Bedugul · Nature
Bali Botanic Garden in Bedugul: A Visitor’s Guide
About 157 hectares of conifers, orchids and cool mountain air above Lake Beratan.
By The Bali Guideline Editorial TeamUpdated 12 November 2026
Overview
Bali Botanic Garden, before you go.
The Bali Botanic Garden, Kebun Raya Bali, covers about 157 hectares of forest, lawns and greenhouses on the hill above Lake Beratan in Bedugul, about 1.5 to 2 hours from Ubud. Entry is IDR 15,500 on weekdays, and it is worth half a day for families, walkers and plant lovers who want cool air and space after the coast.
Kebun Raya Bali, still signposted as Kebun Raya Eka Karya, opened on 15 July 1959 as the first botanic garden Indonesians founded after independence; eka karya means “first work.” It began as 50 hectares of reforested land at Candikuning, beside the Batukaru nature reserve, and now covers about 157 hectares between about 1,250 and 1,450 m. The national research agency BRIN owns it, and a private operator, PT Mitra Natura Raya, runs the visitor side.
The garden was set up to grow plants from the mountains of eastern Indonesia and specializes in gymnosperms, the conifers and other cone-bearing trees that do well in cool, wet air. Sources put the living collection at more than 2,000 species and about 20,000 specimens, with more than 300 orchid species. Researchers still work here, and the herbarium holds about 10,000 preserved specimens. For visitors, that means tall pine and podocarp stands, greenhouses of begonias and cacti, gardens of ceremonial and medicinal plants, and wide lawns that look down over Lake Beratan.
Size is the thing to plan around. The paths and roads cover a whole hillside, so most people rent a bike or take the shuttle and stop at three or four sections rather than trying to see everything. Days run about 17 to 25°C, humidity is high, and cloud can close in by early afternoon, especially from November to March. Heavy rain has done real damage: floods on 27 December 2016 and 9 February 2017 washed away seven bridges inside the garden and closed it for two days.
The crowds come with Indonesian holidays, not foreign tours. About 10,000 people came on New Year’s Day 2026, and the garden averaged about 5,000 a day over Nyepi and Lebaran in March 2026; on days like these, local families picnic across the lawns. On an ordinary weekday morning you can walk among the conifers and hear little but birds; at least 79 bird species have been recorded here. Recent years have added events, too: evening firefly walks began in January 2026, and a Kecak dance was staged at the lakeside amphitheater for the garden’s 67th anniversary in July 2026.
The catch is that you get out what you put in. On a rushed stop between the lake temple and the market, the garden can feel like a big park. With a morning, a bike and a clear sky, it is one of the best places in Bali for an easy, cool walk.
- Opening hours
- Mon–Fri 8 AM–4 PM; weekends and holidays 8 AM–5 PM (checked Nov 2026)
- Ticket
- IDR 15,500 weekdays, IDR 25,500 weekends and holidays (checked Nov 2026)
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours with a bike or the shuttle; half a day on foot
- Best time
- Weekday mornings, 8–11 AM, before cloud; April–October
- Dress code
- Walking shoes, a warm layer and a rain jacket; no temple dress needed
- Location
- Candikuning, Bedugul, 1 km uphill from the market; 1.5–2 h from Ubud
Today at Bali Botanic Garden
- Daylight
- to
- Hours of light
- 12 hr 28 min of light
Checking the weather in Lovina…
Times for this spot, in Bali time (WITA).
Jl. Kebun Raya Eka Karya, Candikuning, Baturiti, Tabanan Regency, Bali 82191, Indonesia
Open in Google MapsWhat to See
What to see at Bali Botanic Garden.
- 01
The conifer collection
Gymnosperms are the garden’s specialty, and they are why it feels so unlike the rest of Bali. Tall pines, podocarps, araucarias and other cone-bearing trees from Indonesia and abroad stand in groves along the upper roads, some planted in the garden’s early decades. Walk under them in the morning, when mist hangs in the branches and the air smells of resin. Labels give the botanical name and origin of most trees.
