Pura Lempuyang (Gate of Heaven) vs Pura Besakih (Mother Temple)
Two temples in Karangasem. Pura Lempuyang (Gate of Heaven) has 29 tickets and tours to book; Pura Besakih (Mother Temple) has 20 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Lempuyang lies in the far east of Bali, on the slopes of Mount Lempuyang above Amlapura, about two hours by road from Ubud and further from the southern resorts. That distance means most visitors book a private car with driver for a full day, which is the sensible option: these tours usually include fuel and parking, sometimes an English-speaking guide, and leave you to pay the temple fees and the shuttle from the car park on the spot.
The typical east Bali circuit combines the temple with the royal water palace of Tirta Gangga and the water garden of Taman Ujung, and sometimes adds a stop at the White Sand Beach near Candidasa, Besakih, the mother temple of Bali, or a waterfall.
Besakih lies high on the slopes of Mount Agung in eastern Bali, about two hours by car from Ubud and more from the southern beaches, so most visitors come on a full-day car tour with a driver. Entry is paid at the visitor centre at the bottom of the hill; the fee normally includes a sarong and the short shuttle ride up to the temples. Official local guides are available there, and you should hire only from the official desk.
The tours sold online are almost all east Bali circuits with Besakih as one major stop. The most common combine it with Lempuyang temple and its famous framed gateway, the water palace of Tirta Gangga and sometimes the royal water garden at Ujung.
