Private North Bali Customised Day Tour with Waterfalls and Lakes

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Jatiluwih, on the southern slopes of Mount Batukaru in Tabanan, is the largest and most dramatic sweep of rice terraces in Bali, with hundreds of hectares of paddies stepping down the hills around 700 metres above sea level. Its name is often translated as truly marvellous, and since 2012 it has been part of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, which protects the subak irrigation system that shares water fairly between farmers.

Unlike busier Tegalalang near Ubud, Jatiluwih feels open and quiet. Marked walking trails of different lengths lead through the fields past small shrines, irrigation channels and farmers tending local red rice. A Jatiluwih rice terrace tour usually allows about an hour here, enough for a short loop walk and photos with the mountain behind. The terraces are greenest from January to April and from July to September.

Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

Pura Ulun Danu Bratan stands on the western shore of Lake Bratan near Bedugul, at about 1,200 metres in the cool central highlands. Founded in 1633, it is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of water, whose blessings farmers ask for to keep the lakes and rice fields fed. Its slender multi-tiered meru shrines seem to float on the water when the lake is high, framed by forested hills and morning mist.

An Ulun Danu Bratan temple tour lets you stroll through gardens to the lakeside pavilions, see the main shrines from the shore and watch local families bring offerings. Allow about an hour. Mornings are the calmest and often the clearest time; by early afternoon clouds can roll in, and the air is noticeably cooler than on the coast, so a light jacket helps.

Wanagiri Hidden Hill and the Twin Lakes

Above the village of Wanagiri, the road along the ridge between the twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan opens onto some of the finest views in North Bali. Wanagiri Hidden Hill is a hillside of photo platforms built by local families, with wooden decks, giant nests and swings that hang over the jungle with both lakes shining below.

It is a short stop of about 30 to 45 minutes, perfect for photos and a breath of fresh mountain air. Your driver knows which platforms have the clearest view on the day. Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan both lie inside an ancient volcanic caldera and are surrounded by protected rainforest, and the area is far quieter than the crowded viewpoints of south Bali. Clear mornings give the sharpest views of the lakes.

Banyumala Twin Waterfall

Banyumala Twin Waterfall hides in a lush valley near Wanagiri, where two main streams and several smaller ones drop roughly 35 metres over a cliff draped in ferns and moss into a clear natural pool. It is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in North Bali, and still relatively calm compared with the famous falls near Ubud.

The path down takes about 15 to 20 minutes on steps and a dirt trail, and the climb back is steeper, so wear shoes with good grip. Swimming in the pool is allowed and the water is refreshingly cool, so bring swimwear and a towel. Allow around an hour and a half for the walk, the swim and photos; if you are asking whether Banyumala is worth visiting, the quiet setting is the main reason.

Other Routes: Sekumpul, Handara Gate and Munduk

The other options of this private tour cover different parts of the north. The famous waterfalls route visits Sekumpul Waterfall, where several falls tumble about 80 metres into a deep green valley reached by a long stairway, with the neighbouring Fiji Waterfall, the split gate of Handara framed by misty hills, the Twin Lakes viewpoint and Ulun Danu Bratan temple.

The relax and culture route combines Munduk Waterfall in the forest above the clove and coffee village of Munduk, the warm sulphur pools of Banjar Hot Spring with their carved dragon spouts, the Brahmavihara Arama Buddhist monastery with its stupa and hillside gardens, and the Twin Lakes. A custom option lets you choose up to five North Bali stops, and your driver plans the most efficient order.