Pura Besakih: tickets, dress code and fake guides at the entrance
Pura Besakih sits on the slope of Mount Agung. It is Bali's main temple complex, often called the "mother of all temples." The ticket for foreigners costs 150,000 IDR (as of 09/2026, complex ticket service), and the main services are already included in the price. The challenge is not the ticket: the round trip with a tour takes half a day, and you may be met by fake guides at the entrance.
We have put together practical information about this place: how much entry costs, what hours the complex is open, how to dress, and how to get there from Ubud or from the south of the island. You will see where to park, how much time to allow for the climb to the upper shrines, and how to respond to the tricks of local "helpers."
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What to know before your visit
💡 In short:
- The ticket for foreigners costs 150,000 IDR, and a sarong, sash, and local guide are already included in the price (as of 09/2026, opening hours and rates).
- The complex is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00, and on the day of silence, Nyepi, it is closed to all visitors.
- Arrive at opening time: after 10:00 tour buses start arriving, and clouds cover the summit of Agung.
Besakih is an active Hindu temple, not an open-air museum. Some courtyards are open only to worshippers, so follow the dress code.
A separate note about money. The official ticket office is easy to recognize by the queue and payment terminal; you pay once to enter the grounds. If someone asks you for money for "access" once you are already inside, decline calmly and without arguing. Small offerings at individual shrines are 10,000-20,000 IDR and remain voluntary (as of 09/2026, offering amounts).
Where Pura Besakih is located
The complex occupies the southwestern slope of Mount Agung at an altitude of about 1,000 m above sea level (as of 09/2026, official data). Administratively, it is the village of Besakih in the Karangasem regency in eastern Bali. The site is officially managed by the organization BPFKSPAB, which has its own website.
© ::::=UT=:::: · CC BY-SAPhoto: ::::=UT=::::, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia CommonsThe complex itself unites 23 separate temples standing on six terraced levels (as of 09/2026, complex description). The main one, Pura Penataran Agung, stretches along the central axis and rises as an eleven-tiered meru pagoda. You have probably seen this view on postcards from Bali.
Several dozen more shrines are scattered across the slope, about 86 altars in total (as of 09/2026, temple structure). Stone staircases connect the levels, and the grounds extend almost 3 km up the volcano (as of 09/2026, route length).
Tickets and opening hours
There is a single ticket for all foreign visitors, with no child rates (as of 09/2026, entrance tickets). It includes four things: sarong rental, a sash, a mandatory local guide, and an electric shuttle from the parking lot to the entrance. Keep your paper ticket and wristband, as they let you onto this ascent.
What | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
Foreign visitor entry | 150,000 IDR (as of 09/2026, entry prices) | sarong, sash, guide, electric shuttle |
Offering at a shrine | 10,000-20,000 IDR (as of 09/2026, voluntary donations) | optional, in cash |
The complex is open every day from 07:00 to 18:00 (as of 09/2026, opening hours). The only exception is Nyepi, the day of silence, when everything is closed for 24 hours. During the Bhatara Turun Kabeh festival month it gets especially crowded here, and the roads leading to the temple are jammed.
If you want to come with an organized tour, check out tours to the temple on GetYourGuide.
Tours and tickets in Besakih
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How to get there from Ubud and the south of the island
Public transport to Besakih is practically nonexistent, so the easiest option is to rent a car with a driver for the whole day. The drive from Ubud takes about 90 minutes and covers 40 km, while a trip from Kuta or Seminyak is 60 km and can take up to 2.5 hours with traffic (as of 09/2026, transport to the temple).
From | Transport | Time | Price guide |
|---|---|---|---|
Ubud | car with driver | about 1.5 hours | 800,000 IDR per day (as of 09/2026, car with driver) |
Kuta or Seminyak | car with driver | up to 2.5 hours | 800,000 IDR per day (as of 09/2026, route from Kuta) |
Anywhere in Bali | scooter | depends on the route | 150,000 IDR per day (as of 09/2026, scooter rental) |
Major resorts | group tour, 8-10 hours | full day | 600,000 IDR plus ticket (as of 09/2026, group tours) |
If you don't want to drive along mountain switchbacks, rent a car with a driver in advance and agree on the route for the day. Park only at the official terminal at the foot of the temple: private operators on the approach road wave you into their yards and charge more for it.
