Twelve-month sunset climate chart
Uluwatu Temple sunset: when to arrive and where to stand
Short reply
For the Uluwatu Temple sunset, the Ministry of Tourism asks for arrival before 17:00 WITA, and the Kecak starts at 18:00.
Timing at the cliff
Dusk on the cliff, month by month
Twelve evenings above the Indian Ocean
Choose a month to see the sunset clock time, the length of the day and the usual warmth in southern Bali.
Sunset
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
- Sunset arrives near 18:08
- Daylight stays for roughly 11.6 h2
- Which season it is: Dry spell6
- Daytime of about 30°C, darkness of about 24°C2
The shortest day in the record, 11.6 hrs of sun.2
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
- Sunset arrives near 18:20
- Daylight stays for roughly 12.5 h2
- Which season it is: Rainy spell6
- Daytime of about 32°C, darkness of about 25°C2
The hottest month on average, with highs of 31.7 °C.2
Dec
- Sunset arrives near 18:34
- Daylight stays for roughly 12.6 h2
- Which season it is: Rainy spell6
- Daytime of about 31°C, darkness of about 25°C2
The longest day in the record, 12.6 hrs of sun, with the Kecak still at 18:00.2
Sunset is worked out for the 15th of each month on Bali time (UTC+8) at the temple's coordinates. Day length is calculated; temperatures are averages from the GHCN-Daily record of Denpasar airport, 13 km from the temple, 1991 to 2020.
The Uluwatu Temple sunset is the centerpiece of an evening on this cliff. This guide shows how day length shifts through the year, how to time the cliff walk before the Kecak and what to do when clouds or rain interfere.
Editorial team, kecakfiredanceuluwatu.com · Updated November 2, 2026 · Roughly 6 min to read
The essentials up top
- AmphitheaterThe Kecak stage sits 70 meters over the Indian Ocean, and the dance unfolds while the sun goes down.1
- DaylightMid-month daylight runs from 11.6 hrs in June to 12.6 hrs in December.2,2
- ArrivalThe management suggests arriving one to two hours before sunset to explore the cliff.3
- ShowThe Kecak begins at 18:00 and ends at 19:00, so 6:00 PM is already too late to arrive.4,5
- SeasonsDry weather holds from April to October, and the wet months run from November to March.6
Why the sun is part of the program here
A cliff temple can be visited whenever a bus pulls in. Uluwatu is different, with an evening show built around the light, the Uluwatu Temple sunset Kecak dance. The Ministry of Tourism describes a Kecak staged outdoors at dusk, typically on a sea-facing cliff, that relies on daylight.7 Uluwatu's amphitheater is 70 meters over the Indian Ocean, and the performance happens just as the sun drops behind the temple.1
That makes the Uluwatu Temple cliff sunset a two-part evening. Part one is the cliff in the light before the dance, part two is the amphitheater as the sky changes. Every day the gate opens at 16:00 and the stage is busy from 18:00 to 19:00.4 Everything in this guide is about how to use the hours between the gate and the curtain.
Uluwatu Temple itself stands on a limestone cliff in Pecatu, about 70 meters above sea level.8 The height is what gives the horizon its clear line, and also the reason the management tells visitors not to sit or climb on the boundary walls, since the cliffs are steep and dangerous.9
Three vantage points
Where the sunset can be watched
| Spot | Ticket | Open | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cliff paths | Temple ticket | 07:00 to 19:00 | Stay inside the visitor areas |
| Amphitheater | Evening show ticket | Gate at 16:00 | Show 18:00 to 19:00 |
| Escorted evening | Per listing | By pickup time | One trip moves the show in bad weather |
Opening and show times as the management lists them; the last row follows one sunset trip listing.12,14,15,4
How the length of the day changes through the year
Bali sits close to the equator, and the Ministry of Tourism says temperature varies little from season to season and daylight changes relatively little as well.13 The numbers agree. Daylight lasts 11.6 hrs in mid-June and 12.6 hrs in mid-December in our climate file for the area, where day length is calculated and the temperatures come from Denpasar airport, 13 km from the temple.2,2
A gap of one hour across the year is small beside what a visitor from Europe or North America is used to. A late-afternoon start for the cliff walk works in every month, and the dusk never arrives as a surprise. The sunset calculator at the top of this page shows the clock time of sunset at mid-month, worked out for the temple's coordinates.
