Bali is blessed with its warm weather and diverse spectacular landscape. Travelers from around the world come to Bali to enjoy its lovely nature, soak under the sun, and escape from winter at once. Unfortunately, most tourists only come to stay in the southern part of the island, leaving the northern part pretty untouched, except Ubud. Now that Bali is officially open for international tourists, it’s the best time for you to have some adventure in the less-visited destination in Bali. The highlands of Bedugul in North Bali offers a completely different view than South Bali. There are so many things to do in Bedugul, Bali for you to try & escape the heat at once.

I’ve been heard that Bedugul is one of the favorite destinations for Balinese family to spend their weekend. It’s nice for a picnic, they said. My vague memory tells me I’ve been visiting it years ago, but I can’t recall much of it. Since I had plenty of time during the holiday, why don’t I pay a visit to Bedugul, Bali?. By scooter, we departed on a sunny weekend to find out things to do in Bedugul, Bali…

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How to Get to Bedugul, Bali?

We rode a scooter from Canggu to Bedugul, Bali for 1,5 hours. From Ubud, it takes 1 hour 17 minutes to reach Bedugul. Besides using a scooter, you can also opt to drive a car or hire a car and driver for one or multiple days. The road toward Bedugul, Bali is both straightforward and winding but in a good condition. If you choose to ride a scooter, please bring a raincoat too. Bedugul, Bali is located in high elevation which is resulting in a cool climate and often raining.

Things to Do in Bedugul, Bali

1. Pura Ulun Danu Beratan

Do you feel familiar with the Pura Ulun Danu Beratan? It might be because you’ve seen it on 50.000 Rupiah banknote. The Bedugul icon is certainly one of the things to do in Bedugul Bali. It is also known as the floating temple since it looks as if it is floating when the water surface of Beratan lake rises.

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan is a Balinese Hindu temple built to honor the Goddess Danu, the goddess for lakes, rivers, and water. The temple complex consists of four sacred buildings. Linga Pura stands three levels high and is a place of worship to the god Shiva. Pura Puncak Mangu stands 11 levels high and was built in dedication to the god Vishnu. Pura Teratai Bang is the main temple, and Pura Dalem Purwa is built in worship to Sang Hyang Widhi. This last temple is also a site for those who pray for fertility, prosperity, and well-being.

It’s the first place I visited during one day trip to Bedugul, Bali. By strolling around the lake, I felt relaxed and my energy recovered after riding a scooter for 1,5 hours.The air surrounding the second largest lake in Bali was cool and clean, but a bit cloudy, the typical mountain weather since Beratan lake sits on the highlands of Bedugul, Bali, approximately 1.500 meters above sea level. To visit Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, you should buy entrance ticket 30.000 Rupiah.

2. Bali Botanic Garden

I’ve been wanting to walk for a long time but sadly Canggu is very scooters-centric, hence I created the Bedugul Bali trip just to be able to walk around Bali Botanic Garden. It’s easy to go there from Pura Ulun Danu Beratan since Indonesia’s largest Botanic Garden is located only 2,5 km away from the temple.

We spent over an hour exploring Bali Botanical Garden before its closed at 5 PM. It’s so nice to walk around a large green space in the mountainous region of Bali. I got to see a variety of plants including some non-tropical plants such as pine trees. The air was crisp, cool, and fresh. The garden was very clean and well-maintained. I could easily spend hours here just to wander around the garden and sit on a bench admiring mother nature, watching people camping or picnicking. Needless to say that Bali Botanical Garden in Bedugul, Bali is the nicest park or garden I’ve visited in Indonesia.

The gorgeous botanical garden contains the island’s biggest collection of wild orchids, almost 100 species of bamboo, an ancient forest giant, tropical rainforest trail, traditional Balinese medicinal plants, cactus greenhouse, rose garden, and many more. The 157-hectare botanic garden is not only one of the things to do in Bedugul, Bali but also serves as research and plant conservation. There is also the Bali treetop house but it’s closed since the pandemic starts.

