North Bali Tour – Visiting Rice Terrace, Lake, Waterfall, Temple and Hot Spring

North Bali is a different world from the beach towns of the south. The roads climb into cool mountain country, rice terraces spread across the hills, and volcanic lakes replace the usual resort scenery. This private tour gives you a practical way to see several of the area’s major sights without arranging separate drivers or worrying about the winding roads.

I like the private door-to-door transport, since the drive from Seminyak, Kuta, Sanur, or Ubud is long. I also like the variety: Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, two mountain lakes, a waterfall, a Buddhist monastery, and Banjar Hot Springs all appear in one day.

The main drawback is the length. You can expect roughly nine to ten hours, and some of that time is spent in the vehicle. The schedule also includes many stops, so you should expect an overview of north Bali rather than a slow, deeply focused visit to each place.

Key points to know before booking

• Ulun Danu Bratan begins the sightseeing day: The lakeside temple is the tour’s most recognizable cultural stop, with tiered shrines and classic Balinese design.
• Tamblingan and Buyan bring the mountain views: You pass through the Bedugul area and stop at Tamblingan Lake, with Mount Lesong forming the backdrop.
• Munduk Waterfall requires a walk: Allow about an hour for the visit, and wear shoes suitable for a path rather than sandals meant only for the beach.
• The afternoon shifts from Hindu Bali to Buddhist Bali: Brahma Vihara Arama offers a quieter architectural change after the outdoor stops.
• Banjar Hot Springs finish the sightseeing: The carved pools and warm water provide a relaxing final stop, though you should bring suitable swimwear if you plan to enter.
• Private transport is the real value: The price includes your driver, vehicle, fuel, parking, tax, entrance fees, and hotel pickup and drop-off.

Why north Bali works best as a private day trip

North Bali is not a quick add-on from Seminyak. The route crosses mountain roads and links sights spread across a large area. Using a private vehicle means you do not need to locate each attraction yourself, negotiate separate rides, or return to a fixed group schedule.

The tour is for only you and your party. That matters when you want to spend a little longer at the waterfall, take photos at a lake, or adjust the timing around your lunch. The listed schedule allows about one hour at each main stop, but the tour notes also allow flexible timing based on your request.

Your driver is also the guide. The service includes an English-speaking professional driver, an air-conditioned vehicle, fuel, parking, taxes, and entrance tickets. The available feedback places particular emphasis on safe driving, which is useful here. The route includes winding roads, and careful driving matters more than flashy commentary on a long mountain day.

The price is listed at $80 per person. That is easiest to judge by the number of inclusions. You are paying for private transport, a full day on the road, admission to the main sights, and hotel pickup and return. Lunch is included only if you choose the lunch option, so check the exact booking choice before paying.

Starting at Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

Ulun Danu Bratan is the grandest opening stop. The temple sits beside Lake Bratan in the Bedugul mountain area, where cooler air and highland views give the morning a different feel from southern Bali.

As you enter through the gates, look for the familiar Balinese architectural details and tiered shrines. The complex has three principal shrines connected with worship of Hindu deities. The setting beside the lake is a major part of the appeal, so give yourself time to look beyond the structures and take in the water and mountain surroundings.

An hour is enough for a first visit, especially if you want photographs and a walk through the complex without lingering over every detail. Entrance is included, which keeps the visit simple.

Dress respectfully. The tour asks for smart casual clothing, and a temple visit is not the place for beachwear. Bring sunscreen, since the cooler mountain air can make it easy to forget how strong the sun remains.

Tamblingan Lake and the Bedugul mountain route

The next major stop is Tamblingan Lake. Tamblingan and Buyan are located in the same highland region, between the Ulun Danu area, Lovina Beach, and the waterfall country around Gitgit and Munduk. Tamblingan is presented as the main lake stop, with Mount Lesong behind it.

This is a good place to slow down after the temple. The appeal is the broad mountain setting rather than a single building or attraction. You can take in the lake, the forested slopes, and the sense of height that makes northern Bali feel so different from the southern coast.

The tour information also refers to Pacung Rice Terraces and rice-growing views along the route. That is worth clarifying before you book, because Pacung is not given a separate timed stop in the main schedule. You may pass rice terraces or pause for views, but do not assume you will have a long, dedicated walk through the terraces unless the operator confirms it.

That point is important for comparison shopping. If rice terraces are your main goal, ask how much time is planned at Pacung. If your priority is variety, the combination of highland lake, temple, waterfall, monastery, and hot spring gives you more range than a rice terrace-only outing.

The walk to Munduk Waterfall

Munduk Waterfall is the most active part of the day. The waterfall is near the Tamblingan and Buyan area, in the village of Munduk, and the visit is planned for about one hour.

Expect a walk rather than a roadside photo stop. The tour describes a beautiful hike to tumbling water, so sensible footwear is one of the most useful things you can pack. Bring sunscreen and a camera as suggested, but also consider clothing that will handle a damp path or spray.

The one-hour visit gives you time to reach the waterfall, look around, and return to the vehicle. It may feel short if you want a long swim or a slow forest walk. No swimming details are provided, so do not assume that bathing is part of the stop.

This is also where the physical demands of the day become clearer. Most travelers can participate, according to the tour information, but you should still be comfortable walking to a waterfall. If you have mobility concerns, ask the operator about the current path before booking.

Lunch in Lovina Beach

After the mountain sights, the route heads toward Lovina Beach, the pretty coastal town on Bali’s north shore. Lunch is served at a restaurant when the lunch option is selected, with an Indonesian set menu.

This break is well placed. By this point, you have already visited a temple, lake, and waterfall, and a proper meal is more useful than trying to snack in the vehicle. The coastal setting also changes the rhythm of the day before the afternoon cultural and bathing stops.

A vegetarian option is available, but you need to request it when booking. Personal expenses are not included, so bring money for anything beyond the specified meal. If you want lunch included, check that the selected option says so rather than assuming it comes with the base price.

Lovina is not presented as a separate beach activity. You should think of it as the lunch stop and a chance to see a northern coastal town, not as a beach day added to the itinerary.

Brahma Vihara Arama, Bali’s Buddhist hillside pause

Brahma Vihara Arama gives the tour a useful change of mood. After the Hindu temple and outdoor mountain stops, you visit a Buddhist monastery with its own architecture and hillside setting.

The monastery was built in 1970 with local Indonesian funding and assistance from the Thai government, then consecrated in 1972. It was damaged by an earthquake in 1976, and its new stupa was repaired afterward. Those details help explain why the site feels like more than a quick photo stop.

Plan on about an hour here. Take time to look at the stupa, the monastery buildings, and the surrounding views. The visit is likely to appeal most if you enjoy religious architecture and want to see a side of Bali beyond its better-known Hindu temples.

As at Ulun Danu Bratan, respectful clothing is the right choice. Smart casual dress will work well for the entire day and avoids the need to change between stops.

Banjar Hot Springs to finish the day

Banjar Hot Springs is the final major stop and a sensible way to end a busy route. The springs are in Banjar countryside, around 1.5 kilometers from Banjar and roughly 24 kilometers from Singaraja.

The attraction is known for its carved pools and warm water. The tour describes beautifully landscaped pools, so this is less about a wild natural spring and more about a developed bathing complex with Balinese decorative touches.

You have about an hour here. That can be enough for a short soak and a look around, but it is not a full spa treatment. If you plan to enter the pools, bring suitable swimwear and a change of clothes. The supplied packing advice specifically mentions sunscreen and a camera, but it does not list towels or swimwear, so you should confirm what is provided before departure.

Banjar works well at the end because it offers a slower, more restful activity after the walking and sightseeing earlier in the day. Still, some people may find the schedule too tight to enjoy the springs at a leisurely pace. If bathing is the main reason you want this tour, ask whether the driver can adjust the timing.

The extra roadside stops need clarification

The route notes mention several additional places passed along the way. These include a temple on the road to Tamblingan, another place along the same route, a beach on the way back to the hotel, and a waterfall on the return journey.

They are not named or assigned set visit times. Treat them as possible roadside views rather than guaranteed, full stops. The same applies to the reference to Pacung Rice Terraces. If one of these places matters to you, ask for the name and expected stop length before the day begins.

The tour also lists pickup and drop-off across a wide area: Seminyak, Kuta, Legian, Canggu, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa, Jimbaran Bay, Uluwatu, Ubud, Denpasar, and Tanah Lot. Confirm your exact hotel or villa location, especially if you are staying outside the main resort zones.

Timing, comfort, and what to pack

The day lasts about nine to ten hours, not including any extra time caused by traffic. Since the tour starts and finishes at your accommodation, you avoid finding your own way to a meeting point. That is a real advantage for a long north Bali route.

The air-conditioned vehicle should make the long drives easier. You will still want practical clothing, water, sunscreen, and a camera. Wear shoes that can handle the Munduk Waterfall walk, and bring swimwear if you expect to use Banjar Hot Springs.

The tour requires good weather. If poor weather forces a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

The tour is rated 4.8 from 13 reviews, with 92 percent recommending it. The strongest praise focuses on feeling welcome and on careful, safe driving through difficult sections of road. That is exactly the quality I would value most on this route.

Who will get the most from this $80 tour

I would choose this tour if you want a broad introduction to north Bali in one day and prefer not to manage transport yourself. It suits couples, families, and small private groups that value flexibility and do not want strangers in the vehicle.

It is also a good match if you want more than temples. You get mountain lakes, a waterfall walk, a Buddhist monastery, a coastal lunch, and hot springs in the same outing. The mix gives you a useful sense of how varied Bali can be outside the southern resort belt.

I would hesitate if you dislike long drives or prefer to spend half a day at one attraction. The schedule is ambitious, and the journey from the south is part of the cost in both time and energy. I would also ask for clarification if Pacung Rice Terraces or a particular beach is your main goal, since those extra stops are not given the same detail as the five principal attractions.

Should you book the North Bali Tour?

Book it if you want a private, well-organized day that covers several of north Bali’s best-known sights without hiring separate transport. The included entrances, parking, fuel, driver, and hotel service make $80 per person reasonable, especially for a small group sharing the vehicle.

Before booking, confirm three things: whether lunch is included in your selected option, how much time is planned at the rice terraces, and whether you can use the hot spring pools. If you accept the long day and pack for both walking and bathing, this is a practical way to reach north Bali from Seminyak or another southern base.

FAQ

How long does the North Bali Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately nine to ten hours.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and drop-off are provided from hotels or villas in listed areas including Seminyak, Kuta, Legian, Canggu, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Ubud, Uluwatu, Jimbaran Bay, Denpasar, and Tanah Lot.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only you and your party participate in the private vehicle.

Is lunch included?

An Indonesian set-menu lunch is included only if you select the lunch option. A vegetarian meal is available if you request it when booking.

What does the price include?

The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, an English-speaking professional driver, entrance tickets, fuel, parking, tax, service charges, and hotel pickup and drop-off. Personal expenses are not included.

Can I cancel the tour for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you are offered another date or a full refund.