Pura Ulun Danu Batur — Attraction in Pulau Bali

A Scam Disguised as a Temple - Avoid at All Costs!

I regret to inform potential visitors that our experience at Pura Ulun Danu Batur was not one of spiritual or cultural enrichment, but rather a systematic and stressful scam from start to finish. I strongly advise everyone to avoid this place.

The issues began immediately after purchasing the "donation" ticket for 50,000 IDR. The ticket explicitly states that it includes a "Balinese Headband, Shawl, Sarong, Local Guide." However, right after paying, the ticket lady directed us to two women who were supposed to equip us.

They immediately asked if we wanted to buy a new sarong. We declined. They then proceeded to dress us in standard sarongs, only to demand an additional 25,000 IDR per person for "rental." When we firmly refused, stating everything was included in the ticket, their excuse was that these were "more beautiful" sarongs and the free ones were different. After a firm standoff, they reluctantly let us go without paying, but the confrontation was entirely unnecessary and set a terrible tone.

The situation worsened at the temple entrance. The security guard who checked our ticket deliberately tore off the entire right side of the ticket—the very part that listed all the included services (including the guide). This was clearly a coordinated tactic to remove proof of what we had paid for.

Shortly after, we were assigned a "local guide" who could barely speak English. Her entire vocabulary seemed to be "me follow you." She followed two steps behind us throughout the temple, completely incapable of explaining any history or significance of the site. Her presence was useless, awkward, and eventually became irritating. When we finally asked her to leave us alone, she immediately demanded payment for his "services." This was the final straw. We, of course, refused to pay him anything.

The temple itself is in a beautiful location with a superb view, but that is the only positive thing I can say.

It is my firm belief that the entire staff—from the ticket lady and the sarong attendants to the "guide" and the security guard—are part of a coordinated criminal group with the sole intention of scamming and extorting money from tourists at every turn.

Do not waste your time or money here. The beautiful scenery is not worth the hassle, deception, and utter lack of respect shown to visitors. If you do decide to go, be prepared to argue and firmly refuse all...

Avoid this temple unless you bring a guide and your own sarong & sash.

I was visiting with a friend as we were both interested in Pura Ulun Danu Batur given its size, spiritual significance for the Balinese, impressive architecture, and the fact that it is part of Bali's UNESCO World Heritage site.

Unfortunately, our experience matched those of the many existing reviews saying it is a tourist trap. My friend is a local Indonesian and I am a Jakarta resident who speaks the language in daily life. After buying our tickets we were ushered into a dark space where women tried to sell us a sarong, and then forced us to pay 50,000 rupiah each for the rental.

Then we were asked to follow an older man whose general purpose was to chaperone us and point the way out - this was quite silly as there were signs saying "exit" (keluar) in Indonesian. He expected a tip at the end and left with a scowl after we returned to the car and closed the doors. He barely talked throughout the time he was with us and it was never stated that payment was required for his "services".

Before leaving the temple, this man showed us a viewpoint at the back and suddenly disappeared for a long time. A random person came up to us and started talking... he was friendly enough but when it came time to go, he asked us to have a look at his collection of miniature paintings. Then we were surrounded and followed by a gang of kids with postcards, all loudly asking us to buy them.

It was truly the most unpleasant experience of our stay in Bali. If you must enter Pura Ulun Danu Batur, it is far better to visit as part of a group than going independently. And bring your own sarong and sash to avoid getting scammed like we were after paying the...

I am so sorry to given this beautiful holy place only 1 star…but the people ‘working’ at that place are so not like the tipical Balinese people are…they are trying to scam you in every step that you take. There is free parking lot and when you just arrive there is a lot of people screaming to you, trying to sell something or what?! We were trying to enjoy at this beautiful temple also from the outside and there was always some woman disturbing us and also going to close to me! On the other side of the temple, across the road, there is a ticket counter. PLEASE BE AWARE that sarong and the belt IS INCLUDED in the price of the ticket of 50k. But they will trying to force you to buy sarong, just tell them you are borrowing it not buying it. When you finally get the sarong and away from all that women, there is some nice guy, checking your tickets. And all the way into the temple you trying to enjoy it and inhale all that beautiful holy space but you simply can’t! Because there is still a woman walking around with you like a shadow! I was so disapointed in this experience because this place in really nice place! You can see the locals doing their oferings and all the beautiful architecture and holy spaces…but this approach is inappropriate. It is really a shame that some people are destroying such nice places with their attitude. If they weren’t be so intrusive I would buy something from them, because I always support locals, but not in that way, sorry, really not. Because of this I barely remember something...