Kehen Temple

Visit some of Bali's cultural and natural attractions on a guided day tour from Ubud. See the Krisik Waterfall and the traditional village of Penglipuran. Stop to take in the views at a rice terrace and learn about coffee at a plantation. Get picked up at your hotel in Ubud, Sanur, Nusadua, Canggu, Seminyak, Kuta, or Jimbaran in the morning to start your tour. Enjoy a scenic ride to your first destination. Take a short walk through the jungle on your first stop at Krisik Waterfall. Admire this natural wonder amid a backdrop of lush jungle scenery. Next, pay a visit to Penglipuran Village for a look at local life. Stroll through this stunning highland settlement and check out its manicured gardens and traditional architecture. Stop for lunch at a restaurant (not included). After lunch, go to a coffee plantation and learn about the process that goes into making this popular drink. When you're finished touring the grounds, sample some of the coffees. Stroll through the Tegalalang Rice Terrace on your next stop, enjoying the pleasant views of cascading emerald fields worked by local farmers. Admire the rice paddies, watered using the traditional "subak" irrigation system. If you'd like, stop at the Bali Jungle Swing to take a ride (not included). Feel the wind in your hair as you fly over the jungle. Finally, visit the Tirta Empul water temple and its holy spring. See the sacred place where Balinese Hindus go for ritual purification to cleanse their souls and ward off evil. Get dropped off back at your hotel at the end of your tour.

The first stop on your private tour will be to the Ubud Villages, where you can take the best photos in the heartland of Bali. Here you’ll find a good mix of historical, landscapes and beautiful landmarks including a secret spot of a scenic rice terrace. Continuing the tour, you will venture to the Tukad Cepung Waterfall, which is one of the greatest among Balinese waterfalls. You will be captivated by the beauty of the waterfall, as the sun's rays reflect in the glistening water projecting a rainbow, which seems absolutely ethereal. Your next scenic spot of the tour is to a best kept temple named Pure Kehen. It is a photographer’s favorite due to it being less crowded compared to other tourist temples around Bali. This means you will be able to get wider angle shots without capturing strangers within the frames. Last but not least, you will experience an amazing jungle swing where you will fly over the jungle and experience incredible views. You can challenge yourself with around 30 meters of rope, and swing above the valley and jungle. You will also be able to partake in coffee tasting at a wooden-decked venue, complete with panoramic green valley views.

Be collected at your accommodation and hop in a comfortable air-conditioned car. Admire the scenic road of the volcano and learn about the fascinating Balinese culture from your guide along the way. You will discover two of the most mysterious and ancient villages on the island and meet a Bali priest or healer to learn about Bali Sekala and Niskala. Your first stop will be at Truyan Village. The locals in this village live a very traditional life that is vastly different from the rest of Bali. The Trunyanese do not cremate their dead. After a cleansing ritual, the dead body is placed in a bamboo cage, locally known as ancak saji, which is placed under the Taru Menyan tree. Taru Menyan means nice smelling tree and it emanates a scent that neutralizes the smell of rotting bodies. It is from this tree that the name Trunyan is derived. It is only the bodies of married people that are placed in bamboo cages.  Continue your tour and visit another ancient village called Bayung Gede, which is believed to be the parent of all of the ancient villages in Bali. Many people come here to see the hanging newborn placentas that are unique to Bayung Gede. In Trunyan, bodies of the dead are laid on the ground unburied but here it is the placenta that is unburied. This is the only village in Indonesia that does this. Your journey will not be completed without a visit to Kehen Temple, which is a significant Hindu Temple in Bali. It is located on the slope of Bukit Bangli, which is believed to be the mother temple of Bangli. Admire the beauty of its stunning steps to heaven and its unique wooden bell hanging on its very old and secret banyan tree.

Not keen on the swarming crowds at Bali's main temples? Visit temples that are just as beautiful off the beaten track, meaning fewer tourists, more charm, and the tranquility you seek on this magical island.  Begin at the Kerta Gosa Pavilion in Klung Kung. The intact justice court building formerly used by the high king of Bali will give you some idea of the power and grandeur of the Balinese monarchs before the Dutch arrived. Goa Lawah Temple is up next. Also known as Bat Cave, its complex is built over a hilly outcrop home to thousands of bats and a giant snake king per local legend. Make a stop at Bukit Jambul, known for its panoramic views of the rice terraces. As you must be peckish by now, your guide will slow the pace down for a lunch overlooking Mt. Agung.  Continue your tour to Besakih Temple, Bali's thousand-year-old Mother Temple, perched 1,000 meters high on the southwestern slopes of Mount Agung. It is meant to be the island's largest holy site divided into three main complexes, each dedicated to the Hindu trinity. The last of the temples, Kehen Temple, is a multi-level temple on a hill home to a great Banyan Tree. An untouched gem, it requires a bit of a hike to get to the well-preserved natural sanctuary. Finally, the trip ends with a visit to Penglipuran Traditional Village, a traditional countryside community in the highlands.