Bali Ghost Tour: The Biggest Abandoned Hotel in Bali

Bali’s strangest day trip starts with an empty hotel. This private 10-hour outing from Ubud combines the abandoned Bedugul Hotel with Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls, and Wanagiri Hidden Hills. I like the private vehicle and guide, since you can move at your own pace rather than follow a large bus group. I also like that lunch, bottled water, hotel pickup, and entrance fees are included.

The main drawback is the long day and moderate physical demand. Banyumala requires walking, and the hotel is not a polished attraction with tidy exhibits or clear museum-style interpretation. If you want a relaxed temple visit, this packed schedule may feel rushed. If eerie buildings, photographs, waterfalls, and a flexible private guide sound appealing, the mix is much more interesting.

Five things to know before booking

• The abandoned Bedugul Hotel is the main attraction: You explore a large unfinished hotel known locally as the Ghost Palace and hear about its background and spooky reputation.
• You get a private tour, not a shared bus: Your group has its own air-conditioned minivan and driver-guide, with pickup and drop-off included.
• The day covers four very different stops: A lakeside temple, an abandoned building, a waterfall, and photo platforms above Buyan Lake.
• Banyumala involves walking: Bring suitable footwear and be ready for a moderate outing rather than a purely vehicle-based sightseeing day.
• The guides receive the warmest praise: Dekwi, Radi, and Benik are each singled out for friendliness, humor, English ability, photography help, and care during the day.

Why this strange Bali day trip works

Most Bali day tours gather familiar sights into one neat route. This one takes a more unusual turn. You begin with one of the island’s best-known temples, then move to a deserted hotel, a forest waterfall, and a set of scenic photo points.

That contrast gives the day its character. Ulun Danu Bratan offers a graceful religious setting. The Bedugul Hotel feels unfinished and unsettling. Banyumala brings water and walking, while Wanagiri is built around views and posed photographs. You are not getting one single theme, and that is exactly the appeal.

I would think of this as a private sightseeing day with a ghost story at its center, not as a serious paranormal investigation. The hotel’s atmosphere does much of the work. Your guide provides the history and local stories, while the rest of the day gives you a broad look at the Bedugul area.

The start time is 8:00 a.m., and the full outing lasts about 10 hours. That makes it a substantial day. The exact driving time between stops is not provided, so expect the schedule to depend on traffic, road conditions, and how long you spend taking pictures or swimming.

Starting at Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

The scheduled first stop is Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, a famous temple complex set beside Lake Bratan. The temple appears to float on the lake, with hills behind it that complete the classic Bali photograph.

You have about one hour here, and admission is included. That is enough time to see the main setting, enjoy the lake views, and take photographs without turning the visit into a full religious or architectural study.

I like beginning with this stop because it gives the day a calm opening. The temple is a cultural and spiritual place, so dress and behave respectfully. The tour description focuses on the floating appearance and mountain setting, rather than promising a detailed religious lecture. If you want an in-depth temple lesson, ask your guide Radi, Dekwi, or Benik what they can explain during your visit.

One practical point: an hour passes quickly at a scenic place. You may want to take a few photographs first, then put the phone away for a moment and simply look across the lake. The appeal is not just the temple structure. It is the relationship between the shrine, water, and hills.

Entering the abandoned Bedugul Hotel

The abandoned hotel is the unusual heart of the outing. It was built around the 1990s with the aim of becoming the biggest hotel in the area, but it was never completed or brought into normal operation. Local people know the building as the Ghost Palace.

You receive about an hour at the site, with no separate admission charge listed. The guide explains the hotel’s background and the spooky stories connected to it. That makes the stop more worthwhile than simply peering at an empty building and taking a quick picture.

I would keep expectations realistic. This is not a restored historic property, a formal museum, or a theatrical haunted house. Its appeal comes from the vacant rooms, large unfinished structure, and feeling of a project left behind. The experience depends heavily on your guide’s storytelling and on your own interest in eerie places.

The building also calls for common sense. Stay with the guide and follow any instructions about where you may walk. The provided information does not describe the condition of every part of the property, so you should not assume that every staircase, room, or upper level is open or safe.

This is where the private format matters most. A guide can explain what you are seeing, answer questions, and help you find good angles for photographs. The positive comments about Dekwi, Radi, and Benik all point to the same useful quality: the driver-guide is part of the experience, not just the person behind the wheel. Radi is praised for clear English and friendly explanations, while Benik is remembered for humor and helping create cool photos.

If you are booking mainly for the hotel, ask the operator what access is available on your date. The attraction’s condition and access arrangements are not described in detail, and an abandoned site can be less predictable than a standard attraction.

Walking to Banyumala Twin Waterfalls

Banyumala Twin Waterfalls is the most active part of the day. You have about one hour here, and admission is included. The route involves a certain amount of walking, but the effort is presented as worthwhile for the view.

The waterfall is also described as a good place for swimming. That gives you a choice: you can get into the water, take photographs, or simply enjoy the setting if you prefer not to swim. The tour does not state that swimwear or changing facilities are provided, so plan accordingly if you want to enter the water.

This stop changes the pace after the hotel. Instead of looking through empty rooms, you are outside and moving along a route to a natural attraction. The walking may be modest for an active person, but the tour specifically asks for a moderate level of fitness. I would wear shoes with a secure grip rather than fashion sandals.

An hour may be enough for a look and a short swim, but it is not a leisurely half-day at the waterfall. If you take a long time getting to the water, your time for swimming and pictures becomes shorter. Keep an eye on the schedule, especially if you are traveling with children or anyone who needs frequent breaks.

The waterfall is one reason this tour is more than a novelty hotel visit. You get a genuine outdoor stop and a chance to cool off. Still, the physical side should not be overlooked. Anyone expecting to step straight from the minivan into a viewing area may find this part harder than expected.

