Hotels near Gunung Kawi Temple

Gunung Kawi is an 11th-century temple complex featuring ten massive rock-cut shrines (called candi) carved directly into the cliff face of the Pakerisan River valley. Each shrine stands about 7 metres tall and is believed to be a memorial to members of the Udayana dynasty. The site is one of Bali's oldest and most atmospheric - moss and ferns cling to the rock carvings, palm trees tower overhead, and the sound of the river echoes through the narrow valley.

Reaching the shrines requires descending a steep staircase of roughly 300 steps through a ravine lined with rice paddies and coconut palms - a stunning approach that adds to the experience but means you need to climb back up afterwards. The temple complex at the bottom includes a monks' meditation cave and bathing pools. Entry is IDR 50,000 (€3) including sarong. Open daily 08:00-18:00. The site sees far fewer visitors than Tirta Empul despite being just 5 minutes away, so you can often explore in near-solitude.

Pro Tip: Combine Gunung Kawi with Tirta Empul (5 min away) and Tegalalang Rice Terrace (20 min south) for a perfect northern Ubud half-day loop. Visit Gunung Kawi first when your legs are fresh for the 300-step descent and ascent. The morning light in the valley is spectacular.