North Bali: Banyumala Waterfall and Ulun Danu Beratan Temple

North Bali packs a lot into one day, from a cool mountain waterfall to a temple floating beside Lake Bratan. Banyumala Waterfall and Ulun Danu Beratan Temple are the real reasons to come, while the other stops add photos, local color, and a little fun.

I like the small group of up to six and the chance to swim in Banyumala’s natural pool. I also like having a guide such as Budi, Buddy, or Naya to handle the long day and explain what you are seeing. The main drawback is the pace: seven stops mean plenty of time in the car and only about an hour at most major sights.

Key points to know

• Banyumala takes a 15-minute walk: Wear shoes with a good grip and bring swimwear if you want to use the plunge pool.
• Ulun Danu Beratan is the cultural highlight: The temple sits beside a mountain lake in the cool Bedugul highlands.
• Wanagiri is built for photographs: Expect swings, nests, tree houses, boat bows, and other staged picture spots.
• The day covers a wide area: Pickup and return are available from Ubud, Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Legian, Denpasar, and Kuta Selatan.
• The $32 price needs checking at booking: Entrance fees and lunch are included only when that option is selected.
• Guides make a real difference: Budi, Buddy, and Naya are named in especially positive feedback for their care, driving, explanations, and flexibility.

Why North Bali Works Best as a Full-Day Trip

This is a road-based tour through the cooler highlands north of Bali’s main beach areas. You leave your hotel in the morning, visit a waterfall and several picture stops, spend time at a temple, browse a traditional market, then return to your accommodation later in the day.

I see the appeal for anyone staying in southern Bali who wants to reach North Bali without arranging a car, driver, entrance tickets, and route planning on their own. The tour links several well-known places that are spread across the Bedugul area, and the small group size should feel more personal than a large coach outing.

The tradeoff is time on the road. This is not a slow retreat in one village. It is a sightseeing circuit, and each stop has a fixed window. You should book it if you want variety and a full day of North Bali highlights. If you prefer long meals, quiet walks, or hours at one attraction, the schedule may feel tight.

The tour has earned a 4.7 rating from 33 reviews, with the strongest praise aimed at the guides. Budi was described as friendly, professional, and good at explaining each place. Buddy received similar praise for handling poor weather with kindness and clear explanations, while Naya was noted for adapting the day to the group’s needs and driving carefully.

Banyumala Waterfall and the 15-Minute Walk Down

Banyumala Twin Waterfall is the day’s most active stop. You spend about 1.5 hours here, including the walk down, time by the water, and the return climb.

The approach takes about 15 minutes on foot. The available information does not give a full account of the trail surface, so I would prepare for an uneven route and possible wet ground. Bring shoes that can cope with a short walk near water, and avoid relying on smooth sandals if you have a choice.

At the bottom, the waterfall drops into a natural plunge pool. You can swim to cool off from Bali’s heat, but swimming is optional. The pool is the sort of feature that makes this stop more than a quick photo break. You get a chance to slow down, hear the water, and enjoy the forest setting before the rest of the day resumes.

Pack swimwear, sunscreen, and a camera. A small towel may also be useful, though it is not listed among the included items. Since you will need to walk back uphill, use the 1.5-hour stop wisely. I would change into swimwear before reaching the waterfall if that is practical, rather than losing time at the site.

This stop may not suit you if you have back problems, heart problems, or limited mobility. The tour is specifically not suitable for wheelchair users, pregnant women, or people with those health concerns. The short walk sounds modest, but a waterfall visit still involves physical effort.

Wanagiri Hidden Hills and Its Staged Photo Spots

After Banyumala, the tour visits Wanagiri Hidden Hills for about an hour. This is a very different kind of attraction. Instead of natural scenery alone, you find a collection of designed photo platforms overlooking the highland area.

The attraction includes a human-sized bird’s nest, swings, wooden teacups, the bow of a boat, wooden stars, tree houses, and an Indonesian take on the Eiffel Tower. Each setup offers a different pose and background, so you can build a varied photo collection without spending the whole day at one viewpoint.

