Galungan & Kuningan Itinerary
Galungan and Kuningan are big festivals in Bali that shouldn’t be missed! To fully enjoy the beautiful culture and sceneries, here Sedasa has summarized an itinerary for couples or solo travelers who dare to ride the bike a bit further away!
First thing to know is Galungan and Kuningan are two separated festivals. Galungan (during Sedasa trip) was November 1st and Kuningan is always the next 10 days, which was November 11th. If you’re interested in this itinerary, you can try:
Next Galungan 30 May 2018 and Kuningan 9 June 2018 OR
Galungan 26 December 2018 and Kuningan 5 January 2019
Things to be prepared days before:
Full tank bike (Around IDR 30,000 Pertamax or IDR 25,000 Pertalite for small scooter) with helmets
Ask our #SedasaFamily, Totok’s permission to visit his hometown in Gianyar. He would be more than happy to take you around in the afternoon. His hometown is famous for beautiful penjor and awesome cultural show with some trance and barong dance.
Traditional Balinese costume (such as sarong, udeng, and kebaya) and EXTRA sarong because you’ll be in and out lots of temples (and might get wet). Ask Sedasa staff to help you dress properly for Galungan ceremony on the night before!
It might be best to pack your own breakfast, because Bangli in the morning doesn’t seem to understand your needs.
Now that you’re ready, here is our itinerary look like from 05.30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In the morning, the ambience will be very relaxing, cool breeze, and beautiful ethnic music might be heard while you pass each temple. After you’ve arrived at Pura Kehen, park your bike in front of any closed shop and enjoy this serene moment. Some people might be praying in front of the temple, but there is no one inside, so you can roam freely while listening to various birds chirping.
Done with pura, move to Penglipuran Village. If you have arrived before 8 a.m. there is a chance you don’t have to pay for the entrance fee. So park your bike at Tugu Pahlawan PARKIR II (go to the left from the entrance gate) and enjoy the view of Galungan at Penglipuran, one of the cleanest villages in the world. When you want to have breakfast, don’t forget to try herbal drinks that are made out of flowers.
By 9 a.m. Penglipuran feels more packed, now it’s time to get wet at Pura Tirta Empul! Get your bike at Pura Tugu Pahlawan and take the exit to Bamboo forest. You will see some people praying along the street, be mindful.
At Pura Tirta Empul, ask the locals about the water and its philosophy and they are more than happy to share you this. If you didn’t get the chance for a proper breakfast, time to get your brunch at Warung de Koi, we heard the ribs and crispy ducks sound tasty. But the vegetarian food is so so.
Back to the road, enjoy the sceneries and fill your tank full again at the big Gas Station Pertamina. Because after this, roads will be smaller, twisty and less gas station!
Turn your bike to Trunyan street, it’s breathtaking.
And when you have arrived at Pura Besakih, the biggest and holiest temple in Bali, you might be surprised at some people offering you flowers, photos, and postcards. If you feel like helping, you may give them some money. If you don’t, it’s okay too. The big pura has a lot of stairs and cautions. Some places are restricted only for Balinese to pray.
After walking around pura, let Totok know that you’re heading his home. Now the sun is up and it would be super hot. (It’s even too hot for the Balinese.) So you might want to wear a light jacket and sunscreen to avoid getting red all over your arms and nose.
At Totok’s home, greet every member of his family and immerse yourself in the real authentic Balinese culture. They usually have a cockfighting show in the afternoon, some kids dancing with Barong mask, and a more serious trance ceremony “Ida Betara Ngider Buana” at night. They will all be a perfect ending for your Galungan trip.
Say thanks to Totok’s big family and head back to Sedasa, your home away from home. Now you have 10 days to enjoy other things. Try canang sari and Balinese cooking class at Sedasa before Kuningan comes!
The best thing to see during Kuningan beside penjor, is the Mekotekan ceremony at Munggu Village, Mengwi at 3 p.m. It’s only 8 km from Sedasa Lodge. Enjoy the march of thousand men with long wooden sticks (and a man on top of that). After you’re done, head to Tanah Lot beach to enjoy the sunset!
Rahajeng Galungan lan Kuningan!
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