We have all heard and seen photos splashed across social media of places such as Heaven’s Gate, Git Git Waterfall and Tegalalang Rice Terraces. These are the places that everyone heads to. They are brimming with crowds and usually it’s standing room only. But where are the hidden gems in Bali? Where are the places that are just as good – if not better, that you can have all to yourself?
Whilst travelling around Bali in recent months we have come across a list of places that we would happily classify as hidden gems in Bali. These places are the ones that we climbed, trekked to or simply just stumbled across in our travels that left us thinking. “why haven’t we ever heard of this place?” So here is our list (just our first list…for now) of hidden gems in Bali that you didn’t know existed. Because WE certainly didn’t!
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Table of Contents
- #1 – Bukit Cinta
- #2 – Virgin Beach
- #3 – Bunut Bolong Tree
- #4 Bukit Batu Kursi
- #5 Green Bowl Beach
- #6 Bukit Asah
- #7 Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang
- #8 Sunset Point, Amed
- #9 Bukit Belong
- #10 Gili Putih Sumberkima
- #11 – Kayu Putih
- #12 Serayu Pot and Terracotta
- Bonus Hidden Gem In Bali
- Where to stay for these hidden gems in Bali
#1 – Bukit Cinta
Bukit Cinta was something that we found on google maps when we were actually searching for another Bukit in the same area. This is a place that we really only drove to just to fill in a few hours of our afternoon. We are so glad we did!
Bukit Cinta is located in the Karangasem Regency of East Bali, and you may have seen photos of it already on Instagram and wondered, “where is that?” Once we arrived and saw the location and the view ourselves, we were left nodding stupidly and saying things like, “oh yeah, I recognize this place.”
One of the great things about Bukit Cinta is that it is not hard to find, and you don’t even have to walk to get there. It is a simple field beside the road that is full of long grass and a sweeping view across distant rice paddies to Mount Agung in the distance. It is the perfect place for some beautiful photos. Just make certain it is a clear day. Early morning is best!
Quick Tip: There isn’t much around the area of Bukit Cinta, however directly across the road is a restaurant called Bali Asli. It is owned by an Australian, and features authentic Balinese food. The menu is forever changing depending on what is in the garden on any given day, and meals are cooked the traditional way over an open fire and stove. Certainly worth the visit!
To find Bukit Cinta, just head to East Bali and the Karangasem area and punch it into Google Maps. Or just click here, and we have done it for you.
#2 – Virgin Beach
Virgin Beach is a bit of a natural phenomenon because it is a white sand beach. You may be thinking, “so?” but the fact is that Virgin Beach is located in a volcanic area of Bali where every other beach is exclusively black sand. Hence the name, Virgin Beach.
Visiting Virgin Beach is a must if you are in the area. The sand, although white, may not be the whitest on the island. What you WILL find though, is an idyllic beach with white sand, palm trees, a few warungs, fishing boats and crystal clear water. Just lay back and let the time float by.
Virgin Beach is easy to find. From Candi Dasa it is only a short drive, and from further south you can combine it with a trip to a couple of other places on this list, or even Heaven’s Gate or Tirta Gangga Water Gardens.
Check here for the location.
Quick Tip: From the main road there are two accesses to Virgin Beach. Coming from Candi Dasa the first one will take you via Bukit Asah (which you will read about on this list too) and arrive you at the southern end of the beach with the fishing boats and grove of palm trees. The second turn off will head you direct to the north end of the beach, but there is a short walk in. We suggest heading in via the first way and enjoy the views!
#3 – Bunut Bolong Tree
Bunut Bolong tree is located in the village of Manggisari in Jembrana, West Bali. This is one of our true hidden gems in Bali! It is a huge Banyan Tree, and is unique due to the fact that it has a road going right through a hole in the middle of it. The hole is almost entirely natural, and has only been widened slightly to allow safer passage of vehicles.
A lot of intrigue and local superstitions surround the Bunut Bolong Tree. If you visit, stop and sign the visitors book and the local guide will tell you some of the stories surrounding the tree. Stories such as messy divorces for married couples that drive through the tree together, ghosts, and strange happenings experienced by visitors. Even some local workmen who were tasked to widen the hole all died in mysterious and unexplained circumstances. A couple recently took photos there and when they looked later there was a ghostly snake dragon clearly within the photo that was not there when they took it.
If you enjoy strange locations, sights and stories, then Bunut Bolong tree is a must visit. Just beware before driving through it. Even we had some unexplained occurrences later on the day we visited that we still shake our heads about.
To find it, head toward Gilimanuk and take the turn toward north Bali. You can find the tree on Google Maps here.
#4 Bukit Batu Kursi
If you are anywhere up in the North West of Bali, then Bukit Batu Kursi is worth checking out. Located in Pemuteran, it is the place to go if you are interested in checking out the fantastic views of the area.