I would think of Wanagiri as a playful photo park, not a traditional village or quiet nature stop. If you enjoy taking pictures for friends and family, the hour should pass quickly. If staged photographs are not your thing, this may be the least important stop for you.

The good news is that it breaks up the day after the waterfall. You move from swimming and walking to easy picture-taking, with no major physical demand described for this visit. Keep your camera or phone ready, but remember that the schedule gives you about an hour, not unlimited time at every platform.

Handara Gate and the Price of an Iconic Photo

Handara Iconic Gate is another one-hour stop. The gate is the entrance to a golf resort, framed by green mountains, crater lakes, and equatorial forest. It became famous as a Bali photo location because the tall split gate creates a strong, instantly recognizable frame.

The appeal is visual and simple. You stand before the gate, line up a photograph, and enjoy the mountain setting around it. The stop works well for anyone collecting the classic Bali images, especially if you have seen this gate online and want to see the real place.

I would keep your expectations in check. This is a photo stop rather than a long cultural visit, and the gate is connected with a resort entrance. The one-hour allocation gives you time for pictures and the surrounding view, but it does not turn the stop into a full exploration of the resort or nearby highlands.

Like Wanagiri, Handara adds a strong visual moment to the day. The difference is that Wanagiri gives you several playful setups, while Handara offers one famous architectural frame. Together, they suit people who want a photo-focused North Bali route.

Ulun Danu Beratan Beside Lake Bratan

Ulun Danu Beratan is the cultural and scenic center of the tour. You spend about an hour at this temple complex beside Lake Bratan in the Bedugul highlands, where mountains surround the water and give the site its distinctive setting.

The temple is both a religious place and an architectural sight. You can walk through its sacred gardens, look across the lake, and take in the way the buildings relate to the water and highland surroundings. The setting changes the mood of the day. After the staged photo attractions, this stop feels more grounded and tied to Bali’s spiritual life.

The hour is enough for a focused visit, but you should not expect to see every corner at a leisurely pace. Take a moment to look beyond the main photograph. Notice the lake, the mountain air, the gardens, and the way the temple appears to sit on the water.

Weather can affect this stop. One guide helped keep the day enjoyable when conditions were poor, but cloudy or wet weather can reduce the dramatic views that make Ulun Danu so special. Pack sunscreen for clear conditions and be prepared for cooler highland weather or rain.

For me, this is one of the strongest reasons to choose the tour. Banyumala gives you nature and activity. Ulun Danu gives you a sense of place. The combination makes the day feel more complete than a route based only on viewpoints.

Candikuning Market and the Colors of Bedugul

The itinerary includes a 30-minute visit to the traditional market in Candikuning Village, also known as the Bedugul Traditional Market. This is a short stop, but it gives you a look at everyday produce rather than another arranged photo scene.

You can find fresh fruit, vegetables, spices, and flowers displayed in bright rows. The spice selection includes nutmeg, pepper, paprika, and turmeric. Fruits may include pomelo and durian, while orchids and roses add color to the flower stalls.

Thirty minutes is enough for a quick walk and perhaps a small purchase, though you should not expect a long market visit. I like this stop because it adds ordinary local commerce to a day otherwise built around major attractions. It also gives you a chance to see the produce associated with Bali’s cooler agricultural highlands.

If you buy something, keep the rest of your schedule in mind. The tour continues to another photo stop and then returns to your hotel. The market is best treated as a brief browse, not a major shopping session.

The Giant Tree in Kayu Putih Village

On the way back, the tour stops for about 30 minutes at the enormous tree in Kayu Putih Village. The schedule may identify this as the Bayan Ancient Tree, while the description places it in Kayu Putih Village. Either way, the point is the same: you visit a huge, old-looking tree with a storybook appearance.

