I’ve had the pleasure of capturing engagement sessions and weddings all over Bali in the past five years. I’m always looking for unique and the best Bali prewedding or engagement locations that reflect the couple I’m photographing to make the photos look authentic to them. Here are the best Bali prewedding or engagement locations that I continuously refer to my clients and keep me coming back year after year.
Also, don’t be surprise if some of the locations require some fees, it is normal in Bali to charge extra entrance fees if you are doing a photoshoot for prewedding. To avoid confusion, I will explain the regular fee and the prewedding entrance fees ticket below.
All photos below are taken by Bali wedding photographer, Gusmank Wedding Photography.
1. The Iconic Balinese Water Temple, Beratan Lake
The first location for my best Bali prewedding or engagement locations lists is Beratan Lake located in Bali’s mountainous areas, Bedugul. What makes this place like no other spots in Bali is the floating Temple, called Ulun Danu Temple. The temple standing tall in a shrine tower with an 11 levels ceiling, seven levels ceiling, and three levels ceiling.
Best Time To Shoot: The best timing to shoot at Beratan Lake and Temple is on sunrise starting from 6 am. For this route, I recommend for people who willing to wake up so early as you will need to depart from Denpasar from 4 am, sometimes if you hire a makeup artist, the makeup will start 2 hours before that! So this session is only for a morning person.
What to Wear: Wear your best dress! Any color is perfect here.
Entrance Fees: To make an excellent photo here, I suggest hiring a boat so we could create dramatic photography from the lake. The photoshoot entrances is IDR 1,000,000 and boat renting cost IDR 150,000 and be paid directly to the local owner of the boat.
2. The Classic Favourites, Tegalalang Rice Terraces
Tegalalang Rice Terraces photo spot in Ubud is the most famous photography spot in Bali. This is the famous rice terrace that you’ve probably seen in everyone’s Instagram photos and a lot on my blog. Unlike some places around the world that have been spoiled by tourism, the Tegalalang Rice Terraces are definitely still a great place for your photography spot. In Tegalalang Rice Terraces you will get Bali in one frame where the subject can get a beautiful green rice field and the glorious early morning sunray.
Best Time To Shoot: The best timing to shoot here at Tegalalang Rice Terraces is definitely in the morning. I know it’s a pain from some people to getting up early! But the lighting you get will be worth it! By coming here early not only are there many fewer people, but it’s so much cooler at this time of day. My client always thanks me for this.
What to Wear: The long flowy dresses with bright or soft colors do look amazing amongst the rice fields. Please try to avoid wearing heels it could be dangerous due to the very tiny and muddy step.
Entrance Fees: The ticket box normally opens at 8 am, as we will shoot here before that there will be no entrance fees yet. However sometimes the farmer will ask for the donation if you use their fields for a photo shoot, please prepare small cash, ranging from 10,000 – 50,000 IDR (1-3 USD).
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3. The Tallest Waterfall in Bali, Nungnung Waterfall
If you pick this spot, make sure you are in a fit condition as we will go down and up around thousands of stairs! Name one of the tallest waterfalls in Bali, Nungnung Waterfall is a very great prewedding location. The photo highlight of Nungnung has to be the tremendous power behind the falls, it creates a dramatic effect on your prewedding photos.
Best Time To Shoot: I usually shoot here as the second location after my session in Kintamani area.
What to Wear: Since we will hike down and up many stairs, I suggest to wear something light or if possible to bring change down at the waterfall.
Entrance Fees: Regular entrances fee is 10,000 IDR (0,70 USD), pre-wedding entrance fees is 250,000 IDR (18 USD).
4. For The Adventurous Couples, Batur Volcano
There are no places in Bali that I know of that offer this kind of beauty, warmth, tranquility, and closeness to nature as you’ll find in Mount Batur. I choose this location as one of the best Bali prewedding or engagement locations due to the mountain beauty surround by the black volcanic rocks (black lava) and sand. But not to worry, shooting in Batur Volcano doesn’t mean you gonna hike the mountain, as we will doing the shoot in the surrounding area of the volcano.
Best Time To Shoot: Be here on sunrise for the most awesome lighting, sunset is not recommended.
What to Wear: Any light or white color wedding gown or would be a perfect match with the dark color of the lava.
