Truyan Village tour: Ancient death rituals & Bayung Gede

The dead rest in bamboo cages under a scent-bearing tree, not in cremation fires.

A guided tour of Truyan Village and Bayung Gede, two ancient Balinese villages with distinct spiritual practices, led by a local priest or healer. In Truyan, see where married couples are placed in bamboo cages beneath the Taru Menyan tree after a cleansing ritual, learning why the tree's fragrance matters to the practice. In Bayung Gede, believed to be the parent village of all ancient settlements on the island, observe the hanging newborn placentas unique to that community. The tour also includes Kehen Temple and a stop at Kintamani to view Mount Batur and its lake.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore ancient villages and temples

• Visit Truyan Village and see burial ritual
• Visit Bayung Gede Village and see hanging placentas
• Stop at Kintamani to view Batur volcano and lake
• Visit Kehen Temple and famous steps
• Visit last old village with unique culture

The experience

Truyan Village operates on a belief system fundamentally different from the rest of Bali. The Trunyanese do not cremate their dead. Instead, after a cleansing ritual, the body of a married person is placed in a bamboo cage called an ancak saji and positioned beneath a Taru Menyan tree: a tree whose name translates to "nice smelling tree" because its scent neutralizes the odor of decomposition. The village itself takes its name from this tree. A local priest or healer guides you through these practices and explains the dual concepts of Sekala (the visible, material world) and Niskala (the invisible, spiritual realm) that shape daily life here.

Bayung Gede, your second major stop, is considered the parent village of all ancient settlements in Bali and operates under its own unique social and belief system. The community is known for a ritual involving newborn placentas, which are hung rather than buried or disposed of in other ways. A practice you'll encounter nowhere else on the island. From there, the route continues to the highland town of Kintamani, where you stop to view Mount Batur volcano and its lake, then descends to Kehen Temple, famous for its long staircase known locally as the steps of heaven. The final stop is a fifth old village with distinctive architecture and spiritual traditions.

The tour runs 8 to 10 hours and includes an air-conditioned vehicle, a speedboat, bottled water, fuel surcharge, parking fees, and all admission and donation fees. A live guide fluent in English, Italian, French, or German leads the group. Hotel pickup is included. The minimum age is 15.

What’s included

• An air-conditioned vehicle and speedboat for transport.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• all admission and donation fees to the villages and temples.
• parking fees and fuel surcharge.
• a live guide in your choice of English, Italian, French or German.
• and hotel pickup.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00 and 08:00

Book up to5h before

AgesAdult (15 to 90 years) · Under 15: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French, German and Italian

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 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bali Lovina Tours

Is this one for you?This is a shared guided tour led by a local priest or healer, so you travel with other visitors and follow a set itinerary rather than setting your own pace. Choose it if you want expert interpretation of Balinese spiritual beliefs and death practices from someone who lives in these villages, rather than a self-guided visit where these rituals would remain unexplained.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, French, German and Italian.

What exactly is the Taru Menyan tree and why does it matter in Truyan's death ritual?

The Taru Menyan is a tree whose fragrance neutralizes the smell of decomposing bodies. After a cleansing ritual, the dead bodies of married people are placed in bamboo cages beneath it, and the tree's scent is essential to the practice. The village's name comes from this tree.

What is the placenta ritual in Bayung Gede that makes it different from other villages?

Bayung Gede is known for hanging newborn placentas as part of its unique spiritual practice. This ritual is specific to the village and is not found in other Balinese communities.

Does the tour include entry to Kehen Temple and the other sites?

Yes, all admission and donation fees for the temples and villages are included in the tour price.

Is hotel pickup included, and what is the age requirement?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour. The minimum age for participation is 15 years old.