Bali: Secret Garden, Ulun Danu Temple and Waterfall Tour

Ulun Danu Beratan Temple rises beside a mountain lake, then the day trades temple paths for the cool water and cliff-jump pools of Kembar Waterfall. From there, you trek through Sambangan’s Secret Garden, a network of trails and natural blue-green swimming holes. It is a full day of Bali’s highlands, not a quick hop between photo stops.

I like two things in particular: the mix of culture and outdoor time, and the small group, limited to five people. Guides named on the tour include Komang, Gede and Aldi. Komang has helped with photos and local context, while Gede has led the Secret Garden walk, so you can ask questions and get help along the way.

The trade-off is the road time. The drive north is long, and the day starts early, around 6:00 AM. You also pay for lunch yourself, and the waterfall and forest walk call for a reasonable level of mobility and comfort around water.

At a glance

• A temple with a place on Bali’s banknote: Visit 400-year-old Ulun Danu Beratan, dedicated to the water goddess Dewi Danu.
• Two hours at Kembar Waterfall: Swim, take photos or try a cliff jump if you feel comfortable.
• A proper walk in the Secret Garden: Follow trails to natural blue and turquoise swimming holes.
• A small group of up to five: A more personal format for a long day on the road.
• Hotel pickup and drop-off: Included in several central Bali areas, with extra charges for some farther locations.
• Lunch is on you: Budget for a meal and any extra drinks or snacks.

A long ride north to Ulun Danu Beratan

Pickup is early, at approximately 6:00 AM, and the route heads into Bali’s mountains. The tour is planned for about 10 hours, with roughly 1.5 hours of travel in each direction. Your actual ride depends on where you are collected and dropped off, so this is not a day to schedule a tight dinner reservation.

The long drive is part of the bargain. You get out of the southern resort areas and into a cooler, more rural part of the island, but you spend a substantial chunk of the day in the vehicle. A small group of no more than five can make the ride feel less like a bus excursion, and the air-conditioned transport is welcome on a full-day outing.

Pickup is included from Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Sanur, Kerobokan, Canggu, Nusa Dua and Ubud. Candidasa and Amed are also listed as pickup areas, but extra charges apply for farther locations: 100,000 rupiah per person from Candidasa and 150,000 rupiah per person from Amed, Lovina or Tulamben. Confirm your exact pickup point and any surcharge before booking.

Ulun Danu, Bali’s lakeside water temple

The first major stop is Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, also called Pura Ulun Danu. This Hindu temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess associated with water, and is about 400 years old. The lake and mountain setting help explain why it has become one of Bali’s most recognizable sights. The temple appears on the 50,000-rupiah banknote, a useful detail to keep in mind when you see it in person.

You have about 1.5 hours here for a guided visit and time to look around. That is enough to take in the temple complex and its setting without making the stop the entire day. Your guide can add context about the site’s history and religious role, which makes the visit more meaningful than simply arriving, taking a picture and leaving.

Keep your expectations realistic: this is a popular landmark, not a private sanctuary. The tour’s early start is useful for reaching the temple before the day gets away from you, but weather and visitor numbers can affect the atmosphere. Bring a light layer if you tend to feel cool in the mountains, though specific weather conditions cannot be guaranteed.

Two hours to swim at Kembar Waterfall

After the temple, the pace shifts from cultural sightseeing to a more physical stop. Kembar Waterfall is described as secluded, with around two hours set aside for swimming, cliff jumping and photos. The time gives you room to enjoy the water rather than race through a brief viewing stop.

Cliff jumping is an option, not an obligation. If you would rather swim, relax or take pictures, you can do that instead. Be honest with yourself about your comfort in the water and around heights. The tour is not suitable for people with heart problems, and the activity may not suit anyone who is pregnant, has back problems or has limited mobility.

Pack swimwear, a towel and a change of clothes in an easy-to-reach bag. You will appreciate having dry clothes after the waterfall, especially before getting back into the vehicle. Bottled mineral water is included, but other food and drinks are extra.

Lunch follows at a local restaurant, and it is not included in the tour price. The details of the meal and menu are not fixed, so bring cash and allow room in your budget. One outing included a buffet lunch, but you should not assume that exact meal is guaranteed.

