Many travelers stick around Ubud, Canggu or Seminyak. Logical, because those places are popular – but they only show you part of Bali. If you want to really get to know the island, you can also discover East Bali. Less crowds, more space, impressive nature and away from the masses. In this blog, I’ll take you along the highlights of East Bali, based on our own route and experiences.
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Penglipuran Village – tradition, peace and symmetry
If you’re looking for the real old Bali, then Penglipuran Village is a beautiful first stop. This traditional village is located in the hills of Gianyar and is known as the cleanest village in Indonesia. Everything here is in balance: from the symmetrical streets to the tight village structure where centuries-old rules still apply (yes, including the rule that you can only have one wife if you live here).
We visited it during our honeymoon and wrote a separate blog about it – with practical info, photos and our experience inside a local family. Read our Penglipuran blog here →
Climb Mount Batur at sunrise (and stay in Kintamani)
One of the most memorable things you can do in East Bali is climb Mount Batur at sunrise. And trust me: getting up early is totally worth it. We stayed in Kintamani so we could start early. The hike is challenging, but doable, and the view from the top is magical – especially when you see the first light rising above the clouds and Mount Agung appears in the background.
We also wrote a separate blog about this experience with tips, preparation and our photos along the way. Check out our Mount Batur blog here →
Pura Besakih – the mother temple at the foot of the volcano
Pura Besakih lies against the slopes of Mount Agung and is Bali’s largest and holiest temple complex. With more than 80 temples, it’s really a place to take your time. You reach the complex via an impressive staircase, and once at the top you look out over the rice fields and jungle of East Bali. We found the atmosphere here subdued and impressive at the same time.
Note: wear a sarong and keep in mind that this is a religious place where ceremonies take place.
Read our Pura Besakih blog here →
Tirta Gangga – water gardens full of color and koi carp
Tirta Gangga is an old royal water palace and feels like a place from a fairy tale. You’ll find ponds full of koi carp, sparkling fountains and stepping stones that lead you across the water. You can wander around here quietly, feed the fish (Jacco’s hobby) or just sit and soak in the atmosphere. Especially nice as a change after a temple visit.
Read our Tirta Gangga blog here →
Dream stay in Karangasem: Lempuyang Boutique Hotel
After a day full of impressions, you want to sleep somewhere where you really come to rest. For us, that was the Dream villa of Lempuyang Boutique Hotel. A beautiful stay between the rice fields, with a view of Mount Agung, an infinity pool, Italian wine and an outdoor shower. Also great if you want to take it easy for a day (or have Bali Belly like we did…).
Other sights in East Bali
Below are a few other places that were high on our list, but that we didn’t visit ourselves. Perfect to expand your East Bali route further:
Sidemen valley
A green valley full of rice terraces, homestays and yoga retreats. Less touristy than Ubud and just as beautiful.
Taman Ujung
A royal water palace with bridges, ponds and sea views. Nice photo spot and quieter than Tirta Gangga.
Pura Lempuyang (Gates of Heaven)
The photo spot with the famous view between the temple gates on Mount Agung. Keep in mind waiting times if you want that iconic photo. We read many negative stories about this place and didn’t think the crowds were worth it. But if you want the perfect photo, then of course you have to go!
From East Bali to Nusa Penida?
From the harbor of Padangbai or Kusamba you can easily take the boat to Nusa Penida. This rugged island is a short distance away and perfect for a few days of adventure. We did this ourselves (albeit from Sanur), and in our Nusa Penida blog you can read exactly which spots are worth it – and which are overrated. Read our Nusa Penida tips here →
Practical
- 🚗 Transport: Hire a private driver or scooter (for the brave rider)
- 🕐 Best travel time: May through September (dry season)
- 📍 Recommendation: Plan at least 3 days for East Bali – it’s bigger than you think!
East Bali is rawer, quieter and in our opinion much more authentic than the touristy west coast. It’s especially much less in the crowds. If you like that, then it’s definitely fun to discover East Bali too.