- 02
The Begonia House and the orchids
The Begonia House, built in 2008, holds the garden’s begonia collection, with patterned leaves in silver, red and near-black from Indonesia’s mountain forests and from abroad. Begonias are a research focus here, and a 2006 study counted 215 kinds in the collection. The orchid garden nearby holds part of a collection that Mongabay, citing garden researchers, put at 302 species in 2020. Flowering varies by month, so ask at the visitor center what is in bloom.
- 03
The cactus house
A tall glasshouse of about 500 square meters keeps out the highland damp so that cacti and succulents from Mexico, Argentina and elsewhere can grow at 1,300 m. Look for golden barrel cactus, the shaggy white old man cactus and a rare columnar species about 2 m tall. Do not touch the plants; staff have found names carved into some of them.
- 04
The lawns above Lake Beratan
The open lawns on the eastern slope look down over Lake Beratan toward the mountains around it, and this is where Balinese and Indonesian families spread out picnics on weekends. On a clear morning it is the best view in the garden. Afternoon cloud often hides the water, so ride or walk here first. The lakeside amphitheater, Surya Nirwana, hosted the garden’s first Kecak dance in July 2026.
- 05
Ceremonial and medicinal plant gardens
Taman Panca Yadnya gathers the plants Balinese Hindus use in offerings and ceremonies, from flowers to leaves for weaving. Researchers counted 65 ceremonial species from 34 families here, laid out on the three-zone tri mandala plan used in temples. A separate garden of medicinal plants, which Wikipedia puts at about 300 species, shows plants still used in Balinese healing. Both shed light on what you see at temples elsewhere in Bali.
- 06
Ferns, bamboo, roses and the giant trees
Smaller themed sections are scattered across the hill: a fern garden with tree ferns taller than a person, bamboo groves, a rose garden, carnivorous plants and aquatic plants. Several fig trees have grown to a huge size, with buttress roots wide enough to stand inside. Treeshrews dart across the paths, and long-tailed macaques sometimes come in from the neighboring Batukaru forest reserve.
- 07
Bikes, e-bikes and the shuttle
The garden is too big to see properly on foot in a morning. Its July to September 2026 visitor guide listed mountain bikes at IDR 30,000 an hour, e-bikes at IDR 60,000, a shuttle at IDR 25,000 per person and golf carts from IDR 300,000. A ticket bundled with the shuttle costs IDR 30,000 on weekdays and IDR 40,000 on weekends. The roads climb and dip, so an e-bike saves effort.
- 08
Firefly walks and evening events
In January 2026 the garden began guided firefly walks from 4 to 9 PM, around the lake viewpoint, the forest and Taman Panca Yadnya, where two genera of fireflies are active at dusk. The program has no fixed published schedule or price, so ask the visitor center whether one is running. The garden also holds holiday bazaars, workshops and dance performances on long weekends.
Seasons
Best time to visit Bali Botanic Garden.
Come at the 8 AM opening on a weekday. Mornings are usually clearest, the lake view from the lawns is open, and you have the conifer groves almost to yourself. Cloud often settles on the hill by late morning or early afternoon, and from November to March rain usually follows. The gates close at 4 PM on weekdays and 5 PM on weekends and holidays, so a late start leaves little time.
April to October is the drier season and the best for cycling. July and August are popular with Indonesian and foreign families, and January and February are the wettest months. Days run 17 to 25°C and nights 10 to 15°C all year, so bring a warm layer even in the dry season.
Avoid Indonesian long weekends if you want quiet. The garden drew about 10,000 people on 1 January 2026 and about 5,000 a day over Nyepi and Lebaran in March 2026. Nyepi, on 8 March 2027, closes the whole island for 24 hours, and Idul Fitri follows two days later, so expect crowds on the days around them.
