Bali: Secret and Untouristic Tour North West Bali.

Northwest Bali trades packed attractions for rice fields, village roads, a mountain temple, and a waterfall reached on foot. The point of this private 10-hour trip is not to rush through a checklist, but to spend time in places that see fewer foreign visitors.

I like two things in particular: the route pairs the open views of Belimbing’s rice terraces with the quieter paths to Blahmantung Waterfall, and a private car gives you room to ask questions or adjust the pace. Drivers such as Adi, Made, and Kadek have helped make the journey feel personal.

The trade-off is distance and walking. The stops are spread across northwest Bali, the waterfall requires an 800-meter walk from the road, and the temple approach may involve a longer walk from the vehicle parking area. Bring water, suitable shoes or sandals, and patience for a long day.

What makes this route different

• Belimbing’s terraces sit around 600 meters above sea level, with Mount Batukaru as a backdrop and local farms growing fruit, coffee, and spices.
• A rice-field walk gets you beyond the roadside view, with a chance to see farmers working in the paddies.
• Siwa Pujungan Temple has a distinctive origin story, tied to a 10.5-meter bronze Shiva statue found in 1993.
• Blahmantung Waterfall is reached through a local garden, along branching paths with no signboard at the roadside.
• The private car and English-speaking driver are included, along with fuel, parking, entrance fees, and mineral water.
• At $36 per person, the price covers several major costs, though meals, drinks beyond the included water, and extra hours cost more.

A long day into Bali’s quieter west

This is a full-day outing for people who want to see a different side of Bali. The journey takes you into Tabanan Regency, where the route moves between village areas, cultivated land, rice fields, and forested slopes. It is a useful choice if you have already seen the island’s busier sights, or if you prefer a day shaped by scenery and walking rather than shops and beach stops.

The tour lasts about 10 hours, and the private format matters. You travel with your own group rather than joining a large bus, so the driver can respond to your interests and give you time at the stops. One visitor described Made adapting the programme to their wishes, including a stop at a local shop. That kind of flexibility can make a long drive feel more like a day in the region than a fixed sequence of photo stops.

Your driver speaks English, and visitors have praised drivers named Adi, Made, and Kadek for explaining the route and allowing time to explore. The specific driver can vary, so treat those names as examples, not a promise. The tour includes hotel pickup and drop-off, a private car, petrol, parking, entrance fees, and mineral water. Lunch and dinner are not included.

Belimbing: rice terraces with room to walk

Belimbing is a traditional village in Tabanan Regency, about 600 meters above sea level. Its rice terraces are the first major stop, framed by Mount Batukaru. The views are the obvious attraction, but the better reason to linger is the chance to walk among the fields rather than simply admire them from the roadside.

Rice-paddy trekking takes you into the working countryside, where local farmers may be tending the fields. This is not a staged cultural performance. The appeal is the everyday setting: cultivated land, village life, and a view that changes as you follow the paths. You may also pass tropical plantations growing durian, coffee, clove, rambutan, and mangosteen.

The village is described as roughly 30 kilometers from Denpasar, with a drive of about two hours. Road distance and travel time can vary with the route and conditions, but the important point is that this is not a quick hop from the southern resort areas. You are committing a substantial part of the day to reaching the quieter west.

Wear comfortable clothes and sandals or shoes you can walk in. The tour asks you to bring sunscreen and a change of clothes, sensible precautions for a day that combines open fields and a waterfall walk. If you want to see farmers at work, remember that this is a working area, not a set piece. Give people space and follow your driver’s guidance about where to walk.

Siwa Pujungan: a mountain temple and a longer approach

The next stop is Siwa Pujungan Temple, in Pujungan Village in Pupuan District. Its story begins in 1993, when Jero Mangku Sutarjana found a bronze statue of Lord Shiva, about 10.5 meters high, on Mount Batukaru’s western slope. He later built a temple there using his own funds, and the temple’s name refers to Shiva seated upright on the mountainside.

That origin gives the temple a different feel from a site introduced mainly through its age or scale. The story is personal and local, and the setting is part of its appeal. This is a place to pause, take in the mountain surroundings, and learn how a particular Balinese religious site came to be.

