Ulun Danu Beratan Temple: Day Trip from Ubud (2026 Guide)

Why go

This is one of the most recognisable images of Bali — it is even printed on the 50,000 rupiah note. The temple was founded in the seventeenth century and is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the lake, whose waters feed the irrigation systems of the farmland below. Its most famous shrines stand on small islands just off the shore; the tallest is an eleven-tiered meru.

Beyond the photograph, the appeal is the setting. Bedugul sits high in the central mountains, so the air is cool, the light is soft, and on many mornings mist hangs over the lake. After a few days in humid Ubud it feels like a different island.

Getting there

Plan on about two hours each way from Ubud, longer in heavy traffic. The road climbs through Tabanan's farmland and then up into the hills; the last section is winding. Most people go with a private driver, which also lets you add other stops. A scooter is only for experienced riders: the mountain road is steep, busy and often wet.

What to expect

The temple sits inside landscaped gardens on the lake shore. You walk through the grounds, see the lakeside shrines from the edge (the inner sanctums are for worshippers), and can stroll along the water. Expect other visitors: this is a major sight, and from late morning it fills up with day-trippers.

The weather changes fast at this altitude. Mornings are usually clearest; cloud and rain often roll in after midday, especially in the wet season. It can feel genuinely cold when the cloud comes down.

Tips

• Leave Ubud early. Arriving soon after opening gives you the mist, the calm water and far fewer people.
• Bring a layer and a light rain jacket, whatever the forecast in Ubud says.
• Skip the swan pedal boats and the paid photo props; the temple is better without them.
• Dress respectfully — see our temple dress code guide.
• Budget the day, not the hour. Four hours of driving means it only makes sense combined with other stops.

Combine with

The highlands reward a full day. Continue past the twin lakes of Buyan and Tamblingan to Munduk's waterfalls and coffee villages, or stop at the Candikuning market near the lake for fruit and spices. If you're coming from the south-west, the UNESCO-listed Jatiluwih rice terraces are on a parallel route. For hiring a driver for the day, see getting around Ubud.