Uluwatu Temple & Kecak Dance Tour: Sunset and fire performance

Sunset at a clifftop temple, then a trance chant and flames

A private tour from your hotel takes you to Uluwatu Temple on Bali's southern cliffs for the sunset, then to an evening Kecak fire dance performance where locals act out scenes from the Ramayana with chanting and costumed dancers. The tour includes private air-conditioned transport, an English-speaking driver guide, and a stop at Padang Beach. Entrance tickets to the temple and dance venue are separate.

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel around noon and a drive to Padang Beach, where you have time to settle before heading to Uluwatu Temple. The temple sits on a dramatic clifftop overlooking the Indian Ocean and is part of a chain of temples built to protect Bali from evil spirits. A family of monkeys lives on the grounds. They're used to visitors but move freely, so keep an eye on loose items. You'll be there as the light changes, catching the colors of the sunset over the water before the sky darkens.

Once evening arrives, you move to the open-air amphitheater for the Kecak fire dance. The performance is built around a hypnotic chant: dozens of performers create a rhythmic, trance-like sound that punctuates scenes from the Ramayana, the ancient Hindu epic. Dancers in elaborate costumes move through the story, and at key moments, fire dances break the chant with sudden movement and flame. The whole thing runs about an hour, and you watch from a seat in the amphitheater. By 7 PM the performance ends and your driver takes you back to your hotel, arriving around 8 PM depending on traffic and your location.

The tour runs six hours total and fits into an afternoon and evening without eating into a full day. You're in an air-conditioned car the whole time except for the temple grounds and the dance venue, so the physical demand is low: walking around the temple and sitting through the performance. Children from age five are welcome, though the monkeys and the fire can startle younger kids, and the chanting goes late into the evening.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned transport by car.
• English-speaking driver guide.
• hotel pickup and return.
• stops at Padang Beach and Uluwatu Temple.
• reserved seating for the Kecak fire dance performance.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 03:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 to 65 years) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

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 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Bali Trekking Tour

Is this one for you?The six-hour commitment leaves your morning free and wraps by 8 PM, so it fits neatly into an afternoon arrival or a day when you want one major outing without a full-day commitment. If you're traveling with children under five or prefer to avoid the monkeys and crowds, look for a temple-only option instead.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Kecak fire dance, and is it a real Balinese tradition?

The Kecak is a performance that draws from Balinese ritual and storytelling, combining a hypnotic chant from dozens of performers with scenes from the Ramayana acted out by costumed dancers. Fire dances punctuate the story, and the whole piece creates an intense, trance-like atmosphere that is one of Bali's most famous cultural performances.

Will I have time to swim or spend time at Padang Beach?

You arrive at Padang Beach around 1:30 PM and leave for Uluwatu Temple by mid-afternoon, so you have a couple of hours there. Whether you swim depends on the conditions and your comfort level. The beach is a stop on the way rather than the main event of the day.

Are the monkeys at Uluwatu Temple safe to be around?

The monkeys are accustomed to visitors and live permanently on the temple grounds. They're generally calm but move freely and will take loose items like sunglasses, phones or bags if given the chance, so keep valuables secured and don't hand-feed them.

What time does the Kecak dance start, and how long does it run?

The performance begins at 6 PM and lasts about an hour. You'll be seated in the amphitheater before it starts, and your driver will pick you up afterward to return you to your hotel.

Do I need to buy entrance tickets separately, or are they included?

Entrance tickets to Uluwatu Temple and the Kecak dance venue are not included in the tour price and must be purchased separately. Your driver guide can help you with this when you arrive at each location.

Is this tour suitable for someone visiting Bali for the first time?

Yes, the tour covers two of Bali's most iconic experiences in a single afternoon and evening, giving you the island's most famous sunset spot and one of its signature cultural performances. The private transport and English-speaking guide handle the logistics, so you can focus on the sights.