Discover Balinese Mystic & Death Ritual in Bali

Trunyan’s burial customs are unlike the cremation rites many people associate with Bali. This private day tour pairs that rare cultural visit with Bayung Gede’s hanging newborn placentas, a speedboat crossing, and stops at a highland lake, a temple, and a traditional village.

I like two things here: the chance to hear local practices explained by a guide, and the mix of places, from a remote village to temple steps and a bamboo forest. Guides Mertha and Ah Gung have been praised for being friendly and patient in explaining the culture.

The main consideration is the long, winding journey. One reported route from Lovina involved about three hours by car, followed by a 30-minute boat ride each way. The full tour takes 8 to 10 hours, so it suits curious visitors who are comfortable with a substantial day on the road.

Key points before you book

• Trunyan’s burial tradition is the main draw: After a cleansing ritual, the dead are placed in bamboo cages rather than cremated.
• Bayung Gede offers a second rare custom: The village is known for hanging newborn placentas.
• The boat crossing is part of the day: A speedboat is included, but reaching the lakeside departure point can mean a long mountain drive.
• You visit five distinct places: The route also includes Kintamani Plateau, Kehen Temple, and Penglipuran Bamboo Forest.
• It is a private tour: Your group travels together, and the route can be customized to suit your needs.
• The price covers key costs, not lunch: At $81.80 per person, the listed price includes transport, the boat, admission and donation fees, water, fuel surcharge, and parking.

A day built around customs few visitors see

This is not a standard Bali temple circuit. Its central visits focus on birth and death rituals in two villages, with scenic and architectural stops rounding out the day. That makes it a good fit if you want to understand how local customs differ from the practices you may have encountered elsewhere on the island.

The tour is private, which gives you room to ask questions and adjust the pace or route with your guide. It lasts about 8 to 10 hours, including the drives between stops, so expect a full day rather than a quick outing. Pickup is offered, but confirm the pickup point and expected travel time when arranging the tour.

At $81.80 per person, the value depends partly on what you want from a day out. The price includes several items that can add up on a private outing: an air-conditioned vehicle, speedboat, fuel surcharge, parking, admissions and donations, and bottled water. Lunch and personal expenses are extra, so budget for those separately.

Trunyan: a burial custom with its own rules

Trunyan is the tour’s most unusual stop, and the reason many culturally curious visitors will choose this outing. The village follows a traditional way of life that differs from much of Bali. Rather than cremate their dead, Trunyanese people place the body in a bamboo cage after a cleansing ritual.

You have about an hour at the cemetery, with admission included. The visit is a chance to learn about a living local tradition, not simply to tick off an unusual sight. Your guide can help explain what you are seeing and give context to a practice that may be unfamiliar or confronting.

Go with an open mind and a respectful attitude. This is a burial site, so it is wise to follow your guide’s instructions and avoid treating the ritual as a spectacle. If you are unsure how to behave or what is appropriate to photograph, ask before taking pictures.

Getting to Trunyan involves a speedboat crossing, included in the tour price. One reported journey from Lovina took about 30 minutes by boat each way, after a roughly three-hour drive on a narrow, winding mountain road. That account is a useful warning about the potential travel time, but your own route depends on pickup location. Ask the operator how the drive and boat transfer fit into your day.

The crossing and road journey are not minor details. They are part of the effort required to reach a community that many visitors do not see, and they can be tiring if you are prone to motion discomfort. One person was unable to continue after finding the journey difficult. If winding roads or boat rides are a concern for you, weigh that carefully before booking.

Bayung Gede and its hanging placentas

Bayung Gede brings the tour’s focus from death customs to birth. The village is described as the parent of Bali’s ancient villages, and it is known for hanging newborn placentas. You have about an hour here, with admission listed as free.

The custom offers a striking example of how local traditions can be closely tied to place and community. It is worth asking your guide what the practice means to local residents rather than relying on a quick glance. The tour description does not explain the ritual in detail, so your guide’s explanation will be important to understanding what you see.

As at Trunyan, approach the visit with care. These are customs connected to family and community life, not staged attractions. A private tour gives you a better chance to ask questions at your own pace, while your guide can help you understand what is suitable during the visit.

Kintamani: a short highland pause

The tour stops for about 30 minutes at Kintamani Plateau, where you can see ancient Mount Batur and the lake. This is the briefest stop on the route, so think of it as a scenic break rather than a long visit.

After the road time and the more intense cultural stops, a pause to take in the highland view can help break up the day. The stop’s appeal is straightforward: mountain and lake scenery, with no admission fee listed separately from the included tour costs.

Because the schedule is full, do not expect an extended stay here. If the view is a priority for you, ask your guide how much time the route can allow. The tour can be customized, but any changes may affect how long you spend at the other stops.

