Top Lookout Spots of Bali
The landscapes of Bali are incredibly diverse ranging from jungles and rice terraces, to lakes and mountains, and even a few volcanoes! For an island of it’s size, Bali has so much to do and see, and we definitely recommend you getting inland to experience some of the diversity for yourself! There’s something so peaceful and centering about being engulfed in nature and these parts of Bali really help you to appreciate just why, of all the islands in Indonesia, Bali is called the “Island of the Gods.”
Many of these spots feature a mountain or volcano which are typically best seen at sunrise and early morning. Because Bali is a jungle, the skies tend to get misty and cloudy throughout the day so there is usually a window of clear skies at first light. Also as the sun gets higher in the sky, you may have to battle harsh shadows through the trees as well as strong heat and humidity. This goes without saying, but locations are the least crowded first thing in the morning, or at the very end of the day.
For transportation you have two main options:
Hire a driver for a half day or full day to drive you where you want. If you do this option we would recommend trying to pack multiple sites into 1 day so you can get the most bang for you buck! This will likely cost between $30-$50 USD/day depending on the distance of the trip.
Rent a motorbike for 24 hours and drive yourself! We did this every time because it was cheap ($7-$10 USD/day) and allowed us the most flexibility for visiting multiple sites in a day and spending as long as we wanted anywhere we went. It’s really easy to organize if you are staying at a hotel or villa, most can help in arranging to drop off and pick up the motorbike right at the hotel (if they do not already have a few on-site). Granted, if you have not driven a motorbike before, Balinese traffic can be difficult to navigate.
Note: Though Uber and Gojak are services gaining popularity in Bali, we would not recommend you use these for going to these lookout spots. There are still many areas of Bali restricted from using these services including Ubud (aka they may be able to drop you off at a location but will not be bale to pick you up), and even if they are allowed, there will likely not be many people passing by on a regular basis to provide the ride.
Here are five of our top recommendations (in no particular order) for a stunning view in Bali:
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Tegallalong Rice Terraces
Wanagiri Hidden Hills
Bukit Cinta
Lempuyang “Gates of Heaven”
Campuhan Ridge Walk
The path to Campuhan Ridge Walk is a real gem located just on the edge of Ubud in central Bali. It is easily accessible by motorbike (be careful if it is rainy though because the road is quite steep - you may have to park at the top in that case and walk down). The trail is about 5 minutes walk from the parking spot. We came both at sunrise and sunset on different days, and loved seeing the light at different times, though it was definitely less crowded at sunrise. Most visitors will walk up the path, turnaround, then come back the same way, as the path itself only takes about 20 minutes to reach the end.
It truly is a stunning trail. What makes it beautiful are the two ravines flanking the walkway, creating beautiful views and mysterious mist that burns off with the sunrise. Also if it’s a clear day, you will be able to see the volcano standing tall on the horizon. We would recommend coming in the morning as it usually it gets busy and less clear skies as the day goes on!
*Special Tip: If you want a drone shot without a lot of others walking the path you’ll want to show up probably 20 minutes before sunrise because you do start to get some athletic folks exercising a long the path as early as 20-30 minutes after sunrise.
Where to stay close by:
As mentioned above the ridge walk is actually located in Ubud, so very easily accessible if you staying anywhere in or around the city. While in Bali we stayed at 3 different places in Ubud (see blog post) and loved them all for different reasons: Adiwana Beehouse (really unique beehive shaped bungalows overlooking rice terraces), Villa Cella Bella (AirBnB with the perfect hang out spots and views into the jungle), and Jannata Resort & Spa (extremely peaceful atmosphere including spa, infinity pools and private villas overlooking the jungle). Ubud is also a really magical town with a lot to offer from different cafes and shops, to yoga shalas and wellness centers, so a great place for a hub while exploring Bali!