Entrance Fees: Sometimes the local people or authority from the banjar will ask for 250.000 IDR (18 USD) for prewedding shoot, make sure to ask for the official receipt.
5. The Black Sandy Beach, Mengening Beach Canggu
Mengening beach is black sanded beauty in Canggu Village that offers a stunning cliff-top sunset. Apart from its dramatic quality, the black sand reflects the light beautifully. The beach tends to be quiet and not too touristy that is why I nominated this location as one of the top Bali prewedding locations.
Best Time To Shoot: Canggu beach is perfect on sunset. The weather here changes rapidly so always check the wave beforehand. Watch out for the occasionally unpredictable waves especially if you are doing the photoshoot near the water. The wind here is wild but I like it as it’s creating lots of pretty movement to the shots.
What to Wear: Wear one of your favorites outfits, bare your feet and enjoy the cool sand!
Entrance Fees: The photoshoot entrances is IDR 350,000.
6. The Dramatic View of Balinese Mountain Ranges, Pinggan Villages
Not far from The Batur Volcano, there’s a small village called Pinggan Villages. Pinggan Village or Pinggan sunrise spot located in the northern part of Kintamani, northwest of Mount Batur. The location of the village on the other side of the mount Batur makes the beautiful nature around it. Pine trees with a mountain background make the scenery in Pinggan Village sunrise spot looks very beautiful. But the other thing that makes it interesting to visit this village is the sunrise view from the village’s hill, incredible scenery provided to make this place used as a hunting place for most of Bali photographers to find the best picture.
Best Time To Shoot: As the name, Pinggan sunrise spot!
What to Wear: Wear one of your favorites outfits, we will park right in front of the photo spot.
Entrance Fees: The land owner asking for 250,000 IDR (18 USD) to do the photoshoot here.
7. Our Most Favourite Waterfall, Blangsinga Waterfall
Blangsinga or Tegenungan Waterfall is one of my favorite waterfalls for a photoshoot in Bali. This waterfall is known by two names depending on which village you come through. Me personally I prefer to go to Blangsinga Waterfall entry as there slightly fewer stairs to go down. There’s also a clean restroom for changing clothes very useful especially when you bring different outfits. The falls are only several minutes’ walk down the trail beyond the restaurants, where you’ll enjoy the impressively green valley panorama with the cascading water as a centerpiece.
Best Time To Shoot: The best timing to shoot here at Blangsinga or Tegenungan Waterfall is definitely in the morning but not as early as the other location. Be here at 8 am – 9 am for the best lighting and to avoid the crowd of Instagram waterfall chasers
What to Wear: It is advisable to not wear any heels and please be mindful that there are some stairs to reach the waterfall.
Entrance Fees: The management charge 250,000 IDR (18 USD) for photoshoot entrance and drink. The regular entry without photoshoot is Rp 15,000/person (1 USD).
8. White Sands and Lush Cliffside, Melasti Beach
Melasti Beach Ungasan is one of Bali’s best beaches for photography. Melasti beach was actually a new popular beach, it became popular since the government builds the road with car access directly to the beach. Now people can easily access the beach without the need to climb down many stairs! Melasti beach has a similar look like it’s neighbor Pandawa beach but I prefer to shoot here for some reason. Pandawa Beach has become too crowded with water sport activity, cafes, and stalls on the beachside.
There are so many special features that make Melasti Beach Ungasan looking gorgeous, a quintessential Bali beach, from Melasti beach the dramatic sky scrapping stone wall, the contrasting dark candi bentar or temple gate against the white sand, and of course the spectacular sunset! The combination of soft blue and green water and white rocky cliffs making Melasti beach a perfect spot for your fine art photography session.
Best Time To Shoot: This place can get packed so plan your photos during the week or for sunrise to make the most out of your experience, but I usually come here on sunset for the golden light.
What to Wear: The location is easy to reach so any sort of wardrobe is suitable. And here you can wear multiple dresses as there’s a convenient changing area at the location.
Entrance Fees: The management charge 500,000 IDR (35 USD) for photoshoot entrance. I know the entrance fee is expensive, but the management provides you all things you need so it’s so convenient doing a prewedding here. The good management and the clean beach make this place worth to call the best Bali prewedding or engagement locations.
