Tickets, options and how to choose
Barong dance Ubud tickets: what to book
Entry only, hotel pickup or Silver Class: what each Barong and Kris dance ticket covers, which stage it is, and how to choose and cancel.
See Barong & Kris dance tickets on GetYourGuide ↗Quick answer
Book entry only if you have your own transport. Add pickup and drop-off if you are staying in Ubud and want the ride handled. Silver Class is another option you can select. The show is the Barong and Rangda dance, and the meeting point is Seraya Budaya. When you book through GetYourGuide, cancellation is free up to 24 hours before and you can reserve now and pay later. The booking calendar and your confirmation show the start time.
Which option suits you
| Option | What it adds | Best if |
|---|---|---|
| Entry only | The show ticket | You have a driver |
| With pickup | Pickup and drop-off | You want no ride to plan |
| Silver Class | A named seat class | You care where you sit |
What you're booking
This is a ticket to a dance show, not a tour. The Barong and Rangda dance is a Balinese dance drama about good against evil, with the Barong, a lion-like protector, facing Rangda, the queen of the witches, to the sound of gamelan music. The provider is Bali Performances, and the hosts speak English and Indonesian. When you pick a date you choose your options: the entry ticket on its own, pickup and drop-off, or Silver Class. The show runs daily, and the meeting point is a stage called Seraya Budaya. Entry, pickup and Silver Class are the options named on the booking, so the choice is short once you know which stage you are going to.
What the show covers
Know what you are paying for. The Barong is the king of the spirits and a protector, danced by two performers inside one costume of thick white fur, gold ornaments and mirror pieces. Rangda is the demon queen who leads evil witches against him. Gamelan music accompanies the drama, and a scene with kris daggers belongs to the story. Every troupe tells the story its own way, so the plot you see may differ from the one you have read. The practical guide explains each part, including how the kris scene is described.
Read next: Barong dance Batubulan: what to expect
Which stage is this?
The meeting point on this booking is Seraya Budaya. Ticket sites list its address in Singapadu, in Sukawati district, Gianyar. The booking itself calls the show Batubulan, the village name most visitors search for. Batubulan has its own stages, and Indonesian reports name two of them: one beside Pura Puseh Batubulan, and one called Jambe Budaya. They are separate venues with their own troupes. Give your driver the name Seraya Budaya, not only Batubulan, and treat the photos on this page as pictures of the dance, because they show a different Batubulan stage.
Entry only, with pickup, or Silver Class
Choose by logistics first. If you have a driver or your own transport, entry only is enough, and you exchange your e-voucher for a ticket with the team at the venue. If you are staying in Ubud and don't want to arrange a ride, add pickup and drop-off: the team collects you, and you can bring your own food in the car. Silver Class is a named seat category. What it changes is shown in the option description on the date you choose, so read it before you pay for it.
- Entry only: the show ticket, collected at the venue
- With pickup: pickup and drop-off added to the ticket
- Silver Class: a seat class, if you select that option
What's included, and what isn't
The entry ticket for the show is included. Pickup and drop-off, and Silver Class, are included only if you select those options. Nothing else is listed: no meal, no guide, no souvenir. The booking also says what is not allowed (alcohol and drugs, littering and making fire) and that the show is not suitable for babies under one year. It asks you to bring comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes and a camera. Read the option description for your date before you pay, because that is where the details for each option sit. Anything you want beyond this list, such as a particular seat or a late pickup, is a question for the provider before you book, not something to assume.
- Included: the entry ticket
- Only if selected: pickup and drop-off, Silver Class
- Not allowed: alcohol and drugs, littering, making fire
Booking here or buying at the stage
Local tourism reports about stages around Batubulan show that stages sell tickets under their own terms, so buying at the stage is possible at some venues. We found no source that publishes the walk-up terms for Seraya Budaya. Booking ahead gives you fixed terms you can read first: free cancellation up to 24 hours before for a full refund when you book through GetYourGuide, and reserve now, pay later. Buying at the stage means its own rules for changes and refunds apply, and you would arrange your own transport. Neither route is wrong. Booking ahead suits you if you want the terms in writing and a pickup arranged, and buying at the stage suits you if your plans are loose and you are already nearby.
How far ahead to book
The booking calendar shows which dates are open and which start times apply. Because cancellation is free up to 24 hours before, booking once your dates are fixed costs you little flexibility, and with reserve now, pay later you pay nothing on the day you book. That matters most if you want pickup arranged for a particular day. No source we found says which dates fill first, so we won't guess. If your date shows no availability, try the day either side, or check another stage. If you travel in a group, book everyone on one booking so that the confirmation, the start time and any pickup details are in one place.
Other ways to see a Barong dance
Barong performances are staged across Bali. Indonesia's tourism site names Batubulan in Gianyar and Kesiman in Denpasar as the most popular places for villagers' performances. Around Batubulan, other stages each run their own show with their own troupe. If you want something different rather than a different venue, Kecak is another dance: a chorus of men chants the Ramayana with no gamelan at all. The practical side of the Barong show, from language to what to wear, is in the practical guide.
- Seraya Budaya: the stage on this booking
- Other Batubulan stages: their own troupes and tickets
- Kesiman, Denpasar: another named Barong venue
- Kecak: a chanting chorus, no gamelan, a different story
Read next: Barong dance Batubulan: what to expect
Before you pay: a short checklist
Pick the date, then read the option names. If you chose pickup, enter your hotel name exactly and a phone number that works in Indonesia, so the team can reach you. If you chose no transfer, keep the e-voucher on your phone, because you exchange it for your ticket at the venue. Save the name Seraya Budaya in your maps app, since a search for Batubulan alone can point to other stages. Check the start time on your confirmation, and check it again the day before.
Who this isn't for
If you want a guided tour of Ubud, this isn't it: it is a dance show with an optional ride. If you want a ceremony held for its own community, remember that a stage that sells tickets to visitors puts on a performance, and a photographer's note on Wikimedia Commons describes a Batubulan stage that way. If you need the story explained in English while it happens, know that the dialogue is not in English and a synopsis does that job. Parents of babies should note that babies under one year are not suitable. And if you want a particular seat, a fixed start time you control or a private show, this ticket does not promise any of those.
Read next: Barong dance Batubulan: what to expect
Frequently asked questions
Which ticket should I book for the Barong dance in Ubud?
Entry only if you have your own transport, and with pickup and drop-off if you are staying in Ubud and want the ride handled. Silver Class is a separate option. Choose your date first, then read the option names. The pickup option is the one to take if you do not want to arrange a ride yourself.
Where is this Barong dance?
At Seraya Budaya, the meeting point on the booking. Ticket sites list it in Singapadu, Sukawati district, Gianyar. The booking also says Batubulan, but Batubulan has other stages, so give your driver the venue name.
Is hotel pickup included?
Only if you select that option. Pickup and drop-off are included when selected, so the entry-only ticket does not cover a ride. The team collects you, and you can bring your own food in the car.
Can I cancel a Barong dance booking?
Yes. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before for a full refund when you book through GetYourGuide. You can also reserve now and pay later.
What is Silver Class?
A seat class you can select as an option. What it changes is shown in the option description on the date you choose, so read it before you pay.
How do I collect my ticket without the transfer?
Exchange your e-voucher with the team at the venue. Keep the voucher on your phone, and check your confirmation for the start time and the meeting point before you set out.
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