This is an easy final stop after a long day. You can take photographs, look at the unusual shape and scale of the tree, and enjoy a brief pause before the drive back. It does not require the effort of the waterfall, and it provides a memorable closing image.

I would not choose the tour solely for this tree, but it is a pleasant addition. Bali has a talent for turning a roadside stop into something atmospheric, and this giant tree has the fairy tale quality described in the tour details.

Guides, Vehicles, and a Small Group of Six

The experience includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an English-speaking driver and guide, and a small group capped at six people. Indonesian is also available as a guide language.

That group limit matters. The day has several stops, and a small party makes it easier to move on time, ask questions, and adjust small parts of the route. Naya was specifically praised for adapting the tour to individual needs, while Budi and Buddy were praised for their friendliness, care, explanations, and driving.

You should provide a WhatsApp number when booking. It is used to make pickup communication easier, which matters when the tour serves many parts of Bali. Pickup and return areas include Legian, Denpasar, Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud, Kuta Selatan, and Jimbaran.

The tour lasts one day, with a morning pickup. Exact starting times depend on availability, so check the schedule for your date. Because the day includes several long-distance stops, hotel location affects how much time you spend driving, even though the tour is designed to cover the listed sights in one outing.

Is $32 Good Value for This North Bali Route?

At $32 per person, the tour can be good value if the price option you choose includes the entrance fees and lunch. Those extras are listed as included only when the relevant option is selected, so compare the booking choices carefully rather than assuming every $32 booking covers everything.

The value comes from combining transport, a driver-guide, a full route, and a small group. Hiring a private car for a day may offer more flexibility, but you would need to arrange the vehicle, plan the sequence, and handle admission costs yourself. This tour gives you a ready-made route with the main work taken care of.

The price is less attractive if you want a slow day. You visit seven places, with only 30 minutes at the market and tree, and one hour at the three main photo and temple stops. The day is efficient, not leisurely.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Bali plans are still moving around, but you should still check the exact fare option and inclusions before paying.

Who Should Book This Tour?

I would recommend this day for first-time Bali visitors staying in the south who want to see a different side of the island. It suits people who enjoy nature, temple architecture, scenic photography, and a few quick local stops in one package.

It is also a strong choice if you do not want to drive Bali’s mountain roads yourself. A careful guide can keep the route moving while you focus on the views and photographs. The positive comments about Budi, Buddy, and Naya suggest that the guide can shape the day, especially when the weather changes or you want small adjustments.

I would hesitate if you dislike staged photo attractions, need lots of unscheduled time, or cannot manage the walk to Banyumala. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, or people with back or heart problems.

Should You Book It?

Book this tour if you want Banyumala Waterfall and Ulun Danu Beratan in the same day, with Handara Gate, Wanagiri, a market, and the giant Kayu Putih tree added around them. The strongest value is the mix of nature, culture, photographs, and practical transport in a group of no more than six.

Skip it if you want to linger at one place or avoid photo parks. Before booking, confirm whether your chosen option includes lunch and all entrance fees, then bring swimwear, sunscreen, a camera, and sturdy footwear for the waterfall walk.

FAQ

How long does the North Bali tour last?

It is a one-day tour with morning hotel pickup and drop-off later in the day.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is available from Legian, Denpasar, Kuta, Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud, Kuta Selatan, and Jimbaran.

Where can I be dropped off?

Return drop-off is available in Legian, Canggu, Denpasar, Ubud, Kuta Selatan, Jimbaran, Kuta, and Seminyak.

How large is the tour group?

The tour is a small-group experience limited to six participants.

What languages are available?

The live guide can speak English or Indonesian.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is included if you select the option that includes it. Check the chosen booking option before confirming.

Are entrance fees included?

All entrance fees are included when you select the option that includes them.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a camera, and sunscreen. Good walking shoes are also sensible for the 15-minute walk to Banyumala Waterfall.

Is the tour suitable for everyone?

It is not suitable for pregnant women, wheelchair users, or people with back or heart problems. The waterfall visit includes a 15-minute walk.