Bedugul guide: crater lakes, mountain mist and highland strawberries
A temple on Lake Beratan, the Banyumala twin falls and cold nights by the fire — Bali's cool side.
Bedugul sits in an ancient caldera in the middle of Bali, about 1,200 metres above sea level, with three crater lakes — Beratan, Buyan and Tamblingan. It is cool all year, vegetable and strawberry farms cover the slopes, and the mist rolls in most afternoons. For many guests two nights here are the perfect pause between Bali’s beaches.
What to do
- Ulun Danu Beratan Temple — the temple that seems to float on Lake Beratan — one of Bali’s most iconic views. Go early, before the mist.
- Bali Botanic Garden — more than 150 hectares of gardens, with a treetop adventure park for families.
- Wanagiri viewpoints — hilltop decks looking over both Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan.
- Banyumala Twin Waterfall — two falls with natural swimming pools, reached by a short trek.
- Canoe on Lake Tamblingan — a dugout with a local fisherman on the quietest lake.
- Jatiluwih rice terraces — UNESCO-listed terraces, about an hour to the south-west.
What to eat
- Fresh Candikuning strawberries — pick your own on a farm or buy at the market — sweetest in the dry season.
- Grilled corn & rabbit satay — Bedugul roadside snacks made for cold air.
- Munduk coffee — arabica and robusta from the farms around Munduk village.
- Bakso & hot soups — the warungs around the lakes serve warming broths.
Arts & culture
- Ulun Danu Beratan Temple — built to honour Dewi Danu, goddess of the lake and the water that feeds Bali’s rice fields through the subak system.
- Munduk & colonial houses — a ridge-top village with Dutch-era houses, surrounded by coffee and clove gardens.
- Candikuning Market — the morning market where highland farmers sell vegetables, flowers and spices — orchids and strawberries too.
- The Jatiluwih subak — the temple-based subak irrigation system, recognised by UNESCO as world cultural heritage.
Best time & tips
Bring a jacket — nights can drop to 14–18°C. Mist usually settles from midday, so do outdoor sights in the morning. The dry season (April–October) gives the clearest skies; the wet season gives the fullest waterfalls.
Getting there
Bedugul is about 1.5–2 hours from Ngurah Rai Airport, and pairs easily with Ubud (about 1.5 hours) or Lovina in the north (about 1 hour).