9. Play with Monkeys in The Jungle, Sangeh Monkey Forest
If you hear the word monkey forest you might immediately remember a place in Ubud. But, there’s another monkey forest in Badung Regency, close to Canggu, it’s called Sangeh Monkey Forest. Like the other monkey forest in Bali, it’s a home for long-tailed grey macaques. Monkey’s population in this forest is around 700 monkeys and they are tame and friendly enough to play with.
Best Time To Shoot: The good thing about photo-shooting in the forest we can shoot anytime without worrying about the sunlight as the location is under the shade. I usually shoot here a bit early around 3 pm before heading to Canggu beach or in the middle of the day after the session in Ubud.
What to Wear: Any soft or muted color outfit is perfect here!
Entrance Fees: The management charge 500,000 IDR (35 USD) for photoshoot entrance.
10. Remote Island Paradise with Crystal Clear Water, Nusa Lembongan & Ceningan Island
Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan Islands are two small islands off the southeast coast of the main island of Bali. Quickly becoming one of Bali’s most popular attractions, these island paradise is a world away from the hassle and hectic pace of South Bali. Beside surrounded by an exceptionally beautiful sunset, coral reefs, and white sandy beach, the water in these islands is some of the clearest you will find anywhere, a vivid aqua blue in color.
Best Time To Shoot: Can be sunrise or sunset. But please kindly advised as the boat timing is very limited, you need to stay at the island for one night if you want to catch the perfect sunrise or sunset.
What to Wear: Formal wedding gown or casual will be nice here. You can also bring multiple wardrobes that you like most hotels are really close to the photo spots.
Entrance Fees: No entrance fee for photoshoot. The return boat ride is 300,000 IDR (USD 20)/person.
11. Hidden Waterfall with Breathtaking Ray of Lights, Tukad Cepung Waterfall
I discovered this gem in 2016 from my client, at that time there were not so many people coming here. Easily reachable from Kintamani you will witness a rare view of a waterfall that should not be missed. Though there are plenty of waterfalls for a photoshoot in Bali, Tukad Cepung Waterfall is one of its kind. Tukad Cepung Waterfall still remains as the best virgin waterfall of Bali. This waterfall has mesmerized everyone who has managed to spot it. Well-guarded by the cliffs, this waterfall is difficult to locate for the first time visitor. A few hundred stairs down the cliff are worth the effort once you arrive at the destination.
Best Time To Shoot: This location is my second location after my session in Ubud or Kintamani. Come here around 10-11 pm to get the best lighting.
What to Wear: Wear your flipflop, medium-length dress or short pant for men as sometimes the cave is flooded.
Entrance Fees: The photoshoot entry is Rp 350,000/couple
12. Quiet Beach with Dozens Luxury Resorts, Nusa Dua Beach
Nusa Dua Beach area not only well known as home for Bali’s most luxurious five-star resorts, but it’s actually a good spot for your engagement or honeymoon photography. The reason is that Nusa Dua tends to be less crowded and spotlessly clean. This quiet and private area features a white sand beach, beautiful palm trees along the shore. Imagine powdered white sand that melts under your feet, the cool sea breeze on your face, and the feeling of the cold water against your feet when you walk in the water during your photoshoot. What an iconic Bali photo spots!
Best Time To Shoot: Sunrise and sunset are suitable for a romantic session on this beach.
What to Wear: A long formal dress is perfect for shooting at this luxury beach.
Entrance Fees: There will be no entry fee however I recommend my client to stay at the resorts that have direct access to the beach like The Laguna, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Nusa Dua Hotel & Spa, Meliá Bali, St. Regis, The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, and Grand Hyatt Bali.
13. Misty Morning Lush Greenery Fields, Campuhan Ridge Ubud
Campuhan Ridge Walk is a free and easy nature trek, popular among repeat visitors to the central highland town of Ubud. The area provides a great retreat from the more hectic southern parts of the island, but this trail presents an even more pristine outback to escape from the contemporary boutique, guesthouse, and restaurant-lined Jalan Raya Ubud. The walk lets you enjoy the cool fresh air and probably the most gorgeous hillside vista in the region.
