Kecak And Fire Dance Ticket At Uluwatu Temple

A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN. SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT! I've been fortunate enough to travel extensively over the years, both personally and professionally, and I've experienced some incredible places and attractions around the world. But I can honestly say I've rarely witnessed anything quite as chaotic, disorganised and downright concerning as the Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu. What should have been a memorable evening experiencing Balinese culture turned into an absolute shambles. The sheer volume of people was staggering. Huge crowds outside, people pushing, fighting to get through and seemingly no effective crowd management whatsoever. It was genuinely frightening to witness just how quickly things could have gone horribly wrong. Coming from the UK, where we've tragically seen the consequences of poor crowd control over the years, I find it absolutely astonishing that an attraction welcoming thousands of tourists can operate in what appeared to be such a chaotic manner. Have we really learnt nothing from previous crowd disasters around the world? It only takes one person to fall, one moment of panic or one sudden surge for an enjoyable evening to turn into something far more serious. And that's what really angers me. This isn't about having to queue or being impatient. It's about basic safety, common sense and taking responsibility for the people who have paid to attend. At times, I genuinely felt that getting as many people through the attraction as possible was the priority, rather than ensuring visitors could enter and leave safely. And then there's the performance itself. I fully appreciate the cultural importance of the Kecak Fire Dance, and I have enormous respect for the performers. They clearly put tremendous effort into what they do. But I'm sorry, after everything we experienced getting in and out, the performance simply wasn't worth it. Not even close. What makes this particularly disappointing is that Bali has so much to offer. We've met some wonderful people, enjoyed fantastic hospitality and experienced some truly memorable moments during our visit. This, unfortunately, will be memorable for entirely the wrong reasons. To those responsible for organising this attraction, please take a serious look at what is happening. Don't wait until somebody is injured, or worse, before deciding that proper crowd management might be a good idea. Introduce sensible limits, manage the queues properly, provide clear directions and, above all, put people's safety before visitor numbers. It's really not too much to ask. Would I recommend the Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu? Absolutely not. Not until the organisation and crowd safety improve dramatically. I'm rarely this critical of a tourist attraction, particularly one that celebrates local culture, but sometimes things need to be said. A beautiful cultural tradition deserves better. The performers deserve better. And most importantly, the visitors deserve better. An absolute disgrace.

I watched the famous Kecak and Fire Dance at Uluwatu Temple. While the physical stage setting is smaller in scale compared to the grand Ramayana Ballet at Prambanan, this show was packed with entertainment, humor, and unique cultural charm! Both before and during the show, the performers warmly welcomed audience members in various languages—English, Hindi, and even Japanese. It was a lovely, welcoming touch that made us feel very included. The highlight of the show was definitely Hanuman (the White Monkey). He moved freely around the audience, playfully teasing the crowd and making everyone laugh. His interactive performance was brilliant! The climax featured a stunning fire dance. Bundles of thin palm twigs and fibers were lined up and set ablaze. When Hanuman, completely covered in his full-body white monkey costume, kicked them with his feet, beautiful sparks of fire danced through the night air—it was truly breathtaking! I was worried he might get burned, but my private charter driver/guide explained to me that the performers undergo sacred prayers and rituals before the show to protect themselves, which made the tradition feel even more amazing and sacred.

It is seriously over sold. Got there an hour early to secure seats (advised) but kept getting squished to let more people in. Monkeys came through the crowd and they were feisty. People arriving half way through the show, everyone talking or influencers live streaming. Couldn’t concentrate or see the performance. It was very uncomfortable with people digging into your back. We left after 25 mins. Shame as it is a beautiful setting.

The show was great. Spiritual, humours. Costumes amazing. Wouldn’t be enjoyable if you are claustrophobic though,- a lot of people in a small area and no real exit until the end. Use bathroom prior to show. Be careful of the monkeys.

Usually I’m positive about these excursions, but this felt like a big tourist money making scheme and overall the show was average - definitely not worth the time waiting or effort getting there. Also over crowded with tourists. Waiting for hours in cue with little direction despite getting online tickets. Regular monkey attacks of guests and guests screaming with monkeys jumping on them to crab glasses phones or hats they wanted! Dry hot no shade no shop or free drink facilities, poor crowd control with people pushing in or getting inpatient. We left early so we wouldn’t get stuck in the crowd trying to get out. Give it a miss! Spend the day by the pool or in the beach instead!!