Kehen Temple and its famous steps

Kehen Temple gets about an hour. It is known for its steps of heaven, and admission is included. This gives the day a more familiar Balinese temple visit after the less common village customs.

The temple stop adds architectural and spiritual context to a route that might otherwise focus only on ritual practices in the villages. Take time to look at the steps and the temple setting, and ask your guide about the site’s role and features. The information available does not specify a dress code or temple access rules, so check with your guide before arrival if you have questions about what to wear or how to enter respectfully.

An hour is enough to explore at a measured pace, though the day’s schedule and travel time may shape how leisurely the visit feels. The private format is useful here: you can tell your guide if you would rather spend more time at the temple or keep moving.

Penglipuran’s bamboo forest and village life

The final listed stop is Penglipuran Bamboo Forest, with about an hour to visit. The stop also includes an old village noted for its architecture, social system, and belief system. It rounds out the day with a look at community structure and built tradition, rather than another long transfer or ritual-focused visit.

The combination of village and forest makes this a different kind of stop from the cemetery, birthplace customs, and temple. It can help you compare how traditions shape daily life and the feel of a community. The tour description does not specify what parts of the village you will enter, so ask your guide what is included and how the visit is organized.

The route’s five stops are varied, but they also make for a tightly packed day. You have around four and a half hours of listed stop time, before adding the road and boat journeys. That balance is useful if you want a broad introduction to several places, though it leaves less room to linger than a single-village visit.

What the private format changes

The tour is for your group alone, not a shared coach outing. That matters on a day with sensitive cultural subjects: you can ask questions directly and have explanations suited to your interests. The route can be customized, which may help if one stop matters more to you than another.

Guides Mertha and Ah Gung have been praised for their friendly manner and patient explanations. That kind of guidance is especially valuable at Trunyan and Bayung Gede, where the customs may be unfamiliar and easy to misunderstand without context. A guide who takes time to explain can turn a quick stop into a more thoughtful visit.

The tour includes an air-conditioned vehicle, fuel surcharge, parking fees, bottled water, speedboat, and admission and donation fees. Lunch is not included, and neither are personal expenses. Since the day lasts 8 to 10 hours, plan to bring money for a meal and any extras you may want.

The experience is listed at $81.80 per person and is booked, on average, 21 days in advance. The private format and included transport and admissions make the price easier to assess than a bare tour fee: you are paying for a long, multi-stop day with a boat transfer and a guide, not just entry to one site. Still, the best value comes if the cultural visits are your priority. If you mainly want a short scenic drive, a simpler outing may suit you better.

Who should choose this tour

I would consider this tour if you are genuinely curious about Balinese customs and want to visit places beyond the usual temple circuit. Trunyan and Bayung Gede are the strongest reasons to go, while Kintamani, Kehen Temple, and Penglipuran add variety.

It is also a better fit for people who are comfortable with long drives and a boat transfer. The route from Lovina has been described as narrow, winding, and slow, and the day can stretch to 10 hours. If you tend to feel unwell on mountain roads or boats, ask about the exact route and travel times before paying.

This may not be the right choice if you want a relaxed day with little time in the vehicle, or if you are uncomfortable visiting burial sites and learning about death rituals. The experience is unusual by design, and the subject matter calls for a thoughtful approach.

The tour is not recommended for women who are menstruating, according to the supplied participation information. If that applies to you, contact the operator before booking to clarify the restriction and discuss your options.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want to learn about Bali through local customs, can handle a long day, and are comfortable visiting a cemetery and taking a boat. Its strongest value is the combination of access, private guiding, and a route that brings together birth and death rituals with village, temple, and highland stops.

Skip it if the journey itself sounds like a strain or if you prefer a light sightseeing day. Before confirming, ask about pickup location and expected road and boat times. That simple check can help you decide whether the unusual cultural access is worth the travel.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately 8 to 10 hours.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, and the tour can be customized to suit your needs.

What is included in the price?

The price includes bottled water, a speedboat, an air-conditioned vehicle, fuel surcharge, parking fees, and admission and donation fees.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch and other personal expenses are not included.

How do you reach Trunyan Cemetery?

The tour includes a speedboat ride to reach Trunyan. The road and boat travel time depends on the pickup route.

What is unusual about the burial tradition in Trunyan?

After a cleansing ritual, the dead are placed in bamboo cages rather than cremated.

What can you see in Bayung Gede?

Bayung Gede is known for hanging newborn placentas and is described as the parent of Bali’s ancient villages.

Is pickup offered?

Yes, pickup is offered. Confirm the pickup details with the operator when arranging the tour.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours beforehand are not accepted for a refund.