Best Time To Shoot: I always try to start the walk as early as I can around sunrise. The spot is pretty exposed to the sun and gets hot quickly. Start between 6-7:30 am in order not to sweat too much.
What to Wear: Casual or formal outfit are great!
Entrance Fees: No fees!
14. Floating Temple Near The Volcano, Batur Lake
If you are looking for another natural photography shoot and serenity then visit the lake after the session at Mount Batur. Also located in the Mount Batur area Batur Lake Kintamani brings an amazing backdrop of the pristine water, hill, and Batur Temples. This biggest lake in Bali lies in the foothills of Mount Batur and Mount Abang.
When you arrive at Lake Batur, you will be treated to a vast view of the lake. Its size reaches 16 km with a depth of about 65 meters. That said, this lake was created because of the impact of Mount Batur’s eruption that occurred thousands of years ago.
Best Time To Shoot: Visit here after your session at the volcano. Probably between 7-8 am.
What to Wear: Any sort of outfit is great here. Please try to avoid dark colours here.
Entrance Fees: No fees!
15. Authentic Balinese Landmarks in The Town of Eat, Pray, Love, Ubud Temples
Another best Bali prewedding or engagement locations in Ubud area. There’s probably more Balinese temples than homes on the island. Many Balinese temples in Ubud and all around Bali are actually shrines. However, the number of religious compounds might well be over 10,000. The number is spread throughout the far-flung corners of the island, from mountain and hilltops to low-lying coastal areas.
Some Balinese temples are located and easily accessible as among Ubud’s central landmarks, while others around the neighboring villages of Tegalalang and Tampaksiring are hidden within mountain valleys, adding a bit of mystery to your adventures in this cultural heartland of Bali. Some of the Balinese Temples in Ubud that best for Bali prewedding locations are Pura Samuhan Tiga, Pura Tirtha Empul, Pura Dalam Puri Ubud, Pura Dalam Tegalalantang, Pura Taman Saraswati, and Pura Gunung Kawi Sebatu.
Best Time To Shoot: Anytime, I usually come here after the session at Tegallalang Rice Terraces.
What to Wear: If you don’t plan to come inside the temple, any formal outfit would be great. But if you plan to come inside, wearing a sarong (Balinese fabric) is required.
Entrance Fees: The entrance to visit the inside temple is around 20,000 IDR (1,5 USD)/person, sarong rental is included.
16. Spectacular Sunset at Bali’s Surfer Paradise, Balangan Beach
As one of the most accessible beaches in the Bukit area, Balangan Beach is popular as a photo shooting spot. The stunning ocean vista provided by its cliff-top position is a picture-perfect location, especially during the sunset when the sky glows red. During the high tide, surfers swarmed the ocean below in their efforts to catch legendary waves. It is poetic and translucent and offers a different experience from the other beach.
In Balangan beach, you not only able to do the photoshoot at the beach itself, but there’s access from the parking lot where you can stand on the stunning cliff looking over to the Indian ocean. Some couples also held a Bali adventure elopement here. So many reasons to be one of the best Bali prewedding or engagement locations.
Best Time To Shoot: Of course the sunset!
What to Wear: Any sort of outfit is great here. You can bring multiple clothes here as they have a changing room.
Entrance Fees: The management charge 500,000 IDR (35 USD) for photoshoot entrance.
17. Discover the Untouched Authentic Balinese’s Remote Island, Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida is becoming the new favorite location for photoshoots in Bali, this island offers clear waters, pristine white sand beaches. The island also has a stunning natural rugged beauty and amazing underwater life with colorful corals. There are so many photo spots here from the famous T-Rex cliff or Kelingking Beach, Diamond Beach, Broken Beach. One to the other photo spots is quite far here unlike Lembongan so please have more time if you wanted to explore the whole island. This island is one of the best Bali prewedding or engagement locations due to the unique panoramic spots.
Best Time To Shoot: Can be sunrise or sunset. But please kindly advised as the boat timing is very limited, you need to stay at the island for one night if you want to catch the perfect sunrise or sunset.
What to Wear: Casual look is preferred here as most of the spots will require a 10-15 minutes walk sometimes some stairs!
