Shore Excursion Cruise Ship From Celukan Bawang Port

North Bali gives you a very different day from the usual southern Bali circuit. From Celukan Bawang Port, you trade busy resort roads for cool mountain lakes, jungle waterfalls, and quiet black-sand coast. The route includes Ulun Danu Bratan, Banyumala Waterfall, Banjar Hot Springs, Brahma Vihara Arama, and Lovina Beach.

I like two things right away: the tour is built for cruise timing, and you get a private English-speaking driver rather than being tied to a large coach. Bottled water, an air-conditioned vehicle, parking, insurance, and entrance fees are included on the fixed package options. The main drawback is the ambitious schedule. With seven possible stops and six to 10 hours available, you may need to accept short visits or confirm which stops are actually included.

Key points to know before you book

• Ulun Danu Bratan begins the day with Bali’s famous lakeside temple, set in the cooler Bedugul highlands.
• Banyumala Waterfall requires an outdoor walk, so bring footwear that can handle wet and uneven ground.
• The route mixes nature, religion, and coastal scenery, rather than focusing only on temples or beaches.
• Banjar Hot Springs and Lovina Beach offer slower stops after the more active waterfall visits.
• The listed route is ambitious, so confirm your selected package, especially if you want the ATV option or every named stop.
• The $25.66 price offers strong value if your package includes the listed admissions and you want private transport from the port.

Why North Bali makes a good port day

Celukan Bawang is in northern Bali, away from the island’s most visited southern centers. That matters on a cruise stop. You are not spending the whole day crossing Bali to reach the familiar sights around Kuta or Uluwatu. Instead, the route stays in North Bali, where mountain roads, crater lakes, waterfalls, village areas, and Lovina’s calm coast create a more varied day.

The tour lasts approximately six to 10 hours. That wide range is useful but also tells you that the final pace depends on your chosen option, traffic, port timing, and how many stops are included. Cruise passengers should treat the return to Celukan Bawang as the fixed priority. Tell the driver your ship’s all-aboard time and allow a generous cushion.

Pickup is offered, and the transport is an air-conditioned vehicle with a private driver. For Bali’s warm lowlands and steamy waterfall paths, the cool vehicle between stops is more than a small luxury. It gives you a place to dry off, rest your legs, and keep belongings out of the sun.

Ulun Danu Bratan and the cool Bedugul highlands

The first listed stop is Ulun Danu Bratan, with one hour allowed and admission included on the fixed package options. The temple sits beside Lake Bratan in Bedugul, a highland area known for cooler air and mountain scenery.

This is one of Bali’s most recognizable temple settings. The shrines appear close to the water, giving the site a calm, almost floating quality when viewed from the lake shore. The temple is dedicated to Dewi Danu, the water goddess, so the setting is not decorative by accident. Lake water supports farms and communities across the island, and the temple’s location reflects that importance.

One hour is enough for a focused visit. You can see the main grounds, take photographs, and enjoy the change in climate from the port. It is not enough for a slow, extended visit if you want to inspect every carving or linger in every garden area.

Bring a light layer if you are sensitive to cooler weather. The mountain stop also sets the pattern for the day: you begin among lakes and highland greenery, then continue through forested areas before heading toward the coast.

Twin Lake View offers a quick highland panorama

The Twin Lake Viewpoint is scheduled for 30 minutes, with admission included on the fixed options. From here, you look toward Lake Buyan and Lake Tamblingan, two crater lakes surrounded by thick tropical forest.

This is a viewpoint stop, not a long walk. You get your bearings, take in the broad view, and continue. Thirty minutes should be enough unless the group wants extra photographs or the weather reduces visibility.

The stop works well beside Ulun Danu Bratan because it shows North Bali from a higher, wider angle. At the temple, the lake and shrines are the focus. At Twin Lake View, the scale opens up and the forested slopes become the main subject.

Weather matters here. Cloud or mist can soften the view, especially in the highlands. I would not judge the whole day by this one stop. The route has enough variety that a hazy viewpoint does not cancel the value of the waterfalls, hot springs, monastery, or coast.