Coming between November and March? Read our Bali rainy season guide →
Getting There
How to get to Bali Botanic Garden.
| From | Time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Central Ubud | 1.5–2 h | About 44 km by car with a driver, joining the Denpasar–Singaraja road for the climb through Baturiti. Leave by 7 AM to reach the gate around opening time. |
| Canggu | 1.5–2 h | About 52 km by car with a driver via Mengwi and Baturiti. Taman Ayun temple in Mengwi breaks the drive. |
| Seminyak | 1.75–2.5 h | About 58 km north via Mengwi and Baturiti. Leave before 7 AM to clear Denpasar and Mengwi traffic. |
| Bali airport (DPS) | 1.75–2.5 h | About 63 km by pre-booked car via Denpasar, Mengwi and Baturiti. It fits a drive north better than an arrival day. |
| Ulun Danu Beratan temple | 25–30 min on foot; 10 min by car | About 2 km: walk south to Candikuning market, then about 1 km uphill on the road to the gate. |
| Munduk | 30–40 min | About 23 km by car or scooter via the Wanagiri ridge road and Pancasari. |
| Lovina | 1–1.5 h | About 42 km by car over the pass and down through Gitgit, so the garden fits a drive between north and south Bali. |
Getting around Bali Botanic Garden
The gate sits at the top of a side road that climbs about 1 km from the roundabout at Candikuning market. The garden’s website lists parking at IDR 20,000 for a car on weekdays and IDR 30,000 on weekends and holidays, IDR 10,000 for a motorbike and IDR 50,000 for a bus. Private cars may drive into the garden only on weekends and public holidays; on weekdays you leave the car at the gate and walk or take the garden shuttle. The website does not spell out where weekday cars park, so ask at the gate.
Inside, paved roads and footpaths loop over the hillside, with steady climbs between sections. Rent a bike or e-bike near the main fountain, take the shuttle, or walk a smaller loop of the lawns, the Begonia House and the cactus house. Paths turn slippery after rain, and some forest trails are muddy most of the year, so wear shoes with grip.
Most visitors come by car with a driver as part of a Bedugul day with Ulun Danu Beratan and the market; 2026 reports put a driver at about IDR 700,000 to 900,000 for the day. Ride-hailing cars come up from the south, but drivers rarely wait to take you back down, so agree on the return before you set off.
Know Before You Go
Bali Botanic Garden tips that save time and trouble.
- 01Go on a weekday: the ticket is IDR 15,500 instead of IDR 25,500, and the lawns are quiet.
- 02Rent a bike or e-bike, or take the shuttle; on foot you will see only a corner of the garden.
- 03See the lake lawns first, while the view is clear, and the greenhouses later, when cloud rolls in.
- 04Pack a fleece and a rain jacket; it is much cooler than on the coast, and showers come quickly.
- 05Carry cash for parking, rentals and snacks, and buy tickets online at tiketkebunraya.id if you want to skip the counter on holidays.
- 06Do not pick plants, carve trees or feed the macaques.
- 07Drones and professional photo shoots need permission from the visitor center first.
- 08Groups of 15 or more pay a small per-person fee to bring in packed meals.
- 09If you also plan to see Ulun Danu Beratan, note that the temple stays open until 7 PM, after the garden closes.
- 10Bali Treetop, the rope park that used to operate inside the garden, closed in 2020; ignore old listings.
FAQ
Bali Botanic Garden questions, answered.
How much is the Bali Botanic Garden entrance fee?
IDR 15,500 per person on weekdays and IDR 25,500 on weekends and public holidays, the same rate as Indonesia’s other national botanic gardens (checked Nov 2026). A ticket with the shuttle costs IDR 30,000 or IDR 40,000. Parking is extra: IDR 20,000 to 30,000 for a car and IDR 10,000 for a motorbike, according to the garden’s website.
What are the Bali Botanic Garden opening hours?
Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM, and weekends and national holidays from 8 AM to 5 PM, according to the garden’s website (checked Nov 2026). Some older guides still list 6 PM. Arrive at opening for the clearest views and the coolest air.
Is the Bali Botanic Garden worth visiting?
Yes, if you give it two or three hours and rent a bike. The conifer groves, the Begonia House, the cactus house and the lawns above Lake Beratan make it the best cool-air walk in Bali, and it suits children. On a quick stop between the lake temple and the market, or on a cloudy holiday afternoon, it can feel like a large park.
How long do you need at the Bali Botanic Garden?
Two to three hours with a bike, e-bike or the shuttle, enough for the lake lawns, the conifers and two or three greenhouses. Walking, give it half a day. Add an hour for Ulun Danu Beratan and 20 minutes for Candikuning market to make a full Bedugul day.
Is Kebun Raya Bedugul the same as Kebun Raya Eka Karya?
Yes. Kebun Raya Eka Karya was the original 1959 name; eka karya means “first work,” as it was the first botanic garden founded by Indonesians after independence. Today the official name is Kebun Raya Bali, and many people call it Kebun Raya Bedugul or the Bedugul Botanical Garden.
Is Bali Treetop Adventure Park still open?
No. Bali Treetop, the rope and zipline park inside the garden, closed in September 2020 after its lease ended, though many websites still list it. The garden now offers bikes, e-bikes, golf carts and the shuttle instead.
Can you drive a car inside the Bali Botanic Garden?
Only on weekends and public holidays, according to the garden’s website, and parking then costs IDR 30,000 for a car. On weekdays plan to cycle, walk or use the shuttle. Ask at the gate, because rules on vehicles have changed over the years.
How cold is the Bali Botanic Garden?
Cool by Bali standards. The garden sits at about 1,250 to 1,450 m, and staff record days of 17 to 25°C and nights of 10 to 15°C, with humidity of 70 to 90 percent. Bring a warm layer, a rain jacket and closed shoes.
How do I get to the Bali Botanic Garden from Ubud?
By car with a driver: about 44 km and 1.5 to 2 hours via Baturiti. From Canggu it is about 52 km and from Seminyak about 58 km. The gate is 1 km uphill from Candikuning market, about 2 km from Ulun Danu Beratan, so you can walk between them in 25 to 30 minutes.
Is the Bali Botanic Garden good for kids?
Yes. There is space to run, lawns for a picnic, bikes and a shuttle, and the cactus house and the Begonia House hold children’s attention. Keep them on the paths near the steep slopes and away from the macaques, and bring a change of clothes in the wet season.
Nearby
Where to go after Bali Botanic Garden.
Places close by that fit into the same trip, with realistic travel times.
About 2 km: 25–30 min on foot, 10 min by car
Pura Ulun Danu Beratan
The lake temple whose tiered shrines appear to float on Lake Beratan; best at the 7 AM opening and open until 7 PM.
Visitor guide1 km downhill, about 12–15 min on foot
Candikuning market
Strawberries, passion fruit, tamarillos and cut flowers from the surrounding farms; day tours stop here, so bargain.
About 5 km north, 10–15 min by car
Handara gate
The moss-covered split gate of the Handara golf resort, now a paid photo stop with long lines.
Visitor guide35–45 min by car (about 20 km)
Lake Tamblingan
A quiet sacred lake with traditional canoes and forest walks, past the Wanagiri twin-lakes viewpoint.
Visitor guide45–60 min by car (about 24 km)
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces
Tabanan’s UNESCO-listed terraces of red rice on the slopes of Mount Batukaru.
Visitor guide
More in Bedugul
Plan the rest of your time in Bedugul.
How we researched this
Sources and fact checks.
Prices, opening hours, show times and travel times in this Bali Botanic Garden guide were checked against official sites, government tourism pages and recent reporting on 12 November 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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