Bali Temple Tour #1

If you only have one day to pack in the best of Bali Temples, this Bali Temple Tour #1 is for you. Especially if you are coming from Canggu or Seminyak, this itinerary takes in 4 of the best temples in Bali in one day along some of the most picturesque scenery you can imagine. I’ve chosen these itineraries for their uniqueness and logical routing for a day tour.

Sometimes people don’t understand how far apart the temples and other attractions really are. For example, going from Canggu to Lempuyang is a serious road-trip and won’t leave much room for anything else. I’ve had requests to include Danu Beretan on this tour, but the distances between there, Tirta Empul and Tanah Lot are too great to make for a comfortable day tour, so I have a number of other itineraries for a Danu Beratan Tour.

Goa Gajah

Goa Gajah, more popularly known among tourists as the Elephant Cave, is a very worthwhile stop on a Bali Temple Tour. It’s on the way from South Bali to Gunung Kawi and Tirta Empul, so it makes a logical first stop along the way to Gunung Kawi.

Goa Gajah - Bali Holiday Secrets
Also known as the Elephant Cave, Goa Gajah is only a few minutes from Ubud.

Gunung Kawi

Gunung Kawi is a temple complex with a very different experience than Tirta Empul and because of its location just down the road, it makes sense to stop for a visit on this tour. The ancient architecture is completely different from anything else in Bali and highly recommended for a visit.

Gunung Kawi - Bali 5 Temple Tour
Gunung Kawi Temple

Tirta Empul

Tirta Empul is one of my favourites because the local people still use this for purification ceremonies and you can also take a dip in the pools to do the same (after watching and understanding the process). It really is an extraordinary experience.

Pura Tirta Empul - Bali Holiday Secrets
Balinese people pray in the holy springs at Tirtha Empul during a purification ceremony in Tampak Siring.

Tanah Lot

Tanah Lot needs to be last on your tour because you have a couple of options. Either time it so you are there for sunset for those magical temple-in-the-sea photographs, or get there earlier, around 4 pm, and leave about 5 pm to make a stop at one of the excellent beach clubs along the Canggu coast on the way home. I highly recommend either La Brisa or Finns Beach Club.

Tanah Lot at Sunset - Bali Holiday Secrets
Tanah Lot – The Temple in the Sea

I highly recommend this itinerary for a magical day of seeing the completely different and extraordinary unique temples in Bali.

Bali Temple Tour #1 Itinerary

8:00 am – Pick-up from Hotel or Villa

It’s best to have breakfast before you leave. The actual pick-up time is entirely up to you.

9:30 am – Goa Gajah

33 km from Seminyak, around 1.25 hours drive time.

11:30 am – Gunung Kawi

13 km from Goa Gajah, around 30 minutes.

2:00 pm – Tirta Empul

1.6 km from Gunung Kawi, around, 10 minutes.

3:00 pm – Lunch at Tegalalang Rice Terraces

7 km from Tirta Empul going the back way, around 20 minutes. Makes a great stop so you can grab some food from the cafes lining the valley and check out the ricefields while having lunch.

5:30 pm – Tanah Lot

32 km from Ubud, around 1.5 hours drive time.

8:00 pm – Drop-off at Hotel or Villa

17 km from Tanah Lot to Seminyak, around 1 hour. Total tour 120 km round trip.


Bali Temple Tour Route Map

You’re going to cover some ground during your tour, but my drivers have plenty of experience judging the traffic patterns and will always take the best route to get you where you need to be.

Bali Temple Tour Map

It’s worth every penny, trust me!

I did the temple tour and had a blast! My driver Kadek was an absolute sweetheart. As I was on my own he walked me to the different entrances and made sure I got where I needed to be. As a solo traveller you might think this is a bit expensive, it's worth every penny, trust me!

Included:

  • Toyota Avanza/Xenia or similar 6-seater SUV w/ air-con.
  • English-speaking driver.
  • Up to 10 hours of driving time.
  • The driver waits at all attractions for you.
  • Flexible itinerary – make changes during the day.

Not Included:

  • Entrance fees or event tickets.
  • Meals and refreshments at your own cost.

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SSL Secured - Bali Holiday SecretsBooking online is easy and secure. This website uses SSL Encryption and payments are secured by Stripe in 25 different currencies so you can easily see the exact cost in your home currency. I’ve been building online businesses and websites since 1995, so you can be assured your booking is completely secure.

I’m a technology entrepreneur and traveller and began Bali Holiday Secrets as a guide for friends and family who came to visit after I moved to Bali, and has grown to 80,000+ visitors a month.

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2 Comments

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  1. Dear Michael,
    I found you and your company online. I will be coming to Bali for 2 weeks on 19 September and I would love to use your services for a few tours. How many days in advance do I need to book? Are one or two days sufficient?
    Looking forward to meeting you and your drivers:-)
    See you in Bali, all the best to you,
    Kind regards
    Melissa

    • Hi Melissa, earlier is always better. While you can book the day before, you run the risk that we stop taking bookings because I simply run out of qualified, vetted drivers, especially during the high season. See you in Bali soon.

      Safe travels, Michael

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