Walking Sambangan’s Secret Garden

The Secret Garden is the day’s main nature walk. In the Sambangan area, trails lead through a leafy part of Bali known for natural swimming holes in shades of blue and turquoise. It offers a different kind of scenery from the temple: here, the point is to move through the surroundings, not just admire them from a viewpoint.

Plan on a walk rather than a roadside stop. The route and pace can make this the most physically demanding part of the day, especially after the waterfall and the drive. Wear clothes and footwear suited to getting around outdoors, and keep your towel and change of clothes handy if you plan to swim in the pools.

A guide is particularly useful here. One guide named for the tour, Gede, has led Secret Garden walks and is known for keeping the outing lively and helping with photos. Your assigned guide may differ, but the small group size gives you a better chance to ask questions or request a picture than a large coach group would.

The advertised inclusions cover entrance fees for the Secret Garden and Handara Gate. Handara Gate is not described as a separate stop in the main route, so if visiting it is important to you, confirm the day’s exact plan before you book.

A short look at life in Sambangan

The tour also stops in Sambangan Village for about 1.5 hours. You can see rice terraces and learn about local life, which gives the day a human scale after the temple and outdoor activities. The village stop is a good counterweight to the more scenic parts of the trip: it reminds you that these are lived-in places, not just backdrops.

The amount of time is generous compared with a quick photo stop, though the exact activities depend on the day and the guide. Expect an introduction to the village and its surroundings rather than a lengthy cultural program. If you are keen to understand local customs, use the opportunity to ask your guide questions.

How the $42 price adds up

At $42 per person, the tour offers useful value if you want to cover several far-flung stops without arranging separate transport. The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking guide, insurance, bottled water, local taxes and fees, fuel and tolls. Entrance fees for the Secret Garden and Handara Gate are also included.

That package matters because the route combines a temple, waterfall, walking area and village in one long day. Organizing those stops independently would mean coordinating transport across a broad area, and you would still need to account for entrance costs. A group capped at five also gives you a more personal trip than a standard large coach tour.

The price is not all-in. Lunch, extra food and drinks, personal expenses and some remote-area pickups cost more. Check the pickup surcharge carefully if you are staying in Candidasa, Amed, Lovina or Tulamben, and bring cash for lunch and incidental purchases.

Who should book this day trip?

I would choose this tour if you want a busy day that balances a well-known cultural stop with swimming, walking and a village visit. It suits active travelers who do not mind an early alarm, several hours of road travel and changing into dry clothes between stops. It is also a sensible pick if you would rather have transport and a guide arranged than plan this northern route yourself.

It is less appealing if you want a slow morning, dislike long drives or prefer to spend a whole day at one place. The waterfall and Secret Garden make it a poor fit for anyone with limited mobility, back problems or heart problems, and it is not suitable for pregnant women. Even if you skip cliff jumping, the day still involves outdoor activity and uneven walking.

Practical details before you go

Wear comfortable clothes for the drive and walk, and bring swimwear, a towel, a change of clothes and cash. Bottled water is included, but additional drinks and snacks are not. Arrive at your pickup point at least 10 minutes early and look for a guide wearing TripGuru attire.

The tour runs for about 10 hours, with starting times depending on availability. English and Indonesian are the listed guide languages. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the tour, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you want a full, active day that pairs Bali’s lakeside temple with a waterfall, forest pools and rice terraces. Its best value is the combination: transport, guide and multiple stops are bundled into one small-group outing for $42, with entrance fees and water included.

Skip it if a long road day sounds tiring, you need a relaxed pace or the physical parts are not a good fit. And if you book, pack for swimming, bring cash for lunch, and treat the early start as part of the plan, not a surprise.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 10 hours. Pickup is approximately 6:00 AM, but check availability for the starting time offered on your date.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are included in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Sanur, Kerobokan, Canggu, Nusa Dua and Ubud. Extra charges apply for some farther pickup areas.

What is included in the price?

The price includes hotel pickup and drop-off, air-conditioned transport, a professional English-speaking guide, insurance, bottled mineral water, local taxes and fees, fuel and toll charges. Entrance fees for the Secret Garden and Handara Gate are included.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense, as are additional food and drinks and personal expenses.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a change of clothes, a towel and cash. Bottled mineral water is provided.

Who is this tour not suitable for?

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women or people with back problems, mobility impairments or heart problems.