Day trip · from Canggu
Uluwatu in a day from Canggu: Padang Padang, Suluban, the temple at sunset
The Bukit in a day: a cove below the road in the morning, a beach hidden in the cliff in the afternoon, and Uluwatu temple at sunset. It is the simplest outing from Canggu, possible with children, but it ends after dark in traffic. The times given here are indicative.
- Updated on
- 4 min read
- By Kylian Dev
In short
Facts as of · sourced figures
You leave Canggu after the morning rush and reach Padang Padang in the late morning for a swim. After lunch, Suluban is visited according to the tide, ideally low. You then head to Uluwatu temple for the late afternoon, the sunset and, if you like, the kecak. The return is after dark.
Contents
Key points
- Indicative times: traffic between Canggu and the Bukit can double the journey.
- Padang Padang in the morning, before the crowd; the temple in the late afternoon, for sunset.
- At Suluban, access to the sand depends on the tide: check the times before you go.
- At the temple, put away glasses, hats and phones: the macaques steal.
Uluwatu is at the south-western tip of the Bukit peninsula, a limestone plateau edged with cliffs. From Canggu, you head down through the south of the island, around the airport, before climbing onto the plateau.
On the programme: Padang Padang, Suluban and Pura Luhur Uluwatu. For the road, see Canggu to Uluwatu.
The day, indicative times
- 8:30 amLeave Canggu, after the worst of the rush hour.
- 10:30 amPadang Padang: the staircase through the rock, a swim in the cove.
- 12:30 pmLunch on the Bukit.
- 2 pmQuiet time in the shade, or back to the beach during the hot hours.
- 3:30 pmSuluban: down into the cliff, if the tide is low.
- 5 pmPura Luhur Uluwatu: the temple grounds, the cliffs, then the kecak at sunset.
- 7 pmBack to Canggu, after dark.
How the day runs
You leave Canggu after the morning rush and reach Padang Padang in the late morning for a swim. After lunch, Suluban is visited according to the tide, ideally low. You then head to Uluwatu temple for the late afternoon, the sunset and, if you like, the kecak. The return is after dark.
With children, you can cut the day short: Padang Padang and the temple are enough, Suluban means steep stairs and a narrow crevice.
Who it suits
- Families: a sheltered beach in the morning, temple and dance in the evening.
- Travellers who want to see the Bukit without changing accommodation.
Who it does not suit
- Those who want to surf the Bukit waves: these are reef breaks for experienced surfers.
- People who do not like driving after dark in traffic.
- Anyone looking for quiet: the temple at sunset is very busy.
Getting there: the south of the island, there and back
Canggu to Uluwatu is published at most at roughly 1 h 30 to 2 h 15. The hard parts are crossing the south around the airport, and above all the return after sunset, when everyone leaves the temple at once. On the Bukit, the distances between the three places are short.
- Car with a driver: the easiest, especially for the drive back after dark.
- Scooter: common on the Bukit, but crossing the south at rush hour is tiring.
- The temple car park fills up in the late afternoon: arrive before kecak time.
What you see
A sandy cove below the road at Padang Padang, reached by a staircase through the rock; Suluban beach, at the foot of the waves, hidden in a crevice; and the Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple, perched on the cliff, whose grounds you visit. The other Bukit beaches are for another time.
Padang Padang
A small cove, nicer in the morning; a reef wave for experienced surfers.
Suluban
Steep stairs and a narrow crevice; you watch the surf, you do not swim as in Sanur.
Pura Luhur Uluwatu
The cliff temple, its monkeys, and the kecak at sunset.
The kecak is a dance without instruments, carried by the rhythmic chant of men seated in a circle. At Uluwatu, it is performed in the open air next to the temple, with the sea as a backdrop, and ends as night falls.
What you pay for, and what you do not
The driver for the day, or the scooter, is the first item. Add the Padang Padang entry fee, displayed at the top of the stairs, the temple entry, and the kecak ticket, sold on site. Parking is paid near the sites. Suluban is free to access; you pay for what you order at the warung.
| Item | Paid? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Driver Canggu ↔ Uluwatu | Yes | Mention the return after sunset |
| Padang Padang entry | Yes | Displayed at the top of the stairs |
| Uluwatu temple entry | Yes | Displayed at the ticket office, sarong lent |
| Kecak ticket | Optional | Sold on site, arrive early |
| Suluban beach | No | Paid parking at the top of the cliff |
Mistakes to avoid
At the temple, the trap is well known: a macaque grabs glasses or a phone, and someone offers to get it back for a fee. Elsewhere, people reach Suluban at high tide with no beach, swim in reef waves that are too strong, or miss the kecak for not buying a ticket in time.
- Put everything in a closed bag before entering the temple.
- Check the tide table for Suluban.
- Only swim where the sea is calm, and never in big swell.
- Buy the kecak ticket when you reach the temple, not at the last minute.
Frequently asked questions
Can you do Uluwatu in a day from Canggu?
Yes, it is the simplest day trip from Canggu. Just plan for a return after dark, in traffic.
How long is the drive?
The site publishes at most roughly 1 h 30 to 2 h 15 between Canggu and Uluwatu, depending on traffic.
Is this day trip suitable for children?
Yes: Padang Padang and the temple suit them. Suluban means steep stairs and a narrow crevice, to judge by their age.
Do you need to book the kecak?
The ticket is bought on site. Arrive early: seats fill up before sunset.
Sources
Figures and rules checked on October 27, 2026 against the sources below. Entry rules and fees change: always check them on the official websites before you leave.
