Gates of Heaven
Gates of Heaven
3.5
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Top ways to experience Gates of Heaven
The area
Best nearby
Restaurants
6 within 5 kms
Attractions
24 within 10 kms
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- Highroads TravelerPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania960 contributionsSunset and prayerful beauty!Visiting the Gates of Heaven and the joy you will experience from arriving here is entirely due to your mindset… If it is peaceful, you will see the beauty… If you arrive here solely to grab a quick picture for Instagram, and then leave, you may wind up waiting hours and feel unfulfilled, but that would be a superficial feeling from your own emptiness. As a wonderful example, my wife and I arrived towards the very end of the day and drew the number 474 to have our time in the Gate for a picture… We waited a very pleasant 45 minutes while we had fun watching other people, hugging and taking pictures as sunset approached. How nice to even met newlyweds, and when it was our turn, we were treated to a beautiful red hue peeking out through the clouds, which was a perfect complement to the quiet, prayerful time we had had waiting and holding hands. Thank you Gates of Heaven!Visited February 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 February 2024
- SkeeteLondon, United Kingdom265 contributionsGreat Experience, Very Touristy But Exceptional ViewsThis was a must do trip in Bali not just for the photo element but also for nature and exploration. Be warned the trek up is very steep and ling but it is 100% worth it. The beauty and nature is incredible. Yes you will be waiting if you want that mirror picture but I think the wait is worth it and you get to enjoy being in an incredible place. Highly recommend an early morning trip.Visited June 2023Travelled soloWritten 14 May 2024
- Khaled AzibDubai, United Arab Emirates318 contributionsDoesn't Deserve the Fanfare and HypeGates of Heaven in Bali has gained a lot of hype recently thanks to social media. Pictures of instagrammers posing at the gate permeate social media sites, particularly Instagram and Facebook. After doing some research on the net and getting some information from our personal driver we decided not to visit it. We learned that it is far away and that you have to be there very early in order to get the chance to take some pictures at the famous gate before tourists flock in. You really need half a day to get there, queue and come back. Some people I acquainted in bali told me that they had started at 4:00 am, which we found discouraging. However, my wife insisted on venturing there. Ultimately,I gave in and we embarked on our trip to the gate. Luckily, our driver, Mr. Wayan Sukarya, who was a knowledgeable guide, suggested leaving at 8:00. We were dubious about the possibility of arriving there at an opportune time when the turnout would be low. After about one and a half-hour's drive we arrived at our destination. We bought the tickets and walked a slope for about five minutes. Fortunately, there were only about forty people before us. We sat waiting for our turn. In the meantime we chatted with other tourists from all over the world. There is a big temple there which we did not visit as you have to climb a large number of stairs to reach the entrance. Instead we visited other beautiful temples somewhere else. After one and a half hours they called our number. We took together and solo pictures. The guy there helped us with the postures. He used a mirror and our phone to shoot beatiful pictures that make it look as if there was a reflection on water or a wet surface. The pictures are breathtaking, but the experience is really time consuming.Visited December 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 27 June 2024
- Julie CMandurah, Australia160 contributionsGates of Heaven up in the clouds.It seemed to take forever to reach the Gates of Heaven, but it was well worth it. Mid morning might be better than first thing as the fog, clouds are low and may take some time to clear. If you are having your photo taken you may have to wait more than an hour as it is a very popular thing to do. The views are breathtaking .Visited August 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 17 August 2024
- AlexAtlanta, Georgia237 contributionsDo Not RecommendVery overrated definitely a place you can skip. The wait is super long. I got there at 9 something in the morning and ate breakfast at the restaurant & took pictures at the top and my number still wasn’t close to being called. Someone was leaving and gave me their number so it moved me up by like 40 spots up. We didn’t leave till 1pm, definitely take off your itinerary!Visited August 2024Travelled soloWritten 23 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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3.5
56 reviews
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COLIN W
Melbourne, Australia153 contributions
Jan 2020
I strongly recommend that if you go to see this spot you aim to get there early, our driver made that point to us and we were glad he did. Early morning is a great time to be at this spot. There is a steep hill to get up, you can spend $1 on a lift on a motorbike, but what you see when up there is well worth it. also there is a spot o get out of your car before you get to the gate which is well worth getting out and taking a few snaps.
You can feel a bit herded once you get to the top in order to file through and take your turn to have your photo taken so take your time to explore and wander around the place.
As we were staying in Legian we left our Hotel at 4am and arrived just after 6am, we spent the rest of the day looking at other attractions on our way back to our hotel.
You can feel a bit herded once you get to the top in order to file through and take your turn to have your photo taken so take your time to explore and wander around the place.
As we were staying in Legian we left our Hotel at 4am and arrived just after 6am, we spent the rest of the day looking at other attractions on our way back to our hotel.
