The Barong is one of Bali's oldest dance-dramas, staging the endless struggle between the lion-like protector Barong and the witch Rangda. Performances run about an hour with live gamelan music and hand-carved sacred masks.
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.
Private car, driver and fuel. You pay entrance tickets at each gate as you go - handy if you like to skip a stop.
The whole day prepaid, with entrance tickets for the listed stops included. Nothing to pay at the gates.
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 shoes, sunscreen and a hat, and some cash for entrance tickets (Standard) and lunch along the way.
Temples ask for a sarong, arranged at the gate. A few stops have stairs or a short walk. The route is flexible - linger or skip as you like.
A small deposit over WhatsApp holds your date; you settle the rest at the end of the day. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
No reviews yet for this program - be the first to share your trip.
