Private Tour

The Essence Of Bali

Overview

Available languages

English

5 hours

Mobile ticket

“Discover the Essence of Bali”

The Pakerisan River Valley to the north east of Ubud was listed as a Cultural Heritage Area by UNESCO in 2012. This mystical river valley contains ancient ancestral sites dating back to 8th - 12th centuries. Ancient animist beliefs and influences of Hinduism and Buddhism spread from India to Bali via Javanese kingdoms.

On this journey with Bali Pure Tour, learn about how these ancient belief systems unified.

Also learn about the irrigation system known in Bali as subak, Balinese architecture,  and Balinese outlook on life called Tri Hita Karana- a philosophy which maintains balance among the natural, physical and spiritual worlds.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What To Expect

Manukaya

From hotel drive through backroads to Penempahan village Welcome drink at Balinese family Compound and see Balinese Script “Lontar” and Mask “Topeng”

1 minute • Admission Not Applicable

Visiting Ancestral Temple dating back to 8th century. Continue to a sacred water temple at Tampaksiring dating back to 11th century where devotees come to spiritually cleanse themselves by bathing in the holy springs. You are also welcome to take part with sarong and towels provided. Conclude your temple explorations at the largest Buddhist stupa on Bali where Hindu and Buddhist iconography are combined in dedication to Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. Enjoy a lovely lunch with your hosts. Back to hotel

4 hours • Admission Included

What‘s Included

Private transportation

Lunch

Coffee and/or Tea

Available to Purchase

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Options

The Essence Of Bali

Pickup included

Reviews

5.00

5 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

A must
baraar2025,,Aug 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A must-do in Ubud, far from the tourist crowds – a true Balinese immersion that is culinary, cultural, and spiritual all at once. Gede explains every detail with passion, while Yoga cooks delicious dishes infused with spices straight from Gede’s family garden. An unforgettable experience – don’t miss it
A deep day experiencing the essence of Bali in a beautiful World Heritage village
Global287057,,Mar 12, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Gede, a native of Nampan village, located about 40 minutes by car from the center of Ubud, opened his house to show us the lifestyle, culture, architecture, and beliefs of the villagers. There was a lot to learn from the unique structure of their houses and the way they share everything within their community. Our guides, Gede and Eka, are well versed in Balinese culture, philosophy, history, and more, and are passionate about sharing them and preserving their traditions. Nyoman is currently studying Japanese, and all three were kind and wonderful guides. The tour included jungle trekking and a ritual called merukat, which is a sacred ritual of purifying the body and mind at a waterfall, which cannot be done without a local guide. All explanations are in English, so a certain level of English comprehension is required. I have participated in many tours so far, but I have never been as impressed as I was with Bali Pure Tour. I recommend it to repeat visitors to Bali, first-time visitors, and residents. (Approved by a friend who has lived in Bali for 17 years) If you go to Bali, please try it!
The best tour I’ve ever experienced!
Global287057,,Mar 11, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Hands down, Bali Pure Tour offers the best tour I’ve ever experienced. Our guides Gede, Eka and Nyoman are such genuine and kind people and they are passionate about sharing their culture as well as preserving it. We visited an ancient village called Nempan, there Gede graciously opened his house to us. We learned how villagers live in harmony, I was inspired to adopt their beautiful perspective and way of life. They served us incredible home cooking lunch ( the best meal had in Bali!) and the purification ceremony was a surreal experience. You MUST GO if you’re in Bali, it was absolutely a mind blowing experience!
Explore Balinese culture and spiritual foundations
foodsterPortland,,Sep 18, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We learned of this tour from our hotel, the Alam Indah in Ubud (wonderful place to stay). Our tour covered three temples, an Animist, a Hindu and a Buddhist one. The tour guide Ari and the driver Wayan, arrived early. Ari was so knowledgeable, answering all of our many questions completely, professionally and patiently. His command of English was impressive. The tour included a stop at the family home of Gede, the tour proprietor, where we had drinks and a snack. We learned about the roles of family and community in Bali as well as how homes are organized. After that, we visited the three temples. This included the opportunity to bathe and be spiritually cleansed at the Hindu temple and to participate in a prayer ritual with a priest at the Buddhist temple. We then went to Gede’s family rice paddies and had a wonderful lunch featuring Balinese cuisine. We returned to our hotel feeling moved with appreciation for the Balinese people and their spiritual foundation. This was an amazing experience which we recommend without reservation.
A tour that brings you a closer understanding of Balinese religion and community.
barbaraoG578LF,,Aug 31, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This Essence of Bali tour gave us an understanding of Balinese culture that is non-touristic and sensitive. Hoping to find a temple tour we were very fortunate to book this one. Our host Gede showed us three important temples rarely visited by tourists. Our guide Ari, spoke perfect English. We were served an incredible home-cooked meal, the best food I had in Indonesia. The tour included a visit to Gede’s family house. Gede explained Balinese religion and invited us to participate in ceremony. This tour was one of the best things we did in Bali. Highly recommend exploring with Ari and Gede.