During our trip to Bali, we told our guide that we wanted to visit Tanah Lot. He laughed and told us it is really touristy and he could show us the non-touristy sites. We insisted and said that we had seen tons of photos of Tanah Lot and really wanted to see it in person.
Tanah Lot Temple, Bali
I am so glad we insisted on visiting Tanah Lot in Bali at Sunset. It was absolutely gorgeous! We lucked out and it was low tide while we were there. This gave us the opportunity to walk around the grounds and down along the shoreline for better views of the temples.
I must admit that Tanah Lot was probably the most touristy area we visited during our trip to Bali. This was the one place we saw large numbers of souvenir stands and vendors.
We were actually pretty happy to see these stores since we needed to pick up a few gifts and we hadn't had the chance to visit and tourist stores during our visit. The prices were really good during our trip.
You can find everything from Balinese paintings to Luwak Coffee here. The Luwak Coffee was cheaper here than it was other places we visited.
If you are wondering what helps produce the Luwak Coffee you can see a Civet cat at one of the stands. It is very used to people and pretty much naps all day. They are nocturnal animals and not very active during the day.
Depending on the time of your visit you can walk out to different sections of the temple. Please remember to bring sturdy shoes with you. The walkway is on wet rocks and there are puddles and water splashing along the way.
Sunset was a gorgeous time to visit Tanah Lot. We were not graced with the vibrant sunsets that I saw on Instagram while researching our visit but even with the cloud cover it was gorgeous. To get these shots we walked down past the temple and took our pictures back towards the sunset.
There are a few places to visit on this portion of the temple including a cave with sea snakes (which we skipped). No snakes for me! Especially ones that can swim in the water.
There is also an area you can be blessed with holy water. There was quite a line for this area.
Travel Tips
An entrance fee is required to enter Tanah Lot. There is a stand at the main entrance where you can pay the fee. Your guide may choose to stay in the car and give you time to wander the grounds.
Depending on the time of year Tanah Lot can be packed with hundreds of people. Be prepared for crowds and make sure you know where your stuff is.
There are photographers wandering the property who will sell you a picture in a pretty card featuring Tanah Lot. These were only a couple of dollars and made for a great souvenir from our visit. They print them onsite for you.
Sturdy shoes are definitely recommended. There are stairs, wet rocks, and slippery pathways to reach the temples.
It is a little bit of a walk to get to the temples. You need to be able to get through the souvenir stands and a walkway to get to the viewing area. If you have mobility restrictions you may want to ask your guide for recommendations in reaching the viewing areas. You could easily walk a half-mile to reach everything.
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Yona Williams
I see that you mentioned more than once that you need sturdy shoes and things are slippery. That's good to know because I am the type of person to NOT wear sensible shoes when traveling and visiting attractions. Anyways, this site is gorgeous and looks like a lot of fun to explore.
Katie
So beautiful! I would love to visit Bali someday. It looks absolutely lovely. Regardless of Tanah Lot being a "touristy" area, I can still see the natural beauty all around.
Tammilee
Even being touristy it is so worth a visit. Absolutely gorgeous!
Jaclyn Anne
Stunning images! I would love to visit Bali one day, it is just beautiful! As a coffee lover I am surprised that I have never heard of Luwak coffee before - I am curious about it now. Thank you for sharing your trip and your photos with us.
Tammilee
The Luwak coffee is really interesting. My Husband fell in love with it. Outside of Bali it is crazy expensive to get. Even in Bali it definitely was not cheap.
Nicci
Y'all went to Bali! How cool! Sounds like an easy place to get around for a foreign country, and I bet having a guide made the experience more well-rounded. I think it's fun to visit the touristy places when we travel, and I like the off-beaten areas too. It all makes for a memorable trip.
Sicorra
Beautiful pictures.
I can see why low tide was so important when you were out there on that tiny island.
Angie
Wow, beautiful photos! I've never really thought about visiting bali, but I'm not sure why...I really think I need to go! Also, that cat, so dang cute. Do you touch them?
Tammilee
We touched the Luwak that was at the coffee shop. It was raised with people so not too scared of us. It was a bit scary since it is so big but still so cute.
Liz Mays
Touristy or not, it's beautiful and looks like it was well worth visiting. It's just gorgeous!
Rosemary
Bali would be a great place to visit. Love your pictures and insight on your travels. We have 3 road trips planned for the year and maybe another cruise.
Cindy (Vegetarian Mamma)
As always your pictures are totally amazing! And make me want to go everywhere you are going! The temple looks fascinating. It looked beautiful and full of adventure!