Thiis a great show. We remembered seeing a Kecek dance 30yrs ago in Bali and being blown away. This performace was excellent and engaging. The cliff top view, the sunset and the boom of the occasional breaker all add to the atmosphere. We booked our tickets in advance for the 1800 show so that we could have the benefit of the sunset. Things to note, 1. The traffic is very busy in that area. It took us 1hr taxi from Kempinski 2. You Kecek ticket does not get you access to the temple. You need this to get to the dance. It was 60k IRD, this cannot be pre-booked. It's cash only and straight forwards. 3. Dress code is a sarong, these are provided free of charge. 4. Reserved seating, there is non I could see, first in first choice. 5. Advance ticket collection, there is a big queue, the ticket booth is by the amphitheatre inside the temple. We were told we could collect from 5pm. But there was already a long queue. Our performance was max capacity. Pre book! 6. It's first come first seated. Gates open at about 5:15pm, then its grab a seat. Seats are concrete, tightly packed benches. If you can, take a foam cushion. You are going to be sat for 90mins min. 7. Its hot with the sun facing you. Take sun precautions, free water is provided, but not very obvious. Just ask. 8. When its all over, 1000 people try and exit, allow plenty of time if you have dinner plans.

Really annoyed that I had booked months in advance but my booking was cancelled 2 days before because "my card declined." I had changed cards since booking but did not get appropriate notification and time to rectify before the booking was cancelled. Had to book a last minute "tour" plus ticket which was more expensive. When I reached out to the operator on whatsapp they were unhelpful.

Great location, but it feels more like a ticket business than a cultural site Only go for the first show. That's the one where you can still see the ocean and the sunset behind the dancers — that backdrop is the entire reason to come to Uluwatu specifically instead of watching a Kecak performance anywhere else in Bali. The second show happens after dark, so the ocean view is gone and all you're left with is a fire dance you could watch in any generic venue — nothing about it is tied to this specific cliff or temple. The real letdown, though, is the ticketing. It doesn't feel like a temple managing its own cultural show — it feels like a business, with people hovering around outside the official booth who clearly aren't temple staff, offering to "help" you get tickets or a better seat. Prices felt inconsistent depending on who you talked to at the moment. The whole setup gives off a strong middleman vibe, like the line itself is being worked by people taking a cut rather than the temple selling its own tickets. Advice: only bother with the sunset (first) show, and don't buy from anyone hovering around outside the official booth — book ahead through an official channel so you're not negotiating with a stranger for your ticket.

Excellent show about the history and culture

We booked the tickets on Tripadvisor one day before. On Tripadvisor it said that the dance would start at 19:00 and when we were there it actually started at 19:15-19:30. They sold way too many tickets and there were no seating areas available anymore for like 50 people. We were the last ones to get inside so we needed to sit on the concrete with the performers. We were also located in the back of the performers so we saw the back of them witch was a bummer.

The ‘fire dance’ was like one minute of the performance. Such a scam we were excited to see cool fire moves and everything but it was so uneventful. ):

The show is a must do when in Bali. You should know the theatre holds 1300 guests and it is out in the open sun, which can be hot, so bring plenty of water, hat, and sunglasses. When the show is over, it is like leaving a theme park at closing, masses of people all swarming for one exit. The parking lot can’t handle the amount of people, it took over an hour to exit the lot

If you go in July prep yourself lots of traffic once you hit Uluwatu, big crowds at the entrance and some queuing for the show. If you buy your tickets online once you’ve entered the temple area (near the cliff top) you need to present your online tix into the ticketing booth to exchange for paper tix to enter the amphitheater. The sunset is nice and show is worth it, about 45mins long. It is enchanting and interactive for kids from 5yrs and up.

Was a must see experience. Well worth seeing at least once on a Bali trip. It is true…. Arrive early for tickets and seats: position. Although does not matter if you arrive early and sit for over 1 hour to save your place. The local organiser will ‘bully’ you to move over to make room for later groups arriving. Stand your ground, respectfully.

Super crowded and pushy people. Get ready for hard cement seating and being very uncomfortable! Show is good, not great. get there early for the view and seating

Keckak fire dance is not tonbe missed. I did a last minute booking and it was seamless. Try to get in line at the earliest to get good seats

Very enjoyable cultural experience, well organised .

Excellent kecak performers and Uluwatu Temple amphitheatre is a spectacular venue at sunset. The 6pm show is perfectly time to enjoy a beautiful coastal cliffs sunset.

This was more of a joke than a show. The acting felt very cheap, the story was weak, and the overall performance was not enjoyable. The venue was overcrowded and poorly organized, and the bad smell made the experience even worse. There was not even speakers, and I dont understand why they call it fire show it was for 20 sec. Overall, it was a complete waste of time, and I would not recommend it.

Excellent n really worth it. Initially I could not understand what is going on but slowly my understanding started I really thrilled to watch and Hanuman role comes everyone was enjoying.