The shortest day falls in the middle of the dry season, in June at 11.6 hrs, and the longest in December and January, in the wet season, at 12.6 hrs.2,2,2 The sunset moves earlier from January to mid-year, then later again, while the listed show time stays the same all year at 18:00.4
Dry months, wet months and the cliff
The Ministry of Tourism splits the year for most of Indonesia, Bali included, into a dry spell from April to October and a wet spell from November to March.6 That is the calendar. No source we found gives the chance of a clear horizon in either season, so treat any percentage you read elsewhere with care.
Heat is a steady companion all year. Daily highs at the Denpasar airport station peak at 31.7 °C in November and dip to 29.2 °C in July and August.2,2,2 The average daily low dips to 23.5 °C in September, the coolest month in the record.2 The station sits 13 km from the temple, and the cliff itself will feel breezier.2
Brightness and heat are the temple's warning for the amphitheater, along with advice to carry sunglasses and water.16 Sunglasses need a place in the bag as well, since monkeys are active in the afternoon and may grab them.17,18 A closed bag solves both problems.
What suits you
Pick your dusk
The sky is the same for everybody, so the choice is how much of the hour you want to spend walking.
If I want the cliff before the dance
Arrive when the gate opens
The gate opens at 16:00 and the management suggests being inside before 5:00 PM.4,11
If The dance is all I need
Be there at the gate
The Ministry of Tourism asks for arrival before 17:00 WITA for a seat and the sunset.10
If I would rather not drive
Choose a pickup tour
One 6-hour sunset trip includes pickup and the show ticket.
If I need an exact sunset clock
Use the calculator above
Our climate file only gives day length, 11.6 in June and 12.6 in December.2,2
If It looks like rain
Check your booking
One sunset trip says the show moves to a smaller stage in bad weather.
The arrival window before dusk
The management suggests arriving one to two hours before sunset, to look at the cliff from different angles.3 For the Kecak, the Ministry of Tourism asks for arrival before 17:00 WITA, and the management says 6:00 PM is the show time and arriving at 6:00 PM is already too late.10,5 Those three statements point at the same slot, late afternoon.
Between 16:00 and 18:00 you have time for the booth, the sarong and the path along the cliff.4 The booth is near the main gate, and the management recommends being at the temple before 5:00 PM so the cliff views come before the dance.23,11 One tour listing on this site notes that sunset is the busiest time, with crowds around 5 PM.
Allow for the road as well. In the holiday season the Ministry of Tourism reports heavy traffic late in the afternoon, ahead of the Kecak.24 If you come from Kuta or Seminyak the drive is about 45 minutes in ordinary traffic, leave with room to spare.24
Dusk totals
Compare the sunset options
Choose how many are watching the sunset and compare each total.
Weigh up 4 options
Compare the sunset options
Choose how many are watching the sunset and compare each total.
- Ticket, three optionsFrom 1 to 6 hrs · a guest, from $9
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View - Temple guideA 2 to 6-hour visit · a guest, from $15
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View - Jimbaran sunset tripA 6-hr trip · a guest, from $39
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View - Sunset on foot, dinnerA 5-hr tour · a guest, from $34
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View
Lowest GetYourGuide prices, converted with the ECB reference rate; checkout shows the final total.
The evening in order
From the booth to the torches
16:00
The amphitheater gate opens
The management lists the gate opening at 16:00.4
By 17:00
Arrive in time
The Ministry asks for arrival before 17:00 WITA and the temple suggests before 5:00 PM.10,11
The hours before dusk
Walk the cliff
Arriving one to two hours before sunset leaves time to see the cliff from different angles.3
18:00
Chanting starts
The show starts at 18:00 and runs until 19:00 every day.4
When the light is gone
Torches carry the story
The story continues into the dark, lit only by flickering bamboo torches.7
19:00
The temple closes
The temple's opening hours end at 19:00.12
Where to stand while the light turns
The temple sells the sunset as a walk along the cliff, and the visitor paths are open from 07:00 to 19:00.12 You pay the entrance fee at the ticket booth, and that ticket covers the public visitor areas.14 The Kecak amphitheater is a separate place with a separate ticket, because the Kecak ticket provides access to the amphitheater and the evening performance.15
Whatever spot you pick, stay inside the designated areas. Only authorized personnel and worshippers may enter the restricted temple zones.25 Visitors must not sit or climb on the boundary walls.9 The cliff supplies the picture and you never need to lean for it.
