Weekdays are far quieter than Sundays and holidays.

Is Bali Treetop Adventure Park still open?

No. The rope and zipline park inside the Bali Botanic Garden closed in September 2020 after 15 years, when its operator could not agree a new lease. Many websites still list it. The garden now rents bikes, e-bikes, golf carts and ATVs instead.

How much is the Bali Botanic Garden ticket?

IDR 15,500 per person on weekdays and IDR 25,500 on weekends and holidays, the same rate as Indonesia’s other national botanic gardens run by BRIN (checked Oct 2026). Bikes, the shuttle and golf carts cost extra, and the gates close at 4 pm.

Is Handara Gate worth it?

Only if you want that exact photo. The gate is a paid stop, about IDR 50,000 per foreign visitor in 2026 guides, and the queue for a turn in the road often runs 30 minutes to two hours. Come very early or look from the road.

How cold is Bedugul?

Cool by day and cold at night. Botanic garden staff record days of 17 to 25°C and nights of 10 to 15°C, with high humidity and frequent afternoon rain. Bring a fleece, long trousers for the evening and a rain jacket, and check for hot water if you stay.

Is Ulun Danu Beratan a UNESCO World Heritage Site?

No, though many tour listings say so. Bali’s 2012 UNESCO listing of the subak irrigation system includes Pura Ulun Danu Batur at Kintamani, Pura Taman Ayun and the Jatiluwih terraces, but not Ulun Danu Beratan. Beratan is the lake temple at Bedugul; Batur is the one near the volcano.

Should I stay in Bedugul or Munduk?

Munduk for walks and a view from your room; Bedugul for the temple at dawn. Bedugul has few good places to stay, mostly homestays, lakeside cottages, glamping and the Handara resort, so many people see it on the way to Munduk, about 20 km west.

Nearby

Where to go after Bedugul.

Areas that pair well with this one, with honest door-to-door times.

  • 30–40 min (about 20 km)

    Munduk

    Waterfall walks, Lakes Buyan and Tamblingan and cool ridge villages to stay in.

    Munduk guide

  • 45–60 min to Jatiluwih

    Tabanan

    UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih terraces, Pura Luhur Batukaru and Tanah Lot.

    Tabanan guide

  • 1.5–2 h (about 45 km)

    Ubud

    Temples, dance and rice-field walks; the usual base for a day trip here.

    Ubud guide

  • 1–1.5 h (about 38 km)

    Lovina

    Calm north-coast beaches and dolphin boats, via Gitgit Waterfall.

    Lovina guide

  • 1.5–2 h (about 54 km)

    Canggu

    Surf, cafés and sunsets after a cool day in the hills.

    Canggu guide

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How we researched this

Sources and fact checks.

Prices, opening hours, show times and travel times in this Bedugul guide were checked against official sites, government tourism pages and recent reporting on 15 October 2026. Where sources disagreed, we give the official figure and say so. Rankings are our editorial judgment, set out in our editorial policy.

We re-check the guide at least every three months and whenever we hear about a change. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.

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