Bukit Batu Kursi is one you might have to work a little to reach. The carpark is very easy to find, but to reach the top you must walk, and that walk involves a lot of concrete stairs up the side of a good sized hill. Don’t worry though, the hike only takes around 30 minutes.
At the top you will find a temple and rest area. There is even a swing so you can get those essential photos for your social media. What makes this place so popular though, especially among the locals, is the extraordinary view and amazing sunsets. So bring your camera and snap away!
To find Bukit Batu Kursi turn off the main road through Pemuteran onto Jalan Pura Pemuteran and park in front of the large temple at the end of the road. Pay a small donation, sign the visitors log and off you go!
Click here for location.
#5 Green Bowl Beach
Another of our little hidden gems in Bali is Green Bowl Beach, which can be located out on the bukit, not too far from Melasti and Pandawa Beaches. This little beach often escapes notice, but is very popular for locals and the savvy tourists and expats that know about it.
Green Bowl Beach can be found at the bottom of a long set of concrete stairs. When we say long, we mean just over 300 stairs. This keeps a lot of tourists away, but that just makes it better for those willing to work for their beach day.
This beach is only a small beach. It is literally only a couple of hundred meters long, and in the afternoon can be in complete shade. Come early, stake your place on the sand and enjoy the beautiful water, sun, sand and even multiple rock pools. The main attraction is the peace and quiet though, and you will get a lot of that at Green Bowl.
Click here for location.
Quick Tip: If you are visiting Green Bowl Beach then make certain to check the tides. This place is beautiful, but at high tide it all but disappears. Come at low tide if you want to enjoy it for a few hours.
#6 Bukit Asah
We mentioned Bukit Asah earlier in this article. It is a beautiful headland that overlooks Virgin Beach in one direction, with views all the way toward Candi Dasa in the other. If you love ocean outlooks, then this is the place for you.
Bukit Asah is all about the view, as are most Bukits in Bali. This is one that you don’t have to climb though, with the road taking you right over the top and down the other side to Virgin Beach. Stop at the top and enjoy some refreshments at multiple Warungs, or snap a photo or two on a couple of the swings that are strategically located hanging from tree limbs in the area.
The main attraction of Bukit Asah for the locals, however, is the camping. The entire point at the end of the Bukit has been put aside as a camping ground where you can rent fully erected tents on prime plots with views that go forever. Each tent comes with electricity, and the larger tents are even equipped with inner spring mattresses. You can’t go wrong!
To find Bukit Asah, take the first turn off to Virgin Beach, or look at the location here on Google maps.
Prices for Camping, as of October 2020 are as follows. 150k Rupe for a small tent (2 person). 250k Rupe for a medium tent with mattresses (4 person) and extra large dome tent with mattresses and lounge chairs for 400k rupe. Prices are per night per tent.
#7 Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang
This is literally a Hidden gem in Bali. The proof is in the name!
In truth, Hidden Canyon is not exactly hidden, it’s just that not too many people know that it exists. Situated in the Gianyar Region, it is not too far north of Sanur and very close to Tegenungan Waterfall.
You will pay a higher entrance fee at Hidden Canyon than you would at a waterfall, but it is entirely worth it. With the fee you get a guide, which is essential because this is actually an adventure trek.
The canyon is just that, a canyon that winds up the river, boasting green walls and crystal clear river water. You will jump, climb, swing and swim your way up the canyon for a full couple of hours, depending on how big your group is and how adventurous you are. To finish it off, you will exit the canyon and walk back to the start point through beautiful rice paddies and orchards. The perfect way to end your day.
To find Hidden Canyon Beji Guwang, you can come from Ubud or Sanur. It is easy to find from anywhere in southern Bali.
Click here for Google maps location.
#8 Sunset Point, Amed
For anyone that has been to Amed, this is not exactly a hidden location in Bali. For those that have not, you are the reason Sunset Point has made the list.
There is nothing so special about this place, except the view and, of course, the sunsets. If you have ever seen a beautiful photo on Instagram or Facebook of a sunset in Bali, with the sun setting alongside or over the top of Mount Agung, then it is a good bet that the photo was taken from this location!
Not too much more can be said for this one. To find it, drive along the coast road through Amed until you find the Sunset Point Restaurant. Find yourself a table before sunset, order a drink, sit back and enjoy.
Click here for Google location.
#9 Bukit Belong
Bukit Belong is another place for a great photo opportunity. You can find it in Gunaksa village, Klungkung, about halfway between Sanur and Karangasem. Consisting of a great, grass covered hill, it sports brilliant views out over the surrounding rice paddies, the coast, and all the way to Nusa Penida.
This Hidden gem of Bali is just off the road, but you will pay a small entrance fee to park. From the carpark you climb the hill up a steep path for as high as you want to go in order to get your photos. Taking some snaps of yourself waist high in seemingly endless grass with the brilliant view as your backdrop is sure to get you a lot of love on Instagram!
Click here for a Google location of Bukit Belong.
#10 Gili Putih Sumberkima
My tenth Hidden Gem in Bali is one that not many know about….yet. Gili Putih Sumberkima is a small sand island that is located just off the coast of Pemuteran, in north west Bali.