For photographs, the temple suggests zooming rather than approaching when a monkey appears in the frame.26 Keep a closed bag between you and the animals, and put the phone away between shots.20 A photo is a small thing to lose beside a fall.
Video
Sunset and the Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu Temple
C Travels on YouTube · YouTube is contacted only once you press play.
Held in the open air at sunset, usually above a cliff facing the sea, the drama depends entirely on the natural light of day.
Checklist
Packed for dusk on the cliff
Timing3
- Arrive between 16:00 and 17:00, before the show starts
- Buy the temple ticket and the Kecak ticket separately
- Check the show time against your own booking
What goes in the bag4
- Sunglasses and water for the bright sky
- Hat, glasses and phone inside a closed bag
- Cash for parking and the show ticket
- Sarong and sash from the entrance
When cloud, rain or a road closure interferes
One sunset trip on this site's listings says the Kecak at Uluwatu Temple starts at 18:00 daily and moves to a smaller stage in bad weather. That statement is about that listing, not a rule for every ticket, so ask what your own booking says about rain.
The same listing warns that schedules can change with Balinese religious events that block roads. The temple's own calendar has fixed days too: the Piodalan, the temple's anniversary, returns every 210 days, and Tumpek Kandang, the day dedicated to animals, fell on September 5 in 2026.27,28
A cloudy sky still gives a show. The Kecak depends on the natural light of day for its opening, and once the light fades the story continues in the dark, lit only by flickering bamboo torches.7 The fire scene belongs to that dark half of the program.29
After the last light
The show ends at 19:00 and the temple closes at 19:00, and the amphitheater empties into the car park at the same time as the paths.4,12 If you drive yourself, parking is a separate charge, and cash is the usual way to pay.19,21
A guided tour with pickup removes the crowd of departing vehicles. The sunset trip listed at from $39 lasts 6 hours with pickup included and the show ticket in the price, and the seafood dinner at Jimbaran Bay is an option. Another listing runs 5 hours on foot, including a dinner at Jimbaran Bay.
If you stay on your own, plan the next step before the dance ends. Jimbaran is a 15-minute drive south of the airport, according to the Ministry of Tourism, and holds seafood restaurants on the beach.30,31 That is a natural last stop after the amphitheater.
FAQ
Kecak questions, straight replies.
What time does the sun go down at the temple?
When should I arrive for the sunset?
Can I watch the sunset without the Kecak ticket?
Is the dry season better for the sunset?
A dry spell from April and a wet spell from November frame the year, yet no source we found states a chance of a clear sunset.6
How hot is it at sunset time?
What happens to the Kecak in bad weather?
A sunset trip listing says the show starts at 18:00 daily and moves to a smaller stage in bad weather.
Does the temple close at sunset?
Doors are open daily from 07:00 to 19:00, the management says.12
Sources
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Kecak Dance ↩
- National Centers for Environmental Information (US) · GHCN-Daily station record, daily maximum and minimum temperature, Station Ngurah Rai airport, Denpasar (National Centers for Environmental Information (US) GHCN-Daily IDM00097230), 1991 to 2020 ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · The Ultimate Guide to Experiencing Uluwatu Cliffside Sunset ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Kecak Dance ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Best Time to Arrive for Uluwatu Kecak Dance ↩
- Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia · Bali weather, climate & season guides ↩
- Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia · Ubud's kecak dance: an enchanting tradition ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Why Uluwatu Temple Is One of Bali Sacred Sea Temples ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple ↩
- Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia · Kecak Dance ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple ↩
- Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia · Bali weather, climate & season guides ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple Entrance Fee 2026 and What Is Included ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple Entrance Fee 2026 and What Is Included ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · The Ultimate Guide to Experiencing Uluwatu Cliffside Sunset ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Conservation and Wildlife ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · 5 Rules You Should Follow Around Uluwatu Sacred Monkeys ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Kecak Dance ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple ↩
- Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia · Pura Uluwatu, A Cliffside Paradise with Ocean Views ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · 5 Rules You Should Follow Around Uluwatu Sacred Monkeys ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Uluwatu Temple ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · Tumpek Kandang 2026 at Uluwatu Temple and Its Meaning ↩
- Uluwatu Temple management · What Makes the Fire Scene in Uluwatu Kecak Dance So Memorable ↩
- Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel) · Jimbaran ↩
- Ministry of Tourism, Republic of Indonesia (indonesia.travel) · Jimbaran ↩
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