Bali Ghost Tour: The Biggest Abandoned Hotel in Bali

Bali’s strangest attraction is not a temple or waterfall, but a huge unfinished hotel in Bedugul. Known locally as the Ghost Palace, the abandoned building gives this private day tour its hook, while Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, Banyumala Waterfalls, and Wanagiri Hidden Hills fill out the day with very different scenery.

I like the private format, since you get your own driver-guide instead of joining a large bus group. I also like the mix of spooky folklore, lake views, forest scenery, and photo stops. The main drawback is the long 10-hour schedule. Banyumala involves walking, and the day may feel full if you prefer slow, unhurried sightseeing.

Key points to know before booking

• The abandoned Bedugul Hotel is the tour’s main attraction, with a dramatic, unfinished setting and local ghost stories.
• You travel privately, with hotel pickup, drop-off, and an air-conditioned minivan included.
• Four major stops are packed into one day, including a floating temple, waterfall, hotel, and viewpoint.
• The guides make a real difference, with Dekwi, Radi, and Benik praised for friendly service, humor, English skills, and help with photos.
• Lunch, bottled water, taxes, and entrance fees are covered, which keeps the price easier to judge.
• You need at least two people to book, and a moderate level of fitness is recommended.

Why the abandoned Bedugul Hotel makes this tour unusual

Most Bali day trips focus on temples, rice fields, beaches, or waterfalls. This one begins with a building that was meant to be one of the biggest hotels in the Bedugul area, but was never completed as planned. Built around the 1990s, it now sits abandoned and has picked up the local nickname Ghost Palace.

The appeal is partly spooky, but the setting also gives you a look at a different side of Bali. Instead of polished resort grounds, you see a large, empty structure shaped by years of neglect. The building’s size is what makes the stop memorable. You are not visiting a small ruin tucked beside a road. You are looking around a major abandoned property with a story attached to it.

The ghost tales add mood, but this is not presented as a scientific paranormal investigation. You are there to hear the story, look around, and take photographs. Go with curiosity rather than expecting special effects or a staged haunted-house attraction.

One useful point is that the hotel stop lasts about an hour. That gives you enough time to explore the site without letting it swallow the entire day. Your driver-guide can also add context and help you understand what you are seeing. Guides connected with this experience include Dekwi, Radi, and Benik, although the person assigned to your booking may differ.

A private start from your hotel

The day begins at about 8:00 a.m., with pickup and return transport included. Since this is a private tour, only your group participates. That matters on a 10-hour outing. You can ask your driver-guide to help with the pace, photo stops, and time spent at each site rather than following a fixed bus schedule.

Transport is by air-conditioned minivan, a practical feature for a full day around Bali. Bottled water is included, and Indonesian lunch is also part of the package. Alcoholic drinks are not included, so plan to pay separately if you want one.

The private setup is also useful for couples and small groups who want a more personal day. One traveler booked expecting a bus-style outing but found they had their own driver and guide instead. That surprise points to one of the tour’s better values: the price buys more than a seat in shared transport.

The minimum booking is two people. At $61.54 per person, the minimum total for two is $123.08, before any optional spending such as alcoholic drinks. For a private 10-hour tour with transport, lunch, water, and included entrance charges, that is a reasonable package if you plan to visit all four stops anyway.

Ulun Danu Bratan Temple and the lake setting

Ulun Danu Bratan Temple is the first listed stop, with about an hour to visit. The temple appears to float on Lake Bratan, with hills behind it. That combination gives you one of Bali’s most recognizable photo settings: tiered temple roofs, calm water, and a cool mountain backdrop.

This stop provides a calm counterpoint to the abandoned hotel. The hotel is about decay and mystery. Ulun Danu Bratan is about ceremony, design, and the close link between Balinese religious life and water.

The one-hour visit is enough for a focused look and photographs, but it is not a long temple tour. If you like to linger at religious sites, study every detail, or walk slowly through the grounds, you may want more time. On the other hand, the short visit helps keep the day moving toward the more active waterfall stop.

