Gates of Heaven Private Tour from Seminyak: Classic VW Safari Car

Feel Bali’s breeze as you explore sacred temples and hidden beaches in vintage style

A private tour of East Bali departing from Seminyak hotels in a restored Volkswagen safari car, visiting Lempuyang Temple (the "Gates of Heaven"), Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Virgin Beach and the traditional Bali Aga village of Tenganan. The tour runs 9 to 10 hours with hotel pickup and drop-off, a professional English-speaking driver, all entrance tickets, lunch and parking included. You travel alone with your party in the vehicle, not with other groups.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Tirta Gangga Water Garden1h · entry included
2. Tenganan Village1h · entry included

Explore East Bali's iconic sites

• Pickup from hotel or villa
• Visit Lempuyang Temple
• Stop at famous temple en route
• Explore Tirta Gangga Water Palace
• Relax at Virgin Beach
• Tour Tenganan Village
• Return to hotel or villa

The experience

This tour runs the length of a full day and covers East Bali's most visited landmarks, starting with pickup from your hotel in Seminyak, Kuta, Canggu, Ubud or any of the other resort areas. The classic Volkswagen safari car (an open-top, lovingly restored vehicle) is the frame for the whole experience: you sit high enough to feel the tropical breeze and see the rice terraces and local life passing alongside the road, but you're not walking or cycling, so the pace stays manageable even though the day is long.

Lempuyang Temple sits at 1,175 meters above sea level on Mount Lempuyang's peak, reachable by a steep staircase of over 1,700 steps. The climb is the centerpiece of the day and the reason the tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. The steps pass several smaller temples and the cool mountain forests where grey long-tailed macaques live. Tirta Gangga Water Palace, built in 1948 by the last king of Karangasem, is a gentler stop: a series of pools and ponds designed with the king himself working alongside laborers to dig them out. Virgin Beach stretches about 700 meters around a turquoise cove with fine sand and gentle waves. The warung along the shore serve fresh fish and cold beer. Tenganan Village, a walled Bali Aga settlement about 5 kilometers from the main road, preserves pre-Hindu customs and traditional crafts, and the symmetrical layout of the homes and compounds is distinctive enough to photograph.

The tour includes all entrance tickets, tax, parking and petrol; a professional driver who speaks English; and either an Indonesian set menu lunch or the tour without lunch, depending on which option you select at checkout. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them when booking. Hotel pickup and drop-off cover Seminyak, Kuta, Canggu, Ubud, Sanur, Jimbaran, Legian, Nusa Dua, Tanjung Benoa, Uluwatu and Denpasar. The itinerary can be adjusted to fit your schedule, and infants under 2 travel free.

What’s included

• All entrance tickets to Lempuyang Temple, Tirta Gangga Water Palace, Virgin Beach and Tenganan Village.
• a professional English-speaking driver.
• a restored Volkswagen safari car for the full day.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Seminyak or other major resort areas.
• parking and petrol.
• Indonesian set menu lunch (on the all-inclusive option) or no lunch (on the tour-only option).
• vegetarian meals available on request.

Options for this experience

2 options

Tours Without LunchGuide in English or Malay · 05:00, 06:00, 07:00 and 08:00Private tour lasting 10 hours in a VW Safari classic car, with pickup included. Entrance tickets only; lunch is not included.

All Inclusive ToursGuide in English or Malay · 05:00, 06:00, 07:00 and 08:00Private tour lasting 10 hours in a VW Safari classic car, with pickup included. Entrance tickets and lunch are covered.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:00, 06:00, 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (12 to 70 years) · Child (2 to 11 years) · Infant (under 2): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Malay

Audio guideEnglish and Malay

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Bali Sky Tour

Is this one for you?Book the all-inclusive option if you want lunch included and one less decision during the day. Choose the tour-without-lunch option if you prefer to eat at one of the warung at Virgin Beach or elsewhere along the route. The private vehicle means your group travels alone, so the pace and stops can flex to fit your energy and interests, and the open-top classic car is the experience itself, not just transport.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Malay.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (2 to 11 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How fit do I need to be to climb Lempuyang Temple?

Lempuyang Temple requires climbing over 1,700 steep steps to reach the peak at 1,175 meters. The tour is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health, but it is suitable for all other fitness levels. The climb is the main physical demand of the day. The other stops involve walking on level ground or short distances.

What is the Gates of Heaven, and why is Lempuyang Temple called that?

Lempuyang Temple is believed to predate most other Hindu temples on Bali and sits on the peak of Mount Lempuyang. The "Gates of Heaven" name comes from the temple's position high in the mountains and its role as a spiritual gateway in Balinese Hindu practice. The temple complex includes several smaller temples along the staircase route.

What does Tirta Gangga Water Palace look like?

Tirta Gangga is a series of pools and ponds built in 1948 by the last king of Karangasem, who designed and helped construct the gardens himself. The water palace is a calm, manicured stop on the tour where you can walk among the pools and see the craftsmanship of the original design.

Can I swim at Virgin Beach?

Virgin Beach has warm, gentle waves that are ideal for swimming and bodyboarding. The beach stretches about 700 meters around a turquoise cove with fine sand. Bodyboards can be rented on-site for 50,000 rupiah. Wave conditions vary by season. Check before you go, as the beach can see two-meter waves at certain times of year.

Do I choose the lunch option when I book, or can I decide later?

You choose between the all-inclusive tour with lunch or the tour without lunch at checkout. If you select the lunch option, an Indonesian set menu is provided. Vegetarian meals are available if you request them at the time of booking.

What is Tenganan Village, and why is it different from other villages in Bali?

Tenganan is a Bali Aga village, meaning it preserves the customs of Bali's original inhabitants before the arrival of Hindu Javanese culture. The village is walled and laid out symmetrically, with unique traditional crafts still made by residents. A strong code of non-fraternization with outsiders has helped the village retain its ancient practices.