Bali Gates of Heaven and Besakih Temple: Private tour with lunch

Besakih Temple sits at the foot of Mount Agung, and Lempuyang's Gate of Heaven frames the mountain behind you in every photo.

A full-day private tour of Bali visits Lempuyang Temple and its Instagram-famous Gate of Heaven, Besakih Mother Temple (the island's largest), and Tirta Gangga Water Palace, with an English-speaking driver, lunch, entry fees and hotel pickup included. The route combines religious sites sacred to Balinese Hindus with photo stops at two water palaces set against volcanic peaks.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Tirta Gangga Water Garden2h · entry included
2. Besakih Temple3h · entry included

Visit temples and water palace in Bali

• Visit Lempuyang Temple and Gate of Heaven
• Explore Tirta Gangga Water Palace
• Tour Besakih Mother Temple

The experience

The day starts with a private car and driver picking you up from your hotel to head to Lempuyang Temple in Karangasem Regency. The temple ranks among Bali's Sad Kahyangan (six sanctified temples believed to protect the island), and the Gate of Heaven at Penataran Agung is the landmark most visitors come for: a stone archway framing Mount Agung in the background, which is why the photos read as if they were taken at heaven's entrance. The gate itself sits partway up the temple complex, and the walk and the views are what make this stop the centerpiece of the morning.

After Lempuyang, the route moves to Tirta Gangga Water Palace, a royal garden built in 1948 as a bathing and recreation area for the king of Karangasem. The palace blends Balinese and Chinese architecture and centers on a large koi pond surrounded by manicured grounds. The combination of the fish, the water and the natural landscape around it is what draws visitors to photograph here. From there, lunch, Indonesian food, is served before the final stop at Besakih Temple, the Mother Temple of Bali and one of the island's largest. Besakih sits under Mount Agung and contains multiple sanctified temples within its complex. The site holds historical relics dating to ancient times and is considered one of the most sacred places in Bali for Hindu worship.

The full day runs 9 to 10 hours. Your driver speaks English, handles all navigation and parking, and the cost covers entry fees to each temple, a bottle of mineral water per person, lunch and petrol. A photo fee at the Gate of Heaven (around 25,000 IDR per person) is separate and collected on-site.

What’s included

• Private car with air conditioning.
• English-speaking driver.
• shuttle bus to Lempuyang Temple.
• entry fees to all three sites.
• mineral water (one bottle per person).
• lunch (Indonesian food).
• petrol and parking fees.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (3 to 70 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 14 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Bali Golden Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you have a full day and want to visit both Besakih and Lempuyang temples with a private car handling all transport between sites. The moderate walking at Lempuyang is the main physical demand.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

34 verified traveler reviews

5 ★34

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Gate of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple?

The Gate of Heaven is a stone archway at Penataran Agung, the upper temple within the Lempuyang complex, positioned so that Mount Agung rises directly behind it in photographs. The gate frames the mountain and creates the effect of looking through heaven's entrance, which is why it has become one of Bali's most photographed spots.

What makes Besakih Temple different from other temples in Bali?

Besakih is called the Mother Temple of Bali and is one of the largest temples on the island. It was built in ancient times by Rsi Markandeya and contains multiple sanctified temples within its complex, along with historical relics such as menhirs that are considered sacred artifacts of antiquity. The temple sits at the foot of Mount Agung.

What is Tirta Gangga Water Palace used for today?

Tirta Gangga is now a recreational park and popular photo location. Built in 1948 as a royal bathing and recreation area, it features a large koi pond, manicured gardens and a blend of Balinese and Chinese architecture set against natural scenery.

Is lunch included in this tour?

Yes, lunch of Indonesian food is included in the tour price and is served during the day, typically between Tirta Gangga and Besakih Temple.