Yes we get it, Bali seems small but when it comes to exploring the whole island, we came to realization that it is indeed a BIG place. On top of that, the massive and rapid development on the island has made the light pollution worse. So this page is made to help stargazers to find the ideal “dark” sites in Bali for stargazing.
Short Drive from Denpasar
Sanur
Mertasari Beach is probably the closest stargazing site from Denpasar. While the light pollution is not very low, the site offers a big open site facing the east and the south, making it ideal to observe rising planets, the Moon, comets, also for long exposure Milky Way images.
Tabanan
If you live near the west coast of Bali, Tabanan still offer acceptable stargazing sites. Some examples include Kedungu and Pasut Beach. While the south direction is already polluted by lights from Canggu and nearby areas, the west direction is still somewhat dark which allows planetary observations and long exposure Milky Way images when the photoshoot is carefully timed to match the season and the Moon phase.
Uluwatu
Uluwatu and other southern beaches like Pandawa, Melasti are among one of the best areas for hunting the Milky Way. Because some areas are still undeveloped, the light pollution here is relatively low which allows us to view the Milky Way with naked eyes. However some roads are not in good conditions and you have to be a good driver (with suitable vehicles) to access some of these sites.
Nusa Dua
For those who are less adventurous, Nusa Dua offers similar night sky to Uluwatu. Skip the steep winding road and off-road conditions to get to the stargazing sites, but it comes with a price: light pollution from nearby resorts.-
Longer Drive and Overnight Trips
For more serious stargazers and Milky Way chasers, we all know that the lower the lower the Bortle scale is, the better the view is. Thus, some of the best stargazing sites in Bali require a few hours of driving to escape from city lights.
Kintamani & Mt Batur
Imagine being high up in one of Bali’s famous mountains, with city lights below you and starry skies above you. This is the view that you get when you take an adventure to Mount Batur. There are numerous jeep operators who can bring you to the mountain, but not all of them are aware of the best sites for stargazing. Most tours offer sunset or sunrise view.
Bedugul
Located in Tabanan district, Bedugul offers three lakes as ideal stargazing sites: Beratan, Buyan, and Tamblingan. Among those lakes, Beratan has the photogenic Pura Ulun Danu by the lake which attracts a large number of visitors. Both Beratan and Buyan have a number of camping and glamping sites nearby, while Tamblingan is a bit further and has no glamping option.
Amed
The small town that is famous for diving, free diving, and yoga lifestyle also offers excellent stargazing sites – thanks to Mount Seraya which blocks most of the light pollution from southern Bali. Overlooking the eastern and northern coast, Amed makes the perfect stargazing site for Milky Way and a number of high-intensity meteor showers throughout the year.
Tianyar
If I can only pick one favourite place for stargazing in Bali, the answer is definitely Tianyar. With very low rain intensity, this dry savannah offers a big open space and the view of the mighty Mount Agung. Being the tallest mountain in Bali, Mount Agung also does us a huge favour by blocking the light pollution from Southern Bali.
Lahangan Sweet
Being one of the most popular destination in Bali, this spot boasts an epic viewpoint overlooking Mount Agung. You can camp here at night but during certain months, the wind blows very strong. Unfortunately, those months also coincide with the peak of Milky Way season. If you decide to camp here, make sure to check the forecast beforehand so your tents won’t be blown away.
Nusa Penida
Last but not least, a nearby island that is also part of Bali: the infamous Nusa Penida! While the island seems a lot smaller than Bali, it still takes at least a few days to fully explore the beauty of this island. From scenic beaches to healthy underwater life, the night skies there are equally breath-taking and not to be missed. Fun fact: the idea to start Celiztial Stargazing was born in Nusa Penida when Liz was stationed there for a couple of years.