There is almost nowhere to eat nearby, only simple warungs operate near the complex. A proper breakfast is best arranged at your hotel or in Ubud before you set off. Along the way you can combine the temple with the water palace Tirta Gangga, which is about an hour out of the way (as of 09/2026, trip plan).
Dress code and rules on site
A sarong and sash are mandatory for all visitors, and shoulders must be covered. The ticket already includes sarong and sash rental, so you do not need to buy them at the entrance (as of 09/2026, entry requirements). Wear shoes with a sturdy sole: between the terraces there are hundreds of steep stone steps with no handrails.
Access to the inner courtyards of Jeroan is open only to worshippers, and this rule is not negotiable. Taking photos of people praying inside is prohibited. Balinese custom bars entry to women during menstruation and to people with open wounds. Drones may be flown over the site only with permission from the Karangasem regency (as of 09/2026, visiting rules).
How to avoid fake guides at the entrance
The most common scenario is this: near the ticket office, people approach you and say the temple is closed for a ceremony. Then they offer a "secret" entrance for an extra fee. Do not believe them. There is only one official entrance, and a local guide is already included in the ticket (as of 09/2026, guest information).
The second trick involves offerings and souvenirs. Vendors place flowers in your hands and then demand payment. Politely decline. You can tip your own guide 10,000-20,000 IDR (as of 09/2026, tipping amount), which is normal local practice.
The third trick awaits on the approach: "helpers" redirect cars to private parking lots. Park at the official terminal and let your driver know in advance.
How much time to allow for the visit
A relaxed tour of the six levels takes about two hours. The ride from the parking terminal to the main entrance takes five minutes by electric shuttle, and it is included in the ticket (as of 09/2026, visit guidelines).
If you want to reach the upper shrine of Pura Pangubengan, add about half an hour of steep climbing up the steps. The descent back takes just as long, and after rain the steps become slippery. During the rainy season from November to March, bring a raincoat.
From the open upper terrace you will see the valley and rice fields far below. This view is worth the climb to the highest shrines of the complex.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does a ticket to Pura Besakih cost for foreigners?
A single ticket for foreign visitors costs 150,000 IDR (as of 09/2026, foreigner rate). Sarong, sash, guide, and the electric shuttle ride are already included. There are no child rates.
What hours is the temple complex open?
The complex is open daily from 07:00 to 18:00 (as of 09/2026, schedule). The best time to visit is in the morning from 07:00 to 09:00, before the buses arrive and while Agung is still clear of clouds. The complex is closed on Nyepi Day.
Do I need to hire a guide at the entrance?
No, a local guide is already included in the ticket (as of 09/2026, guide information). People near the ticket office who tell you the temple is closed and offer a "secret" entrance are running a scam. Walk straight to the official counter, get your wristband, and join your guide inside the complex.
Can you go inside the temples?
Tourists have access to the outer and middle courtyards, while the Jeroan sanctuary is reserved for worshippers (as of 09/2026, courtyard access). You can walk around the grounds and photograph the pagodas and stairways freely after buying a ticket.
How do you get there from Ubud?
From Ubud to the temple is about 40 km, and the drive takes roughly 90 minutes (as of 09/2026, route from Ubud). The most convenient option is to hire a car with a driver for the day and leave before 7:00 am. Park at the official terminal; from there, the electric shuttle takes you to the entrance as part of your ticket.
In short: what to book
Pura Besakih is a solid way to spend one full day in eastern Bali. Arrive by 7:00 am, buy a ticket for 150,000 IDR (as of 09/2026, price as of 09/2026), and head up to the upper shrines while it is still quiet and clear.
- If this is your first time in Bali: book an organized tour; the guide and transportation are already handled for you.
- If you have your own car: leave Ubud no later than 7:00 am and park only at the official terminal.
- If you only want to see the main temple: two hours and one ticket will be enough.
You can book a guided tour through GetYourGuide.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.