Kayu Putih: The Giant Tree of Bali

Kayu Putih is the name of a giant tree in central Bali that’s believed to be one of the island’s oldest and biggest trees. It’s a magnificent tree with a ‘fairy tale’ feel to it, like many other places in Bali. On some websites, it’s also known as the ‘Kapok tree’ or ‘Bayan ancient tree,’ since Bayan is the neighborhood where it’s located. That nickname has probably confused some people about the exact species since Bali does have a lot of great Banyan trees!

I’m sure this tree will become a popular Instagram spot before too long, because it’s perfect for photos and not hard to reach from Ubud and other tourist areas of Bali. This travel guide will explain how to get there and everything you need to know before you go!

Facts & History

The name Kayu Putih means ‘White Wood’ in Bahasa Indonesia and it comes from the color of the huge tree trunk. The tree is nicknamed ‘Bayan Ancient Tree’ in Instagram posts, causing some people to simply call it a great banyan tree, but figuring out the actual species may be a bit more complicated than that.

My first guess was a Kapok tree, but I think the scientific name for this tree is actually Ficus albipila, which is a pretty rare type in Bali, although it may be considered a type of Banyan. The local villagers say the tree is more than 50 meters tall and 700 years old, which would mean it was a baby back when some of Bali’s famous temples were being built.

Visiting Kayu Putih: What To Expect

This is a fascinating tree and probably one of our favorites in Southeast Asia. The photography potential is amazing. A small Balinese temple sits next to the Kayu Putih tree, but you don’t need to wear a sarong to walk around the outside of the tree. However, I wouldn’t recommend taking any inappropriate photos here or you might get in trouble (i.e., keep your clothes on). Several tourists have posed for pictures here without clothing and they got deported. Please try to be respectful since the tree is considered sacred by the locals.

All in all, it’s a great place to visit in combination with Taman Ayun Temple and the Sangeh Monkey Forest, which are both nearby. There are so many great photo spots here and you really need a wide-angle camera lens to capture the whole tree. Even then, it’s hard to do it justice because it’s just so massive and you’ll have lens distortion.

We spent almost an hour circling the tree and taking pictures. The trunk even has a little secret ‘window’ you can look through, as seen in the pic below!

Entrance Fee

The Kayu Putih tree is FREE to visit as of 2024. There’s no entrance fee for seeing the tree, although they have a donation box where you’re expected to give a small tip. We gave 10k Rupiah and they were okay with that. If you ask one of the locals to take pictures for you standing by the tree, I’m sure an extra tip for that would also be much appreciated and goes a long way.

How To Get There

The Kayu Putih tree is located in the Bayan Banjar, in Bali’s Tabanan regency. It’s been listed on Google Maps as ‘Bayan Ancient Tree’ or ‘Wisata Kayu Putih.’ The tree and village is a 1 hour drive north from Ubud or Canggu, and there’s a good paved road leading all the way to the tree, although the road is too narrow for big buses and such. The best way to get there is to rent a scooter or hire a private car and driver (both of these can be booked online).

More Bali Trees

If you want to see more spectacular trees, check out the Bunut Bolong tree, which is an ancient Banyan tree with a hollow trunk you can drive through in west Bali. There’s also the Bali Botanical Garden at Bedugul, in the north part of Bali. This 160-hectare park has thousands of different species of tropical plants and trees, including a twisted giant Banyan tree that looks like one of the walking tree ents from Lord of the Rings.

It’s easy to combine a visit to this park with other sights in north Bali, like the famous Pura Ulun Danu Bratan lake temple.

More Bali Travel Tips

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed these tips for visiting the photogenic Kayu Putih tree in Bali.

Don’t forget to check out my complete Bali Travel Guide for more tips, photos, and blog updates!