The Barong is among the oldest stories Bali still performs, rooted in the island's Hindu traditions and drawing on the old Calon Arang legend from the reign of King Airlangga. Barong, the protective lion-spirit, faces Rangda, the widow-witch of that tale. Rangda's magic turns Barong's followers on themselves, and Barong shields them. Nobody wins: Balinese belief holds that good and evil must coexist in balance rather than conquer one another.
The Barong and Rangda masks are not props. They are carved from sacred wood, blessed in temple ceremonies, and treated as living objects, stored in shrines and given offerings between performances. Dancers who wear them are said to carry real spiritual weight, which is why the ritual is never taken lightly.
Unlike the Kecak, the Barong is accompanied by a full gamelan orchestra, bronze gongs and metallophones that shift from delicate to thunderous in moments. Performances run about an hour, seating is covered, and it is family-friendly. A short introduction to the characters usually opens the show, so the story is easy to follow.
Your entrance ticket and return transport from Ubud are already included - nothing extra to pay for the activity itself.
We pick you up from your hotel or villa in the Ubud area at the time you choose. Your driver shares their details the day before.
Comfortable clothes and shoes suited to the activity, sunscreen, and a change of clothes if things might get wet or muddy.
Book and pay online by card or PayPal; a $10 deposit holds your date and you settle the rest at the end. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
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