There is a practical detail worth clarifying before you set out: the distance between the vehicle parking area and the temple is described as about three kilometers. That is a significant walk, and the tour details do not specify how much of that distance is walked on every visit or whether the route is entirely on foot. Ask your driver what to expect that day, especially if you have limited mobility or want to manage your energy for the waterfall later.

The temple is given as about 90 minutes from Denpasar and 47 kilometers from Tabanan city. Those figures are useful for understanding the region, but they do not mean the whole tour is a short drive. With several remote stops, time on the road is part of the day.

Blahmantung Waterfall: the walk is part of the visit

Blahmantung Waterfall is the most active stop. It lies among gardens owned by local residents, and there is no signboard or formal parking lot at the approach. You park by the roadside and walk about 800 meters to reach the waterfall. Since several paths branch off, asking a local for directions is advised if you are finding your own way. On this tour, your driver can help you locate the right route.

The walk is part of what makes the stop memorable, but it also requires a little more effort than a roadside viewpoint. One visitor described the route as a substantial walk down and back up. The exact footing and conditions are not specified, so do not assume it will be an effortless stroll. Bring sandals or comfortable walking shoes, and pack a change of clothes and a towel if you expect to get wet.

The setting is described as quiet and garden-like, a contrast with more developed attractions. You may see very few other visitors, but that also means you should not expect a staffed entrance, obvious wayfinding, or facilities at the start of the path. It is a good match for people who enjoy a bit of uncertainty and are comfortable asking for directions. It is a poor fit if you need step-free access or want to avoid uneven walking.

The guide and the value of going private

The strongest part of this tour may be the combination of a driver and flexibility. A private car makes sense for this route because the stops are spread out and some approaches are not clearly marked. An English-speaking driver can explain what you are seeing, help with local directions, and give you time to walk rather than keeping everyone on a rigid schedule.

The names Adi, Made, and Kadek appear in accounts of the trip, with visitors describing helpful explanations, a considerate pace, and adaptations to their preferences. Those details are encouraging, but no particular driver is guaranteed. What is included is an English-speaking driver, not a promise of a specific guide.

At $36 per person, the price is appealing for a 10-hour private outing, particularly because fuel, parking, entrance fees, and hotel transfers are included. The value depends partly on how many people are in your group, since it is a private tour and the quoted price is per person. It also saves you the work of arranging transport to several out-of-the-way locations.

Keep the extras in mind. Lunch, dinner, other drinks, and personal spending are not included. If you run past the allotted duration, extra time is listed at IDR 50,000 per hour. Bring some money for meals and any purchases, and ask in advance how the day’s timing is expected to work if you want to linger at a stop.

Who should book this Bali day trip

I would choose this tour if you want a full day outside Bali’s busiest visitor corridors and enjoy scenery that comes with a walk. The rice terraces, small village roads, temple setting, and garden path to the waterfall make a varied day, while the private car offers a more personal way to cover the distance. It is especially suitable if you value local settings over polished facilities.

It may not suit you if you want a relaxed day with little time in the car, dislike walking, or need wheelchair access. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users, and the waterfall path and possible temple approach deserve serious consideration if you have mobility concerns. There is no need to pack a large bag, which is not allowed.

Plan on practical clothing, sunscreen, a towel, a change of clothes, and sandals. Wait in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before pickup. The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead and a reserve-now, pay-later option, which gives you some flexibility if plans are still taking shape.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you want to trade Bali’s busiest stops for rice fields, a mountain temple, and a waterfall reached on foot, and you are comfortable spending much of the day travelling between them. The price covers the main transport costs and entrance fees, while the private format leaves room for a more personal pace. If long drives or uncertain walking routes would spoil the day for you, choose a closer, less active outing instead.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts 10 hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The tour is for a private group, with a private car and an English-speaking driver.

What is included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the private car, petrol, parking fees, entrance fees, and mineral water are included.

Are meals included?

No. Lunch, dinner, drinks beyond the included mineral water, and personal expenses are not included.

How far is the walk to Blahmantung Waterfall?

The waterfall is about 800 meters from the roadside. The route has branching paths, so ask locally if you are finding it on your own.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, sunscreen, comfortable clothes, a change of clothes, and sandals. Luggage and large bags are not allowed.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.