Admission is included, so you do not need to budget a separate entrance fee here. Dress and behave respectfully, as you would at any Balinese temple. The supplied details do not specify a clothing requirement, so ask your guide if you need help with local etiquette on the day.

The Ghost Palace: what to expect at Bedugul

The abandoned hotel is the core of the experience. You spend about an hour at the large Bedugul building, learning how it was intended to become a major hotel in the area and why it is now abandoned.

Its nickname gives the stop its mood, but the strongest appeal is visual. Empty hotel spaces can make striking photographs, and the scale of the structure helps create a sense of mystery without the need for a theatrical performance. The tour description specifically frames this as a place for spooky stories and memorable images.

Your guide is important here. Radi is described as friendly, with good English and useful background about the hotel. Dekwi was also praised for making the outing enjoyable and for combining driving with guiding. These personal touches matter because an abandoned structure can be confusing without someone explaining its story.

Do keep expectations sensible. The tour information does not promise a paranormal event, ghost sightings, or access to every part of the building. You are visiting an abandoned hotel, hearing local stories, and looking around for about an hour. Conditions at an old building can change, so follow your guide’s instructions and do not treat the site like a playground.

For many people, this will be the most distinctive stop of the day. If you have already seen several of Bali’s famous temples, the Ghost Palace gives your itinerary a fresh subject and a little edge.

Banyumala Twin Waterfalls and the physical side of the day

Banyumala is described as one of Bali’s most beautiful waterfalls, and the stop lasts about an hour. You can take photographs, enjoy the setting, and swim if conditions and your comfort level allow.

This is the part of the tour where footwear and fitness matter most. The route involves a certain amount of walking, and the tour asks for a moderate physical fitness level. The effort is described as worthwhile, but you should not book this as a completely vehicle-based sightseeing day.

An hour at the waterfall gives you time to reach the view, take photos, and possibly swim. It does not leave a large margin for a long rest or an extended picnic. Lunch is included elsewhere in the day, so this stop is best treated as a scenic outing rather than a full afternoon at the water.

I like the change of pace here. After the hotel’s dark, built setting and the temple’s formal grounds, Banyumala brings you into a natural area with moving water and a chance to get active. If you want to swim, bring suitable clothing and be ready for the walking portion.

The tour data does not state the exact path conditions, distance, or swimming facilities. That means you should ask your guide for current advice if mobility, balance, or water access is a concern. The moderate fitness note is important, not decorative.

Wanagiri Hidden Hills and Bali’s photo stops

Wanagiri Hidden Hills is the final listed stop, with about an hour for photographs. The viewpoint looks over Buyan Lake and includes arranged photo spots such as a swing and bird nest.

This is a very different kind of attraction from the hotel. Wanagiri is designed around viewpoints and posed images, while the Ghost Palace offers a more raw and unusual setting. Together they cover two popular photo styles: eerie abandoned architecture and polished scenic portraits.

You will have time to try several spots rather than making one quick roadside stop. The lake panorama provides the background, while the swing and bird nest give your photos a clear frame. If you enjoy taking pictures for social media, this stop may be one of the day’s main rewards.

Still, you should know what sort of place this is. Wanagiri is a constructed photo attraction, not a quiet nature walk. Some people will enjoy the playful setups. Others may find them less authentic than the temple, waterfall, or abandoned hotel. That contrast is useful when deciding if the tour matches your style.

Benik was praised for being funny, friendly, and helpful with photos. That kind of assistance can make a difference at a stop built around pictures. Your assigned guide may be someone else, but the private format gives you a better chance to ask for help than a large group tour would.

Lunch, transport, and the value of the package

The $61.54 price includes Indonesian lunch, bottled water, air-conditioned transport, hotel pickup and drop-off, a private guide-driver, taxes, handling charges, and the listed admission tickets. Alcoholic drinks are the only stated exclusion.

