National park · Indonesia
Tanah LotPura Tanah Lot
Go for a 60–90 minute stop: be at the south cliff viewpoint by 17:30 for sunset, pay Rp 75,000–100,000 foreigner entry (2026 estimate), and skip the temple rock itself — it is closed to visitors.Go for a 60–90 minute stop: be at the south cliff viewpoint by 5:30 PM for sunset, pay Rp 75,000–100,000 foreigner entry (2026 estimate), and skip the temple rock itself — it is closed to visitors.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
approximate
Established
1980
Best months
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Indonesia ↗Buy the visa on arrival or e-visa only on the official Immigration portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Indonesia ↗Complete the All Indonesia digital arrival and customs form before landing; it is free.
- Indonesia ↗Foreign visitors to Bali pay a one-off tourist levy; keep the payment proof on your phone.
- Indonesia ↗Riding a motorbike needs a valid licence that covers motorbikes (an international permit alongside your own) and a helmet; check your insurance covers it.
At a glance
- Country
- Indonesia
- Area
- 2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²)
- The temple precinct and its clifftop grounds are small; the figure is the managed visitor area, not a national-park boundary (check).
- Established
- 1980
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Kuta
Tanah Lot is a Balinese sea temple on a rock a few metres offshore, about 45 minutes by road from Kuta, Legian and Seminyak and 30–40 minutes from Ubud. It is one of Bali's busiest sunset stops: the approach is a corridor of souvenir stalls, and the car park fills from about 16:30. The temple itself sits on an eroded rock that was restored from the 1990s; visitors view it from the shore and from the raised cliff path to the south. Treat it as a 60–90 minute stop on the way to or from West Bali, not a full day.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1980.
Size and age
2 km² (1 sq mi)1 sq mi (2 km²) · national park since 1980
The temple precinct and its clifftop grounds are small; the figure is the managed visitor area, not a national-park boundary (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Kuta.
Why go
- A sea temple on a rock just offshore — the image most people carry of Bali, and it is genuinely a 10-minute walk from the car park.
- The south cliff path gives the classic frame: temple in front, sun going down behind it.
- It sits on the road to West Bali, so it costs you little if you are already heading that way.
- Cheap and short: under two hours door to door from the southern beach towns.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovCaution
- DecCaution
- JanWet season; heavy afternoon showers, grey sunsets
- FebWettest stretch; paths and car park muddy
- MarRain easing; softer light
- AprDry season starting; clearer sunsets
- MayDry, warm, good evening visibility
- JunDry and breezy; busy but manageable
- JulPeak crowds; arrive by 16:00Peak crowds; arrive by 4:00 PM
- AugPeak crowds; wind can flatten the sky
- SepDry, clear, slightly fewer people
- OctGood light; rain returning late in the month
- NovWet season begins; frequent afternoon storms
- DecWet and crowded over the holidays
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea snakes in the rock crevicesAll year · Reported around the temple rock; do not reach into gaps. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Shorebirds and herons on the beachApr–Sep | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
| Macaques around the car park and stallsAll year · Keep food and bags closed. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Kuta, Legian, Seminyak
Car or scooter north-west on Jalan Raya Tanah Lot; park in the official car park and walk in.
45–60 min
Open the page →
From Ubud
Car west via Kediri and Kedungu, or a tour that pairs it with Tabanan.
30–40 min
Open the page →
From Canggu
Scooter or car north along the coast road, then inland at Kedungu.
25–35 min
Open the page →
From Tabanan
Short drive south-east; useful if you are overnighting away from the beach strip.
20–30 min
Open the page →
From South Bali plan
Where Tanah Lot fits with Uluwatu, Ubud and the beach towns.
