Our 14 Favourite Things to Do in Bedugul [2026]

Bedugul is one of our favourite areas in Bali's scenic highlands, and a place we've returned to countless times over the years. Sitting in the cool mountains of north-central Bali, the region is known for its stunning volcanic crater lakes, lush jungles, fruitful farms, and beautiful temples.

Most visitors come on a day trip to see the famous floating temple of Ulun Danu Beratan, but Bedugul has far more to offer than just this iconic landmark.

After many trips wandering beautiful gardens, stopping at roadside strawberry farms, and discovering quiet viewpoints around the lakes, it's become one of our go-to escapes from the busy coastal towns of the south.

In this guide, we’ve shared our favourite things to do in Bedugul based on our own trips and how to make the most of your time in this beautiful mountain region.

Bedugul Map

Bedugul is both the name of the region and one specific village. The area of Bedugul covers the villages of Bedugul itself, Candikuning, Pancasari, Pacung, and Wanagiri, amongst others.

Things to do in Bedugul

1. Visit Ulun Danu Beratan floating temple

On the shore of Lake Bratan, Ulun Danu Beratan is one of Bali’s most important and famous Hindu temples. It's known by most as "the floating temple" due to the way its pagodas appear to float on the water's edge at high tide.

The 17th century temple is a beautiful example of Balinese Hindu architecture, with its distinctive multi-tiered, thatched-roof towers, elaborately carved stone split gates, and symbolic statues. Plus, the backdrop of the lake and mountains makes it even more magical.

While visitors can't enter the inner courtyard, you can explore the rest of the temple complex and its beautifully manicured gardens. We were also once lucky enough to see a ceremony dedicated to the Balinese water and river Goddess Dewi Danu taking place herel.

However, in our opinion, the temple's fame has caused it to become a bit of a tourist trap in recent years. On our most recent visit, the temple complex was full of cheesy photo spots, overpriced restaurants, and odd children's attractions - we saw a rabbit petting zoo and a dinosaur head filled with cacti.

We think these additions have taken away from the beauty and spiritual significance a little, which is why it isn't our favourite temple in Bali. Still, this doesn't deter most visitors, with huge crowds any time we've visited or passed by.

If you still do want to visit Bedugul's floating temple (we won't judge!), standard tourist tickets cost 100,000 IDR ⓘ per person and are available at the entrance.

2. Take a boat trip on Lake Beratan

With large crowds inside the temple complex, we discovered a better way to experience Ulun Danu Beratan - from the lake itself. While there is a boat rental kiosk in the temple, we prefer to go without outside vendors (and avoid paying the entry ticket).

On a couple of occasions, we hired a Jukung (a traditional canoe) from a small rest/parking area on the edge of the lake (here) and rowed out onto Beratan Lake to see the temple, which was a much more peaceful and enjoyable experience.

We last managed to negotiate a one-hour traditional boat trip with a driver for 300,000 IDR ⓘ. He also offered us a self-drive boat (without a driver/guide) for 200,000 IDR ⓘ.

We really enjoyed having a driver on the boat with us. Not only did he do all the hard work rowing us around the temple, but he also took some amazing photos for us - he knew all of the best angles and poses!

On our most recent visit to Bedugul, we decided to change things up and try a speed boat trip instead.

We booked the speed boat through our hotel, Pondanu Cabins, which cost 300,000 IDR ⓘ for 4 people. Most hotels around the lake offer similar trips.

This boat trip lasted just 20 minutes, but we still got the see the floating temple and explore the entire lake in this time, making it a more efficient option.

3. Go fruit picking at Bedugul's strawberry farms

Bedugul is a bountiful agricultural region, known for its many fruit farms. One of our favourite things to do in Bedugul is to visit the pick-your-own strawberry farms around the main village.

Hidden Strawberry Garden is one of our favourite farms we've visited in Bedugul, with pretty manicured gardens, loads of delicious strawberries, and a small cafe selling strawberry-flavoured products. They even had strawberry wine.

Entrance cost 15,000 IDR ⓘ and included a free strawberry juice each. To pick the strawberries, we had to pay per kg for whatever we picked, which cost roughly 50,000 IDR ⓘ per kg.

The peak season for strawberries in Bedugul is between June and October, so it's only worth visiting the farms during this period. When we visited outside of this period, we could still buy strawberries and strawberry products, but we couldn't pick our own.

4. Snap a photo at the iconic Handara Gate

Handra Gate is the grand entrance to a luxury hotel and golf resort just north of Bedugul Village. It’s less culturally significant than other Balinese split gates, like the famous Gates of Heaven at Pura Lempuyang, but the lines do tend to be a little shorter if you really want that iconic Bali photo.

There's a parking area next to the gates with a ticket booth. You need to pay 5,000 IDR for parking and 50,000 IDR ⓘ per person to join the line for a photo.

When we visited in the late afternoon, we waited just 20 minutes for a photo. However, we've driven past during the middle of the day before, and the line looked much longer. It's still better than Pura Lempuyang's 3-4 hour wait!

