Bedugul



Bedugul is an area in the mountain range of Central Bali.

Understand
Bedugul is the name used to cover a large area of the central highlands of Bali around the villages of Bedugul itself, Candikuning, Pancasari, Pacung and Wanagiri (amongst others). This is an area of great natural beauty. The focus point of the area centres on the three crater lakes of Bratan (Beratan), Buyan and Tamblingan, and the nearby botanical gardens. The whole area is at an altitude of 700 metres or more, with the tallest mountain peaking above 2,000 metres. It can be distinctly chilly here.

This article covers the Bedugul area as well as the village of Munduk to the west, and areas between Bedugul and Mount Batukaru to the south west. Mount Batukaru itself is covered in the Tabanan article.

Get in
Bedugul is located about 50 km north of Denpasar on a main route from South Bali to North Bali or 20 km (approximately 40 minutes) south from Lovina Beach.

The area is served by regular bemos which depart from Batubulan terminal in Denpasar in the south, and from Singaraja in the north. The Perama bus company has no local office in Bedugul so if you planning go further from Bedugul, buy ticket in Kuta, Ubud or elsewhere.

From Lovina / Singaraja, go to Terminal Sukasada or more road next to it from where bemos are leaving it seems, just before road gate and alfamart. gojek drivers will drop you there. Rp 40,000-50,000 (at May 2024), leaving when full enough, 45-60 min to Candikuning, road uphill until first lake. To get to terminal, ensure to compare prices between bemos and grab/gojek as some bemos drivers are asking more than car-hailing apps...

A common way for visitors to appreciate this beautiful mountain region is to hire a car and driver for the day from their base in South Bali. Make sure you have a driver who knows the area well (ask questions to determine this), and fix the price for the day in advance. Depending on the class of car, expect to pay between Rp 500,000 and 600,000 including petrol. Car parking fees and any entrance charges will be extra, and it is always appreciated if you offer to buy the driver lunch.

Another option is to hire your own car and drive up here. Be sure to bring a good map though, and when in doubt, always ask locals for directions.

Get around
If you are staying in Bedugul, hiring a motorcycle is a good idea as some of the distances between areas of interest are quite long. Your hotel will be able to arrange this and you should expect to pay from Rp 50,000 to 80,000 per day.

The physically fit will enjoy mountain biking here. There are no formal taxis but you will find plenty of drivers willing and able to transport you for a fixed price.

The area is well served by local bemos, and the central gathering points for these are in and around the car park at Candikuning Market, and in the village of Pancasari just before you reach Lake Buyan. Be prepared for the local users to be carrying all sorts of market produce, including live chickens and other animals.

See



 * Yeh Hoo waterfall in Jatiluwih. Have to walk all the way down the easy stairs and follow the path. The whole area is beautiful with water everywhere. Entrance fee is RP 5,000 per person.
 * Yeh Hoo waterfall in Jatiluwih. Have to walk all the way down the easy stairs and follow the path. The whole area is beautiful with water everywhere. Entrance fee is RP 5,000 per person.
 * Yeh Hoo waterfall in Jatiluwih. Have to walk all the way down the easy stairs and follow the path. The whole area is beautiful with water everywhere. Entrance fee is RP 5,000 per person.

Do
Explore the mountain roads and take in the wonderful views. The area around Munduk to the west of Lake Tamblingan is especially spectacular, and you can continue the drive through Munduk village to Banyuatis and then all the way to Seririt near Lovina on the north coast. Birdwatching is good in this area around the lakes, and in the botanical gardens where some 97 species have been officially recorded. A number of scarce mountain species are to be found here. Interesting crops grown in this area include coffee, vanilla, cloves and cacao. Once you know them, you will see clove trees everywhere at the side of the highland roads. There are several coffee plantations on the roads north of Lake Bratan and around Munduk. Water sports on Lake Bratan are popular. Parasailing, speedboat rides and jetskis are all available if you are comfortable with polluting such a beautiful lake. The more environmentally conscious may wish to restrict their lake activities to renting a rowing boat. These are all controlled from Taman Rekreasi Bedugul (admission Rp 10,000) on the southern shore of Lake Bratan.






 * E-bike tours in Jatiluwih (20 km south of Central Bedugul)
 * Bedugul Tour take you to Bedugul is a mountain lake resort area in Bali, located in the centre-north region of the island near Lake Bratan on the road between Denpasar and Singaraja the area covers the villages of Bedugul itself, Candikuning, Pancasari, Pacung and Wanagiri amongst others. In the area there is three crater lakes Lake Bratan, Lake Buyan, and Lake Tamblingan. And major sites in Bedugul are the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
 * Bedugul Tour take you to Bedugul is a mountain lake resort area in Bali, located in the centre-north region of the island near Lake Bratan on the road between Denpasar and Singaraja the area covers the villages of Bedugul itself, Candikuning, Pancasari, Pacung and Wanagiri amongst others. In the area there is three crater lakes Lake Bratan, Lake Buyan, and Lake Tamblingan. And major sites in Bedugul are the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple
 * Bedugul Tour take you to Bedugul is a mountain lake resort area in Bali, located in the centre-north region of the island near Lake Bratan on the road between Denpasar and Singaraja the area covers the villages of Bedugul itself, Candikuning, Pancasari, Pacung and Wanagiri amongst others. In the area there is three crater lakes Lake Bratan, Lake Buyan, and Lake Tamblingan. And major sites in Bedugul are the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

Trekking
Trekking in the mountains and around the lakes is very rewarding. There are regular, organized group departures from Taman Rekreasi Bedugul at Lake Bratan and the Botanical Gardens. If you require an individual guide for your own planned trek, ask your hotel or inquire at Taman Rekreasi Bedugul. Popular organized treks include:
 * Climbing Mount Catur (2,096m), starting at Taman Rekreasi Bedugul. This is quite a stiff climb.
 * Around Lake Tamblingan, returning by canoe. A very leisurely trek.
 * Around Jatiluwih with options from a 2 hour stroll to a stiff 8 hour trek.
 * The Munduk area is also popular and extremely scenic.

Buy
Pick your own strawberries from any of several farms in the area. Look around for signs.



Eat
Bedugul has a small but well-established Sasak community, and for that reason is known for restaurants serving the Lombok speciality Ayam Taliwang (spiced young chicken served grilled or fried). Look for restaurants with the Ayam Taliwang sign around Lake Bratan especially.







Sleep
It can get cool at this high elevation at night compared to the hot coastal areas of Bali. Check that your accommodation has blankets and or heating or come prepared. Most of the hotels have gardens with beautiful scenery (lake as foreground or background), but they have no air conditioning, so hotel prices are relatively low compared to Kuta.

There are many options in terms of price and possibilities for accommodation in Bedugul and surroundings and booking is not essential but in some cases, it may be advised. There are many hotels with low occupancy, even in the peak season, resulting in quiet nights without nightlife.

Connect
The area code for Bedugul is 0368.

There is a public telephone office at Bukit Mungsu Market in Candikuning, but internet facilities are thin on the ground and your best bet is to look for WiFi signs at local cafes.

Go next

 * The north coast centres of Lovina, Singaraja and Pemuteran are easily reached from Bedugul by car, motorbike and bus.
 * A journey back south to Denpasar and beyond will take 1 hour plus.
 * The Jatiluwih route can easily be combined with a visit to Pura Luhur Batukaru, near Wongayagede village in the Tabanan area.