This is a must do in Bali. Easily in the top 3 things to do when in Bali. The rhytmmic chanting sets up an electric atmosphere, the dancers are really good, and Hanuman (the White Monkey) is incredible. Length of the show is about 45-50 minutes but you don't realize how fast the time flies by. You leave the venue smiling from ear to ear

Nice show where the chanting is impressive. The theatre though was overly full at the second show while the first show there were at least 20% less people present and was also sold out. We were hardly able to take a seat, really have to squeeze ourselves in. This really lets the experience down and seems like making money over tourist safety and enjoyment.

I recently attended this cultural performance and overall, it was an enjoyable experience. The "Fire" portion of the dance was exciting, though it only lasted a few minutes—so don't expect it to be the main highlight. Rather than what you would expect from a typical dance performance, the show featured the characters acting out the story, which was lively and entertaining. The main performers were engaging, and the costumes were truly beautiful. The venue is an outdoor bleacher-style auditorium, and it was absolutely packed, so I highly recommend buying tickets in advance as it will likely sell out. The first show is cleverly scheduled to align with the sunset, creating a stunning backdrop, but keep in mind you'll be sitting in the sun for the early part of the performance. It was a unique cultural experience and I'm glad I went. However, if you're planning your trip to Bali primarily for the beaches, this may not be a must-see.

Very interesting show, it’s a Balinese styled dance depicting the Ramayana epic where Rama experiences a loss and eventually regains Sinta ( Hindu mythology) The dance is accompanied by a chorus of 20+ men who chant throughout. I found it interesting, costumes were amazing and the dance well choreographed. One caveat, it was packed shoulder to shoulder in the auditorium and was hot as it faced the setting sun. Take water!

We wished to see the Balinese historical fire dance so booked as this was close to our accommodation at Uluwatu

We joined Klook day tour with private driver guide for visiting Tanah Lot, Padang Bay & Uluwatu Kecak, Luwak coffee tasting and Lunch included at about CAD $160 per person for 4 people. It may sound expensive, but this is the only itinerary we could find to see all of these must see attractions in Bali, and the private bali was flexible with time so we didn't have to wait for other people or rushed to finish any part of the itinerary. Kecak and Fire Dance show must be booked in advance, but there is no reserved seat, so you need to go there at least 30 minutes earlier to get your sitting place. The worst part is to wait under the scorching sun and you are practically sitting on steps, not a proper chair. The show was average with many tourists leaving in the middle of the show. The pace of the story is quite slow, without much peaks. Kind of glad that we finished watching the show, been there and have done that!

Its honestly terrible. Beware of the crowds. Sorry I love Balinese people but there's nothing exciting about the dance. Its just a bunch of men swaying from side to side. Some characters come on and thats it. The fire comes last and its only 5 minutes.

The venue is in a temple where there are a lot of monkeys. These little critters can be a pain as they are known to steal sun glasses and cellphones. They are quick and unpredictable. Be careful when visiting. Keep your phones hidden and refrain from wearing sun glasses or even prescription lenses. The process of purchasing and retrieving our tickets was painless. What became a little concerning was the disorganized crowd that you were to face as you filed in to get into the actual arena-type venue. The real disappointment was the actual show itself. It was billed as a “ fire dance”, but the actual part of the show where fire was involved was only a small part. The show involved a lot of non musical chanting and costumed performers with no actual dance. Somewhere in the middle of the performance, people were already leaving. We followed suit soon thereafter. If you’re into Hindu plays, then this might be for you. If you’re expecting a fire show of sort, prepare to be disappointed.

Not good but good Fire only once No fire at all Love the monkey act Dance not good Very funny no enter tenement

Fun show to watch, but it is overrated. It was a nice setting to see the show at the Uluwatu temple at sunset. But the show is mostly guys yelling the same thing over and over. Fire is maybe 2 minutes of the show. So to call it a fire dance is not right. The show was over-crowded. They kept letting people in the show 20minutes after the show had started. Even when all the seats were taken and they had to sit on the ground. This was very annoying! Felt like a tourist trap.

It would have helped if there had been a small card in English to explain the dance. The announcer that welcomed us was unintelligible! It was completely confusing to a layman. In short it was an hour of annoying chanting interspersed with a few beautifully dressed figures coming and going. Would definitely not recommend!

For the first 15 minutes, we thought we’d made a terrible mistake. Then the show burst into life, particularly with the arrival of the white monkey. Sit directly opposite the stage on the second step up. This ensures you will avoid audience passes and fireballs.

A pleasant experience and a must visit Bali attraction.Kecak dance at Uluwatu is the most sought after dance programme , especially the sunset show with setting of the sun the the background. Unfortunately some of the tourists break queues and barge in despite other tourists following a disciplined line and the organisers turn a blind eye to this menace which needs to be curved. Part of the Uluwatu temple precincts, beware of dangerous monkeys outside the venue who attack tourists and snatch away specs,sunglasses, mobiles, carrybags, etc; Stay alert and clear of this monkey menace. The dance programme is refreshing with a complete story of Ramayana.Well compered and interesting ,the show takes through the Ramayana with the character depicting Hanuman indulging in playful interactions with the audience, adding a lively atmosphere. Show is worth watching without missing ,while in Bali. The roads gets crowded while reciting and entering.Advisable to attend the first sunset show. Tickets are limited and booked in advance or on the spot prior to the start of the programme.