Photographing Wanagiri Hidden Hills

Wanagiri Hidden Hills provides the day’s most obvious photo stop. The viewpoints look toward Buyan Lake, and the site includes a swing, bird nest, and other photo spots.

You have about one hour here, with admission included. The focus is clearly on taking pictures rather than on a long cultural visit. This can be fun if you enjoy setting up photographs and trying several platforms. It is less appealing if you dislike staged viewpoints or prefer quiet scenery without photo structures.

The private guide is useful here too. One of the strongest details from the feedback is that Benik helped with cool photos, while another guide took care of the group throughout the day. A private guide can take pictures for you, suggest a good angle, and let you spend more time enjoying the view instead of asking strangers for help.

The views across Buyan Lake are the real reason to pause. The swing and bird nest add a playful element, but they are not the whole experience. Take the required photograph, then give yourself a little time to look beyond the platform.

As with the rest of the tour, the one-hour limit keeps the day moving. If your group loves photography, you may wish the stop were longer. If you want a quick collection of Bali pictures, the timing should work well.

Lunch, transport, and the value of a private day

The price is $61.54 per person. For that amount, you receive a private tour, an air-conditioned minivan, hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, Indonesian lunch, taxes, handling charges, and listed admission fees.

That package makes the price easier to justify than a simple visit to one abandoned site. You are paying for a full day of transport, a driver-guide, four stops, and the convenience of not arranging separate rides or meals. Entrance is included at Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls, and Wanagiri Hidden Hills. The hotel has no admission fee listed.

The private format is the biggest value point. The minimum booking is two people, so the advertised price is based on each person paying $61.54. You avoid sharing the vehicle with strangers, and your guide can give more attention to your group. Group discounts are offered, but no discount amount is provided, so larger parties should ask for the current price before booking.

Lunch is Indonesian food, but the exact menu is not stated. That is worth noting if someone in your group has dietary restrictions. Alcoholic drinks are not included, so plan to pay separately if you want them.

The tour is booked an average of 29 days in advance. That suggests planning ahead is sensible, especially if you want a particular date or guide. Confirmation arrives at booking, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included. The listed start time is 8:00 a.m.

The cancellation terms are fair but firm. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

What the guide can add to the day

The guides receive the most consistent praise. Dekwi is described as both driver and guide, and the service is praised for turning what one couple expected to be a bus outing into a private experience. Radi is praised for friendly manner, clear English, and useful explanations. Benik is remembered as very funny and pleasant, with help taking photographs.

Those details matter because the hotel needs interpretation. An empty building does not explain itself. A good guide can connect the 1990s construction story, the local Ghost Palace nickname, and the stories associated with the building without making the stop feel like a rushed photo break.

A private tour also gives you a better chance to ask questions. You can ask about the temple, the hotel, the waterfall, or local customs as the day unfolds. The exact guide assigned to your booking is not guaranteed in the information provided, so treat the names above as examples of the service style rather than a promise.

The driver’s role matters as much as the narration. You spend a large part of a 10-hour day in the minivan, and a friendly person who looks after the group can make the long route feel much easier. The feedback repeatedly highlights friendliness, humor, care, and help with photographs.

Who should book this Bali ghost tour?

I would recommend this experience for couples, friends, and small families who want a private day with several different types of sightseeing. It suits people who enjoy unusual buildings, local stories, scenic photographs, waterfalls, and a little walking.

It also works well for visitors who want a ready-made day from Ubud. Pickup, transport, lunch, water, and entry costs are handled in one booking. You do not need to plan separate routes to the temple, hotel, waterfall, and lake viewpoints.

You may want to skip it if your main interest is serious history, religious study, or a slow nature walk. The hotel story is atmospheric, but the tour does not promise formal paranormal research. The schedule also includes several one-hour stops, so you should expect variety and efficiency rather than long, quiet visits.

It is less suitable for anyone who struggles with moderate physical activity. Banyumala requires walking, and the abandoned hotel may not offer the smooth access found at a conventional attraction. The provided details do not give accessibility information, so ask the operator directly if that is important for your group.

Simple preparation for a better day

Wear comfortable shoes that can handle the walk to Banyumala. Bring swimwear only if you want to use the waterfall, since swimming is available but changing arrangements are not described.

Carry a phone or camera with enough battery for the temple, hotel, waterfall, and Wanagiri viewpoints. The tour offers many photo opportunities, and your guide may be able to help with pictures, but you should not assume charging facilities will be available.

Dress respectfully for Ulun Danu Bratan Temple. Also bring a light layer if you are sensitive to cooler conditions in the highland area, though the tour information does not provide a temperature forecast.

Finally, leave room for the unexpected. The day is packed, and traffic or time spent at a photo stop can affect the pace. Since the tour is private, you can speak with your guide if you need a short pause, but the four-stop plan still requires some discipline.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want Bali’s abandoned hotel without giving up the island’s temples, water, and mountain views. The private guide, included lunch, transport, water, and admissions make $61.54 per person a reasonable price for a full 10-hour outing, especially for two or more people who value comfort and flexibility.

Skip it if you want a quiet, deeply focused visit or have difficulty walking. For the right group, the combination is memorable: a temple on the lake in the morning, an eerie unfinished hotel, a waterfall swim, and photographs above Buyan Lake. The guide may be the deciding factor, so mention your interests when booking and ask about access to the abandoned hotel.

FAQ

Where does the Bali Ghost Tour take place?

The tour is based in Ubud, Indonesia, and hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

What time does the tour begin?

The scheduled start time is 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.

How many people are required to book?

A minimum of two people per booking is required.

Is lunch included?

Yes. An Indonesian lunch, bottled water, taxes, fees, and listed admission charges are included. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes within 24 hours are not refunded.