Banyumala Waterfall is the most active stop

Banyumala Twin Waterfalls receives one hour, with admission included on the standard packages. It is near the Twin Lakes and drops through green cliffs into a clear natural pool.

This is the stop for you if you want actual contact with North Bali’s forested interior, not just a roadside photograph. The water, rock, and vegetation create a more secluded setting than a formal temple visit. If conditions suit you, the pool may be refreshing after the walk.

The practical issue is footing. Waterfall paths can be uneven and damp, and one hour includes the time needed to reach the viewing or bathing area. Wear sturdy shoes with a grip, and do not assume you will have a long swim. The tour description presents the pool as suitable for swimming, but your available time and conditions will determine how much you can do.

You should also protect your phone and camera from spray. A small dry bag is useful. The air-conditioned vehicle is welcome afterward, particularly if you get wet.

Banjar Hot Springs brings a slower hour

Banjar Hot Spring is scheduled for one hour, with admission included on the fixed packages. Known locally as Air Panas Banjar, the site uses warm mineral water flowing from carved dragon-shaped spouts into bathing pools.

This is a good contrast to Banyumala. At the waterfall, you deal with a natural forest setting and a more active approach. At Banjar, the point is to slow down and sit in warm water. The carved stone dragons also give the site a distinctly Balinese character.

One hour lets you see the pools and spend some time bathing, though it is not a full spa day. Bring swimwear, a change of clothes, and a small towel if you plan to enter the water. The supplied information confirms the hot springs as an included stop, but does not specify changing facilities or towel service, so pack as if you need to manage those basics yourself.

The hot spring is near Lovina and Banjar, making it a sensible northern stop before the coast. If your ship day is short, ask whether this stop is included in your selected route rather than assuming every listed location can fit.

Brahma Vihara Arama adds a Buddhist side of Bali

Brahma Vihara Arama Buddhist Monastery is also allotted one hour, with admission included on the fixed options. Located in the hills near Banjar, it is described as Bali’s largest Buddhist monastery and is often called the Little Borobudur because of its stupas and carved details.

This stop broadens the day beyond the better-known Hindu temple tradition. You get religious architecture, hillside views, and a quieter setting near the hot springs. It is especially worthwhile if you want to see how several faiths have shaped Bali’s cultural life.

Plan to behave respectfully at the monastery. The supplied tour information does not give a dress code, opening details, or special ceremony schedule, so your driver is the best person to ask about current site practices. One hour should work for a calm visit, but it may feel brief if you want to study the architecture carefully.

Lovina Beach is a calm coastal finish

Lovina Beach receives one hour, and admission is free. Its black sand shore and calm atmosphere offer a clear contrast with Bali’s busier southern beaches.

Do not expect a resort-beach scene or a long list of paid attractions. Lovina is included for its quiet coastal character. You can walk along the shore, look out across the water, and enjoy a more relaxed hour after the mountain roads and waterfall paths.

The black sand comes from Bali’s volcanic character, giving the beach a different look from pale tropical sand. The tour information does not include a dolphin trip, boat ride, or water sport, so do not book this excursion expecting those activities. This is a shore visit, not a separate marine adventure.

Lovina can work as a gentle final stop, although the listed order also includes Munduk Waterfall. Ask your driver how the actual route will run, since the schedule as presented contains more places than most cruise passengers could visit at length in one day.

Munduk Waterfall may make the day too ambitious

Munduk Waterfall is listed as another one-hour stop, with admission included on the standard options. It sits near Munduk Village in North Bali, among forest, coffee, and clove-growing areas.

The appeal is the setting. You get another waterfall experience, but in a highland area shaped by plantations and village life. If you prefer natural sights to shopping stops, this fits the tour well.

The concern is time. Banyumala and Munduk are both waterfall visits, and the full list also includes a temple, viewpoint, hot springs, monastery, and beach. You may be asked to choose, shorten visits, or follow a particular package route. This is not a flaw if you understand the tour as a flexible North Bali day. It is a problem only if you expect a relaxed hour at every stop.

What to know about the Wanagiri ATV mention

The tour information also describes Wanagiri ATV quad-bike tours through jungles, rice fields, rivers, villages, muddy trails, rocky paths, waterfalls, and caves. However, the named stop list does not clearly explain whether ATV riding is included in the same package, offered as a replacement, or available only as a customized option.

