Situated in the eastern region of Bali, Tenganan is a traditional village which still follows many of the cultural practices that were prominent when it was established in the 14th century.
Tenganan is home of the Bali Aga people, which means ‘original Balinese’ in the local dialect. This is a good place to discover the unique culture of one of Bali’s oldest tribal groups and learn about traditional skills such as the weaving of special double ikat cloth.
Those who appreciate the quiet life may want to spend the night in one of Tenganan’s basic guest houses. However, with the beautiful beaches of Candidasa just a short ride away, many visitors just pause here briefly before heading off to soak up the sun on the beach.
Getting There
Most visitors to Tenganan arrive via Ngurah Rai International Airport, just outside the city of Denpasar. There are regular buses to Tenganan from Denpasar’s large buses station (4 hours), and there are also buses to Tenganan from surrounding towns and cities such as Candidasa (30 minutes) and Amlapura.
Need to Know
- Worth it? Only if you are in the area and have a little time to spare.
- What to do: explore the village, shop for souvenirs, swimming, snorkeling.
- Best time to go: during the dry season between May and September.
- How long? A day or less is enough time to learn about Tenganan’s culture and history.
- Trivia: Tenganan is one of only three places in the world that makes the double ikat, or geringsing, cloth.