East Bali tour: Gate of Heaven, Water Palace & Sidemen

Three temples, one valley, a river lunch: eastern Bali in a day

A private guided tour of eastern Bali departing from Kuta covers the Gate of Heaven temple at 1,058 meters, Tirta Gangga water palace with koi ponds, and the Sidemen valley with lunch at Wapa Di Ume restaurant overlooking the Unda River. An air-conditioned Toyota Innova, English-speaking driver-guide and all entry fees are included; the day runs ten hours and ends with a choice of return to Kuta, Ubud, Denpasar, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Legian, Seminyak or Canggu.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore East Bali highlights

• Visit Gate of Heaven temple
• Enjoy coffee, tea, and snacks
• Explore Tirta Gangga Water Palace
• Feed Koi fish at the pond
• Lunch at Wapa Di Ume in Sidemen
• Admire Mount Agung viewpoint

The Experience

The day starts at the Gate of Heaven, Pura Lempuyang, a temple complex perched 1,058 meters above sea level on the northeast slope of Mount Agung. The site is one of Bali's oldest and most regarded temples, and the gate itself has become the most photographed temple entrance in Bali — the view frames Mount Agung behind it. Coffee and tea are provided while you stand there, and the driver handles the drive from Kuta so you arrive without navigating the highland roads yourself.

From there, the route drops to Tirta Gangga, a water palace built by a 19th-century king. The compound holds tiered fountains, lush gardens and multiple pools stocked with hundreds of koi fish. You walk across tiles over the water to move through the grounds and get close to the fountains; the itinerary includes time to feed the koi and shoot photographs. The palace sits in a valley, so the views open across the landscape as you move through it.

Lunch happens in Sidemen, a village that spreads across a terraced valley under Mount Agung's shadow. Wapa Di Ume, the restaurant, sits on the Unda River and serves a full meal; the setting is rural Bali — no resort polish, no tour-group crowds. After lunch, the itinerary includes access to the restaurant's infinity pool and river area, so you can swim or rest before the drive back. The route also passes a dam built for irrigation and flood control, which creates a waterfall effect along its face.

The car is a seven-seat Toyota Innova with air conditioning and a professional driver who speaks English and can photograph you at the stops. Fuel and parking are covered. You choose your return destination at booking — Kuta, Ubud, Denpasar, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Legian, Seminyak or Canggu — and the driver takes you there to finish the day.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned Toyota Innova with English-speaking driver-guide and photographer.
• entry to the Gate of Heaven temple, Tirta Gangga water palace and Sidemen village.
• coffee and tea at the gate.
• koi feeding at the water palace.
• lunch at Wapa Di Ume restaurant.
• infinity pool and river access at the restaurant.
• bottled water.
• all fees and taxes.
• fuel and parking.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Bali Driver Seminyak

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a driver and air-conditioned vehicle to reach Lempuyang's hilltop gate and Tirta Gangga's water palace without managing the highland roads yourself.

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Top questions

What is the Gate of Heaven temple actually like when I get there?

Pura Lempuyang is one of Bali's oldest temples, built on a highland slope 1,058 meters above sea level with Mount Agung rising behind the gate itself. The gate has become the most photographed temple entrance in Bali because of that backdrop. Coffee and tea are served while you're there so you can sit with the view.

Can I swim during this tour?

Yes. Tirta Gangga water palace has pools you can walk around and photograph, and at lunch in Sidemen, Wapa Di Ume restaurant includes access to its infinity pool and the Unda River, so you can swim if you bring a swimsuit.

What is Tirta Gangga water palace?

Tirta Gangga is a water palace built by a 19th-century king, featuring tiered fountains, gardens and multiple pools filled with koi fish. You walk across tiles over the water to move through the grounds and can feed the koi; the palace sits in a valley with views across the landscape.

Is lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Lunch is included at Wapa Di Ume in Sidemen, a restaurant on the Unda River in a rural village setting. The itinerary describes it as a full meal in a 100% real Bali ambient, away from tourist areas, though the specific menu is not detailed.

Where can I be dropped off at the end of the day?

The driver can return you to Kuta, Ubud, Denpasar, Sanur, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Legian, Seminyak or Canggu — you choose your destination at booking.