Uluwatu Temple Guide: Cliffs, Fire & Sunsets

Uluwatu sits at the southernmost tip of the Bukit Peninsula, where dramatic limestone cliffs plunge 70 meters straight into the Indian Ocean. The ancient Pura Luhur Uluwatu temple, built in the 11th century, perches right on the cliff edge — one of the most spectacular temple locations in all of Southeast Asia.

But the real showstopper is the Kecak Fire Dance — performed every evening at sunset in an open-air amphitheater on the cliff's edge. Seventy men sit in concentric circles, chanting "cak-cak-cak" in hypnotic rhythm while telling the Ramayana epic, climaxing in a real fire-walking scene against the backdrop of the setting sun over the ocean. It's genuinely one of the most magical cultural performances on Earth.

Below the cliffs, hidden beaches accessible through caves and steep staircases await — Padang Padang, Suluban, and Balangan are among Bali's most beautiful and photogenic cove beaches.