2. Tegallalong Rice Terraces
There are many different rice terraces you can visit across Bali. Anytime you find yourself in transit on Bali, you will probably pass by a few of them. Tegallalong Rice Terrace was our favorite due to its proximity to Ubud, and the many steep dramatic contours of the terraces themselves. They are really well manicured with a lot of interesting bends and curves for photographing. We could easily get lost walking around here for an entire morning (well, we did…). There is beautiful mist that burns off once the sun comes out, but because you are surrounded by hills, the sunlight may not break through until an hour or two after sunrise giving you more time to grab photos with that nice soft lighting.
That said, there are many spectacular views around the whole location, but our favorite was in the “back”. To get there, you will want to hike down the stairs from where you parked. You will go down into the valley, then start working your way back up to the top of the other side. Once there, try to head as far from the street as possible (not parallel, but perpendicular) There is a canyon that leads back to the Santana Rice Terrace. (See map below…)
The morning light broke through the trees for us and made for a pretty epic morning. Keep in mind though some of the terraces are private land and you may have to pay the owner a small fee for taking photos. Usually something between 50-100 IDK but be prepared with cash on you.
WHERE TO STAY CLOSE BY:
Tegallalong is about 15 minutes from central Ubud, so as mentioned above would recommend staying in Ubud so you can easily come early in the morning. There’s so much to do in Ubud you could easily stay for a few days and include a morning to both of these locations.
3. Wanagiri Hidden Hills
The “Instagram Theme Park” as we liked to call it. There are so many of these types of parks to choose from in Bali with nests, hearts and swings. We really liked Wanagiri Hidden Hills because of the view it has over two different lakes. We came right at sunrise, which at this time of year was around 6:30am. Being the only ones there, we had a chance to play on all the different spots they have set up. It is literally on the side of the road and you can pull off to snap a few shots. You can find it in north Bali near Munduk and cost around 100,000 IDK ($7 USD) but will allow you to stay as long as you want and take as many photos as you like.
Staying Close by:
We decided to stay at a hotel in northern Bali called Munduk Moding Plantation (see blog post) which was only about 5 minutes from Wanagiri Hidden Hills. It was also fairly close to a few waterfalls. This was a amazing because we were able to experience the mountains of Bali (different from the jungles or beaches) and really feel secluded in a less touristy part of the island. This hotel also had some amazing infinity pools overlooking the mountains which look especially nice at sunrise and sunset which was another reason we wanted to stay here, though it is on the more expensive side.
There are many other places around Munduk and northern Bali that can still offer the peaceful mountain atmosphere at any price range you are looking for depending if you want something more rugged or luxury.
4. Bukit Cinta
This spot is probably the most elusive of all. Unless you are staying on the east side of Bali, you will need to drive about 1-2 hours before sunrise to get here. The volcano here, Mount Agung, seems to be especially hard to capture, as there is really just a small window (give or take 20 minutes) to see the volcano without any clouds covering it. This moment is right as the sun is rising, so plan to be there 10-15 minutes before the sun rises, then with a little bit of patience (and luck!) you will be able to see all the way to the volcano. At this spot, there are two main spots, an upper and a lower spot. You can see the viewpoints down below. We actually preferred the lower viewpoint.
You will literally just be parking on the side of the road and walking about 10 - 20 steps into a terrace to see this view. There is no parking lot or booth, you will just walk down a muddy path. To get here you will just type in Bukit Cinta Lookout to your google maps and it will take you right there. Be sure even if you do take a motorbike, follow the directions for a “car” - as the “motorbike” directions may take you a slower and more difficult road.
It really is gorgeous and worth the effort, but also be prepared to only see a cloudy volcano. The journey is part of the experience! Especially if the journey involves waking up at 4am ;)
Where to stay close by:
We only had 1 night in eastern Bali and seeing this lookout spot at sunrise was one of our top priorities. We decided to stay in Candidasa which is right along the coast and consists of a small town (Bukit Cinta is out in rural Bali). Some say Candidasa is the way southwest Bali used to look before tourism came along. From Candidasa, Bukit Cinta took us only 25 minutes by motorbike.
