Bedugul Highlands: A Day Trip to Bali’s Floating Temple from Nusa Dua
By Villa Soleil · Published July 2026 · 7 min read
Somewhere past the village of Pancasari, the air through the car window turns cool and smells of pine and woodsmoke. You have reached the Bedugul highlands — a caldera of crater lakes sitting around 1,200–1,400 metres above sea level, where Bali grows its strawberries and hydrangeas. For guests at Villa Soleil, it is the rare day trip where you swap the beach for a sweater by mid-morning and are still back at the pool by late afternoon.
This is a guide to doing Bedugul as a relaxed day trip from the villa — the floating temple, the botanic garden, the produce market, the strawberry farms. We have written it from the perspective of the drive north, because the logistics from Nusa Dua are what make or break the day.
Why the highlands feel like a different Bali
Most of what visitors picture as “Bali” is the warm south — beaches, surf, rice fields in the lowland heat. Bedugul is the counterpoint. Centred on three crater lakes (Beratan, Buyan, and Tamblingan), the region is the island’s vegetable basket and its catchment of fresh water and cool mornings. Daytime temperatures hover around 18–22°C, and early mornings can dip lower still, with mist rolling across the lakes before the sun burns it off.
For families who have spent a few days on the coast, the change of scenery is genuinely refreshing. After a beach-heavy start to a trip, our guests often slot Bedugul in as a “cool day” — a chance to wear a sweater, drink hot mountain coffee, and see the part of Bali that grows the produce you spot everywhere else.
Ulun Danu Beratan: the floating temple
The reason most people come to Bedugul is Pura Ulun Danu Beratan, the lake temple whose multi-tiered meru shrines appear to float on the surface of Lake Beratan when the water is high. It once featured on the 50,000 rupiah banknote, and it is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the goddess of the lake, who is honoured by the farmers downstream who depend on her water.
The temple complex is more than the famous shrine. The grounds are a manicured lakeside garden of frangipani, topiary, and quiet courtyards, easily walkable in 45–60 minutes. Arrive early — gates open around 8:00 am — and you may have the reflections almost to yourself before the coach tours roll in around 10:00. Entry is roughly IDR 75,000 for adults and IDR 50,000 for children. A modest dress code applies; cover your shoulders and knees out of respect, as you would at any temple. Our article on Bali cultural etiquette and the broader Bali temple guide are worth a quick read before you go.
Bali Botanic Garden (Kebun Raya)
A short drive from the temple, the Bali Botanic Garden — Kebun Raya Eka Karya Bedugul — is the largest botanical garden in Indonesia, sprawling across more than 150 hectares of cool upland forest. It is a wonderful, underrated stop, especially with children. Highlights include the orchid house, the cactus collection, the begonia and rose gardens, and towering stands of moss-draped trees that feel almost alpine.
Entry is modest (around IDR 30,000 per person, with an additional vehicle fee if you drive in), and the garden is large enough that bringing the car or hiring a buggy makes sense if you want to cover ground. If your group is energetic, the adjacent Bali Treetop adventure park offers ziplines and rope courses among the canopy — a separate ticket, but a fine way to spend an hour for older kids and teens.
Bedugul market & the strawberry farms
Right by the lake, the Bedugul produce market (Pasar Candikuning) is a riot of highland colour — pyramids of strawberries, passion fruit, mountain vegetables, dried spices, and potted hydrangeas. It is touristy and prices start high, so bargain gently and with a smile; our notes on Bali shopping & souvenirs apply here too. A kilo of strawberries, fresh vanilla pods, or a bag of Bali arabica make easy, genuinely local gifts.
Scattered along the road between Bedugul and Pancasari are pick-your-own strawberry farms (kebun stroberi), where for a small fee you can wander the rows, fill a basket, and pay by weight. Several have cafes serving strawberry juice, strawberry pancakes, and hot chocolate — exactly the kind of thing that tastes better in cool mountain air. It is a lovely, low-key stop with kids, and a natural pairing with our Bali with kids planning.
A sample day: timeline from Nusa Dua
Because Bedugul is a two-hour-plus drive, the order of stops matters. Here is the rhythm we suggest to our guests for a smooth, unhurried day that still gets you home for an evening swim.
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Depart Villa Soleil, Nusa Dua | Driver collects you at the gate; coffee & pastries to go |
| 9:45 am | Arrive Ulun Danu Beratan | Beat the coach tours; best light for reflections |
| 11:00 am | Bedugul market & strawberry farm | Buy strawberries; coffee or juice break |
| 12:00 pm | Bali Botanic Garden | Orchid house, picnic, optional treetop park |
| 1:30 pm | Highland lunch | Lakeside warung or a strawberry-farm cafe |
| 2:30 pm | Depart for Nusa Dua | Optional stops at Tamblingan or Jatiluwih |
| 5:00 pm | Back at Villa Soleil | Sunset swim in the private pool |
Getting there & what it costs
There is no practical public transport for this trip from the south, and the mountain roads — winding, occasionally foggy in the afternoon — are best left to an experienced local driver. A full-day private car with driver from Nusa Dua typically runs IDR 700,000–900,000 for the day, including fuel and the driver’s waiting time, depending on how many stops you add. Split across a family or a couple of suites, that is excellent value. For the bigger picture on rates and options, see our guides to Bali transportation and overall Bali trip cost.
- Drive time: 2–2.5 hours each way; allow extra if you stop in Tabanan or for photos.
- Road: Sealed but winding through Pancasari; gentle for car sickness-prone travellers if the driver takes it slow.
- Best season: Dry season (May–September) gives clearer mornings; the lake mist is most atmospheric early.
What to pack & practical tips
The single most common mistake is dressing for the beach. Bedugul is cool, sometimes drizzly, and you will be glad of a layer.
- A light jacket or sweater — mornings can feel like 16–18°C.
- Closed shoes for the botanic garden’s damp paths.
- A sarong or covered clothing for the temple; some are available to borrow at the gate.
- Cash in small notes for the market, parking, and farm entries.
- An umbrella — highland weather turns quickly even in dry season.
If your group prefers something gentler and closer to home, Bedugul sits comfortably alongside other northern and inland escapes — many guests combine it with a separate day in Ubud or a sunrise climb up Mount Batur earlier in their stay, so the highland theme feels complete.
What we arrange at Villa Soleil
We can line up a trusted driver who knows the mountain roads, breakfast to go so you reach the temple ahead of the crowds, and a custom route through Tamblingan or Jatiluwih if you want it. Message the Villa Soleil team on WhatsApp to set it up.
Related reading
- Ubud day trip from Nusa Dua
- Mount Batur sunrise trek
- Tegallalang rice terrace guide
- Bali temple guide & etiquette
Written by the team at Villa Soleil. Message us to plan your stay in Nusa Dua.