Entrance Fees: No entrance fee for photoshoot. The return boat ride from Bali island to Nusa Penida is 300,000 IDR (USD 20)/person.
18. Mountain Lakes with Rolling Mist, Tamblingan Lake
Another best Bali prewedding or engagement locations in the Bedugul area. Tamblingan Lake is a lake located in the plateau area with green hills surrounded. It is situated beside of Buyan Lake with cool weather surrounds it. Hence, both lakes are famous as Bali Twin Lake. This lake features a magnificent view of nature and the existence of traditional canoes docking on the lake edge. The traditional canoes can be rented for photography sessions.
The entrance to Tamblingan Lake leads through a rain forest with tall trees where I take my clients for photoshoot too. We highly recommend Tamblingan Lake for anyone who likes to get away from mainstream photo spot locations like Ubud. It’s probably one of the most beautiful spots we discovered in the Bedugul area after Lake Beratan. The lake is very rural compared to most tourist locations in other parts of Bali.
Best Time To Shoot: The best time to shoot in Tamblingan Lake is before the sunrise time when the lake still covered by a fresh cold atmosphere. Be here as early as 6 am so you can watch the fog slowly disappeared when the sunrise came.
What to Wear: Any sort of outfit is great here.
Entrance Fees: 750,000 IDR (50 USD) to rent two traditional canoes, one for the photographer and one for the client. A woman will help to paddle the canoe and take you to the middle of the lake, don’t worry she is very professional.
19. Seaside Town with A Beautiful Sunrise, Sanur Beach
Sanur Beach is a beautiful white sandy beach situated on the east side of Denpasar City and become one of the famous tourist destinations in Bali island. Sanur Beach has been famous since the Dutch colonial and now it has been much developed to serve every guest what to stay in this area. Renowned as the Morning of the World, this Beach is the best spot to watch the sunrise with picturesque features such as the wave breakers and its seaside pavilions on the top.
As a bonus for waking up really early, there are interesting backgrounds to be had such as the local fisherman leaving to get their catch of the day and the colorful traditional wooden boats known as jukung. You can easily spot the great Mount Agung from this beach.
Best Time To Shoot: This is a sunrise beach but it’s also pretty on sunset! To avoid local crowds come here on sunrise.
What to Wear: The beach is very accessible so all sorts of wardrobes will be fit here.
Entrance Fees: No fees!
20. Romancing in Bali’s Quiet Waterfall, Tibumana Waterfall
Tibumana waterfall is a beautiful hidden paradise and just up the river from the much more touristic falls of Reng Reng. Mainly visited by locals, this waterfall is generally quiet as it is a 5-minute drive off the main road and then a 5-10 minute walk to the falls themselves. The entire area of Tibumana Waterfall is very photogenic from the entrances where you the path goes through the jungle. Everything lends an artistic beauty to the Tibumana waterfall. The fact that the place is not crowded means you can strike numerous wonderful poses undisturbed. Because of this reason too many couples opted to have a Bali elopement session here with local authorities. I did several Bali elopement and proposal sessions here too.
Best Time To Shoot: Any sort of outfit is great here.
What to Wear: The waterfall is very accessible so all sorts of wardrobes will be fit here.
Entrance Fees: 250,000 IDR (18 USD) for photoshoot entrance and IDR 20,000 (1,5 USD) for regular entrance.
21. For Big Trees Lovers, Bedugul Botanic Garden
Bali Bedugul Botanical Garden is located in at bedugul village, baturiti district, tabanan regency, 1240 meters above sea level, it is about 62 km from denpasar and can be reach by motorcycle as the road are fairly goods. Bali botanical garden is unique in Bali as a place for botanical research, conservations, recreation, and educations, it provide a place where you can relax in beautiful an peaceful surrounds while learning about the function of plants in the daily life of Balinese as well as some interesting rain forest plantations and birdlife.
Best Time To Shoot: Around 8-9am
What to Wear: Wedding dress or any gown is perfect here
Entrance Fees: 500,000 IDR (37 USD) for photoshoot entrance and plus IDR 50,000 (3,4 USD) for regular entrance/person
Those are the 21 best Bali prewedding or engagement locations, hope it would help you decide your prewedding locations in Bali! Check my pricing and packages if you need a photographer in Bali!
