Bali Ghost Tour: The Biggest Abandoned Hotel in Bali

The main draw here is Bedugul’s abandoned hotel, a huge unfinished building wrapped in local ghost stories. It is an unusual stop in Bali, and the tour adds a temple on Lake Bratan, a waterfall, and mountain photo sites to make a full day of it.

I like the private minivan, included lunch, and round-trip pickup. I also like the mix of eerie ruins, Balinese culture, and cool highland scenery. The catch is the long 10-hour day, plus walking at Banyumala and a minimum booking of two people.

Key points to know before booking

• The abandoned hotel is the star: Spend about an hour inside the famous Bedugul building, known locally as the Ghost Palace.
• Four very different stops: The day combines Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, the hotel, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls, and Wanagiri Hidden Hills.
• Your own driver and guide: This is a private tour, not a bus outing. Guides named Dekwi, Radi, and Benik have received especially warm praise.
• Lunch and transport are included: The price covers Indonesian lunch, bottled water, air-conditioned minivan transport, and hotel pickup and drop-off.
• Plan for a physical day: Banyumala involves walking, and the tour asks for a moderate fitness level.
• Good value for two people: At $61.54 per person, the price covers roughly 10 hours of private transport, guiding, entrance fees, and lunch.

Why the abandoned Bedugul Hotel is worth the trip

Bali is full of temples, beaches, rice fields, and busy tourist roads. The abandoned Bedugul Hotel offers something very different: a large, empty building with a strange past and an atmosphere that feels out of place beside the island’s natural beauty.

The hotel was built around the 1990s with plans to become the biggest hotel in the area. It was never completed or opened as intended. Over time, the building became known among local people as the Ghost Palace. The tour gives you about an hour to explore and hear the stories connected with it.

This is not a polished museum visit. The appeal is the abandoned setting itself: unfinished rooms, quiet corridors, and a sense of a project left behind. If you enjoy unusual architecture, local legends, and places that feel far from the normal sightseeing route, this will likely be the most memorable stop.

Keep your expectations sensible. The tour description does not promise a staged haunted attraction, special effects, or paranormal activity. You are visiting an abandoned hotel and learning about its spooky reputation. The experience works best if you enjoy atmosphere and storytelling rather than expecting a theatrical ghost show.

Your guide matters here. A good guide can explain the hotel’s background, keep the visit flowing, and help you see details you might miss on your own. Dekwi, Radi, and Benik have each been praised for friendly, personal service. Radi was specifically noted for his good English and helpful explanations, while Benik was praised for humor and taking cool photos.

Ulun Danu Bratan Temple and the lake setting

The first stop is Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, with about an hour to look around. The temple sits on Lake Bratan, creating the famous impression that its shrines float on the water. Hills rise behind the lake, giving you one of Bali’s most recognizable temple views.

This is an excellent opening stop because it sets a calm tone before the abandoned hotel. You get a taste of Bali’s spiritual side, with water, mountain air, and temple architecture all in one place. The tour includes admission, so you do not need to arrange a separate ticket.

Bring a respectful attitude and dress appropriately for a temple visit. The supplied information does not specify a dress code, so follow your guide’s instructions if temple rules require extra covering. Your one-hour visit is long enough for photographs and a look around, but not so long that the day begins to drag.

The temple is also a reminder that this tour is not only about ghosts. Its appeal comes from the contrast between a working sacred site and a deserted hotel. One stop is carefully maintained and spiritually important. The next is unfinished, silent, and tied to local stories.

Walking through Banyumala Twin Waterfalls

Banyumala is scheduled for about an hour and is described as one of Bali’s most beautiful waterfalls. The stop gives you time to see the falls, take photographs, and swim if conditions suit you.

There is some walking involved, and the tour requires a moderate level of physical fitness. That detail matters. This is not a stop where you simply step out of the minivan, take one picture, and get back in. Wear shoes suitable for walking and expect the route to be worth the effort once you reach the viewpoint and water.

Swimming is listed as an option, but the tour information does not promise changing facilities or specify water conditions. If you want to swim, bring what you need and ask your guide what makes sense on the day. If you would rather stay dry, the waterfall still provides a strong nature stop after the hotel.

The one-hour schedule keeps Banyumala from taking over the day. It also means you should not expect a long, slow waterfall visit. You will need to balance photographs, walking, and swimming within the time available.

Wanagiri Hidden Hills and the photo stops

Wanagiri Hidden Hills is the tour’s most deliberate photo stop. You have about an hour to use the swings, bird nest, and other viewpoints, with Buyan Lake forming the backdrop.

These photo structures are designed for posed pictures, so this stop suits you if you want memorable holiday photos without arranging a separate photography visit. Guides on this tour have been praised for helping with pictures, which is useful when you are traveling as a couple and want more than a series of selfies.

