Let’s explore the deep, fascinating cultural contrasts of Bali.
If you want to step off the usual tourist tracks and see sides of the island that feel like an entirely different world, this trip is for you. We’re heading up into the cool highlands of Bangli and Kintamani to see two completely unique traditional villages and wrap up the day with a deeply spiritual cleansing ritual. It’s an eye-opening, beautiful day filled with history and sacred vibes.
The Immaculate and the Ancient
We’ll kick things off at Penglipuran Village, universally famous for being one of the cleanest and most beautifully preserved traditional villages in the world. Walking down its brick pathways lined with identical bamboo gates and manicured gardens feels incredibly peaceful. From there, we take a dramatic turn into deep history as we head to Kintamani, board a small boat across Lake Batur, and arrive at Trunyan Village. This is an ancient Bali Aga settlement with a fascinating, unique burial tradition—instead of cremating or burying their dead, they lay bodies out on the ground beneath a magical, massive Taru Menyan tree that inexplicably absorbs any odor. It’s a powerful, profoundly spiritual glimpse into an old world.
Purification at the Holy Spring
On our way back down the mountain, we’ll wind down the day at Tirta Empul Temple in Tampaksiring. This active, 10th-century Hindu water temple is built around a bubbling natural spring. If you're open to it, you can participate in 'Melukat'—a traditional ritual where you step into the stone pools and wash beneath the beautifully carved waters spouts to cleanse your mind and spirit. Feeling the cool, crisp water wash over you is the ultimate, grounding way to end this incredible day.
Visiting Trunyan is a deep cultural experience rather than something scary or macabre. The local people view death as a natural transition, and the outdoor cemetery is treated with great respect. Because of the unique Taru Menyan tree, there is completely no odor. It's a fascinating look at indigenous Balinese culture that predates modern traditions.
Yes, absolutely! The temple welcomes visitors of all backgrounds to experience the 'Melukat' purification. You just need to follow the rules of respect, which include wearing a specific green ritual sarong (available to rent at the temple) and keeping a mindful, calm attitude inside the sacred water pools.
You'll want comfortable walking shoes for the villages and a standard sarong/t-shirt that covers your shoulders for temple entry. If you plan to do the water purification at Tirta Empul, bring a towel, a plastic bag for wet items, and a dry change of clothes. Kintamani can get breezy, so a light jacket or sweater is great to have in the car.
Penglipuran and Tirta Empul are incredibly family and kid-friendly! Trunyan Village involves a 15-20 minute boat ride across Lake Batur, which older kids usually find to be quite an adventure. However, because Trunyan centers around an open cemetery, it might be best suited for older kids and teenagers who can appreciate the cultural context.
As with our standard setups, entrance fees and the local boat rental to cross Lake Batur to Trunyan are optional add-ons that you can easily select and customize during your booking checkout process.