Written 7 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WanderingWithUsTwo
Phoenix, AZ796 contributions
Jun 2019
We visited this temple a few days after a motorbike accident so we weren’t able to explore much. This temple is located 2.5 hours from Ubud and is near the southeast coast of Bali. We had a driver take us there along with a few other places for 700,000 IDR (49 USD) which isn’t too bad for an all day driver. When we arrived at 10AM we realized there is no parking lot here so people will park on the highway that runs through the mountain and basically turn it into a one lane highway. We highly advise taking a tour guide unless you feel very confident in your abilities in maneuvering these narrow roads. After parking we went and rented sarongs to cover ourselves since your legs and shoulders must be covered to enter. They cost 10,000 IDR (70 cents USD) each and there is no charge to enter the temple but you may leave a donation if you’d like. There are multiple temples located here although most people won’t go past the first one that’s 5 minutes from the gate where everyone takes the photo of Mount Agung. Visiting all the temples takes around 4 hours or so. We attempted making it to the next one but due to our injuries weren’t able to make it. There are hills and lots of stairs to climb (1800+) but there are places to buy snacks and water and also some motorbikes to take you up or down to some points. We enjoyed this temple but wish we could have been able to fully explore everything. We decided not to wait over 1.5 hours to take the picture everyone comes here for because sometimes it’s best to just enjoy where you are!
- @wanderingwithustwo
- @wanderingwithustwo
Written 13 May 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael Holmes
Melbourne, Australia38 contributions
Feb 2020
Went with Bali Made Tours leaving from Seminyak at 4am to arrive at Gates of Heaven 6am. Well worth the effort to get up early. Even arriving at 6am we had a wait of over an hour before it was our 'turn' to have photos taken by the official photographer. We were 38 in the queue (everyone takes a number) and assuming everyone takes 3 minutes you can gauge how long it takes. Arriving any later and you wait 3 to 4 hours. Extremely steep road leading up to Gates of Heaven and dogs seem to be everywhere!! You need to rent a sarong to wear at 10,000 rupiah each (or about $1), you also pay a nominal fee for entrance (maybe another 10,000) and you also tip the photographer (maybe another 10,000). We were thrilled with the multiple photos taken. You give your smart phone or camera to the photographer and they take the official photos on your equipment. Wonderful spectacular views of the active volcano Mt Agung in the background. Not to be missed!!!!
Written 14 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
divewench
Chatham, UK587 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
We arrived about 3pm, and had 100 people before us. We had about a 1 hour wait for our turn, waiting in the shade of bales and watching people practice their poses, so quite entertaining. We ended up with about 10 stunning photos each, so extremely pleased.
Please note: the images shown are false perspective as there is no water in the temple, however, the photographers do an excellent job with everyones cameras/phones.
My tips: get there early as queues can be large. You are given a numbered ticket so are free to wander around until your number is called over the microphone. Bring your own sarong and selandang (belt), to to save renting. From the drop off point, the walk is about 500 metres up an extremely steep tarmaced road. Wear comfortable shoes. Take the cover off your phone in advance. Have an idea of your poses before it is your turn
Great day, long wait but well worth it.
Please note: the images shown are false perspective as there is no water in the temple, however, the photographers do an excellent job with everyones cameras/phones.
My tips: get there early as queues can be large. You are given a numbered ticket so are free to wander around until your number is called over the microphone. Bring your own sarong and selandang (belt), to to save renting. From the drop off point, the walk is about 500 metres up an extremely steep tarmaced road. Wear comfortable shoes. Take the cover off your phone in advance. Have an idea of your poses before it is your turn
Great day, long wait but well worth it.
Written 14 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travis h
2 contributions
Sept 2022 • Couples
All the reviews are correct with the steep climb to get to the temple. They do require you to wear a sarong, but that didn’t stop the half dress teens doing stripper poses showing all the bits for likes on social media from wearing them.
We got there about 730-800 am and we were somewhere in the 60’s for line. Some people did about 10-15 photos or about 2-5 minutes then some were up doing various poses for 15 minutes.
It was fun watching the first few people act like fools but then it got old and hearing the people taking photos say “next pose,next pose, next pose” etc. got really annoying quick.
We waited about 45 minutes and maybe 10 people went through. We left without taking photos because it would have taken about 2 hours
We got there about 730-800 am and we were somewhere in the 60’s for line. Some people did about 10-15 photos or about 2-5 minutes then some were up doing various poses for 15 minutes.
It was fun watching the first few people act like fools but then it got old and hearing the people taking photos say “next pose,next pose, next pose” etc. got really annoying quick.
We waited about 45 minutes and maybe 10 people went through. We left without taking photos because it would have taken about 2 hours
Written 19 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mathan A
Harrow, UK69 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Not worth it. The popularity of this place has been due to Instagram. You'll be waiting at least 2 hours for a photo while shuttle loads of tourists hurtle in by the minute. You'll be cramped in a small temple with other sweaty, bored tourists hoping that clouds will pass and mount agung will be visible when your number is finally called out. During your wait, you'll be hassled by touts trying to sell you photo packages with the selling point that you might as well do something as you wait (and they have a point!).