Wanagiri is not presented as a long cultural visit. Its purpose is the view and the photo setups. That makes it a good change of pace after the temple, hotel, and waterfall, but it may feel too staged if you prefer quiet natural viewpoints.

The private format helps here. Your guide can give you time to take pictures instead of moving a large group from one platform to the next. You still have a fixed schedule, though, so do not assume you can spend unlimited time at every swing or viewpoint.

What a private 10-hour day feels like

The tour starts at 8 a.m. and lasts about 10 hours. Pickup and drop-off are included, and transport is by air-conditioned minivan. For a highland route with several stops, that arrangement is a major part of the value.

You are not responsible for navigating between the temple, hotel, waterfall, and photo sites. You can also adjust small details with your guide more easily than you could on a shared bus. One important point from the tour feedback is that some people booked expecting a bus and were pleasantly surprised to have their own driver and guide instead.

The private setup also makes the day more personal. Guides associated with the company include Dekwi, Radi, and Benik. Their praised qualities differ slightly, but the common theme is friendly service, clear communication, and help with photographs. You cannot assume a particular guide will be assigned, so ask about availability when booking if one matters to you.

Ten hours is a long outing. The benefit is that you fit four substantial stops into one day. The cost is tiredness, especially after walking at Banyumala and spending time outdoors. This is best treated as a full-day excursion, not a casual half-day trip you can squeeze between other plans.

Lunch, bottled water, and the $61.54 price

The tour costs $61.54 per person and requires at least two people per booking. For two people, that means $123.08 before any optional spending. The price includes private transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, lunch, bottled water, taxes, fees, handling charges, and admission where listed.

That is a solid package for a private 10-hour day. A shared trip might cost less in some cases, but it would not offer the same control over the vehicle, guide, or pace. Here, the price is not only paying for entry tickets. It also covers the time and convenience of having someone handle the route.

Lunch is Indonesian food, but the supplied details do not name the restaurant, dishes, or meal choices. If you have dietary restrictions, ask before departure rather than assuming the included meal will suit you. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

The price makes the most sense for couples, friends, or families who can split the private vehicle cost. Solo visitors cannot book this experience alone because two people are required. Group discounts are offered, so larger parties should ask how the rate changes.

Who will enjoy this Bali ghost tour most

I would choose this tour if you want a day with strong variety. In one outing, you see a lake temple, an abandoned building, a waterfall, and photo viewpoints. That range is useful if you have limited time in Bali and want more than one type of attraction.

It suits people who enjoy local legends but do not need a full horror production. The abandoned hotel is the central theme, yet the rest of the day remains a standard sightseeing route with nature and culture.

It also works well for visitors who value private transport. You get pickup, drop-off, an air-conditioned minivan, a guide, and lunch in one booking. The private format is especially helpful for couples who want the option to take their time with photographs.

I would think twice if you dislike staged photo attractions, long drives, or walking on a full day. The hotel may also disappoint you if you expect a carefully preserved historic site. Its appeal is the abandoned condition and the stories around it, not polished interpretation or formal exhibits.

Practical tips for making the day easier

Start with comfortable clothing and shoes. Banyumala requires walking, and the tour asks for moderate physical fitness. If you plan to swim, bring suitable clothing, but confirm the practical arrangements with your guide.

Bring a phone or camera with enough battery for the temple, hotel, waterfall, and Wanagiri. The itinerary offers several photo opportunities, and the guides have been praised for helping with pictures.

Keep some flexibility in your expectations. The experience is scheduled by the hour, but a private guide can make the day feel less rigid than a large group outing. Small changes may depend on conditions and timing.

The tour has free cancellation if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 8 a.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, so make your plans carefully.

Should you book the Bedugul ghost tour?

Book it if the idea of exploring Bali’s abandoned hotel genuinely interests you and you want several other major stops included. The private vehicle, lunch, admission, and guide make $61.54 per person a fair price, especially for two or more people sharing the day.

The strongest reasons to go are the unusual hotel, the personal guide service, and the variety of the route. The main reasons to skip it are the long 10-hour schedule, the walking required at Banyumala, and the possibility that the Wanagiri photo setups feel too commercial for your taste.

For couples and small groups who want a private day outside central Ubud, I would put this high on the list. Just book it for the mix of abandoned architecture, temple scenery, waterfall time, and mountain views, not for a guaranteed supernatural encounter.

FAQ

Where does the Bali Ghost Tour take place?

The tour is based in Ubud, Indonesia, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. The stops are in the Bedugul and northern Bali area.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 8:00 a.m.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 10 hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and transport is provided in a private air-conditioned minivan.

What places are included?

The tour visits Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, the abandoned Bedugul Hotel, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls, and Wanagiri Hidden Hills.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An Indonesian lunch and bottled water are included. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

Does the tour include entrance fees?

Admission is included for Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls, and Wanagiri Hidden Hills. The abandoned hotel has no admission charge listed.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.