Do not assume the $25.66 price includes an ATV ride. Confirm the exact package and inclusions before payment. The included list says entrance tickets apply to booking options A to E, while the customize itinerary option does not include entrance fees. That distinction can change the final cost.

If you want the calm temple, lake, and beach route, ask for the fixed itinerary. If you want an ATV experience, ask specifically about riding time, equipment, extra charges, and which sightseeing stops would be removed. Those details are not supplied here, so they need confirmation.

What the $25.66 price really covers

At $25.66 per person, the tour is priced competitively for a port excursion that includes private transport and several admissions. The value improves if you are traveling with others and can use the group discount, because the vehicle and driver costs are spread across more people.

Included features are:

• Bottled water
• Air-conditioned vehicle
• Parking fees
• Travel insurance
• English-speaking driver
• Private driver
• Entrance tickets on booking options A to E

The customized itinerary is different. Entrance fees are not included for that option, so a low starting price may not be your final cost if you request several paid attractions.

Personal expenses are not included. The supplied details do not specify meals, so plan to pay for food separately if lunch is not arranged by your chosen package. Pickup is offered, and the mobile ticket makes it practical to keep the booking details on your phone.

Who will like this North Bali day

I would choose this excursion if you want a broad look at North Bali without arranging separate port transport. It suits you especially well if you enjoy:

• Waterfalls and outdoor scenery
• Short temple and monastery visits
• A quiet black-sand beach
• Warm springs
• A private vehicle and English-speaking driver
• A full day with several different types of stops

It is less suitable if you want a slow beach day, a long swim, or one major attraction with plenty of time around it. It may also frustrate you if your cruise schedule allows only the shortest version of the six to 10-hour window.

Families and mixed-age groups may appreciate the variety, but waterfall paths and hot springs require different levels of comfort. People who prefer flat, effortless sightseeing should ask which stops involve walking. The supplied information confirms the waterfalls and mountain sights, but it does not provide accessibility details.

How to make the day run well

Start with your ship’s return time, then work backward. The tour promises a return to port with time before departure, but you should still state your all-aboard deadline clearly at pickup.

Wear light clothing for the coast and shoes with a good grip for the waterfalls. Pack swimwear and a change of clothes for Banyumala and Banjar Hot Springs. Keep a cover for electronics, and carry only what you need during walks.

Before leaving the port, confirm four points with the driver:

• Which of the listed stops are included in your package
• Whether Munduk Waterfall is included or replaced
• Whether the Wanagiri ATV activity is part of your booking
• When you must leave the final stop to return to the ship

That short conversation can prevent the main problem with this tour, trying to fit too much into one day.

Should you book this Celukan Bawang excursion?

Book it if you want variety, private transport, and a practical introduction to North Bali at a low per-person price. Ulun Danu Bratan, Banyumala Waterfall, Banjar Hot Springs, Brahma Vihara Arama, and Lovina Beach give you five very different experiences in one outing.

I would be more cautious if your priority is a relaxed pace. The seven-stop list is ambitious, and the 30-minute Twin Lake View visit shows how quickly the schedule can move. Choose a fixed package, confirm the exact stops, and treat the route as a highlights day rather than a leisurely tour.

For cruise passengers who value getting back to port safely and want more than a bus ride to one attraction, this is a strong-value choice. Just settle the itinerary details before you set off.

FAQ

Where does this shore excursion begin?

The tour is designed for pickup from Celukan Bawang Port in North Bali.

How long does the tour last?

The approximate duration is six to 10 hours.

Is transportation included?

Yes. An air-conditioned vehicle and a private driver are included.

Is the driver English-speaking?

Yes. The included driver speaks English.

Are entrance fees included?

Entrance tickets are included for booking options A to E. The customized itinerary option does not include entrance fees.

Is Lovina Beach free to enter?

Yes. The listed admission for Lovina Beach is free.

Is an ATV ride included?

The tour information describes Wanagiri ATV quad-bike tours, but it does not clearly state that an ATV ride is included in every package. Confirm this when choosing your booking option.