Bali: UNESCO Rice Terraces, Ulun Danu Temple & Private Day Trip

Summary

Jatiluwih rice fields, Ulun Danu temple and Nungnung waterfall in a day

You’ll start early with pickup from your hotel before wandering through Jatiluwih’s UNESCO-listed rice terraces and feeling cool mountain air on your face. Step into Ulun Danu Beratan Temple by misty Lake Beratan, enjoy lunch with local flavors, then descend to Nungnung Waterfall where spray fills the air—ending your day tired but oddly peaceful.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Bali UNESCO heritage sites

• Pick up at hotel
• Arrive at Jatiluwih Rice Terrace
• Visit Ulun Danu Beratan Temple
• Visit Handara Gate
• Lunch time
• Visit Wanagiri Hidden Hill
• Visit Nungnung Waterfall
• Return to hotel
• Arrive back at hotel

Top questions

How long does this Bali UNESCO tour last?

The tour lasts about 11 hours including hotel pickup and drop-off.

Is hotel pickup included in this Bali day trip?

Yes, private transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off is included.

What sites are visited during this Bali UNESCO tour?

You visit Jatiluwih Rice Terrace, Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, Handara Gate, Wanagiri Hidden Hill, and Nungnung Waterfall.

Is lunch provided on this tour?

Yes, lunch is included as part of your day trip experience.

Are entry fees covered for all attractions?

All entry fees and taxes are included in the tour price.

How difficult is it to reach Nungnung Waterfall?

You need to walk down several hundred steep steps; gazebos are available for resting along the way.

Is this Bali day trip suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or pregnant travelers due to steep steps at Nungnung Waterfall.

Do you visit any temples besides Ulun Danu Beratan?

You will pass by several temples in Ubud during transfers but do not stop at them as main visits.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation with hotel pickup and drop-off anywhere in Bali, all entry fees to sites like Jatiluwih Rice Terrace and Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, bottled water and wet napkins along the way, plus a traditional Balinese lunch before heading back in the evening.

What’s the experience like?

We were already winding up the mountain roads when I realized how much cooler the air felt—almost chilly for Bali. Our driver, Putu, grinned in the rearview mirror and told us “Jatiluwih means ‘truly beautiful’,” which sounded like something you’d put on a postcard, but then we stepped out and it actually made sense. The rice terraces just kept rolling down the hills, green in a way that almost hurts your eyes. There was this faint smell of wet earth and wood smoke from somewhere nearby. We walked along the narrow mud paths while an old woman in a conical hat waved at us—her laugh was louder than I expected.

After that, we drove to Ulun Danu Beratan Temple. It sits right on the edge of Lake Beratan, with mist curling off the water so you can’t always tell where the lake ends and sky begins. Our guide explained about Dewi Danu—the water goddess—and pointed out shrines for different gods. I tried to pronounce one of their names; Putu laughed (gently) and said I was close enough. There were school kids on a field trip taking selfies by the carved gates, giggling whenever a breeze knocked their hats askew. The temple bells echoed across the lake—soft but somehow everywhere at once.

Lunch came next—nasi campur with spicy sambal that made my nose run (in a good way). The restaurant overlooked some kind of valley; honestly I don’t remember what I ate as much as how it felt just sitting there watching clouds drift by. Then we stopped at Handara Gate for those classic photos—there’s always someone posing dramatically there—and Wanagiri Hidden Hill for views over twin lakes that looked unreal through all the morning haze.

The last stop was Nungnung Waterfall. Getting down meant hundreds of steep steps (I lost count after 50), but every few turns there were little gazebos where you could catch your breath and listen to frogs or maybe just your own heart pounding. When we finally reached the bottom, the sound of water crashing drowned everything else out—it was almost hypnotic standing there in spray so fine it felt like cool mist on your skin. I still think about that moment sometimes, just standing quietly while everyone else took photos or yelled over the noise.