This demanding but rewarding full-day trek connects Bali's two most significant directional temples: Besakih (the Mother Temple) on the slopes of Mount Agung and Lempuyang (the Throne of the Gods) to the east. While tourists typically visit each temple separately by car, this ancient pilgrimage route reveals the spiritual connection between these cosmologically linked sites.

The path traverses diverse landscapes—from terraced farmland through mountain forest and finally along a ridge with spectacular views of eastern Bali. Along the way, you'll pass several smaller temples and shrines that form part of this sacred alignment, each with its own guardian priests who sometimes offer blessings to passing pilgrims. The final ascent to Lempuyang includes the famous 1,700 steps, but approaching from this direction offers a perspective few visitors experience.

Deep in Bali's central highlands, this moderate loop trail connects a series of temples hidden within one of the island's last pristine rainforests. The centerpiece is the mist-shrouded Batukaru Temple, one of Bali's nine directional temples, but the true magic lies in discovering the smaller, rarely visited shrines scattered throughout the surrounding protected forest.

The trail winds through dense jungle inhabited by black monkeys and exotic birds, linking ancient meditation caves, spring-fed pools used for purification rituals, and small stone temples almost entirely reclaimed by moss and ferns. What makes this circuit special is the sense of discovering temples that seem forgotten by time yet remain actively used by local devotees. The route offers a rare glimpse into pre-tourist Bali, where spirituality and nature exist in perfect harmony.

This gentle walking path connects the holy springs of Tirta Empul with the less-visited but equally sacred water temples of Mengening and Yeh Pulu. While Tirta Empul has become popular with tourists, this connecting path reveals how the site is actually part of a larger sacred water system with deep spiritual significance.

The trail follows the path of underground water sources believed to possess healing properties, linking purification pools where Balinese Hindus have performed cleansing rituals for centuries. The walk includes ancient stone-carved relief panels depicting everyday life in medieval Bali, meditation pavilions overlooking rice fields, and finally the rectangular pools of Mengening where far fewer visitors mean a more contemplative experience is possible.

Beyond the famous Uluwatu Temple lies a network of smaller cliff-top shrines connected by this dramatic coastal path. Following the very edge of sheer limestone cliffs, this trail links seven sea temples that form a protective spiritual barrier along Bali's southwestern peninsula.

Each temple along the route honors different aspects of the sea deities and offers increasingly spectacular views of the Indian Ocean crashing below. The path requires careful navigation along narrow cliff ledges and natural stone staircases, adding a sense of physical pilgrimage to the spiritual journey. The final temple, accessible only at low tide via a natural bridge formation, houses ancient inscriptions describing sea goddess worship that predates even Hindu influence on the island.

This lesser-known trail connects the famous stone-cut monuments of Gunung Kawi with five additional temple complexes hidden in the surrounding river valleys. While most visitors only see the main site, this route reveals how the area once formed a vast royal spiritual complex dating back to the 11th century.

The path follows the sacred Pakerisan River, considered one of Bali's most holy waterways, descending into lush ravines where additional rock-cut temples and meditation caves remain largely unvisited. Local guides from nearby villages can explain the ancient inscriptions and share legends associated with each site. The final temple on the route features recently uncovered stone reliefs showing scenes from pre-Hindu Balinese religious practices, offering rare insights into the island's ancient spiritual history.