One thing I didn’t realize about Bali was how large the island actually was. I had friends tell me I’d need about 2 weeks there, and I thought that was crazy.
I figured 4 days would be enough to really see most of the island. I was wrong.
One of the things I got right was the Bali Temple Tour.
Review: Bali Temple Tour (Bali, Indonesia)
Editor’s Note: This post is part of my ongoing Asia Travel Series, click here for more posts on all things Indonesia, and click here for all things Singapore.Â
I arranged the Bali Temple Tour through my hotel, the Conrad Bali.
The temple was to be an “all day” tour, offically listed as 10 hours.
The driver arrived in a small car promptly at 7:00 am and met me in the lobby. From there, we made a quick stop at a small convenience store for snacks and water (per my request), and then we were off to see Bali.
Stop #1: Pura Taman Ayun
Taman Ayun is a beautiful Hindu temple complex featuring Meru Towers, a shrine, several pavilions and gardens.
Once inside, there was a clearly marked pathway to follow (well-marked with arrow signage) that led clockwise around the complex.
The entrance
Spirit masks
Meru Towers
Wantilan pavilion
Side Stop: The Ogoh Ogoh Bali
As I made the walk back to the car, I found my driver talking to a man in front of a museum with some crazy looking things inside.
I asked what it was, and the driver told me it was a “crazy museum” owned by one of his friends. He said it wasn’t part of the tour, but if I wanted to go inside, I could and he’d sit and wait. So I did (for $2 USD).
“Crazy” was definitely an accurate description. The museum was quite dark and graphic, yet the work was incredibly detailed and amazing to look at. I’m glad I took a look, but this place isn’t for everybody.
I learned that Ogoh Ogoh are large statues of mythological beings built for the Ngrupuk parade that occurs on the eve of Nyepi holiday.
Stop #2: Jatiluwih Rice Terrace
The next stop was a roadside view point of the UNESCO World Heritage site known as the Jatiluwih Rice Terrace.
This visit was just a few quick stops on the side of the road to take pictures of several rice terraces in this area.
Image:Imacim
Stop #3: Pura Ulun Danu Beratan & Lunch
The main attraction of the tour was the Ulun Danu Beratan complex.
Built in 1633, this complex was built on the “Lake of the Holy Mountain” as a a dedication to the Hindu god Shiva and his wife, Parvati.
Today, this is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bali.
Entrance Section
Ganesha
The black and white Saput Poleng cloth
Lake Temple Section
Ulan Danu Temple on lake Bratan
Mural Section
Stop #4: Handara Gate
The final stop was the iconic Handara Gate.
Believe it or not, this is not an ancient attraction, but rather, the main entrance to the Handara Golf & Resort hotel.
Nevertheless, it’s one of the most popular instagram sites in Asia. And the line to take a picture proves it (I had to wait nearly 1 hour!).
It took me 1 hour to get this picture!
The Bottom-Line Review: Bali Temple Tour (Bali, Indonesia)
Overall, I felt this was a pretty good tour. I got to see some great (and very popular) sites at my own pace and my driver was very chill and spoke English well. But this was not a guided tour.
There was a lot of driving down slow-going, single lane, winding mountain roads during this tour. There is really no way around this. From the Handara Gate directly back to my hotel took almost 3 hours with traffic.
It didn’t bother me because there were so many things to see along the way, and that’s what I really wanted to do – see Bali.
Final Rating: Recommended! If you have one day to see the interior of Bali, this is the way to go. If you have more days, I’d recommend splitting this up (and adding to this itinerary) to really see the sites in the island’s interior.
Cheers!