We had actually planned to stay at a bamboo house on the east side of Bali, but due to rainstorms, the paths were closed so we had to change last minute. We decided to stay at Sea Breeze Candidasa and actually booked it the night before came. It wasn’t the most unique hotel in Bali, but ended up being perfect to allow us to be out adventuring all day without feeling torn to spend more of our time enjoying the property. At the same time, it was located right along the coast and had a nice view looking out from the pool straight to the ocean that was really nice to relax by when we returned from a long morning of exploring. Just don’t expect to find the perfect crystal clear blue water as you would see in other places like Uluwatu or Nusa Penida, as the beaches here are a bit more rugged.
5. Lempuyang “Gates of Heaven”
We have mixed feelings on the Lempuyang Gates. The picture is undoubtedly amazing. The wait is also undoubtedly amazing. We got there at 9 am (after sunrise at Bukit Cinta) and were given a number to hold on to while we wait to be called. Our number was 209. When we got to the area where they take pictures, they just finished calling out number 57. And the location had been open for an hour already. We did some mental math and decided we didn’t want to wait for another 2-3 hours before taking a picture (which definitely by that point the volcano in the back would be covered in clouds. So we opted for a side pic set up with the tripod in between numbers being called. We left after those shots and grabbed some fresh mango and coconut at a vendor on the way down and enjoyed a snack on the side of the road next to a beautiful rice terrace.
Is the shot cool? Yes. Is it worth waiting a couple hours? Up to you!
*Special Tip: If you have seen photos of this gate on the internet or social media with a reflection at the bottom, this is actually done by holding a mirror up to the lens while taking a photo. These gates are not on a lake (as it would appear) but in a stone temple area as you can see from our photos. This is one of the reasons people will wait in line, because you have to take the picture straight on and there is actually someone with a mirror there that takes photos with your phone for you (hence the numbers). Note that you actually cannot take the picture straight on yourself beacuse a savvy local has commandeered the process and takes pictures for everyone for a nominal fee. “iPhones only!” he says.
Where to stay close by:
As mentioned, we decided to visit Lempuyang Gates the same morning as Bukit Cinta, so we stayed in Candidasa for to access both sites. The gates are only about 20 minutes drive from Bukit Cinta. If you were to come straight from Candidasa it would take 45 minutes which is still very doable on a motorbike. If you plan on coming by car be prepared for an intense parking situation. It’s on a big slant and spots fill up fast so you may end up walking quite a bit. We were glad we were on a motorbike because it allowed us to park all the way at the top near the entrance. A driver would also work well because they could drop you off right at the entrance as well.
Before you go
As you are going to these lookout spots you will want to keep a few things in mind:
Go at sunrise - this seems to always give the best possible chance for a clear sky and will have amazing colors to capture with the incredible look out spots.
Bring a light jacket/long sleeve shirt - If you decide to ride a motorbike, some of these spots are higher in elevation and can get chilly, especially if you depart before sunrise in the dark. We always bring something for more warmth on the drive there, and then take it off for the drive back after the sun comes out.
Volcanos are always unpredictable - sometimes the morning will look very clear but clouds cover the volcano the whole time. Other times it will have just rained but it magically opens up for a perfectly clear view. The only thing you can do is try your luck then enjoy the adventure regardless if the volcano decides to peak through or not.
Photography tip:
Larger mountains: if you want the mountain or volcano to look larger in the background - try using a compression lens (50 mm or 85mm would be our choice). You will have to move the camera much farther back than you would if you were to use a wider angle lens.
Underexpose: If you are going at sunrise, chances are the lighting will be quite dark. Be sure to underexpose (tune the ISO down to 100-200) to make sure you don’t loose the detail of the volcano or mountain in the skyline.