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Car park and market corridor | Ticket gate, parking, and a long line of souvenir stalls leading to the shore. | Open with a ticket; the walk in takes 5–10 minutes. |
| Main shore and temple rock | The beach and shallow water in front of the temple; the rock itself is off limits. | Open; slippery at the waterline. |
| South cliff path | Raised path and viewpoints south of the temple — the best sunset angle. | Open; uneven steps, no railings in places. |
| Clifftop restaurant strip | Restaurants and drink stalls with views over the temple. | Open; pay per venue. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions around the temple precinct and the coast to the north, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitor entry | IDR 75,000–100,000 (≈ US$5–7) | person | 2026 estimate; the published rate was Rp 60,000 in 2019 and has risen since (check). |
| Domestic visitor entry | IDR 30,000–50,000 (≈ US$2–4) | person | 2026 estimate; lower rate for Indonesian ID holders (check). |
| Car parking | IDR 5,000–10,000 (≈ under US$1) | vehicle | Paid at the official car park; motorbikes less. |
| Scooter parking | IDR 2,000–5,000 (≈ under US$1) | vehicle | 2026 estimate. |
| Half-day sunset tour from Kuta or Seminyak | IDR 300,000–700,000 (≈ US$19–45) | person | Usually includes entry and a car with driver; shop around (check). |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Entry ticket permit or guide
Temple rock access no permit
Drone flight permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- Rp75,000–100,000≈ US$5–7
- Rp30,000–50,000≈ US$2–4
- Rp5,000–10,000≈ under US$1
- Rp2,000–5,000≈ under US$1
- Rp300,000–700,000≈ US$19–45
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Tanah Lot official site before you go.
Park rules
- Temple rock
- Visitors cannot climb onto or enter the temple rock; viewing is from the shore and the cliff path.
- Dress
- This is an active temple: cover shoulders and knees, and wear a sarong if you go near the prayer areas.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the temple management and local authorities (check).check
- Swimming
- No swimming at the temple beach; currents and sharp rock at the base.
- Litter and offerings
- Do not move or step on offerings on the ground; take all rubbish out.
Where to stay
Near the park
Losmen and guesthouses on the entrance road
Simple rooms from around Rp 100,000–150,000 (2026 estimate); walk to the gate.
In the park
Hotels inside the temple complex
Mid-range rooms a few minutes from the viewpoints; convenient for sunrise and late evenings.
Near the park
Canggu, Kuta or Seminyak
The usual base; 25–60 minutes by road depending on traffic.
Safety
Traffic on the return after sunset medium
Slippery rock and steps medium
Rip currents at the temple beach medium
Sun and heat before sunset low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The car park, market corridor and main shore viewpoint are on flat ground and reachable with a wheelchair or stroller.
- The south cliff path has steps and uneven surfaces; not suitable for wheelchairs.
- Toilets and drink stalls sit near the car park and along the clifftop strip.
Visiting lightly
- Buy from the stalls and warungs on site rather than only photographing them — the corridor is the village's income.
- Take your plastic bottles out; bins overflow on busy evenings.
- Do not pay for 'temple access' or blessing photo poses that push you onto the rock.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Tanah Lot?
Foreign visitors pay roughly Rp 75,000–100,000 and Indonesian ID holders roughly Rp 30,000–50,000 (2026 estimate; the published rate was Rp 60,000 in 2019 and has risen since — check at the gate). Parking is extra, about Rp 5,000–10,000 per car.
What are the best hikes in Tanah Lot?
There is no long hiking here. The two walks worth doing are the flat shore walk to the temple base (30–45 minutes, check the tide) and the south cliff path for the sunset angle (1–1.5 hours with stops). For a real half-day walk, ride or drive north to the Kedungu coast and Pejaten, about 7 km away.
When is the best time to visit Tanah Lot?
April to October for dry, clear evenings, with May, June, September and October the best of them. Arrive by 17:00–17:30 for sunset. July and August are the busiest; January and February are wet with frequent afternoon storms.
Can I go inside the temple on the rock?
No. The rock was eroded and restored from the 1990s, and visitors view the temple from the shore and the south cliff path. Priests at the base handle blessings; the temple itself is not open to tourists.
How long do I need at Tanah Lot?
Plan 60–90 minutes on site: 5–10 minutes to walk in through the market, 30–45 minutes at the shore and cliff viewpoints, and time for a drink. Add 45–60 minutes each way from Kuta, Legian or Seminyak.
Is Tanah Lot worth it, or should I go to Uluwatu instead?
They are different evenings. Tanah Lot is a rock temple in the sea, close to the southern beach towns and easy to combine with West Bali. Uluwatu is a clifftop temple with a Kecak performance. If you have two evenings, do both; if you have one and are based in Canggu or Seminyak, Tanah Lot is the shorter drive.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
- officialTanah Lot official site
- secondaryWikipedia — Tanah Lot
- secondaryWikivoyage: Tanah Lot, revision 5261545 (CC BY-SA 4.0)