Tanah Lot, Jatiluwih Terraces & Lake Bratan Temple Day Tour Bali

Tanah Lot Temple

Pura Tanah Lot stands on a rocky outcrop just off the coast of Tabanan, in west Bali, and is one of the island's most important sea temples. Founded in the 16th century by a wandering Hindu priest, it honours the guardian deities of the sea, and its shrines on top of the rock are reserved for worshippers. At low tide you can walk across to the base, where a freshwater spring flows out of the rock and priests offer visitors a blessing with holy water.

Opposite the temple, a small cave shelters sea snakes believed to protect the shrine, and a short path leads to Pura Batu Bolong, a second temple on a natural rock arch. A Tanah Lot tour in the morning means softer crowds and good light on the waves. Tanah Lot opening hours run from early morning until evening, and tickets are bought at the entrance; you spend about 45 minutes here.

Jatiluwih Rice Terraces

Jatiluwih, on the southern slopes of Mount Batukaru, is the largest and most spectacular rice landscape in Bali, with terraces flowing down the hillside for kilometres. In 2012 it was listed by UNESCO as part of the Cultural Landscape of Bali Province, which recognises subak, the cooperative system that shares water between farmers through canals, tunnels and water temples. Red rice, a local speciality, still grows here alongside white varieties.

Is Jatiluwih worth visiting? For anyone who loves green landscapes, yes: it is far larger and quieter than the terraces near Ubud. Marked paths let you walk between the paddies, and the views of the volcano behind are best in the clear morning. The best time to visit Jatiluwih is when the fields are green between plantings, though the colours change through the year, from flooded mirrors to golden harvest. Entry is paid at the village gate.

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

Pura Ulun Danu Beratan sits on the western shore of Lake Bratan, a crater lake about 1,200 metres above sea level near Bedugul. Built in the 17th century, it is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the lake, whose waters feed the rivers and subak systems of the surrounding farmland. Its tall, multi-roofed meru shrines stand on small islands, so when the lake is high they appear to float on the water.

The temple is set in landscaped gardens with flowers, lawns and lakeside paths, and the mountains around the lake are often wrapped in mist, which makes for beautiful photographs. Ulun Danu Beratan tickets are bought at the gate, and about 40 minutes is enough to explore the grounds. It is one of the most photographed places in Bali, and the cool, fresh air is a welcome change from the coast.

The Bedugul Highlands and the Road Through Tabanan

Between the coast and the lake the road climbs through Tabanan, Bali's rice bowl, past villages, temples, clove and coffee gardens and vegetable plots. Bedugul, the highland area around Lake Bratan, has a much cooler climate than the beaches, and its roadside stalls sell strawberries, corn and fresh vegetables grown on the volcanic slopes. The Candikuning market near the lake is known for fruit, flowers and spices.

Optional extras, such as lunch near Jatiluwih or a photo stop at Handara Gate or Banyumala Waterfall, may be available as add-ons depending on time and weather; they are not part of the default price. Many travellers wonder how to get to Jatiluwih and Bedugul: both are around two hours by car from the south coast with no easy public transport, which is why this tour with hotel pickup is the simplest way to see them in one day.