I visited for all of 5 minutes before departing. There are many photo opportunities in the vicinity that doesn't involve a bunch of people hoping for the perfect photo to impress their Instagram buddies. Avoid.
I visited for all of 5 minutes before departing. There are many photo opportunities in the vicinity that doesn't involve a bunch of people hoping for the perfect photo to impress their Instagram buddies. Avoid.
Written 25 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Courtney
Anchorage, AK324 contributions
Oct 2022 • Friends
The gate is probably the most iconic or famous scene in Bali unfortunately it’s mostly a work of fiction. The temple is overrun in tourists. They hand out numbers for people to take the photo. There is no water just clever camera work and you can wait hours for the picture.
Lots of other temples of similar level of intrigue exist.
Lots of other temples of similar level of intrigue exist.
Written 5 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Khaled Azib
Dubai, United Arab Emirates318 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Gates of Heaven in Bali has gained a lot of hype recently thanks to social media. Pictures of instagrammers posing at the gate permeate social media sites, particularly Instagram and Facebook.
After doing some research on the net and getting some information from our personal driver we decided not to visit it. We learned that it is far away and that you have to be there very early in order to get the chance to take some pictures at the famous gate before tourists flock in. You really need half a day to get there, queue and come back. Some people I acquainted in bali told me that they had started at 4:00 am, which we found discouraging.
However, my wife insisted on venturing there. Ultimately,I gave in and we embarked on our trip to the gate. Luckily, our driver, Mr. Wayan Sukarya, who was a knowledgeable guide, suggested leaving at 8:00. We were dubious about the possibility of arriving there at an opportune time when the turnout would be low. After about one and a half-hour's drive we arrived at our destination. We bought the tickets and walked a slope for about five minutes.
Fortunately, there were only about forty people before us. We sat waiting for our turn. In the meantime we chatted with other tourists from all over the world. There is a big temple there which we did not visit as you have to climb a large number of stairs to reach the entrance. Instead we visited other beautiful temples somewhere else.
After one and a half hours they called our number. We took together and solo pictures. The guy there helped us with the postures. He used a mirror and our phone to shoot beatiful pictures that make it look as if there was a reflection on water or a wet surface. The pictures are breathtaking, but the experience is really time consuming.
After doing some research on the net and getting some information from our personal driver we decided not to visit it. We learned that it is far away and that you have to be there very early in order to get the chance to take some pictures at the famous gate before tourists flock in. You really need half a day to get there, queue and come back. Some people I acquainted in bali told me that they had started at 4:00 am, which we found discouraging.
However, my wife insisted on venturing there. Ultimately,I gave in and we embarked on our trip to the gate. Luckily, our driver, Mr. Wayan Sukarya, who was a knowledgeable guide, suggested leaving at 8:00. We were dubious about the possibility of arriving there at an opportune time when the turnout would be low. After about one and a half-hour's drive we arrived at our destination. We bought the tickets and walked a slope for about five minutes.
Fortunately, there were only about forty people before us. We sat waiting for our turn. In the meantime we chatted with other tourists from all over the world. There is a big temple there which we did not visit as you have to climb a large number of stairs to reach the entrance. Instead we visited other beautiful temples somewhere else.
After one and a half hours they called our number. We took together and solo pictures. The guy there helped us with the postures. He used a mirror and our phone to shoot beatiful pictures that make it look as if there was a reflection on water or a wet surface. The pictures are breathtaking, but the experience is really time consuming.
Written 27 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mark s
8 contributions
Jun 2023 • Couples
This is our experience as visitors to Bali for 40 years. This is an example of a significant cultural and religious location being used for nothing more than a photo opportunity. You get charged 45000 IDR for a short bus ride to the temple then 55000 IDR to enter the temple to be given a number for a photo opportunity. Join the 2 hour wait. That wasn’t what we were there for. No learnings about the location offered but you can take photos in a gorillas hand or a boat. It’s quite disturbing that this is what Bali has come to and found it very upsetting.
Written 29 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
maja
Warsaw, Poland12 contributions
Mar 2023 • Family
I visited this supposedly praised “instagrammable” location at the end of march 2023. My experience was no where near as memorable as what they are often said to be. The 2 hours of waiting just to take a few photos standing in between the iconic entrance to heaven are no less than whimsical. the area is small, no side activites are provided further leaving the customers in the sun, waiting for a few mediocre shots. Disregarding the fact that menstruating women are not allowed to enter the temple which no one seemed to mention before I ended up visiting, as well as the double payment ritual. 1 pay for bus ride up and seperate pay for entrance to the temple. If you have no precious time to spare, I absolutely reccomend.
Written 31 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Do you have to wear a sarong is a long skirt an acceptable alternative?
Written 6 April 2024
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