Region Guide
Central Bali & Highlands
About Central Bali & Highlands
Central Bali is where the island reveals its soul. Centered on Ubud, in the Gianyar regency at roughly 300 meters elevation, the highlands feel worlds removed from the beach resorts despite being only 30 kilometers away. The air is cooler, the light is softer, and the sound of the gamelan drifts through open-walled pavilions beside rice fields at golden hour. This is Bali as painters and writers imagined it — and the art scene here is not a tourist fabrication but a living tradition. Ubud's modern identity as a cultural destination was shaped in the 1930s when German painter Walter Spies and Dutch artist Rudolf Bonnet settled here, collaborating with local craftsmen and establishing the Pita Maha artists' cooperative. Their influence fused Western compositional technique with traditional Balinese decorative style, producing the distinctive Ubud painting school visible today in the galleries along Jalan Monkey Forest. The royal family of Ubud — the Sukawati dynasty — were patrons of this cultural flowering, and the puri (royal palace) remains the symbolic center of town. Beyond Ubud, central Bali extends north through the volcanic highland corridor. At Kintamani, the ancient caldera of Mount Batur — an active stratovolcano — drops away to the sacred black lake below, its flanks still marked by lava flows from the 1968 eruption. Bedugul, further west, sits at a series of crater lakes where Pura Ulun Danu Bratan, a water temple dedicated to the goddess Dewi Danu, appears to float on the misty surface of Lake Bratan. The rice terraces of Jatiluwih — a UNESCO World Heritage subak irrigation system — spread across the flanks of Mount Batukaru in a landscape that has been farmed continuously for over a thousand years.
Why Visit Central Bali & Highlands?
Central Bali offers something no other region can match: authentic immersion in Balinese Hindu culture within a landscape of extraordinary natural beauty. The density of temples is staggering — virtually every village has its own pura desa (village temple), pura puseh (temple of origin), and pura dalem (temple of the dead), each maintained with fresh offerings and regular ceremony. Ubud's night performances of legong, kecak, barong, and wayang kulit provide access to artistic traditions that predate tourism by centuries. The wellness scene — anchored by dozens of yoga shala, ayurvedic spas, and organic retreat centers — draws those seeking renewal rather than recreation. For walkers, the rice field paths and river gorges around Campuhan and Tegallalang offer some of the most beautiful short hikes on the island.
Best Time to Visit
Central Bali's higher elevation means it receives more rainfall than the coast, and the wet season from November through March brings heavier and more persistent rain than the south. The best window is April through October, with July and August the driest months — ideal for trekking Mount Batur at dawn or cycling through highland villages. The shoulder months of April, May, and September offer good weather with fewer crowds. Ubud's ceremony calendar is year-round — Galungan and Kuningan (which occur every 210 days in the Balinese Pawukon calendar) are especially spectacular, with penjor bamboo poles lining every street.
Getting Around
Within Ubud, most attractions are walkable or reachable by a short scooter ride. Scooter rental is the most practical option at $5-8 USD per day, though Ubud's roads are narrow and often steep. For day trips to Kintamani, Bedugul, Jatiluwih, or the surrounding villages, a private driver for the day ($40-55 USD) is the most comfortable choice. GoJek and Grab operate in Ubud but are restricted from picking up directly on the main Monkey Forest road. Metered taxis are available but scarce. Walking the rice field tracks between Campuhan, Penestanan, and neighboring banjar (village wards) is one of the genuine pleasures of central Bali.
Highlights
The most photographed landscape in Bali — stepped rice terraces carved into steep hillsides north of Ubud, irrigated by the traditional subak cooperative system. Best visited at dawn before the tour groups arrive.
A sacred Hindu water temple at Tampaksiring fed by a natural spring considered holy since the 10th century. Balinese Hindus come here to perform melukat — ritual purification by immersion in the spring pools.
A 2-hour predawn hike up the active volcano at 1,717 meters, rewarded with sunrise over the caldera and, on clear mornings, views across to Lombok. One of the most popular sunrise treks in Southeast Asia.
An 11th-century temple complex outside Ubud featuring a carved stone cave entrance depicting demonic faces, bathing pools, and meditation niches. One of Bali's most significant archaeological sites.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site — vast subak-irrigated rice terraces on the flanks of Mount Batukaru that have been cultivated without interruption for over 1,000 years. Far less crowded than Tegallalang.
The central Ubud market opposite the royal Puri Saren palace sells the best selection of Balinese handicrafts, paintings, and textiles on the island. The palace itself hosts nightly dance performances.
A 9km scenic trail from central Ubud along a narrow ridge between two sacred rivers (Wos Barat and Wos Timur), passing through artists' villages and rice paddies. One of the few free activities near Ubud.
Best For
Cities & Towns in Central Bali & Highlands
Explore the destinations that make up this region. Click on a city to read the full travel guide.
Budget Guide
| Category | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | $35-55/day | — | — |
| midrange | $80-150/day | — | — |
| luxury | $200-500+/day | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources & References
Last updated: March 28, 2026
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