There was a man at the gate to help take photos for a small extra donation. He even had a mirror to create the famous gate reflection photos all over Instagram! However, we weren't particularly bothered and chose to take photos of each other instead, which still turned out great.

5. Feed the monkeys of Wanagiri

Located within the lush jungles of North Bali, Bedugul is home to a large wild monkey population. In fact, 'Wanagiri', one of the main towns in the Bedugul region, actually translates to 'forest of monkeys.'

On our many drives between Bedugul and nearby Munduk, we passed by a couple of small viewpoints (here) overlooking the lakes where we always saw big groups of monkeys hanging out. So of course we had to stop and say hi!

There were a couple of locals selling nuts and bananas to feed the monkeys for just 20,000 IDR ⓘ. The monkeys here were calm and friendly, especially when compared with those in other parts of Bali. They waited their turn to be fed and gently took food straight from our hands.

However, it's still important to remember that monkeys are wild animals. Try not to run around, make loud noises, or taunt them in any way. They'll only get aggressive if they feel threatened.

6. Enjoy a picnic in a luxurious greenhouse

Rumah Gemuk was originally opened as a luxurious wedding venue overlooking Lake Beratan in Bedugul. The huge glass building is filled with greenery and flowers, with majestic chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and spiral staircases leading to the upper floors. It's all very Bridgerton!

When the venue is not used for weddings, it's also open to the public as one of Bedugul's most beautiful restaurants. There are tables on the upper floor, and a lovely lawn downstairs where you can enjoy a romantic picnic among the greenery.

We visited for their famous picnic experience, which included a simple 3-course menu and drinks for just 295,000 IDR ⓘ for 2 people (or 550,000 ⓘ for 4). The meal was served in a proper wicker picnic basket on a ready-laid blanket with plenty of cosy pillows.

There was a small menu of Asian and Western dishes to pick from, including nasi goreng, chicken burger, spring rolls, and more. We both ordered the Thai basil chicken.

The food was simple but tasty. We enjoyed the dessert of delicious chocolate brownies the most. While not exactly gourmet dining, it was still tasty and fantastic value for the beautiful setting and view.

The greenhouse restaurant is very popular, so it's best to book during peak times. We once tried to turn up without a booking and were turned away, so we booked for the next day. It's one of the only indoor things to do in Bedugul on a rainy day, so it can get particularly busy when a downpour hits!

7. Explore the Bali Botanical Gardens

The Bali Botanical Gardens in Bedugul are one of the attractions in Bali that surprised us the most. We made a quick stop here on a recent road trip, not realising just how huge and impressive they were - they're the largest botanic gardens in all of Indonesia!

The gardens had many different areas to explore, including the island's largest collection of orchids, a huge cacti house, and a tropical rainforest trail. There was also plenty of space to enjoy a picnic and a fantastic panoramic view of Bedugul from the top of the gardens.

The conservation centre had endangered plant species from Bali and beyond, while the park is also home to numerous local bird and animal species.

The gardens are spread out across a large hillside. While it's possible walk around the different areas, we were too hot (and lazy) and decided to hire electric scooters to explore instead, which was great fun. There were also bicycles and buggies to hire, as well as a small shuttle to take you around.

Entrance to the botanical gardens costs just 20,000 IDR ⓘ on weekdays and 30,000 IDR ⓘ on weekends, making it one of the most affordable attractions in Bedugul too.

8. Meet farmyard animals at Bali Farm House

Bali Farm House is one of the newest attractions in Bedugul. It's a hands-on farmyard experience and petting zoo, home to various farmyard animals, including goats, donkeys, ponies, rabbits, chickens, and - most famously - alpacas.

While mostly a family attraction, we're both animal lovers and had to visit. There were several fields, pens, and barns, where we could get up close and pet many of the animals. We also paid for a feeding experience - getting cornered by a gang of alpacas for food was a fun, albeit slightly intimidating, experience.

Despite all the lovely farmyard animals, the highlight for me had to be meeting the farm’s gorgeous and super-friendly Bernese Mountain Dog, Cadou. I would have happily snuck him home with me if I could have, but he was just a little too big to fit in my suitcase.

You can even book private picnic experiences to spend extra time with some of the animals, such as the donkeys and alpacas, and ask questions to their keepers.

We had a great afternoon and were definitely not the only adults-only group at the farm. But if you are visiting with kids, there's also a huge outdoor playground and a miniature railway, making it a fun family activity in Bedugul.

Tickets cost 175,000 IDR ⓘ for adults and 140,000 IDR ⓘ for kids. You can get a 10% discount by booking your tickets online in advance (link below).

9. Take in the scenic views over the Twin Lakes

Bedugul is home to three of Bali's four major lakes: Lake Bratan, Lake Buyan, and Lake Tamblingan (the fourth is Lake Batur in Kintamani). Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan sit just a short distance from one another in west Bedugul and are also known as the Sacred Twin Lakes.

