NaturePrivate car
Bedugul, Banyumala, Twin Lakes & Jatiluwih
- Ulun Danu Beratan
- Banyumala waterfall
- Twin lakes viewpoint
- Jatiluwih
$120 / personDetails
Tamblingan, Bali
The quietest of the three crater lakes — no road along the shore, old temples in the forest, dugout canoes, and a guided walk that's the best in the highlands.
What is Tamblingan like, and how do you visit?
Lake Tamblingan sits in the same caldera as Buyan, west of Bedugul, with forest all the way down to the water and a cluster of ancient temples on the shore reached only on foot or by canoe. Local guides from Munduk village lead a 4–5 km loop through the forest to the lake and back; fishermen pole dugouts across if you'd like the other shore. It's on the road to Munduk, an hour from Bedugul, and the forest walk is the reason to come.
- RegionNorth Bali · Buleleng highlands
- Best forA forest walk, quiet, temples by the water
- From BedugulAbout 45 minutes to the trailhead
- How long2–3 hours
- Best timeMorning; mist on the lake
- CrowdsVery light
On the ground
Silent apart from birds. The trail drops from the road through old forest — ferns, strangler figs, orchids — to the lakeshore, where Pura Gubug and its neighbours stand on the grass with their thatched meru and nobody around. Dugout canoes are pulled up on the bank; a fisherman will take you across for a small fee.
The guide is compulsory and worth it: the forest is a protected village area, the paths fork, and the guides know the birds and the plants. The walk is easy to moderate — roots, mud after rain, a few climbs.
The viewpoint above, on the ridge road at Wanagiri, shows both lakes together and is the famous photograph; the walk shows you what's in it.
What to see at Tamblingan
The forest loop
4–5 km with a village guide, two hours at a stroll, to the lakeshore temples and back.
Pura Gubug and the shore temples
Old, low temples on the grass by the water; one of the most atmospheric spots in Bali.
A canoe across
Fishermen pole dugouts to the far shore — ten minutes of the quietest water on the island.
The twin lakes viewpoint
Buyan and Tamblingan side by side from the Wanagiri ridge; the photo stop on the way.
Entrance fees are in the price of our set routes; on a car + driver day they are paid at the gate, and your driver tells you the amounts the evening before.
What to do
Set routes that stop at Tamblingan
3 of our routes pass through.
NaturePrivate car
Tamblingan Lake Hike, Bedugul & Tanah Lot
- Tamblingan forest hike
- Ulun Danu Beratan
- Tanah Lot sunset
$100 / personDetails
NaturePrivate car
Munduk Waterfall & Bedugul Highlands
- Bedugul market & lake temple
- Twin lakes viewpoint
- Munduk waterfall walk
$90 / personDetails
Or make it a driver day
Tamblingan plus wherever else you like, at your pace — up to ten hours, priced per car, your route.
Before you go
How long should you stay? Two to three hours with the walk. It's the centrepiece of our Tamblingan hike route and a twenty-minute viewpoint on the others.
Best time to visit. Early morning for mist on the lake and dry paths; the dry season for a canoe without a squall.
| Tickets | Village entry and guide fee per group; canoe small extra |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daylight; guides from 07:00 |
| Dress | Walking shoes with grip; long socks (leeches on wet days) |
| Walking | Easy to moderate forest trail; muddy after rain |
| Food | Warungs at the viewpoint on the ridge |
| Toilets | At the trailhead |
| Guide | Compulsory; arranged by your driver |
Photos
Tamblingan in photos
Questions
Asked in the car
How hard is the walk?
Two hours at an easy pace on forest paths with roots and a few short climbs. Children from about eight are fine; trainers with grip.
Can we just see the viewpoint?
Yes — the Wanagiri viewpoint over both lakes is a 20-minute stop from the ridge road and on several of our routes. The walk is the extra.
Are there leeches?
On the wettest days, a few. Long socks and a check at the end solve it; the guides carry salt.
Nearby, with our photos
The forest walk
Take the Tamblingan hike, Bedugul and Tanah Lot route, or add the viewpoint to any north-Bali day.