Entrance ticket : 20.000 Rupiah (weekdays) and 30.000 Rupiah (weekend)

3. Buyan & Tamblingan Lake

Also known as the twin lake. Buyan and Tamblingan lake is created by a devastating earthquake that divided Beratan lake into three sections: Beratan, Buyan, and Tamblingan. Among the three lakes in Bedugul, Bali, Buyan lake is the biggest one.

Buyan and Tamblingan lake are located on the slope of Mount Lesung in Buleleng regency, North Bali, separated by a thin channel. Between the two, Buyan lake is more tourist-friendly. There are many activities carried out at Buyan lake to support the tourism sector. You could try trekking or hiking on the lush green hills surrounding the lake, camping, taking selfies at Wanagiri Hidden Hills, taking the swing, or simply having lunch while enjoying the lovely view of Buyan lake at one of the restaurants on the hilltop like we did.

Meanwhile, Tamblingan lake is still very untouched. To get there you need to go through a forest, then arrive in front of Pura Ulun Danu Tamblingan. To visit the twin lake, you should buy an entrance ticket for 10.000 Rupiah each.

4. Banyumala Twin Waterfall

We found one of the things to do in Bedugul, Bali accidentally when we had lunch at one of the restaurants on the hilltop overlooking Buyan lake. Then I saw a wooden road sign toward the Banyumala twin waterfall.

The slippery steps and short trek take me to one of the most breathtaking sceneries I’ve ever seen in my life. Flanked by lush green plants, the gorgeous Banyumala twin waterfall with its water cascading down steep rocks heading to a crystal clear pool at the bottom. Here, you can take a refreshing dip in the plunge pool at the bottom while listening to the sound of Mother Nature.

Entrance ticket : 30.000 Rupiah

5. Candi Kuning Market

Located right across Beratan lake, adjacent to Bali Botanic Garden entrance gate is Candi Kuning market, a traditional market sells fresh vegetables & fruits. Besides shopping Bedugul Bali produce, you can find a typical Bedugul fruit called buah salju (means snow fruit). The seller told me it’s only can be found in Bedugul, Bali.

You also can find some kiosks selling typical Bali souvenirs at the back of the market. Be sure to haggle first if you decide to buy something in the traditional market, including here.

6. Rumah Gemuk Bali

Initially built as a wedding venue, Rumah Gemuk Bali is transformed to be a popular tourist destination in Bedugul, Bali since the pandemic started. People come to enjoy the food and the view of Beratan lake while taking selfies for Instagram for sure. To visit this place, a minimum spend policy is applied (100.000 Rupiah).

7. Lost Cafe

I was pretty sleepy during the journey toward Bedugul, Bali. Adrien then decided to stop by a small coffee shop on the side road heading to Beratan lake. We had coffee here and took some time to rest before continuing our journey. At this point, I realized that this cafe is pretty unique. The name itself, The Lost Cafe is taken because the owner was inspired by the number of tourists who got lost around the area. In Bahasa Indonesia, the cafe is called Warung Kesasar.

The cute cafe serves coffee and food (Indonesian and Western). It has nice decorations like a typical American kitchen but we prefer to sit in the outdoor area to enjoy Budugul scenery and the cool climate. You should pay a visit too if you go to Bedugul, Bali!

Address : Jl. Baturiti Bedugul No.108A, Batunya, Kec. Baturiti, Kabupaten Tabanan, Bali 82191 (near to the haunted hotel).

I didn’t bring enough clothes to stay overnight in Bedugul, Bali, so we decided to return to Canggu. But next time, I’d like to go up to the north to explore Munduk. It must be nice to escape Bali heat in a villa in the mountainous region of Bali and stroll around the coffee plantation. For now, I am pretty satisfied with a box of strawberries I found in one of the street vendors along the road of Bedugul, Bali.

A small drizzle accompanying our journey back to the south…

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