Half day tour in the Karangasem area
This half day trip can be organized as an additional activity after the diving day in Candidasa or as an almost full day trip if started morning time with an add on lunch break on the virgin beach. In both cases sightseeing part of this trip would last around 4 hours. The price of the tours are included entrance tickets. We advise you to bring swimwear, water in the pools of Tirta Gangga is crystal clear. We provide air-conditioned mini -bus with a driver and English-speaking guide.
Tour highlights
Main points of interest:
Ujung Palace – summer palace for the Karangasem royal familly
Tirta Gangga – royal swimming pools and botanical gardens
Tenganan Aga Village – one of the few remaining villages with Balinese Aga tribe.
Uung Palace
The palace was built in 1919 by the late king of Karangasem, I Gusti Bagus Jelantik , who ruled Karangasem in the years 1909-1945 . As a result of the eruption of Mount Agung in 1963, the palace suffered serious damage. Renovation works took over 10 years. Enormous efforts local community has put in its reconstruction were dashed in 1979 when a strong earthquake struck the island of Bali and completely destroyed the palace and its surroundings. A few years later, the government renovated the palace and its surroundings. Today, we can enjoy this wonderful example of Balinese architecture just 25 min away from Candidasa.
Tirta Gangga
Stone hand cut pools are surrounded by beautiful gardens and numerous stone carvings. The complex was built from the order of the late King of Karangasem in 1946. However, a massive Agung volcano eruption and subsequent earthquakes almost completely ruined monument, as well as other facilities in the area. The complex, luckily has been rebuilt and restored in the later years by Indonesian government. Now, frequently visited by tourists, it shows us the atmosphere of Balinese splendor. Pools are fed by spring water, which according to local legend , has a therapeutic effect.
Tenganan
It is a small village situated near Candidasa . Back in the 70s Tenganan was known to anthropologists as one of the most isolated from settlements in the Indonesian archipelago. The changes introduced in the 1970 by Indonesian government focusing mainly on opening the region to tourism, only slightly changed the image of the village. What is most interesting is the architecture, local rituals, believes, crafts, art and culture which remained almost unchanged.