This thin little strip of sand has seen a bit of love on Instagram of late, with some very nice drone shots taken of it at sunset. As you can imagine, it is very picturesque, and the view actually FROM the island of the nearby coast and mountains of Bali is just as good.
There is not much to do on Gili Putih Sumberkima, but then that is sort of the point. The island has a swing (for photos) and a couple of Bale style huts to rest from the sun inside. Other than that, it is sand and shells for as far as you can walk. Bring your towel, lay down and rest on the most peaceful beach you will find. This really is the typical desert island. The best part is, it’s only about 20 minutes by boat from the mainland.
For a Google location on Gili Putih Sumberkima, click here.
To get to Gili Putih Sumberkima, head down to the harbor and speak to the local fishermen. They will be glad to take you out to the island if you wave some cash around. It’s an easy days work for them, after all. If you have any issues then message us here at Trek Indonesia and we can give you the number of a local who will arrange it for you.
#11 – Kayu Putih
I can hear you asking already. What is a Kayu Putih?
Kayu Putih is the name of an ancient tree in Bayan Village in Tabanan. For that reason, it is often better known at Bayan Ancient Tree. It is also regularly mistaken as being a Banyan tree, but this is incorrect and the disinformation simply comes from the name of the village “Bayan” sounding so much like “Banyan”.
Kayu Putih means “white wood” in Indonesian, and you can see why as soon as you pull in to the carpark, with the massive white trunk towering over top of you. The massive roots alone are as big as many other trees in the area!
According to locals, the tree is as old as 700 years, which would make it one of the oldest trees in Bali. It is over 50m tall, and once you take a walk around the base you get a real feel for how big Kayu Putih actually is.
There are many, many places to take photos at this tree, with the roots winding away at so many interesting angles, and the trunk making so many twists and turns that you will find multiple nooks and crannies to pose in. When we were there, we were taking photos for 15 minutes on one side of the tree, and didn’t even realise there were other people on the opposite side of the tree also taking photos. It is literally THAT big!
To find Kayu Putih, simply click HERE for google location.
#12 Serayu Pot and Terracotta
Yes, for my final Hidden Gem in Bali, we have a shop!
Unless you have been living under a rock, you will have seen many photos on Instagram of tourists in places such as Ubud Art Markets, or colorful Fruit Stalls in Bali. The multiple colors at these places are very attractive to the camera.
Enter Serayu Pot and Terracotta shop in Ubud. This little Hidden Gem can be found just off the main road, and is literally just a Terracotta shop. The main attraction here is the wonderful way they have displayed their pots by hanging them from the ceiling, forming a long arched tunnel to walk through and pose for photos surrounded by the multiple shapes and colors. The photography potential is amazing.
The way Serayu Pot and Terracotta have set themselves up is very clever, and you can stop by for photos anytime for the simple cost of a small donation.
It doesn’t stop at just photos, however. Take some time to watch the elderly proprietor at the front of the store as he painstakingly paints his pots. He has personally painted every single pot in the shop, and there are thousands!
As an added bonus, take a walk next door, which is also part of Serayu Pot and Terracotta. You will find a set of stairs that lead up to their quaint little coffee shop. Here, they hold pottery classes for those that are interested. Also, it is a nice spot for more photos, and the stairs leading up to the shop are lined with larger, colorful pots and is also great for photos!
For Google maps location of Serayu Pot and Terracotta, click HERE.
Bonus Hidden Gem In Bali
That’s right! For sticking with us through the whole list we have thrown in a hidden bonus. And this one is one of our favorite locations on the whole island.
Jatiluwih Rice Terraces.
Now, you may or may not have heard of these rice terraces, but most people who come to Bali and want to visit rice terraces go to Tegalalang. THIS is a mistake. Tegalalang is over commercialized and you struggle to see the terraces unless you stop and go into a restaurant. There is none of this at Jatiluwih.
As you enter the village you will be asked to pay a fee. 15k rupe is a small price to pay, and we will tell you why.
These are the most beautiful Rice Terraces in the whole of Bali. Without a doubt. As you drive around the hills they are everywhere, without any shops or warungs or restaurants blocking them. There’s plenty of places to stop and take photos, unhindered and unencumbered. This is Rice Paddy heaven.
So if you want some beautiful green photos, head up the middle of the island toward Bedugal and strike off to the west to find the Terraces.
Google location is here.
Where to stay for these hidden gems in Bali
Looking for a place to stay for some of these Hidden Gems in Bali? Look no further! We have broken it down by region for you!
Ubud – for Hidden Canyon, Bukit Belong and Jatiluwih
Pemuteran – For Bukit Kursi and Gili Putih Sumberkima
Amed – for Sunset Point
Karangasem – For Bukit Cinta, Bukit Asah and Virgin Beach
Uluwatu – For Green Bowl Beach
Tabanan – For Bunut Bolong
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