Bedugul or Kintamani: choosing a Bali highlands escape
Bali newsBali9 min read
Bali's central highlands offer a cooler alternative to the island's beaches and Ubud, with Bedugul and Kintamani standing out as key destinations. Bedugul, known for its lakeside charm, features the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple, botanical gardens, and affordable accommodation, with guesthouses around $15-$25 per night in 2026. The area is Bali's primary strawberry producer, and meals at local warungs typically cost $3-$6. Kintamani, in contrast, offers dramatic volcanic landscapes, including Mount Batur and Lake Batur, and is popular for sunrise treks. Accommodation ranges from $18-$35 per night, and dining at viewpoint cafes costs $4-$8. Both regions require cash for most transactions, and a private driver, costing $35-$50 for an eight-hour trip, is recommended for transport. Entry fees for major attractions are modest, such as $5 for Pura Ulun Danu Beratan and $3.50 for the Kintamani Area. Temperatures drop significantly after sunset, especially for Mount Batur treks, where it can reach 10°C before dawn, so warm clothing is essential. A two-week itinerary could include two nights in Bedugul and two in Kintamani, allowing travelers to experience both regions. A couple can comfortably explore either area on a daily budget of $60-$80, excluding major guided treks.
Original source
This summary was generated from a story originally published by Bali news.
More from Bali
Bali news·20 mins ago
Preferred Hotels & Resorts adds four Bali properties to its portfolio
Preferred Hotels & Resorts has expanded its global portfolio by adding four new hotels in Bali, increasing its total number of member properties in Indonesia to five. The newly added hotels are Ametis Villa Bali in Canggu, Nuju Uluwatu in Uluwatu, Samsara Ubud in Ubud, and The Meru Sanur in Sanur. These additions bring the group's South-east Asian portfolio to 25 properties across seven countries. Christine Tan, area managing director, Southeast Asia, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, stated that these properties enhance the diversity of their regional portfolio and offer more choices for travelers in Asia-Pacific. The four properties represent various segments of Bali's hospitality market, including private villas, boutique retreats, and beachfront resorts, and participate in the I Prefer Hotel Rewards program.
4 min read
Must readBali news·2 hours ago
Vincent Leroy's kinetic sculpture "Eccentric Lenses" transforms Munduk, Bali landscape
Artist Vincent Leroy's "Eccentric Lenses" installation in Munduk, Bali, offers a dynamic optical experience. This kinetic sculpture uses Fresnel lenses that interact with the wind, continuously altering the perception of the surrounding landscape. Each lens pivots on an off-center axis, creating an illusion of languid drifting and constantly generating new configurations. As the lenses rotate, they cause the mountains, fields, and sky to appear inverted and fractured, making the stable vistas fluid and ever-evolving. The artwork explores a unique rotation paradigm where centers shift, creating an uncertain axis, and allows the landscape to seem animated as it is projected through the shifting lens surfaces. The installation provides countless perspectives, with the horizon subtly shifting and natural features constantly rearranging, especially as daylight fades and the lenses scatter light. "Eccentric Lenses" aims to open dialogues between constructed and natural worlds, inviting viewers to reconsider their perspectives within the environment.
5 min read
Bali news·6 hours ago
Oregon Zoo displays critically endangered Bali myna to raise awareness
The Oregon Zoo has placed a rare female Bali myna, also known as the Bali starling, in its public Vollum Aviary. This species, the official bird of Bali, Indonesia, is listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Poaching and habitat loss drastically reduced its wild population to just six birds in 2001, with fewer than 100 adults estimated to remain in their native habitat today. The female myna arrived at the Oregon Zoo in November 2023 through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan. She previously raised a chick with an older male, and after the male's death, she was moved to the Vollum Aviary. Nicole LaGreco, who oversees the zoo's bird population, highlighted the importance of this public display in raising awareness about the species and the threats it faces. Poaching for the illegal pet trade is the primary threat, as the bird is highly prized and holds significant national symbolism in Bali. The Wildlife Trafficking Alliance, in partnership with the International Fund for Animal Welfare, works to discourage keeping wild animals as pets. Oregon residents can report suspected illegal animal sales to the Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division hotline.
4 min read