For a full-day private outing, the inclusions are strong. You are not paying separately for the main movement between sites, and you do not need to arrange a taxi back after the waterfall or viewpoint. Lunch also removes one common decision during a busy day.

The value depends on how you use the day. If you only want to see the abandoned hotel, a 10-hour private trip may feel excessive. If you want a combination of the hotel, temple, waterfall, and lake view, the package makes more sense because it links four destinations that would be harder to arrange independently.

The private arrangement is especially useful for two people. You can share the cost of a dedicated vehicle and guide, set your own small-group rhythm, and avoid spending the day waiting for strangers. The listed tour requires at least two people, so solo visitors cannot book it under the stated terms.

The strongest service praise centers on the driver-guides. Dekwi, Radi, and Benik are each singled out for qualities that affect the day directly: friendliness, humor, English, useful information, and help with photographs. A good driver-guide also matters on a long route, since the person behind the wheel is part of your sightseeing experience.

Who will enjoy this Bali ghost tour

I would recommend this tour most strongly to couples, friends, and small families who want a full day with several themes. You get religion, local stories, abandoned architecture, a waterfall, a lake view, and photo stops without having to plan separate transport.

It suits you if you like unusual sights more than standard resort attractions. The abandoned hotel is the reason to choose this outing over a typical Bali temple circuit. It also works well for people who want a private guide and do not want to join a coach group.

You should think twice if you dislike walking, swimming areas, or tightly packed schedules. The day lasts about 10 hours, and the waterfall requires some effort. The photo stop at Wanagiri may also feel too staged if you prefer purely natural viewpoints.

The tour is also a good fit if you want practical help with photos. The private guide can take pictures, and the itinerary includes several spots designed for strong images. Just remember that the day is not only a photo session. The temple and hotel provide more substance, while the waterfall adds physical activity.

What to know before you reserve

Confirmation is provided when you book, and free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time. If you cancel within 24 hours, you do not receive a refund, and changes made inside that window are not accepted.

Wear something suitable for walking and bring swimwear if you plan to enter the waterfall pool. Because the tour requires moderate fitness, ask about the walking portion before departure if you have any concern about uneven ground or long steps.

The tour begins at 8:00 a.m. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, but the supplied details do not specify the exact pickup area or a guaranteed travel time from every Bali location. Confirm your pickup point when booking.

The experience has a 5.0 rating based on four provided ratings, with all the written feedback positive. The most consistent praise focuses on the private driver-guide service rather than one single attraction. That is useful to know: the people leading the day may shape your experience as much as the Ghost Palace itself.

Should you book the Bedugul Ghost Palace tour?

Book it if you want an unusual Bali day that combines the island’s spiritual side with a famous abandoned building. The private vehicle, included lunch, guide service, and four contrasting stops make $61.54 per person fair for a pair or small group.

Skip it if you want a slow day at one place, dislike photo attractions, or are not comfortable with walking at Banyumala. The tour is full, not leisurely.

For the right person, this is a memorable alternative to a standard sightseeing route. The abandoned Bedugul Hotel gives the day its character, while Ulun Danu Bratan, Banyumala, and Wanagiri keep it from becoming a one-note ghost story.

FAQ

Where does the Bali Ghost Tour take place?

The tour is based in the Ubud area of Bali, with hotel pickup and drop-off included. The listed stops are Ulun Danu Bratan Temple, the abandoned Bedugul Hotel, Banyumala Twin Waterfalls, and Wanagiri Hidden Hills.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 8:00 a.m. The total duration is approximately 10 hours.

Is this a private tour?

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

What is included in the price?

The price includes taxes, fees, handling charges, bottled water, hotel pickup and drop-off, private transport, lunch, and the listed admission tickets. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

How many people are needed to book?

A minimum of two people per booking is required.

Is the tour physically demanding?

A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The Banyumala Waterfalls stop includes some walking, and swimming is possible.