Nice to see once, people who are into learning about the Balinese culture and history may appreciate it more ;)

We did not like the dance. We left in 10 minutes because it was so boring. My mom and I just left after realizing that it’s not for us

The show is great . However the basic safety procedure is missing I was there in October with my 4 year old and the theater was overbooked . They filled the audience even in fire exit .

The dance was great despite the heavy rain. The temple was also authentic and we were privileged to witness some worshipping events. What has really ‘dampened’ our evening is the EXTENSIVE drive to get there and back. From sugar, What google maps told us would take 1 hr each way took over 2.5 hours each way due to the traffic. Also I’d highly recommend buying your tickets online, and getting there at about 5pm so that you can get a good seat…

It was a surprising and fascinating experience. Their performance and rhythmic singing tones were beautiful. The waiting area at the entrance was a bit crowded and hot.

The show and the dancing themselves are very exciting! Around 50 men sing at the same time, and dancers in fascinating costumes come onto the stage. The fire show was truly impressive! However, I have to mention that the audience was not the best. During our show it started to rain a little (really very lightly and for a very short time), and the crowd went into a sort of mass hysteria — people tried to leave the stands, umbrellas were opened, blocking the view of those sitting behind. The rain wasn’t bad at all and lasted only a few minutes. It would be nice to see more respect shown toward the performers. Also, throughout the entire performance, people around us kept talking to each other, and the chatter never stopped. It felt like many of them had never been to a show before.

Worth a watch and Viator made it so easy to book. Try to book the 6pm slot so that you can witness the sunset as well.

I’ve been to Bali so many times, but this was actually my first time watching the Kecak Fire Dance at Uluwatu and wow it did not disappoint! We got the 6 PM tickets and honestly, that’s the best time to go. You get to watch the show while the sun sets, which makes everything feel extra magical. The amphitheater overlooking the ocean is already amazing, but the performance itself is something else. Super cultural, very Balinese and I loved how they use human voices instead of musical instruments. The whole “cak-cak-cak” chant really pulls you into the story. It’s a cool mix of Hindu mythology, fire dancing and trance rituals plus some funny acts in between that keep the vibe light. Overall, such a unique experience and definitely something you shouldn’t miss when you’re in Uluwatu. Totally worth it! 🌅🔥

The Kecak dance show was a horrible experience — far too long and painfully boring. The performance dragged on with little variation, and the seating was extremely uncomfortable. People were packed so tightly that some were even blocking the emergency exits, which felt unsafe. Definitely not worth the time or the money. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.

Given the 7:00 PM show time, we did not anticipate such extensive wait times at the gate stage. To mitigate the effects of the humidity, we recommend bringing water and a portable mini fan. Overall it was good experience.

Recommend you read up about the story otherwise you will have no idea what is going on during this experience. Arrive early because getting in is a bit chaotic.

We attended the show after many reviews online saying it’s the must see In uluwatu! How wrong were they! This is the biggest waste of time tourist trap if ever I’ve seen one . Staff were all rude (except the actors) it was as if they didn’t want you there. Poor explanation of where to go and where to queue . Rude tourists that forget what queues are(I am a tourist myself but respect first come first served queues unlike other nationalities) It’s impressive the chanting but that got boring after about 10 minutes , I would sack off the word fire as it wasn’t a fire show. Disappointed , do not attend. I’ve spent 3 weeks in Bali travelling around and loved everything about it , the people, the culture , the food but this show was nothing like anything else I’ve seen.

If you buy directly at the Temple it will be only 150k for 1 adult ticket, it mean 600k for 4. I bought 4 here and it cost 956k. What's wrong with this platform??? The dance is nice and unique. But what the platform did is so unacceptable.

Please go early show so you can see the sunset. They packed that place like crazy like wish they didn’t do that. Hanuma was amazing in the show. Very good show must watch.

Biggest waste of money! and time waited in a long line with people pushing in front of me only to be blocking emergency way and the show wasnt even worth it considering the reviews. Thank god it wasnt during the hot sun like others as i heard that was worse. Dont waste your time!

I would recommend buying tickets for the fire dance on line before you attend. The 1800 performance will catch the sunset. It’s a frenzy to get seats. Good idea to sit behind exit for unobstructed view. Interesting traditional dance, definitely worth a visit. Temple itself can be visited in less than an hour.