Our favourite place to enjoy fantastic views over both lakes is from the main road of Jalan Raya Wanagiri. The iconic Twin Lake Viewpoint is a great place to snap some free photos of Bedugul's stunning lakes and incredible mountain landscapes.

There are also several warungs and cafes along the road where you can stop to enjoy the view - Warung Makan Nerike had tasty local dishes and lovely tables overlooking the lake.

Or you can check out one of the paid photo spots, the most famous being Wanagiri Hidden Hills (more below).

10. Enjoy the swings and photo props at Wanagiri Hidden Hills

Jalan Raya Wanagiri, the main road that overlooks Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan, is home to some of the most incredible views in all of Bali. This also makes it a hotspot for those classic Bali swings and Instagram photo spots.

There are several places offering photo opportunities with a view over the lakes and lush jungles. While we're not usually the biggest fans of these organised photo spots, we decided to check out the famous Wanagiri Hidden Hill anyway.

We paid 150,000 IDR ⓘ per person for a set package that got us access to several of the photo props (there's no option to use just one). There was a large swing over the lake that we were harnessed into - this was the most fun!

There were also several nests, platforms, and hanging pods with gorgeous views. The staff helped us the entire way and took plenty of great photos and videos for us.

11. Stroll through the Bloom Gardens

One of the more unusual tourist attractions in Bedugul, the Bloom Gardens is a huge flower garden with colourful floral displays, themed areas, and plenty of quirky photo spots.

There are traditional Balinese split gates and statues of Balinese Gods and mythical creatures. There's even a Balinese-inspired take on Singapore's Marina Bay Sands.

Some more unusual attractions included Dutch windmills, a giant peacock made of flowers, and a forest where trees are shaped like animals.

Some areas we didn't get around to exploring included indoor and outdoor kids' play areas, a Bali photo swing, a strawberry picking area, and a restaurant. You could also rent ATVs to ride around some parts of the gardens (extra fee) or book a stay in their on-site bamboo villas for the night.

Honestly, the whole thing was a little odd, but it did make for a nice couple of hours. It's not a must-visit in Bedugul, but we think it would be a fun stop for families looking for somewhere for little ones to stretch their legs and take some cute photos together.

12. Go on a trekking adventure through Bedugul's jungles

Once you've seen the lakes and jungles from above, you can also head down to ground level and take in the area's natural beauty from a different angle on a Bedugul trekking adventure.

We booked this Bedugul trek, which was a 3-hour guided walk through the lush tropical rainforests between the Twin Lakes. We passed by amazing tropical plants, giant banyan trees, and ancient temples, before finishing with a 30-minute traditional canoe ride across Lake Tamblingan.

We had a friendly local guide who taught us all about the local plants and wildlife, and even made us some amazing crowns out of leaves to wear on the boat, which were a lovely little gift!

Once we finished the trek, we went to a nearby restaurant to enjoy a traditional Balinese lunch, before to nearby Banyumala Twin Waterfall for a relaxing soak in the crystal clear waters.

If you're thinking about going trekking in Bedugul, just remember that you'll be walking through the jungle, so creepy-crawly sightings are a possibility. We saw a HUGE spider during our trek, but luckily it was pretty far from the path.

13. Visit Bedugul's traditional market

Bedugul Traditional Market is a colourful local market on the edge of Lake Beratan, close to the floating temple and botanic gardens. It's a nice little spot to pick up some snacks or souvenirs while in Bedugul.

The colourful market sells mostly fresh fruit and vegetables from local farms, as well as tea, coffee, spices, and sweet treats. There were also a handful of clothes stalls in the back.

The women running the market drove a hard bargain, so we had to haggle hard to keep the prices reasonable. We found we could get them down to around 50% of their original asking price. And the more you buy, the cheaper they'll go.

14. Enjoy a soak in Banyumala Twin Waterfall

While the neighbouring region of Munduk is much more famous for its waterfalls, there are still a few falls around Bedugul worth visiting, including the famous Banyumala Twin Waterfall.

Just north of Lake Buyan, Banyumala is one of our favourite waterfalls in all of Bali. The huge split waterfall plunges over the rocks into a large jungle pool below, which is a great spot for swimming in the clear waters.

Reaching the waterfall required a short yet steep 10-minute hike from the road and ticket booth above. The entrance costs 50,000 IDR ⓘ per person and includes a cute little gift. There's a toilet and a small changing area at the bottom if you do swim in the waterfall.

How to get to Bedugul

Bedugul is located in north-central Bali, on the main road between Denpasar in the south and Singaraja in the north. It usually takes us around 2 hours to reach Bedugul from Canggu/Seminyak, while Ubud is roughly 1.5 hours away.

Bedugul sits right next to the mountainous region of Munduk, known for its many waterfalls, and around 45 minutes from the coastal town of Lovina, famous for its wild dolphins. We'd recommend combining all three destinations into a multi-day road trip around North Bali.

Where to stay in Bedugul

Where to eat in Bedugul

In the past, there wasn't a great selection of restaurants in Bedugul. But the area's food scene has really started to blossom in the last year or so. Here are some of our current favourites: